319: The burden on Bastian's heart (part 1)

The burden on Bastian's heart (part 1)

She paused on the staircase, a sudden absence of the mate bond startling her. Her fingers gripped the handrail tightly, her stomach feeling hollow, and her heart heavy with disappointment.0

After all that has been said and done, how could he still leave so easily?

Anger surged within her, a welcome distraction from the emptiness that now replaced her husband's presence around her. It was a simple, undeniable truth that fueled her determination to fill the void with productivity.

I don't have much time left.

In an attempt to convince herself that his departure was for the best, she continued ascending the stairs instead of returning to Egon's room. Her destination was clear in her mind. If her brother-in-law wouldn't come to see her, there was no rule preventing her from seeking him out.

She had a general idea of where his room might be since he had mentioned taking the highest one in the manor. Familiar with the layout of the murdered King's former estate, she had always imagined his room to be the sole guest room within the tower.

As she ascended the stairs, the signs of neglect in the manor became apparent and then quickly became bothersome. Dusty areas along the staircase caught her attention when she paused to rub her throbbing thighs shamefully, months of neglecting her training with her childhood friend were taking their toll.

Arkin... How I have missed you.

Adela pushed aside that melancholic thought as she reached the door to the guest room. The sounds emanating from inside confirmed that it was indeed Bastian's room since very few people were left in the estate.

She formed a fist and knocked on the door three times.

A sudden silence enveloped the room, lingering longer than she expected. She wondered if Bastian had the audacity to pretend he wasn't there when it was evident he was.

"...Bastian."

When the door finally opened, Bastian's face was partially obscured by the bright light coming from behind him.

"May I come in?" She asked with her utmost polite tone.

"..."

Without giving an answer to her question, he stood in place, his arm extended, hand still clutching the doorknob.

"...I'll take your silence as a yes," she said with a hint of humor before slipping under his arm and entering his room.

Adela could feel Bastian's gaze on her back, but she pretended to be preoccupied with scanning the room, all while wondering if he would ask her to leave once their eyes met.

"Your tastes are very similar to Egon's," she observed without looking at him, noting the resemblance in their choice of simple yet elegant furniture and the overall decor. The room was furnished with only the essentials, maintaining a sense of neatness and luxury at the same time.

"You both seem to prefer the same colors," she added. 

Adela thought she heard him mumble something about how unfortunate that was, but he had done so too quietly for her to make out the exact words, so she pretended not to have heard them, unsure of what he meant.

Her eyes drifted to the grand window with the drapes fully drawn. "...I forgot how amazing the view was from up here." She spoke nostalgically. When her gaze finally landed on his bed, she noticed a half-empty bottle of the strongest Emorian alcohol on it. Convinced that it was from the previous night, she decided to lighten the atmosphere with a small joke since it would be much easier if they could have a mature, friendly conversation about everything that was happening.

"It's too early in the day for such alcohol, don't you think?" she playfully remarked, gesturing toward the bottle.

Before she could wink or add anything more, Bastian surprised her by striding past her straight to the bed where he picked up the bottle and downed whatever remained of its contents in a single gulp.

As he put the bottle down, Adela's hopes of having a rational and positive conversation with her brother-in-law dwindled. I cannot possibly entertain drunk men at the moment!

She didn't possess the kind of eyes that could turn red, but she could feel herself growing agitated. The Lady was not in a much better mental state than her husband, the Beast.

"…I will come back at a better time then," she said, turning around to leave. However, Bastian noisily stomped past her and blocked her way, leaning his back against the closed door. His eyes appeared slightly unfocused, likely due to the immediate effects of the alcohol.

"You are just like him," he bit out bitterly, his gaze unfocused as it shifted around her. "You think you can walk in whenever you want and walk out whenever you want? Is the person in front of you worthy of consideration, or not at all?"

Adela took a moment to reassess the situation, appreciating Bastian's calm demeanor and his willingness to engage in conversation. He still had enough of a sober mind to add a touch of sarcasm to his comparisons, and perhaps that alcohol had worked in her favor after all.

"...To be honest, I came here in hopes of having a conversation with you. Do you think it's possible for both of us to be honest with each other?" she asked.

He regarded her with an empty expression.

"Honest, you say…" he began, his frown appearing somewhat forced. "I wonder. Would you be able to reciprocate honesty if you were confronted with it?"

She took a deep breath and reminded herself that the man in front of her had just had an argument with his brother after discovering that one of their family members, grouped into the inhuman ones, had made contact with their deceased father. She should set aside her pride for this conversation if she wished to have it with him.

"...I assure you that I will go out of my way to be brutally honest with you if you would do the same," she said.

"You've got yourself a deal."

She was about to shake hands with him when he extended his hand in a vertical way, but as she extended her arm, he took a crystal spherical object out of his sleeve and placed it in the palm of her hand.

"Start by explaining this message that came from Varinthia this morning, then."

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