Chapter 183 - 182: Sewing Bonds

Eleanore arrived at Demaria Mansion the next morning, the familiar iron gates bringing back a flood of memories she had forgotten. The body’s true owner’s memories were flooding in and it enveloped Eleanore’s heart with something warm.

She found Flora in the garden where they once played as little children. Flora had faced her back to Eleanore, the scar between them cold and black as always. She looked up with visible surprise at Eleanore’s approach.

"I wasn’t expecting you," Flora said carefully.

"I wasn’t expecting to come," Eleanore admitted. "But I couldn’t let things sit the way they were." She took a steadying breath. "I’m sorry, Flora. For lying to you and turning cold to a friend as kind as you. I didn’t want to hide things from you. I was forced."

"Forced?" She scoffs. "By whom?" She walked closer to Eleanore. "Who could force the Duchess of Lancaster?"

"The duke of Lancaster." She answers.

Flora was quiet for a long moment, studying her with an expression that finally, slowly, softened. "What do you mean?" she asked

"Caelestis forced me to marry him. On the day of my brother’s marriage he said he would harm Stella and fight against my brother. I was scared." Eleanore finally looked into her eyes. "For generations, Sinclair and Lancaster dukedoms have been the pillars of Seraphine. If they go on a war, Seraphine would crumble. My brother would crumble, Stella would crumble. Everything and everyone I ever loved would crumble. I did not want that."

Flora stares at eleanore for a brief second. "You are not lying are you?"

"I would never." Eleanore grabbed her palm. "Flora, you have always been my best friend. Stella could never replace you. Believe me."

She tightened her grip on Elenaore’s palm. "You should tell your brother." She tried to pull Eleanore out of the garden but she didn’t let her.

"I don’t want to."

"Why?" Flora turned to face her. "Whay do you want to live in such agony?"

"I am not in agony, Flora." She explains. "Caelestis truly loves me and I do too."

"What if this is another one of his acts?"

"Then I want to see it unfold." She pauses. "If he doesn’t love me at the end of that act. I shall leave him for good. But for now, I feel his feelings are genuine." She almost smiles.

"I’m sorry." A small, genuine smile broke across Flora’s face, the first real warmth Eleanore had seen from her since the letter arrived. " You were not the only one who was wrong. I was too. I always believed you would never kill Lady Barbara."

Eleanore felt something in her chest finally, fully unclench, and when Flora pulled her into a tight, familiar hug, it felt exactly like coming home.

"But now, you must not hide anything from me." Flora warned and Eleanore nodded.

---

The next morning, breakfast at Lancaster Mansion was more crowded than it had been in months. Eleanore and Caelestis were sitting at the head of the table, Hael and Stella beside them, and Flora, who’d just sewed the bond the friends once had, rounding out the group with easy, comfortable laughter drifting between them all.

It was Mary who brought in the morning paper, setting it down beside Eleanore’s plate with a small, knowing smile. Eleanore unfolded it, and there, printed plainly across the front page, was the headline she’d been waiting weeks to see.

DUCHESS SINCLAIR FULLY CLEARED — TRUE CULPRIT CONFESSES, CASE OFFICIALLY CLOSED

She let out a slow breath, something like relief finally settling fully into her chest as she set the paper down. Beside her, the familiar shimmer of a notification bloomed briefly into view.

|| Task 1: Who killed Lady Barbra?

Reward: You Have Earned Coins: +100,000

Total Reputation: 0

Total Coins: +90,100||

She glanced around the table, Caelestis’s hand finding hers beneath it, "It’s all over." He says, with a smile tugged on his face.

"Indeed."

"It is good to know that things are back on track." Flora raises her wine glass for a toast.

Everyone chimes in with their own wine glasses, and then toast.

"For peace and new couples." They say.

The room filled with laughter and celebration of their recent victory. Everyone, putting their past behind them, standing together after a long time. Truly Happy!

What could be better than this?

And...

What could be worse than this?

All of these people, present in the room thought that the most awaited peace had arrived, however what they didn’t know was that what waited next was worse than what they had gone through till now. The lives of these five people were going to take a dangerous turn from here forth.

---

|| Mission 1, Phase 1: Change Caelestis Destiny. Has been successfully completed.

Phase 2: The Rebels

The Kingdom of Seraphine has been plagued by this organisation called Rebel. They are after the crown and want to kill the royal family, so that they can attain a complete dictatorship. These rebel groups also involve some of the nobles of the empire, who harbour hatred against the royal family of Seraphine.

In their madness for the throne, many innocents die, including you. Your death triggers Caelestis’ fate falling into darkness again and Hael turning against his dear friend again.

Chapter 1: The Woman Named Barbra

Barbra was known to be a very gentle and kind woman of the kingdom. She was always quiet and had no enemy. Until she fell for the wrong person and tried to win him over only to be trampled on completely by the queen of the social circle, Eleanore Sinclair (You)

Quest 1: Death Case Of Lady Barbra Fein

Task 1: Collect information on the relationship between Eleanore Sinclair (you) and Lady Barbra Fein

Do you accept the task?

Yes/No

Note: Reward: + 100,000 reputation

Penalty: -200,000 coins

Total Reputation: -100,000

Total Coins: +90,100||

---

|| Task 1: Who killed Lady Barbra?

Reward: You Have Earned Coins: +100,000

Total Reputation: 0

Total Coins: +90,100||