Bab 33: Going Home To Liam
Harriet got on her horse.
The blush on her face had returned, and she didn't look as pale as yesterday. But Sir Russell still looked at her worriedly.
"We have to ride back now so I can catch the full moon night," said Harriet softly. “But let's not rush. There's still one week left."
"Are Madam sure you're okay?" asked Sir Russell.
"Of course. Since I don't want to be tired, I told you we don't need to rush," said Harriet with a gentle smile.
Sir Russell finally nodded in agreement.
The return journey was indeed slower than the departing journey. Harriet wasn't in a rush, but her heart felt like it had come home. She wanted to arrive quickly, but her body couldn't be forced.
Even so, the trip went smoothly since Harriet had left a few Lycans in the capital to coordinate with the palace. As the sun set on the next moon night, Harriet could already see the Almandine castle and its tal.
Harriet smiled calmly and gently, galloping her red horse home quickly. Her eyes gleamed brightly in the full moon's light, betraying the mask of calm she was trying to maintain.
The longing she had been holding back had burst forth at this moment. No Empire, obligations, or anything else was on her mind other than going home.
I am going home to Liam.
Therefore, once she got off her horse and stepped into the castle, she waited to go out for dinner or clean herself up. She ran up the tower like an ordinary woman who missed her lover.
Click!
Harriet's eyes opened wide at the physicians who circled the bed. The Old Duke stood at the edge of the room with Daniel. And Harriet's bated breath felt bitter in her throat.
Why was Liam still in bed?
Wasn't it the whole moon night?
“My Child, Harriet,” Old Duke saw Harriet and was surprised.
Harriet's lavender irises wavered.
The physicians quickly got out of the way so Harriet could get a better look at her husband lying on the bed, motionless.
In an instant, all the complicated emotions swirling in Harriet's face and eyes disappeared, replaced by a cold, blank expression she had never shown anyone. Hundreds of years old, even the Old Duke was surprised to see her.
He had seen it once. It was an expression much like the one he saw on Liam Almandine 70 years ago when the man lost his heart.
It was an expression where one rejected one's feelings and buried them deep within oneself. It was an expression where one had lost everything. But at the same time, it was also an expression where someone was trying to stop their mental breakdown.
Harriet was trying to hold back the sadness inside her.
“This… is my fault, right?” asked Harriet.
Old Duke flinched. The old man walked over and touched his granddaughter-in-law's shoulder. "My Child, how could you say that?"
“Young Lord forced his weakened body to wake up without a full moon… all this time because of me,” said Harriet.
The Old Duke was shocked again but sadly looked at his granddaughter-in-law.
"It's not because of you. He chose to wake up, Harriet," said the old man.
Each of Harriet's blank expressions slowly faded away, and she returned to her usual firm and gentle self. "I'm sorry."
Harriet's words of apology were calm and gentle, with no trace of pain or sadness giving everyone the creeps. At this moment, the woman in front of them looked strong and determined, not even a slight trembling in her voice, but they all saw how broken she was inside.
From behind Harriet, a young man appeared.
"Elder sister!" he called.
Harriet slowly turned with a gentle smile at Heath, who looked at her with concern. "Heath," she greeted calmly.
Heath cringed at the sight of his sister. In this place, he was the one who knew his sister best, and with one glance, he could already see what was going on.
"Sister, you're home," Heath smiled, trying to return his sister's smile.
Harriet nodded.
"How about you have dinner first? Sir Russell said you haven't had dinner yet.” Heath stepped forward with an understanding smile and took his sister's hands. He said softly, "Don't let yourself get sick after a long journey.”
Harriet still kept the same static smile and shook her head.
"I am not hungry," she replied. She then turned to the Old Duke and then to Liam. She quietly asked the Old Duke, “Can I spend time with Young Lord tonight? Or are there still some checks to be done?”
The Old Duke and Daniel looked at each other, then shook their heads at Harriet.
“You can rest here, and we will go. Call the maids if you need anything, okay?” asked the Old Duke.
Harriet nodded and widened her smile. Her eyes were so clear and calm; they looked warm and perfect. Yet her face had grown accustomed to tricking people into not worrying about her.
The Old Duke looked at Heath, and the two agreed to go and talk. Within seconds, the tower's top room was empty, except for the two occupants who had occupied this place for the past months.
Harriet strolled to the chair by the side of the bed.
Every step she took marked every crack in the mask she built. Before she knew it, a single tear had fallen from one of her eyelids, down her cheek, and fell to the ground.
Her static smile was still the same as before, unchanged, but grew more and more bitter over time. As Harriet sat in the chair, she watched the dim light from the moonlight reflecting onto the man's golden hair.
"Do you know things are going too fast for me?" asked Harriet in a sore voice. The woman broke into tears.
Liam came into her life like the cycle of the sun rising after a long night. But without Harriet knowing it, the reddish color of the western horizon had begun to light up the sky as if she had run out of time.
When Liam woke up, Harriet saw the man standing in the rising sun for the first time, and she knew she had fallen in love.
She had fallen in love with a man she shouldn't have loved.
Hadiah
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