Capítulo 134: Another day (1/2)
When midday arrived, Eruin returned from the castle. Rafael was teaching Ella some basic math in their bedroom, trying to occupy her mind, when a knock came at the door. A voice called out, "Milady, your brother has returned."
They immediately paused what they were doing. Ella's face grew tense as she exchanged a glance with Rafael before getting up. Together, they left the room to go meet him.
"Eruin!" Ella called out the moment she saw her younger brother step inside. There was a moment of hesitation in her voice, a fragile hope that maybe he had answers.
Eruin's expression remained unreadable as he glanced at her. "Ella, I know you must have a lot of questions. Let's get something to eat first, and then we'll talk." He then turned to a woman standing nearby. "Is the food ready?"
"Yes, milord," she replied softly.
"Good, let's go." His tone was firm, as if he was trying to control the situation, perhaps his emotions too. They all moved toward the dining room, where a long table was already set with plates and beverages, the scent of roasted meat filling the air, but the atmosphere between them was tense and heavy.
"I heard you went to the castle to discuss something important," Rafael said, his eyes carefully studying Eruin. "May we know what it was about?"
Eruin shot him a brief, cold look before speaking. His voice was calm, but it held an edge, like he didn't fully trust Rafael. "Let's not start with that right now."
Rafael clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling under his calm exterior. Does he still not accept me into this family? After everything I've done? If it wasn't for me, they'd be living like peasants by now. He kept his thoughts to himself, but they gnawed at him.
He knew Ella and the younger siblings were on his side, but Eruin? The servants? They barely tolerated his presence.
Yet something had shifted after Eruin's visit to the castle. Rafael noticed the hesitation in Eruin's demeanor, a shift in his usual dismissive attitude. After several moments of silence, Eruin sighed and finally spoke.
"The crown is grateful for our innovations, particularly the paper-making process. As a result, they've allowed us to take on that work exclusively. The royals and the church hold control over almost everything, but King Threo has granted us the privilege of producing paper for the kingdom."
Rafael's brow furrowed. "So... we have a monopoly?"
Eruin nodded slowly. "Only for the capital, though."
Better than nothing, Rafael thought, though he couldn't help but feel disappointed.
But before anyone could speak further, Ella slammed her fist onto the table, rattling the plates. "I don't care about paper! Who killed our mother?!" Her voice was thick with emotion, her body trembling with rage.
"How can you both sit here, calmly talking about business, while she's dead?!"
The room fell into a suffocating silence as Eruin took a deep breath. "Ella..." he began slowly. "Mother left two days ago with Bella, heading to marry that man, Icarus. She didn't take anyone with her—not even me. At the ceremony, the priest realized Bella wasn't you. He knew she was a servant."
His words were mechanical, as if reciting facts he'd repeated in his head a hundred times. "The ceremony was canceled, and afterward, Bella and mother returned home. Then... Bella killed her."
Ella froze, her eyes wide in disbelief. "That... that can't be."
"It's true. You can ask anyone who was there. After killing mother, Bella slit her own wrists."
Ella's face twisted with pain, her breath coming out in shallow gasps. "How... how can you just... accept that? That doesn't make sense! Bella would never—"
"Ella, she did. I wish it wasn't true, but it is." Eruin's voice wavered for the first time, but he quickly regained composure. "I don't know why she did it. But there's no one else to blame. Mother is dead, Bella is dead. We have to move on."
"No! There's more to this!" Ella shouted, her voice breaking. "Someone must have forced her! This isn't the Bella I knew!"
Eruin closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. "I am angry, Ella. I want someone to blame as much as you do. But we can't waste time chasing ghosts. I'm in charge of the family now. We have responsibilities."
In charge? Rafael noted the statement with surprise. But Ella's older than him... isn't she the rightful head of the family? He made a mental note to ask her about it later, realizing she hadn't questioned her brother's assumption of control.
Ella was too overwhelmed to focus on that detail. She stood abruptly, her emotions churning inside her. "I... I can't... I'm going to my room." She hurried out, her footsteps echoing down the hallway.
"I'm taking some food to her. She hasn't eaten all day," Rafael muttered, but before he could rise, Eruin stopped him.
"Wait," Eruin said, his tone softening for the first time. "I need to speak with you."
Rafael sat back down reluctantly, studying Eruin's face. He's always looked at me like an outsider. But something's changed.
Eruin's thoughts were clouded with doubt, yet clarity had begun to form. Rafael gave us ideas that saved our family from ruin. The King himself asked about him. Maybe... maybe I've been wrong.
"I've had my doubts about you," Eruin admitted after a pause. "But you've done nothing but help this family. I think... it's time I stop treating you like an outsider."
Rafael blinked, surprised by the sudden change in tone. Well, that's unexpected.
He nodded slowly. "I appreciate that. But do you really believe Bella killed your mother out of rage and nothing more?"
Eruin's eyes darkened. "Yes. I don't understand why she did it, but I don't believe anyone else was involved. My parents took her in when she was a child—she was like family to us."
Rafael nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe she couldn't handle being rejected by Icarus. But still, something doesn't sit right with me."
Eruin let out a sigh. "Let's move on. We need to focus on the paper production now. What's your take on it?"
Rafael couldn't help but chuckle at the abrupt shift. "Alright. We need a large space for the paper production—something close to a river would be ideal. We'll need to experiment with different types of trees and standardize the sheet sizes for different uses."
Eruin listened intently, nodding. "That sounds reasonable."
"But listen to me," Rafael continued, his tone firm. "Any production business you open in the future—build it near water. Trust me, it'll make a difference."
Eruin raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Rafael smirked. "You'll see."
Eruin seemed unconvinced, but before he could respond, Rafael stood. "I'll go to Ella now. She needs me."
As Rafael walked away, Eruin remained seated, lost in thought. After a long silence, he finally reached for some food, his mind heavy with the weight of the future.
Meanwhile, Rafael made his way to Ella's room, his heart heavy for her. He understood the depth of her pain, the need to find someone to blame. She's lost, confused. Bella wasn't just a servant; she was like a sister to her. But there's no one left to punish.
When he entered the room, he found her sitting by the window, staring out at the horizon, her body slumped in defeat.
"Ella," he whispered, moving closer. "It's not your fault."
Her voice was barely audible. "Maybe if I hadn't run away, if I'd accepted the marriage... she'd still be alive."
Rafael knelt beside her, gently pulling her into his arms. "No. Don't do that to yourself. You saved me, remember? If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead or worse. None of this is your fault."
Ella closed her eyes, resting her head against his chest. His warmth, his steady heartbeat—it was enough, for now.
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