Chapter 408 - 407. The Heroes’ Homecoming (3)
I returned to Aurelius with a heavy heart. Everything felt like it was piling on top of me—the pressure of the Princes’ return, the looming confrontation with Rune, and now Kai’s reckless decision to step into a battle meant for me. It was as if the world refused to give me even a moment to breathe.
Changing back into Reina’s form, I stepped out of my chambers and paused at the doorway. The hall stretched out before me, bathed in warm morning light, the bustle of activity echoing softly through the walls.
I moved through the corridor slowly, watching the servants scurry around me like windblown leaves. They were finalizing the last touches—dusting, lighting lanterns, aligning flower arrangements along the pillars. Their movements were hurried, but beneath it all, I could sense their anticipation. Rune was coming home. After years away on the battlefield, the future Duke of Aurelius my older brother was finally returning.
A familiar figure caught my eye as the library doors opened, and my father stepped out, glancing around until his eyes found mine. His face lit up in that gentle, unwavering smile he always reserved for me.
"There you are," he said, relief and affection coloring his tone as I approached.
He reached for my hand, and I didn’t resist as he took it in his own. "Come now, Rune is returning. We should be there to welcome him."
I nodded silently, allowing him to lead me down the grand staircase and toward the mansion’s main entrance. The cold stone of the bannister brushed against my fingertips as I descended, the weight in my chest only growing heavier with every step.
Outside, the atmosphere was charged. The estate grounds were immaculate, the gold and white banners of Aurelius fluttering proudly in the wind. The servants had gathered near the entrance, eyes bright with curiosity and pride. It wasn’t just the return of a noble—they were welcoming home a war hero.
I stood beside Father in the front, but my gaze remained fixed on the grand gates in the distance. The longer I stared, the more I felt the pressure knotting in my stomach.
Though I had spoken to Father about what Rune might be thinking—how he’d react to what I did—I hadn’t fully prepared myself for this moment. Not truly. The uncertainty of it all settled like a stone in my gut. What would he say? What would he see when he looked at me now? Guilt? Betrayal? Fury?
I glanced up at Father, my throat tightening. "Father, I should—" I started, my voice barely audible, "—I’m feeling a bit under the weather. Perhaps I should retire to my—"