Chapter 174: Assessment
She had failed. She had failed to save the Duchess, and now Benedict was left to endure this unbearable pain. She couldn’t bear it anymore.
"I’m trying my best to be strong... But I can’t do it anymore... Please come back..." He begged so earnestly.
Who was going to pick him up when he fell down? Who was going to brush his hair and tell him everything was going to be alright? He felt so lost without her... His father was untrustworthy... He had nowhere to turn to.
Closing her eyes, Adeline focused all her energy, her mind filled with the memory of the Duchess. She thought of her smile, her warmth, the motherly kindness she had shown despite her illness.
With a deep breath, she willed the butterfly to dissolve, its light transforming into a fine mist. The mist swirled and reformed, taking on the translucent shape of the Duchess.
Benedict’s eyes widened in shock as the ethereal figure appeared before him. For a moment, he was frozen, his breath catching in his throat. "Mom?" he whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
He pushed himself to his feet, his hands reaching out instinctively, but then he hesitated. He was afraid to move closer, afraid that the image would vanish like a fragile dream.
Adeline, her hands trembling with effort, made the image smile gently and extend its arms as if beckoning for a hug. The simple gesture broke through Benedict’s hesitation. With a cry, he rushed forward, his arms outstretched.
He collided with the image, but instead of the warm embrace he yearned for, his hands grasped only air. The illusion remained, untouchable and insubstantial, a cruel reminder of what had been lost.