Chapter 178: The Tragedy
Although his heart was beating like a galloping horse and his hands trembling, Tillian knew that he had to do it; he had to see Bella’s face one last time. One last time, before her image would become permanent history.
Thus, mustering all the courage he had inside his heart, he finally folded the corner of the black cloth, his narrowed red eyes sliding carefully over the maid’s white face.
He looked at her silently, absorbing every single feature of her face, etching every tiny wrinkle, every curl of the eyelashes, and every highlight of her hair into his memory while his heart was suffocating as if being clutched in a tight fist.
At last, he closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment to compose his emotions, and moved to the body of Lord Wiggles who rested lifelessly, draped in the same ominous black cloth. Unveiling his head, the duke gently placed his hand over the dog’s pointy ears and patted lightly and affectionately, silently expressing his endless gratitude for being such a brave and loyal warrior.
As he moved to Lord Giggles, whose sincere eyes were fixed on the man this whole time, Tillian stretched his lips into a subtle, bitter smile and patted him on the head as well, the latter responding to his owner’s kindness with a quiet whimper of regret.
Pressing his forehead against Lord Giggles’s, the duke whispered,
"Great job, Lord Giggles. Thank you for being alive."
Safie released a suppressed howl like a wounded animal and finally approached Bella’s body too, wrapping her hands around her lifeless friend, her head resting on the maid’s chest as she continued to shed silent tears on top of the black cloth.
"Tillian?"