Chapter 226: 226. Opening up to Seraphine – 1

Sylvaris Empire…

Within the inner palace complex, one particular chamber remained unusually quiet during the early hours of the morning.

Soft sunlight slipped through the tall crystal windows, casting golden streaks across silk curtains and polished marble floors.

“SERAPHINE!!!!!!!” an angry female voice echoed through Seraphine’s chamber.

The shout shattered the peaceful silence like thunder ripping through peacefull clouds.

Servants passing through nearby corridors immediately froze, knowing very well whose voice had just erupted through the palace halls.

Sera, who was sleeping on her bed, woke up with a flinch; her eyes opened up so quickly she did not even have time to register her surroundings.

Her body jolted upright instinctively, her heart suddenly started racing as if she had been dragged out of a battlefield alarm rather than a peaceful sleep.

Soon the surroundings settled.

The soft curtains swayed lightly from the open balcony doors, and the faint scent of morning flowers drifted into the room.

“Mom!! What happened? Are we under attack?? Is there any trouble?” Her voice carried genuine panic as she scanned the room quickly.

Selena sylvaris, who was just standing at the side of her bed, looked at Sera and asked while flashing a book in front of her like it was some forbidden artifact.

Seraphine’s eyes fluttered for a moment, then her cheeks became red due to embarrassment.

The realization struck her like lightning. She looked down and could not meet her mother’s gaze.

Last night she must have forgotten to keep her novel back in her storage ring.

Now she knew she messed up big time as she saw Selena gritting her teeth.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the book as if she was restraining herself from tearing it apart on the spot.

“Who gave you this??”

Sera remained silent; she didn’t know what to do; it was the first time she was being scolded by her mom.

Her mind raced frantically for an excuse, but none came. Sera just kept looking down and did not meet her eyes.

“Look at me; you are not getting away with this!” Selena shouted while her face was red from embarrassment.

Her voice echoed loudly through the chamber.

Just reading the title made her understand that this book was filled with ideas she did not want Seraphine to have at such a delicate age.

The cover alone was enough to make the normally composed empress feel like her blood pressure had doubled.

“Was it your maid? Should I get her executed for exposing you to indecency?” Selena asked.

For the first time, Seraphine tensed up and looked at her. Her wide eyes immediately filled with panic.

“No!! “Mom, it’s just a gift from Katherine!!” she spoke meekly and awkwardly.

Her voice came out hurried and nervous, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.

“What?? You mean Kathrine Nightreign!! The daughter of Viviane Nightreign??” Selena asked Seraphine.

Her eyes widened slightly, and a dangerous spark flickered within them.

It was almost as if nodding to this question might unlock an expression on Selena’s face that Sera had never seen.

“That bitch!! She is trying to manipulate my daughter!!”

Selena confirmed the facts from Seraphine’s silence.

Her anger exploded to a whole new level. A wave of curses followed for a few hours before Selena finally cooled down.

Servants passing through nearby corridors silently prayed that the empress’s rage would eventually settle and won’t shift on them.

Heaving with heavy breaths, Selena looked at Seraphine.

“We need to have a serious talk about this, Sera. Get ready and come to my study.”

Selena said before walking away with Sera’s novel in her hands.

The door to her chapbers slammed behind her with a firm thud.

As soon as Selena left, Seraphine took a deep breath and sat back relaxed. Her entire body sank into the soft mattress as the tension drained from her shoulders.

“What a hassle !!” she said feeling a headache.

“Aishh!! I want to return already and meet William, if not for this,” Sera said as she looked at a small black tattoo on her wrist before sighing.

“Sera!! Can you hear me??” Suddenly William’s voice rang in her head.

Slowly Sera’s sleepy expression turned surprised. The way the colors on her face changed would have made William laugh for hours.

Sera looked around before clutching her head.

“Ugh!! Were dreams not enough already? I am hearing his voice when I am awake too!!”

She rubbed her temples as if trying to chase the voice away.

“Sera, I know you are hearing my voice. Please reply. Are you pissed about something?!!”

As if instinctively, Sera spoke in her head.

“No!! Why would I be pissed off!!”

Her reply came out reflexively before she even realized what she was doing.

“Thank heavens, you replied,” William’s voice turned soft while Sera turned shocked.

Was William really talking to her???

“William!! Are you really there?!!” she asked with an alarmed expression.

On the other end, William chuckled.

“Yes, do you want to see me now??”

“What!!”

Sera quickly stood up and started searching for every corner of her chamber, even the outside balcony and every place she believed William could be hiding.

She checked behind curtains, under tables, and even leaned over the balcony railing to scan the palace gardens below.

“I can’t find you here!! Are you using that invisibility robe of yours?” Sera asked curiously.

“Hahaha!! Seems like my Sera started searching for me.” William chuckled.

Sera pouted before crossing her arms. Her cheeks puffed slightly in annoyance.

“Of course you dumbo!!!”

William did not let her continue.

“ok, follow the instructions I am about to give to you, and we will be seeing each other.”

His voice suddenly carried a hint of seriousness.

“Alright,” Sera said with her brows raised.

“Focus on the link through which I am talking to you; try to feel it!!” William spoke.

“There is a link??” Sera asked, surprised.

“Just do as I say, Sera, focus!!!” William reiterated.

Sera went silent and closed her eyes as she tried to feel the link, and surprisingly, she was able to do that in an instant.

It felt like a faint thread connecting her to somewhere far away.

“Pour your mana into the mark and will for yourself to appear in front of me.”

Sera took a deep breath and focused, willing to be at William’s side.

Suddenly a warm breeze brushed past her skin, and the temperature became much warmer than before.

A pair of hands cupped her face. She opened her eyes only to find William’s soft, loving eyes looking at her.

Sera’s breaths hitched. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.

She knew it!!

This was not a dream, not at all; this was reality.

“I missed you,” William spoke softly before hugging her tight.

His arms wrapped around her gently, pulling her into a warm embrace that immediately made the distance of the past days disappear.

Sera returned the affection by holding William close.

Her fingers tightened slightly on his clothes as if reassuring herself that he was truly there.

“I missed you too,” Sera spoke lightly before lightly landing a peck on his cheeks.

She then looked around only to see a maple tree above them and surrounding that seemed too familiar yet unrecognizable for her.

The leaves of the maple tree glowed with warm shades of red and orange as sunlight filtered through them.

A soft wind rustled the branches, scattering a few leaves across the grassy ground.

She could not remember when she was here last time, but she was sure she was here before.

There was something nostalgic about the place, like a half-forgotten memory waiting to be recalled.

She turned to look at William curiously.

“William!! “What place is this?? And how did you bring me here?” she asked, her mind racing.

The way William had called her was too mysterious.

Even though she was sure that William was real and not a dream, she still found it hard to believe.

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