"Hide? What do you mean, papa?" Sera questioned immediately. She knew that even her father knew something she didn't.
'The world itself is full of… Secrets. What could things be even if your closed ones aren't saying things?'
"Yes. The palace is too cruel of a place, Seraphina. It doesn't need any more lies to burn it. Hiding and running away will not solve problems that simply would solve by itself if you face them."
"Is this something related to mother?"
Her father's immediate change of behavior was visible. Sera felt uneasy seeing how she was making the old man uncomfortable.
But she needed answers. And she needed anything that she could collect about this mysterious woman. Who else could know more than the person she was married to?
Her father sighed.
"She… She had powers-"
Sera's mouth opened wide. She had powers?
"She had powers? Papa, what are you saying?" she asked in the same tone as her father revealed one of the biggest secrets.
They both whispered.
"She was a Grisha, and it… well, it goes beyond that."
Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized what he was referring to. She needed to know more, that was her sole thought.
She wouldn't be staying in the same village for more than two days, but her gut feeling said that if she got to know more about this woman, she could easily solve things around her. Things that she didn't know a lot about.
"Tell me, papa. I need to know. Tell me everything," she said and looked at her father.
He still had tears in his eyes.
"Your mother was born with powers to control shadows. She didn't know anything about it until she was twenty-one. She told me t-that night, she wished she never knew about it."
"She ran away from the kingdom? Why? Can't they help her? They control the shadows too, right?"
Her father nodded.
"Yes, they do. But she was a woman. It is uncommon for a woman to have powers. Their guess was that she was an amplifier to the prince at that time, who didn't have his powers. So, she ran away. Because she was in love with me," her father said and looked at the ground.
"I thought you didn't know anything about this," Sera interjected.
"I- I was not supposed to tell. But your eyes, Sera. They're begging for answers about your mother. I don't like secrets."
Sera nodded, understanding the depth of what she had just heard. Her thoughts roamed around the news of her mother.
"Do you have questions, dear?" her father asked, noticing how Sera's eyes wandered left and right, thinking about what she had just learned.
"Can I ask?"
"Go ahead, Si. You're the only one who will know about this. So, I will give answers if I have them."
"How did she come to know about it?" she questioned.
Her father thought for a second.
"The prince felt it. He felt it when he accidentally touched her hand. But she refused and ran away. She didn't want to love someone that she doesn't find… attractive," he said with a smile on his face.
Clearly, Sera's mother and father shared a romance. It was shown through his eyes. The romance must be so pure that he hid her beneath all these walls.
"Were they soulmates, papa?" she asked the question that had lingered in her mind for a while.
Her father paused momentarily. His eyes contemplating on what to say to his daughter.
"Soulmates…" He paused before saying. "Soulmates are when two people fall in love so deeply that everyone around them ends up wanting something like that. Soulmates are when two people love each other so much that it seems they're meant to be with each other."
He sighed.
"Soulmates are when two people choose to be with each other every day, despite what everyone else thinks," he chose his words carefully. "I do not know if they were soulmates or not, Si. But I know your mother wanted to spend until her last day with me."
Tears pooled in Sera's eyes.
She had never encountered such love. She had never seen two people love each other so deeply. Seeing him talk itself made it appear so pure, so vulnerable.
"That is very lovely, papa," she said in just above a whisper.
"Let your mother's secret die with her, shall we?" he asked.
He didn't want anyone to hate them, especially in the same village where they had tried their best to build up an image that they didn't want to lose.
"Hmm. You're right, papa. May she rest in peace," Sera said with an undoubtful heart.
A tear fell down her father's eyes hearing what she said. And another followed quickly after.
Valerian wiped them off in an instant and stood up.
"I will go now, Si. I'm glad we got to talk," he said while Sera nodded with an apologetic smile. He turned around but halted in his steps. "I'm sorry, Si. For what is happening. I wish I could stop all of this, but…."
Sera said nothing. He was already consumed with so much guilt.
"But things will get much worse. We can only pray that the Lord saves you… I'm sorry," he said again and left the chambers.
Sera felt a void fill as she felt him leave. With how the days passed, she felt him closer to her heart as she hadn't fallen for any other man. He was like her own father.
But the situations were making him appear as a bad one. Nevertheless, in Sera's mind, she knew that he was doing what was best for everyone.
And she also knew that if he could save her, he would. It went without saying.
As she waited for him to completely disappear, and the footsteps to fade, she reached down to her mattress and took the journal in her hand.
She flipped the page after the first day.
[9th October 1782]
Dear Journal,
Oh, what a delightful day it has been, for I have had the most enchanting encounter! As I strolled through the rose garden, the warm autumn sun casting its golden glow upon my path, I caught sight of him. A man of rugged handsomeness, toiling diligently amidst the blossoms. His strong arms moved gracefully, tending to the delicate flowers with such care and devotion. My heart fluttered at the sight, for there was a certain gentleness in his touch, as if he held the secret to nurturing life itself.
I stood there, entranced by his presence, unable to tear my eyes away. The scent of roses wafted through the air, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly turned soil. It was a moment frozen in time, as if the world around us ceased to exist, leaving only the two of us in this tender dance of fate.
He glanced up, his eyes meeting mine, and I felt an inexplicable connection, as if our souls recognized each other from a distant past. His smile, warm and genuine, illuminated his face like the sun breaking through the clouds. It was in that moment that I knew, deep within my being, that love had found me.
I dared not approach, for fear of breaking the delicate spell that enveloped us. Instead, I retreated quietly, cherishing the memory of that fleeting encounter. Thoughts of him have occupied my mind ever since, filling my days with wonder and anticipation. Could it be that destiny has led us to this garden, to intertwine our lives in a tapestry of love and shared dreams?
My dearest journal, I shall continue to watch from afar, awaiting the opportune moment to cross paths with him once more. Until then, I shall carry the memory of his presence in my heart, nurturing the seed of hope that love shall blossom between us.
With each passing day, I am reminded that life holds endless surprises and that the universe has a way of bringing souls together. In the garden of life, I have found the most precious flower of all—love.
Yours faithfully,
Genevieve Ashbourne
-
Sera gasped as she read the letter. It was about her father!
"Can this be a coincidence…? Papa just talked to me about them, and now this? What is happening?" she spoke to herself, her voice filled with confusion and concern. She glanced around the room, a sense of unease settling over her. Was someone watching her? Listening to her private thoughts? Keeping track of what was happening?
The questions flooded her mind, causing her heart to race. With trembling hands, she clutched the book tightly and continued reading. The days recorded in the journal were not in chronological order. This entry was written seven days after the previous one.
"Is this book about her?" she wondered aloud, hoping to find more answers within its pages. She eagerly flipped through the remaining pages, searching for any additional information or insights.
However, to her disappointment, the rest of the pages were empty. Her fingers trailed over the inked words on the last entry.
"How can this unravel each day?" she pondered, her mind swirling with possibilities. She furrowed her brow, deep in thought, as her fingers continued to trace the letters on the page, hoping to unravel the mysteries that lay within the journal.
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