After hours of travelling by carriage, she finally arrived at Valdenburg City, the northern city of Northland Capital. It was a territory governed by House Valens, bordering the uncharted lands and known as the coldest region in the entire nation. The moment Stella stepped out of the carriage, her eyes found the blonde-haired woman with glistening amethyst eyes, gazing with relief and joy built up over years of restraint. It seemed as though the woman had been standing at the entrance of the Valens estate for quite a while.
“Stella…!” The lady’s face broke into a wide smile as she threw herself into her little sister.
A wordless, emotional reunion. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she wrapped her arms around Stella. The last time they had embraced, Blake remembered her sister being smaller than this. Stella had grown so much in the three years they had been apart.
“I’m so glad to see you well…” Blake whispered, slowly pulling back to cup Stella’s cheek with tenderness. “You’ve grown so much from the last time we met.”
“Yes, I’m well. I’m glad you’re safe too, Blake.” A gentle smile touched Stella’s lips. “You looked…tired. Haven’t you been sleeping well?”
“Not really, I’ve been anxiously waiting to see you again.” Blake smiled, but it was clearly deadened with fatigue and stress accumulated over the years. “But I believe today will be the first time in three years that I’ll finally have a wonderful rest.”
With Viscount Lemaire's help, Blake slipped out of the Albrecht estate when Anthony and Dowager Duchess Yvette weren’t watching, which had been no small feat. As the siblings shared their moment, a tall, middle-aged woman strode toward them. Her long burgundy ponytail fluttered in the wind, a sharp contrast against the white, snowy backdrop of Valdenburg. When Stella turned her attention to the approaching figure, her clear, icy-blue eyes met with hers.
Before her stood a middle-aged woman in a dark wool tunic and beige trousers. Despite her stern bearing, her expression softened instantly the moment her eyes landed on Stella.
“Welcome home, Stella,” Alicia said, her voice deep and gentle. “It has been three years, hasn’t it?”
“…You haven’t changed at all, Mom,” Stella said.
“Is that the first thing you have to say to your mother after three years?” Alicia chuckled, opening her arms to invite her daughter in. “Come here already.”
Stella strode over and threw herself into Alicia’s arms, embracing her mother tightly. In that moment, she couldn’t put into words just how delighted she was and how this reunion truly meant to her. The reality that her nightmare in Chevalier had finally ended sank in all at once. For a quiet moment, Stella buried her face into Alicia’s shoulder. The pain she had been suppressing rose to the surface, and she wept quietly in Alicia’s arms. She had been through so much because of Ophelia and the Chevalier.
Finally, Stella could let her tears fall freely.
With everything now set in stone, it was just a matter of time to announce Stella’s claim to the dukedom at the upcoming annual Grand Banquet. It was the largest gathering where all nobles and wealthy families across Northland would come together in one place. There was no better stage than this to expose Duke Anthony, Dowager Duchess Yvette, and the Chevaliers to the public for their conspiracy and corruption.
All went as planned.
Standing before everyone at the Grand Banquet, Viscount Lemaire carefully laid out the evidence regarding the former duke’s assassination involving both Count Valens and Marquis Chaplin. With two figures from such powerful, long-standing families involved, no one questioned the authenticity of the detailed evidence. That day, they exposed Duke Anthony’s corruption and his involvement in underground businesses, embezzlement, fabrication of the former duke’s will, and other figures tied to it all.
At first, the Chevaliers believed they would get away with it. They were confident in how meticulously they had covered their tracks, until the Viscount spoke of their name. Their role in the assassination. Their conspiracy to seize House Albrecht. The attempted kidnapping of Lady Alicia. The poisoning of the Albrecht family. Stella’s imprisonment. All of it laid bare, one after another.
Everyone in the hall stood speechless, in disbelief at what they were hearing, until Marquis Chaplin stepped forward with quiet grace. As the Chief Justice of the Northland Supreme Court, there was no reason to doubt his words and integrity. He presented one of the wills the former duke had left in his keeping, naming Stella as the rightful heir, before the knights moved in to apprehend everyone involved for interrogation.
At last, Stella let herself breathe, a long, quiet sigh of relief as everything finally came to an end.
Standing before everyone, her head held high with Linda at her side, she caught a glimpse of Ophelia and Matteo from the corner of her eye. For a second, their gazes met, but Stella paid it no mind. What was there left to say to the Chevaliers, who had abused her for three long years? Their paths had finally diverged, and there was no reason left to cross again.
That was the last time Stella ever saw Ophelia.
Due to the severity of their crimes, assassinating the former duke, Anthony and Lady Yvette were sent to Midland Penitentiary, the maximum-security prison housing nobles who had committed grave felonies, to await trial at the Midland Supreme Royal Court. As for the Chevaliers, their nobility was stripped before the Supreme Court of Northland. They were now nothing but ordinary commoners, with no title or wealth to their name, facing years of imprisonment before they would ever walk free again. As for the distant cousins, who were proven uninvolved with the main family’s scheme, they were shown mercy. They were demoted and left to live out their days as Barons or Baronesses in small, quiet towns.
As for Stella, she became the newly appointed Duchess.
The first few months were unbelievably chaotic. Blake and Stella spent countless sleepless nights untangling the mess Anthony and Lady Yvette had left behind. Despite the Duchess’s inexperience in large-scale governance, her intelligence and perseverance made up for it. Many didn’t hesitate to step in and lend their support, Viscount Lemaire and Marquis Chaplin among them.
As a young compassionate ruler, just like Cedric himself, Stella quickly won favor and support from commoners and many aristocratic families alike. The young Duchess was never afraid to step into the front lines and work shoulder-to-shoulder with her people.
“Here you are!” Linda rushed over to the Duchess’s side with a basket of sandwiches. “I brought you breakfast. We don’t want you to faint in the middle of work, Your Grace.”
Linda pressed the sandwich to Stella’s lips, gently nudging the stubborn alpha into eating a proper meal. The young Duchess had thrown herself into her work since the first day she inherited the dukedom, which constantly made her soulmate worried. It had become Linda’s job to look after her fiancée and make sure Stella took care of herself. She had also been working alongside Blake, almost like a secretary assistant. Her help had lifted an immense weight off Blake and the Duchess.
“Thank you, Linda.” Stella finally gave in and ate the sandwich. “I was getting rather hungry.”
“I knew you’d be,” Linda said, her brows furrowed, nearly pouting. “We can handle the rest from here. Take your time and eat.”
At last, Stella and Linda were officially engaged, and they had been inseparable ever since. Whenever Stella had to travel out to survey the rural areas herself, Linda came along without a single word of complaint. She was just like her soulmate, stubborn and hardworking. Everyone who saw their closeness and affection between them couldn’t help but agree they were a match made in heaven.
They had already discussed the details of their wedding, set to take place the following year once Linda completed her studies at the Academy, specializing in diplomacy and governance. It was clear that everyone was in favor of their marriage. It was a matter of time before they could start a family of their own.
If this were to be a novel, this would be the happy ending where the heroine lived happily ever after with her soulmate after having overcome every arduous ordeal. All the evildoers were brought to justice and made to face what they truly deserved.
That was what Stella initially believed as well.
It had been three months since then.
The Supreme Court had completed the transfer of the Chevalier’s assets to House Albrecht, which brought her back here again. Stella never imagined she would set foot before the once-glorified manor.
“…Who would’ve thought I’d step back here again?” Stella whispered to herself.
The young Duchess looked nothing like the girl she had once been. She pulled her hair up tightly at the crown of her head and wore a beige overcoat made of the finest materials to keep herself warm. Stella had sent her men to clear out the Chevalier’s belongings, liquidating their assets to fund many projects the Duchess had planned for the civilians of Northland.
“Your Grace!” One of the knights strode over, lowering his head. “Our apologies, we didn’t know you would be coming.”
“Don’t worry. I just wanted to see this place again.” The Duchess smiled. “I’ll leave once I’m done. I don’t need escorts.”
“As you wish, Your Grace.” The knight bowed his head once more before returning to his post.
Stella walked through the silent corridors, quietly reliving the memories she carried. Most of what she remembered involved Ophelia. They had spent the bulk of their time together. Looking back now, the Duchess found herself grateful for some of it, regardless of Ophelia’s intentions: the strict education under Professor Oliver, the grueling swordsmanship training with Captain Jayson, and the drug-resistance conditioning. On the other hand, there were many heart-wrenching memories. Nix and Lux’s death. There were still many things she couldn’t forgive them for.
“…” Standing before her old room, Stella turned the doorknob and stepped inside.
What she hadn’t expected was to find the room untouched, exactly as she had left it that night. It felt as though she was stepping into the past.
“I kind of expected this place to be trashed or something,” Stella murmured, taking another step forward. “But apparently not.”
She swept her gaze around the room, and something caught her eye. A letter lay centered on her study desk, as though someone had left it there on purpose. When the Duchess picked it up, dust coated her fingers. It had clearly been sitting there for some time, likely after she had fled. She turned it over. Nothing was written on it. No recipient, no sender. Then she decided to open it.
But what Stella had not expected was a single line that made her eyes widen in disbelief.
[Find Emily at Dalry. Nix and Lux are safe and with her.]
“No way…” Stella muttered quietly, bewildered and in disbelief. “That’s impossible. No—that can’t be right.”
The Duchess read it again. Her finger traced along the words as she came to the realization that she wasn’t hallucinating. Questions flooded her mind at once: Both Nix and Lux are alive? What about the bloodied gunny sacks she had seen that day? Stella stayed calm and tried to think back, but her memory was too fractured and scattered to piece together anything.
“Emily…” Stella said that name quietly. “Isn’t that Ophelia’s handmaiden?”
Stella remembered the brunette-haired lady who had always stood by Ophelia’s side for as long as she could remember. Emily was tremendously loyal to her lady. If Stella recalled correctly, Emily had left the manor a week or two before her escape to take care of her sickly father.
Even so, something about this felt odd. Who could’ve left this letter for her?
Stella could easily write it off as a prank, but what if there was a chance those two leopards were still alive? Why should she hesitate when she had nothing left to lose? After a moment of consideration, the Duchess decided to confirm the truth herself. If they were truly gone, then she deserved that confirmation rather than carrying this uncertainty in her heart for the rest of her life.
Dalry. A small town located just south of Arventhal City, the Northland Capital. Fortunately, it wasn’t far. Stella breathed a long sigh before she departed with the letter in her hand. If she left now, she could reach there just past noon.
When Stella arrived by carriage, she went straight to meet with the mayor. He would be the best person to know Emily’s whereabouts. When Albrecht's carriage pulled up outside the mayor’s home, the news spread like wildfire. Civilians had gathered along the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young Duchess.
Fortunately, that news quickly reached Emily—that the Duchess was looking for her. Without a second thought, she dropped everything and ran toward the mayor’s home until she finally spotted that familiar black-haired figure in the distance. The source of this chapter is novelping(.)com.
“Y-Your Grace!” Emily shouted to get Stella’s attention before slowly catching her breath. She was drenched in sweat as she beamed with relief at the sight of her. “T-Thank goodness, you finally came…! I-I was so worried—you wouldn’t show up at all—! P-Phew, I’ve been waiting for you this entire time, Your Grace—”
“Slow down, Emily. Catch your breath first.” Stella said as she was taken aback slightly. Emily seemed almost overwhelmed with joy.
“R-Right, phew…!” Emily drew in a deep breath, washing away her exhaustion. “The moment I heard Your Grace was looking for me, I ran straight from work.”
It was as though Emily had been waiting for Stella’s arrival all along. Was she aware of the letter left in her old bedchamber? The young Duchess held the letter she found in her room, and couldn’t wait to ask Emily about it. When the former handmaiden saw it, she froze, and Stella saw something close to anxiety flickering across her eyes.
“I see…So you found that letter.” Emily’s voice shifted, becoming sterner. “Please follow me, Your Grace. I’ll answer every question and explain everything.”
Emily requested leave from the small bakery where she worked, then led Stella toward her home at the edge of the town. Just before they reached the entrance, she turned to face the Duchess and the knights escorting her.
“Your Grace, if I may ask to speak with you alone,” Emily said, lowering her head. “This is something meant for your ears only.”
“That is far too dangerous, Your Grace.” One of the knights spoke up. Emily had once served the Chevalier as a handmaiden. She wasn’t someone they could easily trust.
“…I know what I’m doing,” Stella said. Her calm eyes remained on Emily. “My guards can wait outside the house. That’s as far as I’ll compromise.”
“That’s more than enough, Your Grace.” Emily lowered her head, relief washing over her.
Just as they were about to approach Emily’s house, the door burst open from inside. Two huge creatures sprinted toward the Duchess and leapt on top of her. Stella froze for a moment until they began licking her face. Her eyes met those round golden eyes staring straight into hers.
“It was your plan all along, wasn’t it?!” The knights drew their swords, ready to attack. “Everyone, protect Her Grace—!!”
“Stop!” Stella shouted, her voice sharp with authority. “Don’t hurt them!”
After a few seconds, the knights watched the two snow leopards purring and rubbing their faces against Stella, almost aggressively, with unmistakable familiarity. Once they realized it was a false alarm, the knights sheathed their weapons. The two furry leopards recognized Stella’s pheromones from inside Emily’s home and tore straight through the door to reach her. Stella could barely believe it. She stroked their faces, feeling their warm, furry bodies pressed against hers. After a moment, her vision blurred. She pulled them both into a tight embrace, letting her tears fall in silence.
“It’s really you two…” Stella whispered, her voice nearly breaking. “Nix…Lux…”
After the touching reunion between the Duchess and her two furry companions, Stella sat down in the living room with Nix and Lux curled against her. Emily prepared a cup of tea for the young Duchess. Out of old habits as Ophelia’s handmaiden, she carried a clean spoon to taste the tea first, proving to the Duchess it wasn’t poisoned, before serving it to her. In her other hand, she carried an old, thick notebook.
“Your Grace, if I may ask.” Emily sat across from the Duchess. “Before we begin, may I ask if you have received any of my letters?”
“Letters?” Stella looked confused. “I never received anything from you, and I came here because I found this at the Chevalier’s manor.”
“…” Emily fell silent for a moment. She carried the same look from earlier when Stella had first shown her the letter.
“What are you hiding from me?” Stella asked, breaking the silence. “Who left this letter for me?”
“Your Grace, I’ve been trying to reach you for nearly a month now, ever since the Chevaliers were prosecuted,” Emily said, lifting her gaze to meet with the Duchess’s. “I wrote you countless letters, but there was not a single response.”
“That’s not possible…” Stella shook her head. “I personally check every letter that comes in for Albrecht every day. If you had truly sent one, it should have reached me.”
“…It was just as Lord Matteo suspected,” Emily muttered to herself quietly before continuing. “It was Lord Matteo who wrote the letter you’re holding, hoping that someday you might return to the estate.”
Emily explained that Matteo had written the letter and left it in Stella’s room just before the family departed for the annual Grand Banquet. It was meant as a fail-safe, in case Emily couldn’t reach the Duchess. If Stella ever came to Dalry with Emily’s letter, then everything was fine. If not, that meant Matteo’s suspicions were confirmed.
The pink-haired man feared that someone might be intercepting their attempts to contact the Duchess.
“I still don’t understand,” Stella said, stroking the two leopards. “How do you and Matteo know about both Nix and Lux?”
Stella had many questions that remained unanswered: How did they know about her leopards, let alone manage to save them? What had truly happened on that day? As the Duchess pressed her with question after question, Emily seemed hesitant, unsure whether Stella would even believe what she was about to say.
“Your Grace…would you believe me if I told you it was Lady Ophelia who saved both Nix and Lux that day?” Emily asked, watching Stella’s reaction closely.
“…!?”
Stella paused. She needed a moment to process that kind of possibility. Ophelia, that lunatic omega, saved her two furry companions? The Duchess quietly glanced down at them, watching them nuzzle into her palms, before meeting Emily’s gaze again.
“Under any other circumstances, I wouldn’t believe you for a second,” Stella responded. Her eyes remained steady and calm. “…But seeing these two so well cared for, I would like to hear the whole story first. Please, go on.”
“Thank you for this chance, Your Grace. It would be a long story to tell.” Emily smiled, relief flashing across her face. “Lord Matteo and I both decided to reach out to you because neither of us wanted things between you and my lady to end this way.”
Emily explained how she and Matteo had discussed, in private, reaching out to Stella after the fall of House Chevalier, despite knowing they were going against Ophelia’s wishes. The former maid slid the notebook across the table toward the Duchess.
“The truth you are looking for is in this book. It will answer every question you have.” Emily continued. “Lord Matteo managed to retrieve it before Lady Ophelia could burn it.”
Stella never thought she would hear that name again. Ophelia. Carrying a tangle of mixed feelings, she picked up the notebook, brushing her palm across its cover. If the truth she was searching for lay within this book, then she would face it head-on. When Stella turned to the first page, she had no idea the truth waiting for her was about to change her world entirely…
A few pages were all it took to make Stella stop. She needed a moment to process what she was reading. The Duchess couldn’t begin to name the emotions swirling inside her. She wasn’t sure what to feel. Part of her doubted this was real, but she recognized that handwriting instantly. It was unmistakably Ophelia’s. Although faint, the scent of lavender lingered between the pages of the diary.
This diary detailed Ophelia’s meticulous plan, dated three years to the time when Stella had arrived at the Chevalier estate. Every incident was recorded here in great detail: Theo’s abuse, confinement, Mabel’s scheme, and so much more. It included everything Ophelia had done, and prepared to do, to protect Stella.
The pink-haired omega had been keeping her safe under the guise of cruelty. It had been all to ensure that Stella shed no sympathy toward the Chevaliers or herself. She needed the Duchess to believe they were nothing but tyrants.
“…Stella is too kind for her own good. If I were gentle with her, she’ll definitely feel sympathy towards the Chevaliers who don’t deserve it…”
All at once, every moment she couldn’t understand about Ophelia’s motive finally made sense. It felt as though she was told that the last three years of her life had been a lie. She turned to the next page, and a familiar name popped out.
“…At last, I finally had a meeting with Viscount Henry Lemaire.
We successfully struck a deal…”
Ophelia and Viscount Lemaire knew each other? Had they been working together over the past years?
“…As per our agreement. I will become the Viscount’s informant, in exchange for Matteo, Emily, and my freedom…”
The identity of the Viscount’s secret informant, who had provided him information on the Chevalier’s plan to target Alicia and Blake, was no one other than Ophelia. She had gathered and provided everything the Viscount needed to bring down the Chevaliers, to end her own family’s centuries-old legacy.
“…Theo stumbled onto Nix and Lux by accident.
I managed to convince him to hold off on hunting them.
This gave me enough time to request urgent help from the Viscount to have them swapped out…”
On the day of the incident, the two leopards had been switched out for white wildcats instead. Then both Nix and Lux were brought to Emily’s home, since she was one of the few people they trusted and familiar enough to stay with. With help from the Viscount’s subordinates, Emily and the snow leopards were escorted to Dalry safely. Not long after, the former maid submitted her resignation letter under the guise of taking care of her sickly father.
“…So, that’s what actually happened,” Stella said, staying as steady and calm despite the turmoil inside her chest. “I just…this is a lot to take in.”
No matter how much the Duchess wished to deny, she had no choice but to accept the truth laid out before her. For a long moment, she sighed and lowered her head slightly toward Emily, offering her deep gratitude for keeping her furry companions safe this entire time.
“I owe you immensely, Emily,” Stella said. “Thank you for taking care of Nix and Lux.”
“Not at all! It has been my pleasure, Your Grace. Please, raise your head!” Emily smiled. “These two can be the rascals, but I genuinely loved spending time with them.”
The more Stella read the diary, the more she had questions. It was crystal clear now that Ophelia and Viscount Lemaire had been working together over these years under an agreement. On one page, the omega clearly stated how she wished for a peaceful life in some small town with her little brother, away from everything tied to Chevalier and Albrecht.
“…Everything is going according to plan.
Once it’s all over, then I have finally paid for my sins.
This is the best ending anyone could’ve hoped for, You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
and I’m so glad that it’s finally over…”
Under their agreement, Ophelia and Matteo were exempt from prosecution, in exchange for their cooperation with the Viscount. They had been placed in a separate carriage from the rest of the Chevaliers, who were sent off to Northland Penitentiary. The siblings departed for Longdale Town, a small town far to the west, with a new home and identities already arranged for them by the Viscount.
“I can’t believe how she orchestrated all of this, entirely on her own…”
Stella could hardly believe it and was forced to admit that Ophelia’s plan had been flawless from start to finish. Everything had unfolded exactly as she had intended.
“Even after it was all over, Lady Ophelia insisted we don’t contact you,” Emily said with a quiet sigh. “But Lord Matteo and I both disagreed with her. We hope this will make you understand my lady…even just a little.”
“I’m sorry.” The Duchess closed the notebook for a moment to breathe. “None of this is easy for me to take in either.”
It was never easy to accept that after she spent three whole years believing Ophelia was her enemy, she had actually been her protector all along. Three years living inside a lie she had constructed, with Stella being the main chess piece in her grand scheme. Stella had lost count of how many times she had sighed today.
Her mind churned through a turbulent mix of emotions: Anger, confusion, doubt, frustration, relief, and something close to guilt.
“I understand, Your Grace.” Emily lowered her head. “The fact that you would even consider reading and trying to understand Lady Ophelia is more than what I could’ve asked of you, after all the things that you’ve been through.”
“Assuming what you’re telling me and what’s written in this diary is true,” Stella said as she tapped the cover of the notebook. “That doesn’t explain why Ophelia would go this far, to bring her own blood family down, just to help me.”
“Ah…I wish I could say it,” Emily’s smile and tone softened. “I believe that’s a question meant for my lady to answer.”
Emily was aware of Ophelia’s reasons, but she wasn’t the right person to tell Stella. Only Lady Ophelia herself could give that answer. However, would the Duchess even have the courage to face her again?
“After everything I’ve done to her and her family,” Stella muttered quietly. “Do I even have the right to face her?”
She hated to admit it, but part of the resentment she had carried toward Ophelia had already transformed into something close to guilt. Ophelia had saved her snow leopards, and Stella repaid her by trying to strangle her. Even if it had gone exactly as Ophelia planned, what kind of thoughts were going through her when the Duchess’s hands closed around her fragile throat?
“Lady Ophelia would never hate you, Your Grace.” Emily smiled, speaking it as though she was stating a fact.
“…I’m not so sure about that,” Stella sighed, shaking her head.
As much as the Duchess was unsure about facing Ophelia right now, part of her wished to confront her. If she did, Stella could force that woman to tell the truth. She was furious that Ophelia had used her as a piece on her board to serve her own goals, but also relieved that she truly wasn’t like the rest of the Chevaliers.
Not once had Ophelia ever reprimanded Stella for being rude. She would simply smile and take every insult with that same infuriating smile for three long years.
“…I truly appreciate the truth you told me today,” Stella said as she held the notebook in her hand. “It is still hard for me to accept, but I’m willing to try and slowly open myself up to it.”
“Thank you so much, Your Grace…” Emily lowered her head once again. “That truly means a great deal to Lord Matteo and myself.”
The Duchess wouldn’t deny she felt conflicted about everything she had uncovered today. She decided she would return to her estate and quietly work through the rest of Ophelia’s diary. Stella was unsure how she should feel by the time she reached the final page. Would she finally be able to let go of the past? Would she still choose not to forgive Ophelia? Would she willingly let go of their toxic history and start over?
Now that everything had come to an end, there was no longer any reason to lie to each other.
Maybe, this time, they could actually become friends.
From what she had heard so far, it was clear to her that Emily and Matteo genuinely cared for Ophelia. They had been trying to reach Stella to tell her the truth, even though it went directly against Ophelia’s wish to cut all ties with her. The odds had been stacked against them. At any moment, the Duchess could have refused to listen and discarded the diary aside. And yet, they held onto hope that she would listen.
“I believe I should head back and not make my men worry about me.” Stella smiled as she rose. “Thank you, truly, for telling me all about this.”
“I should be the one thanking you for listening to me and giving Lady Ophelia a chance.” Emily rose and lowered her head. “I will never forget your kindness today.”
“If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to come to the Albrecht estate.” Stella removed one of the cufflinks, bearing the Albrecht crest, and placed it in Emily’s hand. “With this, you’ll get a direct audience with me.”
“T-Thank you, Your Grace.” Emily smiled. “You really didn’t have to.”
“I insist, Emily.” Stella smiled. “You don’t know how much you’ve given me today. You’re welcome to visit anytime to see Nix and Lux.”
Just as the Duchess was about to leave with her leopards, Lux brought her something. At first, she thought the leopard was holding a toy in her mouth, until she dropped it at her feet.
Stella froze in silence.
She stared silently, eyes widened, before bending down to pick up an old handmade knot charm woven of blue strings. It was the same signature knot charm that only the Valens knew how to tie, herself included. Despite its age, Stella could tell that the owner had taken great care of it.
“This knot charm…”
“Oh, that charm! How did that get here?” Emily said. “My lady must’ve accidentally dropped it here during her last visit…”
Stella held the charm, tracing that familiar imperfect knotwork with her eyes, before letting out a long sigh. At this point, could anything really surprise her anymore? Even before Emily could confirm it, she already knew this belonged to Ophelia. She could sense the rich, familiar scent of lavender clinging to the strings.
Memories flashed through her mind, recalling her younger self sitting in confinement, trying to tie a knot charm on her own. Stella had tried her best back then, but the knot had come out slightly slanted…just like the one in her hand right now.
The leopard growled, nudging her head against the Duchess’s hand holding the charm. It was as though Lux wanted to tell Stella to return it to Ophelia.
“You gave this to me because you want me to give it back to her, right?”
Purr—Purr—
Lux growled happily, seeming to understand what Stella said. Today had been, by far, one of the strangest days of her life, and she needed time to let it all settle. No matter how confused she still felt, Stella had already decided to uncover the truth rather than keep living in the dark. With this charm in her hand, she had a reason to face that woman once again.
Perhaps this was a sign. Perhaps she had to go see her no matter what.
Once the Duchess arrived at the estate with her two snow leopards, it caused quite a stir. Well, she did bring two large, wild animals into her home. At least, everything settled once she explained the situation. Unfortunately, Nix and Lux remained wary of strangers. No one but Stella could touch or approach them.
Back in her bedchamber, she was able to sit and unwind on the couch. After staring into the blank for quite some time, she decided to pick up Ophelia’s diary once more. As her eyes moved across each line, it only confirmed one of her suspicions, and disappointment flashed quietly across her face.
“…”
Before she could confront Ophelia again, the Duchess had other matters to settle first. She found herself replaying the beginning of her conversation with Emily, and something about it felt off. After putting each piece together, Stella could conclude one thing:
Viscount Lemaire was the only one capable of intercepting Emily’s letters before they reached Stella. He had known about her snow leopards all along.
The man she had trusted wholeheartedly, almost as a second father figure, had been working with Ophelia behind her back this entire time. For three years, he never once said a word about it. He had known everything, and yet he had kept it from her. The Duchess doubted even Linda knew about this. According to the diary, it seemed the agreement had been strictly between Ophelia and the Viscount alone.
Doubt crept in first, followed by growing suspicion. What else might the Viscount be hiding from her?
The only thing left to do was to confront the man and demand an explanation. Later that day, the Duchess asked Linda to notify her father about their visit the next morning. Linda was confused but didn’t question Stella’s urgency. Through their soulmate bond, she felt Stella’s conflicted emotions and knew that something was weighing heavily on her.
“Is everything okay?” Linda said, stepping closer and cupping Stella’s cheek. “You looked anxious and…sad.”
“There is a lot on my mind right now,” Stella responded with a soft smile.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Linda asked.
“…Not yet. I’m sorry.” Stella shook her head. “I want to confirm a few things first before I bring it to you.”
“That’s fine. I can wait.” A gentle smile touched Linda’s lips. “You should get some rest early tonight.”
“I will.” Stella nodded, leaning her cheek into her soulmate’s palm.
A part of Stella wanted to tell Linda everything she had learned that day, but not yet. She needed rest to clear her mind. As the daughter of the former duke and Northland’s war heroine, the Duchess had been raised a fighter, taught to keep her eyes forward no matter how much she doubted herself, no matter how difficult the road ahead became.
The Duchess was brave, radiant as a burning star, fitting with her name.
But she was still young to fully understand that uncovering the truth could sometimes be far too cruel and heartbreaking for her to handle.