Chapter 178

Chapter 150 Who’s?!

Everything was pitch black.

There was no firelight, no warmth, no doting parents, and no smiles from her brothers. There was nothing here, not even the unbearable pain she had once felt. The girl did not know how long she had been there. She could not feel the passage of time, nor could she even sense her own body.

The entire world was cold and despairing, suffocating.

Yet… she could still faintly hear the sound of the snow rustling by her ears.

The girl remained quietly wrapped in this darkness. Her originally bright eyes like black pearls gradually lost their luster.

She knew she was about to die and accepted this fact. After all… she no longer felt any pain.

But she was still a little afraid.

I am the Winter Moon… I must be strong… there’s nothing to fear in death…

With the last bit of consciousness she had, the girl tried to reassure herself.

Something wet and sticky kept falling on her face. After a while, she realized that these were melting snowflakes.

She suddenly wanted to see the world one more time. She had always loved the snow in the Winter City, but no matter how hard she tried to open her eyes, she couldn’t catch even a hint of white and soft color.

I want to go home…

The girl began to miss her mother.

She wanted her mother to hold her again. As long as she was in her mother’s arms, the girl wasn’t afraid of anything.

Her mother said that after people die, they have souls. Souls return to the ones they miss most… am I the same?

Then when I die, can I go home… if only I could go home…

The girl trembled as she exhaled, producing a faint “huh” sound from her throat, then quickly drew in another breath—her breathing was completely disordered, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Her pale lips slightly parted, releasing a thin mist of white vapor, which was her final struggle.

Waiting for death was a long process. Gradually, the girl couldn’t help but think that it would be better if she could just die instantly, so she wouldn’t have to suffer anymore.

Just die quickly… once I’m dead, I’ll run straight home…

Cold wind flowed, and time passed without her knowing how long. At some point, a glimmer of light appeared in the dark corner.

That light gradually expanded in her vision, and she could vaguely make out the silhouette of someone inside. At the same time, the girl heard voices.

“Hush! Something’s over there…”

“What’s that!”

“… It looks like a person?”

“Go check.”

The footsteps approached with a creaking sound.

Someone… is here…

There’s someone… there’s someone!!!

Realizing this fact, the girl’s emotions collapsed.

She couldn’t stop herself from wanting to cry out loud, but her throat seemed to be blocked by something. Even though she opened her mouth wide, all she could produce were meaningless sounds like “uh… uh…”

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Her whole body is covered in blood… what? It looks like a little girl… she’s not dead yet.”

“No way, here?”

“She probably fell… her leg bone is showing.”

“Tsk, tsk, how tragic… even like this, she hasn’t died?”

“Can she be saved?”

“Hey, what do you want to do?”

“… Save her?”

“Our duty is to save people?”

“It’s to save the world, you fool.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Let her be at peace. In this state… even if she really survives, it won’t mean anything.”

Who said… who said it’s meaningless… how is it meaningless… it does… I want to live… I want to go home… I want to go home!

“Guh… ah…”

The girl used her last bit of strength, desperately trying to lift herself up. But she couldn’t, not even moving her hands or feet slightly.

“What is she saying?”

“I don’t know, it sounds like a plea for help… does anyone here have a dagger?”

“I have one.”

“Give it to me.”

“Hey, are you really going to do it?”

“What else?”

“We… we’re in the shadows where even gods cannot see us.”

Clang—

A soft sound, the girl knew it was the sound of a blade being drawn.

They’re going to kill me…

At this moment, the heart that had just regained a bit of warmth fell back into an ice-cold abyss.

Hope followed by despair… nothing is more suffocating than this.

Tears froze into ice.

, frozen by the ear and cheek.

The young girl could feel the sharp blade approaching her, but all she could do was obediently close her eyes.

Dad… Mom…

I’m going home soon.

She thought to herself.

The imagined pain did not come; instead, her body fell back into darkness.

In the moment before losing consciousness, the last thing the girl heard was: “This girl has black hair…”

…………

When the young girl opened her eyes again, she saw a warm-colored chandelier hanging above her head.

The howling wind and snow at her ears were gone, replaced by the ringing of bells from an unknown source and the warm sunlight spilling in through the window.

The girl blinked her eyes in confusion.

She found herself lying on a clean and soft bed, surrounded by familiar furniture. With each breath, the scent of lilac filled her nose.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

…Am I dreaming again?

The scene in the dream… It seemed like a fragment after I fell off the cliff… Someone came… On that cliff?

“Miss Silvija, you’re awake.”

The sudden voice startled me, and I turned my head sharply… Ah, my head is spinning… so nauseous.

“Miss Silvija, your body is very weak. Please lie down quietly and rest.”

The speaker was a young-looking maid sitting on a chair beside my bed. I looked at her for a moment and realized I had seen her before. Yesterday morning, in my bedroom, she was the one who helped Victoria change into a dress… How did she get here?

“I will inform Her Majesty. Please wait a moment.”

The maid stood up and left the bedroom. Watching her leave, I fell into deep thought.

Last night… I remember going to Alik Street in the north of the city to find Abel. I didn’t find him, but I felt increasingly unwell. When I tried to return, I encountered the Gate of Truth, and they attacked me with a suicide mission. We fought, and my head hurt more and more… When did I come back?

Right, where’s Abel!

Thinking of this, I was startled and hurried to prop myself up on my arms to get out of bed, but as soon as I moved, I found myself weak all over and collapsed back onto the bed.

A wave of intense dizziness followed, making everything spin, and my vision was filled with stars… I felt like vomiting.

“Guh—”

Unable to hold back, I dry-heaved, tears welling up in my eyes.

…So uncomfortable.

My lower abdomen still hurt.

My face felt hot, and I lay on the bed breathing heavily. Soon after, a cold and melodious voice came from outside the bedroom door.

“Lie down, don’t make a fuss.”

It was as if giving orders. Without even looking, I knew who had entered.

“How… did you get in…”

I asked weakly. After waiting for a while without hearing Victoria’s reply, I mustered my strength, propped myself up against the headboard, and turned my head to look at her.

Victoria was wearing a simple yet elegant fire-red evening gown. Her golden hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and beneath the hem of her skirt, which barely reached her knees, her fair and straight legs were revealed. Her flawless face remained expressionless as she silently pulled out a chair and sat down next to the bed.

Frowning, I repeated my question: “How did you… get in?”

“I don’t want to answer such a stupid question.”

Victoria said indifferently, then extended her hand towards me—I noticed she was holding a bowl… greenish-black liquid.

“What is this!”

I exclaimed, immediately followed by another bout of nausea.

“Take the medicine, stop talking nonsense.”

Victoria held a silver spoon in one hand, stirring the unknown and frightening liquid in the bowl evenly, then scooped up a spoonful and brought it to my mouth.

…Sniffing it.

“Guh—”

Unable to hold back, I dry-heaved again, almost crying from the smell… What kind of stench is this!

“I won’t drink it…”

I felt my breath burning, and my head spinning. In a state of confusion, I murmured, “What’s wrong with me…”

Victoria’s gaze was icy and sharp. She looked at me without any expression, and I couldn’t tell if she was angry or not… This made me uneasy.

After a moment, she spoke, and her words were shocking.

“You’re pregnant.”

“…Whose?!”

I swear, this counter-question was completely unplanned.