Chapter 120: A Coward
**Thelma Zane’s POV**
The revelation left me in stunned silence. Adele was the southern Duke’s daughter. The shock coursed through me like an electric current, making my scalp prickle and my mind spin with disbelief. It was a truth that defied my understanding and shattered all my previous assumptions.
But even more troubling was the realization of who Adele’s mother must be. It had to be the pure white witch, Anna. I could not fathom the twisted history that linked the southern Duke with the woman who had been both a mystery and a legend in our world. I never expected that these two figures, so powerful and enigmatic, had shared something so deep and so tragic. during the war. There was a story, dark and beautiful, behind their bond, and it was now being dragged into the light.
The Council of Elders was in utter turmoil. The royalist faction, known for their loyalty to the throne, were visibly distressed, their brows furrowed and their eyes shadowed with worry. In contrast, the anti–king faction seemed to be celebrating this revelation, their excitement barely contained as they exchanged glances and whispered amongst themselves, seizing on the implications of Adele’s words.
“How dare you!” one elder spat, his voice sharp and accusatory. “You, who colluded with the enemy during the war, stand here without shame! The land of gentleness is the grave of heroes, but your actions prove that you are no hero at all. Southern Duke, I have long suspected you betrayed the werewolves; how else could Fitch have struck down our people with such ease?”
A chorus of agreement rose among the others who supported this accusation. “The evidence is clear,” another elder said, his voice dripping with scorn. “Not only did you betray your kin, but you also fathered a half–breed, a reminder of your treachery!”
The crowd’s clamorous voices built to a deafening crescendo. Angry shouts and accusatory demands pierced the air. They mocked the southern Duke, claiming he had allowed his illegitimate daughter to come among them and stir chaos. It was a chance for them to attack him, to question his loyalty and even insinuate that he had secretly conspired with the
sorcerers.
Amidst the chaos, the southern Duke and Adele stood apart, locked in a tense and bitter exchange. They appeared to be in a world of their own, deaf to the noise around them.
“Enough of this!” My father’s voice cut the
the tumult, commanding and authoritative. The crowd stilled as they turned to look at him. This is not a market square where people can bicker like fools! We are here to interrogate the witch, not to be swayed by political games and baseless accusations. You’re all seasoned men of power; don’t let yourselves be misled by a witch’s words. If you can’t discern the truth from lies, I have no qualms about sending you all
home to spend time with Eric!”
The threat of exile silenced the anti–king faction Instantly, their fervor dampened as they exchanged uneasy glances. I could see the fear of losing their positions reflected in their eyes;
positions reflected in their eyes they cared not for the truth but for their own power.
The southern Duke’s voice, rough and pained, broke through the quiet. “You’re lying, said, his eyes searching Adele’s face as if trying to force the truth from her. “Where did you get my blood? Who created you with my blood and Anna’s? Was it Kafka? Tell me, now!”
Adele’s laughter was dark, devoid of any mirth. “Are you still trying to deceive yourself, Great Southern Duke? How hard is it for you to admit the truth? Are you so ashamed of what you’ve done that you can’t even say it out loud?”
“This can’t be!” he roared, his voice cracking with anguish. “Anna never told me! She should have told me! This is all a trick, a lie!”
Adele’s voice turned cold and cutting. “If it’s a trick, then why did you come to save me?” She smirked at him, her eyes glistening with bitter amusement. “You still hold hope in your heart, I look don’t you? You’ve guessed my origin, and you wished for it to be true. After all, don’t like her? What other possibility is there, if not that we share blood?”
The southern Duke’s eyes widened in horror, and for the first time, he looked as though he might collapse under the weight of his emotions. His tall frame bowed, and tears streamed down his face as he whispered, “Anna… no… Anna! Oh, Moon Goddess, no…”
“Do you
feel
Adele’s voice softened, but only slightly, as she pressed the wound even further. regret now? Are you ashamed that your darkest secret has been revealed to all these people? Stop pretending, Lennon. You, who always play the role of the hero, even your tears are an act How long will you keep up this charade?”
She laughed bitterly. “Why do you pretend to love my mother so deeply? What would you say to Carolyn, the woman chosen for you by your goddess? Will you shed tears for her, too, as you mourn the mother who died in childbirth? How ironic, isn’t it? You think you can be a good father, a good husband, to different people at the same time, without consequence.”
Adele’s voice dropped to a whisper that cut through the silence like a blade. “Who have you truly loved, if anyone at all? The witch Anna, who sacrificed her life for you? Or your goddess‘ chosen mate? Or do you not love anyone but yourself and the twisted satisfaction of pretending to be in love?”
“Stop it!” the southern Duke roared, his voice raw and filled with anguish. “Enough, please! Moon Goddess, spare me this torment!”
But Adele, now with tears streaming down her cheeks, did not relent. Her voice cracked as she screamed, “If praying to the goddess had been enough, my mother wouldn’t have died! You coward! Did the werewolves choose someone like you to be their hero?”
The sting of her words echoed in the room, the raw pain and rage that had fueled her outburst
Chapter 1950. A Coward
leaving everyone breathless. My father, who had watched the scene unfold with a somber expression, finally stepped forward. “Enough,” he said, his voice low but unyielding. “Guards, take Adele away and lock her up.”
As the guards moved to carry out his order, he turned his gaze to the elders, his tone commanding. “This matter is over for now. We will discuss it later. Keep tonight’s events to yourselves, or risk losing your chance to recuperate with Eric.”
The elders, their faces marked with both fear and anticipation, nodded quickly. With the room finally clearing, my father approached the southern Duke, his expression serious and unreadable. “Walk with me, Lennon. We need to talk”
The southern Duke, broken and defeated, followed my father out, his steps heavy and reluctant. The questions remained, but now, they were questions that would haunt us all, long after the echoes of Adele’s words had faded.
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