Chapter 13: My mother

Wait then what are THOSE grandparents of mine.

It's so complicated.

I never even imagined that Hastin family is so complicated. Not even once. And again, I asked the Duchess

"Then, who are THOSE grandparents of mine?"

Duchess took a death breath and explained

"The woman that you met just now is my mother and those grandparents of yours is mother and father of duke. The previous Duke and Duchess, where as my mother WAS ONCE royal family."

I was not so clear. Like okay that woman is my maternal grandmother and other two are my paternal, but does she mean by "was once".

I said

"What do you mean by 'was once'".

Duchess didn't look me in eyes until we reach my room. She gently placed me on the sofa and poured me a cup of tea.

Once she was sure that there were no one apart from butler, she said

"okay, now Salina listen carefully. This is something that even the duke himself doesn't know much about. I'm actually from royal family. My grandmother was the sister of the queen at that time. Eventually my mother was the cousin of the king. But, after my sister Liana was born my mother went crazy. No one up to this day knows why apart from She herself. My little sister Liana was also killed by mother but there was no proof to prove that. I don't know why did she kill her own child, especially Liana. She was bright and beautiful girl. I loved her as much as she loved me. After that incident my father, The Duke of the south was annoyed by my mother's behaviour and decided to marry again and have new children. At that time, I was already with your father. That's why even I couldn't take the position of Duchess of south. My mother went even more crazy she locked herself up in the room and didn't show up until my first son was born. My first son whose name was Andrian was a very sick child. He was a bright beauty which needed to be preserved. At the time when Antony was born healthy, my mother came to me and said that she doesn't like Andrian. The next day after she said it. Andrian was dead. Once again there was no proof of the crime. Royal family knowing what was happening. Erased mother's name from royal records as punishment. Once again, she locked herself up in the room. And now is the day she came. I'm afraid. I'm afraid…she...she would also kill you"

Duchess was shaking.

The story made my stomach churn. I couldn't believe someone this disgusting was in the novel on top of that she is my grandmother.

I ran into duchess's arms.

I couldn't help but cry alongside her.

So that skinny woman was a madwoman.

I just can't help but hate her.

But, something in me told to investigate.

Something was indeed off about this. Something, something that I don't know. There was indeed something that was out of the story.

The story that duchess shared was her point of view but what if there is more to it? If there was something I need to found out. It was not because of the original novel.

But because of the family.

Which always lend me warmth.

A family which makes me smile happily.

A family which healed my wounds from years before.

A family I wished for all these years.

I couldn't just sit and see them in despair.

I need to do something.

Duchess once again composed herself and said her good byes. She was sorry that she was acting like this in my birthday. I was left alone in my room but I was wishing that I could just go to my office and start studying so that I could do something.

I asked the butler who was still standing there

"Can you please take me to my office?"

Butler nodded and begun to show me the way.

I was standing in front of the same room where Antony and Deo were as well as that woman.

I push open the room.

The necklace and the earrings were still there.

I put them in a box that was near by and asked the butler to put these items in the jewellery box.

I was sitting in chair when my vision blurred.

A woman looking like the skinny woman was standing with a knife in hand. The blood was dropping from the knife. Below her a small cute figure was there but bleeding from the stomach. For just for a second, I saw a man. That man was smirking. I could see the woman's face not at all like someone who has done the murder. She was trembling from fear. Disgust and horror in her eyes.

I was knowing this was not a normal this. Something was off about it. 

I was knowing this was the reality and happen. 

I tried to open my eyes but it didn't open. 

I know what was this feeling. This feeling that I got before meeting the god. 

I took a death breath and opened my eyes. It was already evening. Deo and Antony were also there sitting and drinking their own tea in my office. 

I asked Deo "Where is Duchess?" 

Deo sighed and said

"She had gone to Median city to support duke." 

My face went pale...

Antony noticed it and he said 

"No worry sis. She will come back after two days." 

I sighed and said 

"Did you know who was that woman from before?" 

I was just testing them. But their eyes went widen.

Deo clearly in bad mood said 

"Forgot about that woman. She is nothing important." 

But I know, she is the very first thing that is important. 

Deo and Antony were prepared to leave when Antony leaned in and whispered in my ears 

"Please don't talk about her in front of Deo. He gets into bad mood." 

I nodded my head.

Chapter ends…