Chapter 68 His eyes opened
On the other hand,
Elena stumbled through the hidden corridors, far from Raven's temple. She was still weak after months of imprisonment.
Her limbs were stiff, her body trembling, but the Belmont bloodline’s resistance stalled Raven’s magic from tracking her.
She materialized within the castle, her shoulder pressed against the wall for support.
Vance, patrolling nearby, caught her presence almost immediately.
“The king Valerio’s mother is here,” he said, his voice sharp.
The other soldiers exchanged skeptical glances.
“That’s not possible, Vance. No one knows where she is,” one said casually.
“Some said she fled because of her crimes,” another muttered. “She was shameless—”
“Do not speak of the king’s mother that way!” Vance snapped, his gaze hardening.
The soldiers straightened. “Forgive us,” they said in unison.
Vance nodded lightly and turned to leave. “Do not leave your posts. I will return.”
He strode down the long hallway, his tall, imposing frame intimidating anyone nearby, following the faint scent of wet sand and copper that marked Elena’s passage.
In the third hallway, leading to the castle’s exit, Vance finally caught up to her.
For a heartbeat, he could not believe his eyes. The woman declared missing by Queen Raven herself now stood before him—thin, pale, and fragile.
With quick reflexes, he caught her arm to support her.
“Vance?” Elena blinked, her gaze searching his face, shock written across her features. “Is that really you?”
“Yes, your majesty,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“I didn’t know you were… returning,” she murmured.
“You didn’t?”
A subtle realization crossed her, and she waved dismissively. “Long story, Vance.”
Before he could respond, she continued, voice firm.
“Take me to the Duke.”
“I can’t—”
“Do not worry,” she interrupted quietly. “He will understand when I speak with him.”
Vance nodded without argument. After all, Octavio was in the perfect position to hear her story after the false rumors circulating through Ravencroft.
They reached Valerio’s study, where Octavio was likely to be found.
Meanwhile, earlier…
Octavio was at Valerio’s side, the king’s condition suddenly shifting.
The ritual Raven had attempted had failed, but something else happened—something unexpected.
Valerio’s body twitched. A subtle movement in his fingers. The bond between him and Evyths pulsed stronger than Octavio had ever seen.
He froze.
Was this real?
Then Valerio’s eyes snapped open.
Cold. Alive. Bright.
Weak, yes—but conscious.
Before Octavio could fully process the miracle, the door creaked open.
He suspected Vance, though the guard had never entered without announcing himself properly.
Elena walked in, Vance behind her.
Silence fell as the door closed gently.
Octavio’s gaze swept between Elena and Valerio.
Valerio’s expression was blank—he hadn’t seen his mother for months, ever since he had denied her claim.
Elena collapsed to her knees, trembling, her hands quivering.
“Raven’s father tricked me. The fate was never switched. You’ve always been the destined heir…”
Octavio and Valerio stared at each other, then at her.
Her words raised questions. How did she know?
Valerio shifted slightly, a pang of pain shooting through his joints.
“What do you mean?” he asked. For the first time in months, he spoke to her.
Elena swallowed, relief and conflict warring in her chest.
“I just found out,” she said softly.
“You just found out?” Valerio’s tone was firmer than usual, his glare sharp with remembered anger. He hadn’t forgotten. Couldn’t.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” he muttered.
“Crawl back into the hole you’ve been hiding in—”
“Please, D'Arcy, listen." She interrupted. "I thought I had switched my fate with Lorena in the past, but I didn’t,” her voice unsteady.
Elena recounted the story in detail, each memory vivid as if it happened moments ago.
Octavio rubbed his face, thoughts jagged.
Valerio remained silent, but his silence was dangerous—for her, for Octavio, for Vance.
“Queen Elena, do you expect us to believe this?” Octavio finally asked, breaking the tense quiet.
Elena nodded. “Evyths saw it—”
“Evyths?” Valerio’s voice softened, confusion flickering in his eyes.
“Yes, Evyths,” Elena said. “Raven trapped me in her temple for months. When she brought in Evyths, I saw… something. We talked.”
“About what?” Valerio asked impatiently.
“Her,” Elena paused, reflecting. “She’s truly blessed by the Moon Goddess.”
She folded her knees, her gaze steady. “She looked into my past and explained it to me. Perhaps that’s why Raven is obsessed with the throne…”
“Or maybe that’s not the reason at all,” Valerio countered, his thoughts drifting to Evyths.
He needed to see her—to be sure she was okay.
But Elena’s words gnawed at him.
Her greed had killed his father for nothing. All that she pursued was meaningless. Her decisions had brought chaos.
“If what I say is true,” Elena continued calmly, eyes fixed on him, “Evyths isn’t the enemy. She’s here for a reason—and only Raven knows why.”
“You’re so sure—” Octavio began.
“Because I was there,” Elena cut in. “Every move. Every ritual. Every spell Raven cast. I witnessed them.”
“Your point?” Valerio’s patience was thin.
Elena studied her son, noting the flicker of light in his eyes—the softness reserved for Evyths alone.
“Raven is trying to kill the girl,” Elena whispered.
Valerio’s frown deepened.
“Then we’re already too late.”