Chapter 96 Sins of Luna Liana

Chapter 96 Sins of Luna Liana


Once the door opened gently, the first thing that Evyths caught was the fresh smell of herbs — a soft mix of lavender and rosemary fragrances.
Before the heavy purple velvet curtains drapimh from the ceiling to the floor.

The room was humid, just enough to keep the Luna warm. Evyths watched Adler walk over to the side of the Luna's bed where she lay peacefully, her hands lightly over her abdomen.

“Mother?” Adler whispered calmly, too cautioned that he may be loud.

While Evyths looked around, from the shelf to flower pots and fireplace, she heard the Luna cough. Twice.

Adler held her hand, pressing a soft kiss over her knuckles. “I'm here,” he whispered again, barely penetrating the silence that must have years and years of the Luna's ill health.

“Ad-Adler? You came?” Her voice broke, yet barely above a whisper.

Adler nodded eagerly, resting his weight on a knee. He glanced at Evyths, beckoning at her with his eyes.
Evyths moved closer, wearing a generous smile.

“I am here with her,” Adler informed.

The Luna shifted, her eyes roaming until it landed on Evyths. Her arid lips parting to speak.

“Goddess's Avatar,” the Luna smiled, her pale skin streaked with hints of blue. Something the disease has turned her into.

When Evyths’ darted to the Luna's photo on the wall, she almost did not recognize the Luna. She saw a bright pretty female covered in jewelry and foreign dress unlike the white linen that managed to wrap her lean body. Her hair barely forming thick strands.

When Adler scooted to the side, Evyths sat by the bed, taking the Luna's hand in her.

Her skin, it felt too smooth and leathery. It was almost as if her skin could hardly keep her flesh together.

Evyths swallowed hard. Not that she feared the woman, but she didn't think that the Luna was in this horrible situation.

“An honor to finally meet you,” Evyths said in the same tone that the mother and son conversed. “I am Evyths… Evyths Thorne—”

“Evyths Belmont now, you mean.” The Luna interjected calmly, her smile unable to reach her eyes even while she tried.

Evyths nodded hesitantly, a subtle flash of Valerio's thought planted in her mind. So the luna knows about their affair, the thought to herself.

Adler's mother, Liana, attempted to sit up as Adler and Evyths assisted. When Evyths hand brushed over Adler's, he instantly but gently recoiled, forcing a smile, straightening himself.

However, Liana had caught the subtle detail that he tried to hide while Evyths tucked a pillow behind the Luna's back.

Liana let out a sigh, physically exhausted by the short-lived effort.

“Th-thank you, Evyths. You too, Ad.” Liana's heaved a deep sigh, her weak gaze darting to Evyths.

“I know that this may seem very inappropriate but I asked Adler to bring you up here.” Liana began. “I have longed to see you for months. Unfortunately, we all started on a wrong foot…”

Evyths' gaze fell. “You did not hurt me,”

“But your pack did. Werewolves did. And… I am one. Like you.” Liana said quietly.

Silence fell between the three of them, the atmosphere carried weight. Not distress, not pain but regrets and something that Evyths was yet to uncover.

However, the reason why Liana had asked to see her was still unknown to her.

Evyths rubbed the Luna's hand, maintainimg a smile. “I did hope that the vampire's antidote worked. I am… disappointed about the outcome. Believe me, he concocted the antidote brilliantly…” Evyths emphasized as though Valerio witness how badly she wanted his experiment to work on the Luna.

“I know. Adler here,” her gaze shifted to him and back to Evyths. “he told me everything.” Liana paused, blinking. “Perhaps I am being punished for my sins,”

Evyths shook her head. “No matter how terrible they are, the goddess is compassion…”

“I wish it were that simple.” Liana's voice came out firmer now. “Adler, please give us a moment.” She added.

Adler, as always, hesistated, staring at his mother questionably and then Evyths. Normally, Liana didn't hide secrets from him, it was safe to say that they both knew so much about themselves and now what warranted the sudden exclusion?

Without a complaint, he rose and left the room.
As soon as the four clicked silently behind him, Liana's gaze fell back on Evyths.

“I am not as innocent as I appear to be,”

“H-how do you mean, your majesty?” Evyths' bruw raised.

Liana tucked her hair behind her ear. Her lean face came into proper view. “Years before Adler was born, I promised the goddess something… sacred if she lets me carry a son for the throne. My lineage has wronged the goddess and in return, we suffer the curse. However…” she paused, allowing Evyths to process the information when she noticed Evyths finger twitch.

“Had I not offered something to someone, I would not have had Adler and… Leon might have taken a younger bride or thrown me away. Call me selfish but a female would do anything to secure what she thinks is hers.”

Evyths' finger instinctively rubbef her golden ring. “By so, you mean that this… this disease isn't just wolfsbane?”

Liana hesistated and nodded slowly. Like the truth heavily rested at the tip of her tongue. “Yes, Evyths.”

“Then…” Evyths' voice trailed off for a heartbeat, uncertain how to take in the information. “Does the king know? Des your son know?”

“I cannot tell them yet…”

Evyths rose. “You cannot? Then why did you tell me?” her brows furrowed.

“Because you are the one person that wouldn't judge me. I believe.”

Evyths' breath caught; no way, she had started to ask questions in her head, she was about to adk more personal questions until the Luna's words.

The silence that followed held the room's atmosphere, too heavy to speak immediately yet too light to leave without squeezing more information.

“I… I will not judge you, of course. That is not my place. However, it is my duty to inquire about the situation.” Evyths stated firmly, her shoulders relaxed. “If you tried to avert a curse, hence lying to the king and the prince, I wonder then, does this contribute to Davendale’s current state?”

Liana's lids fluttered with guilt, for the first time, unable to hold Evyths’ interrogative gaze. Not even the stories that she's heard about Evyths leveled up to what she was witnessing. Evyths' gaze appeared to be more intense, it sensed a distant lie that words would not convey.

“I.. I…” Liana stopped, swallowing hard. When her lips parted to speak, the door burst open.

The ever enduring silence threatened with Adler's heavy footsteps and thick unforgivable frown.

He barred his teeth, no smile, vein stood out a long his jaw and neck.

“How could you lie to me?” He yelled.