Chapter 204

The afterglow of the sunset spilled onto the stone walls of the castle, dyeing them with a layer of golden brilliance.

Two ten-year-old children pushed open the heavy gate together and entered the interior of the castle. What greeted them was a long corridor, the walls on both sides covered with oil paintings and tapestries. However, the colors of those paintings had faded, and the lines on the tapestries had become blurred, as if everything had been covered with a layer of dust. At the end of the corridor was a huge glass window, the scenery outside reflected like a dream by the sunset's afterglow, but the window glass was covered with cracks, as if it would shatter at any moment.

The girl timidly tugged at the boy's clothes. She was carrying a lamp and whispered: "Brother, why don't we go back? Dad doesn't let us run around."

The boy put his index finger to his lips, his light golden eyes full of seriousness and nervousness. "Keep your voice down, Liliya. Don't you want to see Mom?"

Liliya gripped the lamp in her hand tightly, her big doll-like eyes flickering, tears welling up inside: "I want to see her."

Hawisi held his sister's hand and whispered while walking: "I don't care how Godfather will punish me; today I must see Mom. Besides, Father and Godfather are no longer good brothers; he won't watch me get punished by Godfather."

The two walked through the long corridor together, the dark and quiet atmosphere making one shudder. They were only half-grown children, after all; it was inevitable they would be afraid in this eerie castle.

They walked up the spiral staircase, passed the magnificent banquet hall, and walked to the top floor.

Hawisi had heard servants in the Huangting mention this place, saying that a queen named Daisy once lived here. They also said that Godfather rebuilt this place for Mom.

Liliya held up the lamp to find the direction. She asked: "Brother, are you really sure Mom is here?"

Hawisi nodded. "My servant saw Godfather enter the top floor every night with his own eyes, and only come out the next morning."

"Then how can you be sure he went to see Mom?"

"Because his eyes are red every time he comes out in the morning."

Father and Godfather didn't know what they were arguing about, even wounding each other. Afterward, Godfather ordered people to expel Father, so he could never enter the Huangting again.

Hawisi clenched his fists. He held Liliya's hand and saw that her little face, which looked so much like Mom's, was full of ignorance, so he said: "Do you know why Father always holds you in his arms and stares blankly?"

Liliya's little nose was a bit red, and she said: "Because Father misses Mom."

Hawisi nodded. "Don't cry, Liliya. Today we must find Mom back for Father."

Hawisi had seen Luka sitting alone until dawn several times in the middle of the night.

In his impression, Father's shoulders were so broad, like a mountain, as if no difficulty in the interstellar could stump him. Father's figure was so tall; he would let Liliya ride on his shoulders and take them to see the stars.

But after Mom left, Father's shoulders were always drooping. He rarely spoke, didn't associate with people, and the hair that used to be combed meticulously every day was now left messy. There were many scars on his arms, the deepest one on his wrist, hideous like a centipede. From the wrist up to the elbow, strips of dense scars spanned his skin and flesh.

Hawisi had asked Boni who had harmed Father.

Boni lowered his eyes in frustration and said: "It was Father himself."

The two children finally found the entrance to the top floor. They walked in and found that the lighting here was brilliant, like two different worlds compared to the desolation inside the castle. In the center of the hall was a thick red velvet carpet, soft as a cloud. On both sides of the carpet were gorgeous golden railings, with exquisite patterns and designs carved on them, flashing with metallic luster. Around the hall were huge marble pillars, each carved with complex patterns and designs, the tops of the pillars decorated with golden statues, as if silently guarding the glory of this palace.

Liliya was shocked by this gorgeous scene. She had grown up in the Huangting and had been raised like a little princess by everyone in the Huangting; she had seen many good things. Even so, she had never felt such a luxurious palace. Hawisi trotted around to the gilded glass window of the inner hall and gestured to Liliya. Liliya hurried over, and Hawisi let her step on his shoulders, lifting her high.

Liliya climbed the window sill to look inside and saw that the decor inside was even more gorgeous than outside. The surroundings were surrounded by gorgeous silk curtains, embroidered with gold thread, depicting complex patterns, like gorgeous scrolls.

Her gaze tried to pass through the cover of those curtains and saw a huge crystal coffin. Just as she was standing on tiptoe wanting to see the person lying inside clearly, Hawisi couldn't support her and sat on the ground, and Liliya also fell on him.

"Is Mom inside?"

Liliya said uncertainly: "Couldn't see clearly... but Uncle Laiboli isn't inside. Why don't we sneak in and take a look?"

Hawisi nodded, helped Liliya up, and led her to sneak into the inner hall.

As soon as the two entered, they felt like they had entered an ice cellar.

Liliya hugged her shoulders and shivered.

"Brother, why is it so cold here? Mom won't be in here, she will catch a cold."

Hawisi was no longer the child who only knew how to play a few years ago. He vaguely knew something and didn't tell Liliya. At this moment, he walked silently and cautiously straight toward the crystal coffin. Liliya followed closely.

The two walked up the steps and finally saw the person lying inside.

Her long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, soft and smooth, shining with luster. Her face was as white as snow, her features exquisite, her eyes gently closed, as if deep in a dream. Her lips were as soft as rose petals, with a hint of natural rosiness.

"It's Mom!" Liliya shouted excitedly.

She saw Mom's hands folded on her chest, her fingertips slender, wearing a gorgeous silk dress. She was surrounded by heavy velvet curtains, embroidered with gold thread, depicting complex flowers and vines. A faint floral fragrance permeated the room, as if drifting from her dream, making the whole space full of tranquility and peace.

Liliya wanted to pounce and hold her tight. The next second, a silver snake appeared from nowhere, opening its bloody mouth, revealing its fangs at her.

Hawisi immediately blocked in front of Liliya. The two children fell to the ground. Fortunately, the snake didn't really want to bite them to death, just to deter them.

The silver snake swam in the crystal coffin, its vertical pupils issuing a warning, and the surrounding area immediately fell into an irresistible mental pressure. Hawisi and Liliya couldn't bear this pressure.

Hawisi decisively pulled Liliya's hand and ran outside the hall. Immediately, the pressure dissipated.

"Brother, who was that just now..."

"I saw him once when I was a child..." Hawisi looked into the hall, his gaze complex. Although he hadn't seen that man's beast form, he remembered his mental power and aura. "So he has been guarding Mom all along..."

(End of chapter)