Free Web NovelChapter 53: Chapter 53: Truthfully
Chapter 53: Truthfully
Meanwhile, just as Ezekiel stepped beyond the shaded corridors of the mansion, Sebastian’s voice cut sharply behind him.
"Ezekiel."
The archmage stopped on his tracks.
Slowly, he exhaled before turning around with a knowing smirk already resting on his lips, as though he had expected this confrontation from the very beginning.
Sebastian stood several feet away beneath the stone archway leading toward the estate gardens, his expression cold and dangerously restrained. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows behind him, casting long shadows across the marble floor while the oppressive tension surrounding both men silently drove nearby servants away.
Neither of them spoke immediately.
The silence itself felt hostile.
Then Ezekiel smiled faintly.
"You followed me rather quickly."
Sebastian’s gaze remained fixed on him.
"Do not approach Aria again."
The amusement in Ezekiel’s eyes deepened slightly.
"Ah," he murmured softly. "So that is what troubles you."
Sebastian stepped closer.
The air between them sharpened almost instantly.
"What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
Ezekiel tilted his head slightly.
"That depends entirely on what you believe I am trying to accomplish."
Sebastian’s jaw tightened.
"You rejected Aria years ago," he said coldly. "You made your disinterest abundantly clear to everyone around you. So explain to me why you are suddenly incapable of removing your hands from her."
For a brief moment, Ezekiel merely stared at him.
Then he laughed quietly, the sound carrying faint ridicule beneath it.
"My friend," he said smoothly, "I find it rather fascinating hearing such words from you of all people."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly afterward.
"Were you not the very man who once informed me, with remarkable confidence, that your engagement to Lady Aria meant absolutely nothing to you?" ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Sebastian’s expression hardened.
"You told me she forced your hand," Ezekiel continued calmly. "You claimed she exhausted you. Irritated you. Embarrassed you."
Every word landed unpleasantly.
"You said," Ezekiel added more softly, "that you could never imagine yourself loving someone like her."
Sebastian flinched almost imperceptibly.
Ezekiel noticed immediately.
The archmage’s faint smile slowly faded afterward.
"And yet now," he continued, "you glare at every man who merely stands too close to her."
Sebastian’s gaze darkened dangerously.
"You are avoiding my question."
"No," Ezekiel answered immediately. "I simply wish to understand the hypocrisy first."
The atmosphere shifted colder.
Sebastian took another step forward until only a short distance remained between them.
"And I wish to understand why the Royal Archmage suddenly behaves like a jealous lover after years of indifference."
The amusement in Ezekiel’s expression vanished completely.
His gaze sharpened.
"Careful, Sebastian."
"And if I refuse?"
Ezekiel’s voice lowered slightly.
"Then perhaps this conversation will finally become honest."
Silence crashed heavily between them.
Cold wind passed quietly through the open corridor.
Then Sebastian spoke again.
"You clearly abandoned whatever feelings existed between you and Aria long ago," he said steadily. "So do not stand before me now pretending concern."
Ezekiel stared at him for several seconds before speaking.
"And you?" he asked quietly. "What exactly are you pretending?"
Sebastian’s expression darkened further.
"I am her fiancé."
"An impressive title," Ezekiel replied smoothly. "Particularly considering how little effort you made to deserve it."
Sebastian’s eyes sharpened immediately.
"You know nothing about what happened between us."
"No," Ezekiel answered calmly. "I know exactly what happened."
The archmage’s gaze turned colder now.
"You knew Cynthia was Duke Valen’s illegitimate daughter."
Sebastian immediately stiffened.
Ezekiel continued without mercy.
"And despite knowing precisely how unstable the situation inside this estate had become, you remained silent."
"I was attempting to handle the matter carefully," Sebastian answered firmly.
"Carefully?" Ezekiel repeated softly.
There was open mockery in his voice now.
"What a convenient excuse."
Sebastian jaw clenched tightly.
"She was already emotionally unstable. Revealing the truth recklessly would only have worsened the situation."
"And instead," Ezekiel replied coldly, "you allowed her to continue humiliating herself while everyone around her quietly pitied her."
"That is not what happened."
"No?"
Ezekiel stepped closer now too.
The pressure surrounding him grew heavier.
"You watched her desperately cling to people who gave her nothing in return," he said quietly. "You watched her slowly isolate herself inside this estate."
His golden eyes narrowed sharply. freeweɓnøvel.com
"And still you said nothing."
Sebastian’s voice lowered dangerously.
"You are crossing a line."
Ezekiel’s expression remained completely calm.
"You crossed one long ago."
The words landed heavily.
For several seconds, neither man moved.
Then Ezekiel exhaled slowly before rubbing lightly against his temple like someone already exhausted by the conversation.
"You still do not understand her at all," he murmured.
Something flickered briefly across Sebastian’s face.
He looked frustrated and conflicted.
"She keeps avoiding me now," he admitted after several long moments. "Every conversation ends with her retreating further away."
The admission sounded bitter even to himself.
Because it was true.
Aria no longer looked at him the way she once did.
There was no warmth anymore.
No stubborn affection.
No desperate attempts to gain his attention.
Recently, she looked at him like someone preparing to leave.
And somehow...
That unsettled him more than hatred ever could.
"And regarding Cynthia," Sebastian continued more heavily, "I intended to tell her eventually. I was simply waiting for the proper moment."
Ezekiel’s brows twitched faintly.
"You need not trouble yourself anymore."
Sebastian frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Ezekiel looked at him quietly.
"She already knows."
The words struck instantly.
Sebastian visibly stiffened.
"...What?"
Ezekiel stared at him for several long seconds.
Then sighed.
"Ha."
He lowered his hand slowly from his temple.
"I genuinely believed you to be more perceptive than this, Sebastian."
Sebastian’s expression darkened immediately.
"Speak clearly."
Ezekiel’s gaze remained fixed on him.
"Did you truly fail to notice?"
The corridor suddenly felt colder, then Ezekiel spoke again.
"Aria took her own life several weeks ago."
The world went silent around Sebastian and he froze completely.
For one horrifying moment, he genuinely believed he misheard him.
"...What?"
Ezekiel’s voice lost almost all traces of amusement as he replied...
"Duke Valen summoned me personally that night," he said calmly. "By the time I arrived..."
He paused briefly.
"...she was already dead."
Every word felt suffocatingly heavy.
"She overdosed on sleeping potions," Ezekiel continued quietly. "The servants discovered her too late."
Sebastian stared at him without moving.
And somehow that emptiness looked worse.
"The duke wished the matter buried immediately," Ezekiel said. "Naturally, a noble heir dying by suicide beneath her own family’s roof would have caused scandal throughout the capital."
Sebastian’s breathing slowed dangerously.
"Do you not notice?" Ezekiel continued quietly, "She has changed. I witnessed it firsthand when I met her again at Libracia."
Sebastian slowly lifted his gaze.
Genuine unease appeared openly across his face.
"I bet she stopped chasing after you. She stopped begging for attention or acted desperate."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"She stopped caring whether anyone approved of her existence."
Sebastian’s chest tightened painfully.
Because suddenly, everything made sense.
Sebastian’s hands clenched tightly at his sides.
"...Why," he asked finally, his voice rougher than intended, "did nobody tell me?"
Ezekiel looked at him quietly for a long moment.
Then answered without hesitation.
"Everyone in this household were told not to speak of what happened." He paused.
"Also, because you were too occupied despising her."
The words landed mercilessly.
And neither of them could deny it.
"Truthfully," Ezekiel added with guilt in his eyes as he turned away, "both of us were."
