Rebirth Of The Duke's Daughter

Chapter 195

"The emperor and empress have returned!" The cry echoed through the grand halls of the Zameth Palace, a servant's voice carrying the news with excitement. Almost immediately, the palace bustled with activity as everyone rushed to the entrance, eager to welcome their sovereigns back from their journey.

In the midst of the commotion, a small, swift figure darted through the corridors, moving with the speed of the wind. Net, the little newt beast, had heard the announcement and couldn't contain his excitement. He skittered across the marble floors and burst outside just as Mila stepped out of the carriage, her presence commanding yet gentle.

'Mila!!'  Net's tiny voice reached her as he bounded up to her, his little body trembling with excitement. He leaped into her arms, nuzzling his head against her cheek with pure joy.

Mila's face softened as she cradled the small creature in her hands, rubbing her cheek affectionately against his. "Net, it's been so long," she murmured, her voice filled with warmth and nostalgia. She noticed how he had grown slightly since she last saw him, his once small and delicate form a bit sturdier now. But as she looked around, she couldn't help but notice the absence of another familiar presence. "Where is Cotton?" she asked, a slight frown creasing her brow. She knew that Net and Cotton were inseparable, like siblings who had always stuck together.

At her question, Net's cheerful demeanor instantly crumbled. His small body began to shake, and tears welled up in his eyes. 'Cotton was killed by those mana hunters!!!' He cried, his tiny voice filled with anguish. He buried his face in Mila's hands, his small frame trembling with grief.

Mila felt as though her heart had been struck with a dagger. The pain was sharp and immediate, and tears filled her eyes as she thought of Cotton—the gentle beast she had found in such poor condition all those years ago. The memories came flooding back: the first time she heard Cotton's sorrowful voice, the bond they had formed, and the countless moments they had shared. Now, all of that was gone, snuffed out by the cruelty of the mana hunters.

'Cotton...' Mila thought, her tears now flowing freely down her cheeks. Cotton had been more than just a companion; she had been family. The last of her kind, and now that she was gone, a unique light in the world had been extinguished. The grief was overwhelming, and Mila felt as if a piece of her soul had been torn away.

Ambrose, who had been watching from a distance, quickly crossed the space between them. He saw the pain in Mila's eyes, the raw anguish that she was trying so hard to contain. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as her tears soaked into his chest. He didn't know the full extent of what had happened to Net and Cotton while they were separated, but he knew that Mila's heart was breaking. He could feel the depth of her sorrow as if it were his own.

Mila sobbed uncontrollably, the weight of her grief pressing down on her like an unbearable burden. She clung to Ambrose, feeling the comfort of his embrace but unable to shake the deep sense of loss. "I promised Cotton that I would protect her," she choked out, her voice thick with guilt and sorrow. "I promised that I would be her family. And I failed. I failed her!" The words tumbled out, each one laced with the self-recrimination that had taken root in her heart.

Ambrose held her even closer, his hands stroking her back as he tried to soothe her. "Mila, you didn't fail," he whispered, his voice gentle yet firm. "You did everything you could."

But Mila shook her head, her tears flowing even more freely. "Yes, I did fail! I'm so afraid that I will fail everyone! Even you!" she cried, her voice rising with the intensity of her emotions. "I couldn't protect you back then, under those piles of rubble! I couldn't save Lana when she was on her deathbed! And now... now I couldn't even save Cotton, my dear friend, my family..."