Not Giving Into Fate

36- Brother's Return

I hadn't slept the night, anxiously returning for Elric to return back home. I used my time at night to focus on a book of ancient curses, more so on the chapters regarding black magic.

I have a few books on black magic, but unfortunately, after the Great War, a lot of these books and scrolls were burned and destroyed in fear that another war will occur. As the Master of Ancient Magic, I fortunately have all the access to all the texts on it. Unfortunately, researching hasn't gotten me anywhere.

It was the late afternoon when Butler Claude had interrupted my research, asking if I was ready to meet with the guest. He had a small box with him, the kit to test a person's paternity. I let out a sigh and nod.

I follow Butler Claude to the guest room where the bastard child sat waiting. Our walk was quiet, we needed to stay professional and unemotional. I think all the servants we passed knew about her and what will be happening. They avoided my gaze and whispered amongst themselves.

I heard their whispers of my father's affair and the child that resulted from it. I heard my mother's name and the scandal that occurred back in the day, back when I wasn't even 10. I ignored them, knowing that the words from servants were truly irrelevant.

I felt the butler's gaze. He heard what they said so he knew I heard them too, the whispers of the disgusting affair that broke my mother and broke Elric and I's stability. However, I'm immune to gossip regarding me. In the past I've constantly been in the center of rumors, all bad and rarely good. I was used to this, I didn't care about what the servants said.

We made it to her doors at the end of the abandoned hall. This wing was dedicated for important guests that stayed over the duchy. However, my father never liked guests and my mom was isolated from her family and friends. To my knowledge, my father's youngest brother often invited his friends to stay over where lavish parties were held before he passed in the war. These rooms have been long abandoned, the upkeep was horrible. As the lady of the house, I should've kept the rooms ready for use at any given moment, but I abandoned the thought of guests the second I left for the Academy.

The bastard child was residing in one of these abandoned rooms, trapped in dust and cobwebs that surely grew with time. However, I didn't feel bad for her. I take a deep breath, remembering all the horrible memories she brought me in the past. She turned my servants away from me, got all the love from my father and husband, befriended all of society and turned the public against me. But, I can fight back now. I will not let her win this time.

I don't bother knocking, opening the door and I see that there are indeed dusts and cobwebs in the corners of the room and on furniture. I immediately spot the young lady sitting by the window, humming a song as she looked outside.

Our outburst turned her attention to us. We immediately locked eyes and she smiled at me. I wasn't sure if the smile was real or not, but I did not return it. She skipped to me, reaching for my hand but I pulled it away from her reach.

"Sit down," I state, walking to the nicest chair in the room. She doesn't say a word and sits in front of me. We stare at each other, sizing each other up. From my peripherals, I see that the Butler chooses to stand behind me, showing he takes my side.

"Who are you?" I ask her.

"My name is Catherina Nitsk and I am your sister." She smiles. "I've waited so long to meet you-"

"We are not sisters," I cut her off. "Sir Claude will be conducting a paternity test. We will see if what you claim is true." Butler Claude walks forward and puts the box on the coffee table, opening it and taking out the contents.

"It will be true. Daddy did this when I was young we don't-"

"We will do it now, in front of me. As we wait for the results, I want to know what you want." I ask, enchanting a quill and pen from thin air, enchanting it to write by itself. She stares at it in awe.