Seducing The Second Male Lead

22

Ted Ignes' POV

I was walking through the corridor to see my little cousin that had disappeared for many years and began to reminisce about the earlier years when her cheerful self had always came round to play with me.

Imagining that happy and cheerful face, I wondered what my little Ariella would look like now that she had grown up. Would she recognised the grown me?

Before I could knock on the door, I heard a smash and refrained from knocking nor making any sound outside the door.

A pained female whimper came out from the room as a young shriek which I knew was Elise's, sounded out.

Without waiting nor thinking anymore, I rushed in to see a woman that looked awfully like the little Ariella of mine and also Elise that was trembling as she watched the woman's white hair turn black in it's roots.

Ariella looked like she crying despite there being no tears and her face seemed to be tugging into a smile. Her blue eyes seemed to be red at moments but I wasn't sure whether it was my imagination or not.

"Please... Please... Stop her!" Ariella whimpered as I stepped forth and slammed my hand down onto the back of her neck, knocking her unconscious.

I didn't know why but I felt that it was the right thing to do, and it seemed like it was for the black in her hair had disappeared and she no longer screamed out.

Elise was scared and immediately clutched onto me, which I patted her back and whispered for her gently to call uncle Ain as well as aunt Yulian. She stumbled out of the room whilst I lifted Ariella onto the bed and clenched my fists.

Did something actually happen to her body in that shadow realm?

I heard that she had requested herself to leave the palace and said that there was 'no need' to detain her there any longer.

Maybe, she knew it herself?

A cluster of rushed footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts as I turned to see my uncle and aunt as well as a sobbing little Elise.

Ain's POV

After Elise came stumbling and crying into my office, I couldn't help but feel goosebumps rising on the surface of my skin and my heart rate began to accelerate.

I knew that whatever news that Elise came to bear was definitely not good news.

Over the years, my life had been a mess, but whose had been worse was without a doubt my daughter's, Ariella's.

A continuous series of trouble greeted her on a daily basis and she even went missing for so long. It felt almost abnormal and fishy, especially when she had came back from the shadow realm.

The words that came out of Elise's mouth seemed to pull me closer to despair as I rose from my seat ever so slowly, unable to take in the sudden flow of information.

A question from Elise stuck into my brain.

Is she a monster?

I couldn't even try and console my crying daughter, only kneeling by her at loss until Yulian walked passed and saw the awkward scene.

"Ain, if this is the case, what are you doing, kneeling here?! Come on and get up, we need to see Ariella!" Pulling me up with her strong yet dainty arms, I couldn't help but break out into a run until I reached her room.

The door was wide open and inside was a mess. Ted only stood beside the bed where a young lady was sleeping peacefully.

"Ted, how is my daughter?" I asked, forcing the words out of the blocked throat.

"Uncle Ain... She... I had to knock her out, I'm sorry but she was..."

When I heard that he 'had' to, I felt my heart collapse and recognised the severity of the situation.

Immediately, I began to think back to the scene where she came back home from the palace.

Without noticing, my thoughts aligned with Ted's and we were haunted with the horrible truth.

She knew... She definitely knew that she did not have much time left as Ariella...

I went over to her side and held her hand gently as I peered down to that pale and sunken face. She seemed sickly and tired, probably about life. She seemed to have enough of this farce that fate has been playing on her.

All I could do as her father now is to accompany her to the end and find what ever means necessary to help her.

Even if I sell my soul to the devil.

"Ted, Yulian, Elise. This information will go nowhere and will stay here, okay? Nobody must know about Ariella being like this!" I wanted my daughter to have peace no matter what and I will save her.

I felt Yulian's warm hands holding my shoulders and suddenly my burden felt lighter.

I knew that Yulian would always be by my side and by our family's side, she was always the best woman in my eyes and I should have found her faster.

Reaching out to hold Yulian's hand on my shoulder, I brought it down and pat the back of it endearingly.

"Look after Elise for a while, I am going to talk to the elders in the Sacred Land. They must have a way." Getting up, I couldn't look at my eldest daughter anymore. I kissed Elise on her forehead and Yulian on her lips, but I couldn't bear to see Ariella that was once again in a deep sleep.

I had seen this scene many times over the past years and I couldn't continue any longer.

She had just... Suffered too much and I can't blame her for that.

Striding to my study hurriedly, I dug out an orb that was a sort of communication device and turned it on.

"Elders please. I'm sorry over and over again, however, I need your help."