The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power (by Emily Reed) novel Chapter 177

Chapter 177 Hope

Cindy’s POV:

“Ms. Cindy, your bag.”

Jewel ran out after me, her hands shaking badly as she handed me the pack.

The whole ducal estate was in an uproar.

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I hadn’t said a word about what Chase told me, but everyone in the pack had sharp senses. They could smell “hope” in the air-and the determination on me, the kind that only shows up when someone’s about to leave for good.

The yard was full of people.

The old butler, the guards, even the kitchen staff.

All eyes were on me, and in their gaze was something that made my heart ache-a look that held both disbelief and a desperate hope for a miracle.

“I’m not getting my hopes up.” As I Stuffed my things into my pack and cinched the straps tight, I spoke coldly to the crowd, as if that could dull the pain of disappointment. “That child… is probably just a lookalike. We all saw Astra back then. I’m just going to check, to help Prince Adam confirm.”

Silence swept through the group.

Everyone knew-the fire and slaughter that year left scars on all of us.

Tearing open a scar that was already healed was just too painful.

“Jewel.” I suddenly stopped and turned to her. “Go to the storeroom and bring me that rosewood box.”

Jewel froze, then tears streamed down her cheeks. “You… you mean that dagger?”

“Go!”

Jewel spun around and ran off. She was in such a hurry she tripped on the steps, scraped her knee, and blood oozed out.

But she didn’t even cry out. She just picked herself up and kept limping to the storeroom.

I gave Astra a small dagger for his fifth birthday.

Asmall dagger, forged from steel, with a sapphire set in the hilt and his name-“Astra”-engraved on the

blade.

The body we found back then was holding a dagger too, all burned and twisted.

We buried that deformed dagger with the body.

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15:17 Wed, Jan 21 MG.

Chapter 177 Hope

The one I wanted Jewel to retrieve now was the other in the pair-the one that belonged to me.

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It didn’t take long before Jewel came back, out of breath, carrying the box as if she were holding the world’s most precious treasure.

“Ms. Cindy, here you go.”

I took the box and opened it.

The icy blade of the dagger gleamed, resting on red velvet.

“Take it with you,” Diana whispered in my mind. “Sometimes, blood needs a token to guide it home.”

I slid the dagger into my boot and turned, ready to leave.

Just then, a hunched figure pushed through the crowd.

It was Lisa, the Omega who’d raised Astra.

She was so old now-her hair was graying, and her eyes were clouded.

She tottered over to me, clutching a small cloth bundle.

“Cindy…” she called my name, her voice rough and hoarse. “This … this is Astra’s favorite, honey jerky. I just made it. I didn’t have the chance to…”

She broke down, her old tears running unchecked. “If … if it really is him, he must be starving. He’s been out there so long, he hasn’t had anything decent… Please, you give this to him, all right? Give it to him…”

My heart clenched so hard I could barely breathe.

I took the warm bundle and tucked it carefully into my pack.

“I understand, Lisa.” I drew a shaky breath, forcing back tears. “If it’s him, I’ll make sure he gets to eat it.”

I looked around at everyone.

“Look after the estate. I’ll be back.”

With those three words, I didn’t look back again.

A silver light flared around me. The agony of bones shifting was nothing but a breeze to me now.

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