The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power (by Emily Reed) novel Chapter 195

Chapter 195 When Hope Hurts More Than Despair

Morton’s POV:

After leaving the palace and boarding the carriage, my emotions still refused to settle.

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The carriage rolled through the bustling streets of the Royal Court, heading toward the noble quarter in the west of the city.

Unlike the Silverpeak Pack’s grand Silverpeak Ducal Estate, Baron Kazek’s residence was strikingly understated, almost lifeless.

Ever since the tragic news arrived three years ago, the old baron and baroness had been unable to withstand the blow. Their mental state deteriorated day by day until they were no longer capable of managing any affairs.

Last year, the old baron returned to the embrace of the Moon Goddess.

The current head of the household was Astra’s uncle, Roger Kazek.

For three years, the entire family had lived as though buried alive, never stepping beyond their gates.

When we arrived at the baronial estate, the gatekeeper nearly lost his footing at the sight of my carriage and rushed inside to announce my arrival.

I was ushered into the main hall.

The light inside was dim. Heavy curtains were drawn tightly shut, and the air was thick with the scent of old incense, a desperate attempt to mask a deeper sorrow.

Before long, Roger arrived with several of his brothers.

He had clearly run all the way back. His collar was crooked, sweat covering his brow.

“Morton,” Roger greeted me with a bow, his voice hoarse. “May I ask, does your visit mean that His Majesty has issued an order?”

Looking at the people in the room, all of them startled like frightened birds, and at the panic etched across the faces of the female relatives who had rushed in, my chest tightened.

“Roger, don’t be nervous.” I took a deep breath, doing my best to steady my voice. “I am here today on His Majesty’s behalf to bring good news.”

“Good news?” Roger froze, as though he didn’t understand the words.

“Prince Adam discovered a child suspected to be Astra in Highwind Territory and followed the trail all the way to Liberty City.” I scanned the room and spoke solemnly. “Cindy rushed there as well. After confirmation, the child is Astra. He is alive and will be returning to the Royal Court soon.”

I had expected cheers. I had expected tears of joy.

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09:51 Wed, Jan 28

Chapter 195 When Hope Hurts More Than Despair

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I was wrong.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

That silence was more suffocating than any sob.

Then it exploded.

“Impossible!”

Roger sprang to his feet, his eyes bloodshot, as if someone had stabbed him through the heart. “Morton, this is not a joke you can make. It’s too cruel!”

Roger’s POV:

My mind went blank with a loud buzz.

Alive? Astra was alive?

Absurd. It was the most absurd lie in the world.

“Morton!” My body shook violently, a mix of fury and sheer terror. “Back then… back then it was me. I personally led people into the ruins of the Silverpeak Pack to recover the bodies!”

The stench of charred flesh, mixed with soil and blood, had haunted my nightmares countless times over the past three years.

“I carried that small body out of the half-collapsed house with my own hands!” I shouted, tears streaming down my face. “The corpse was burned, yes, but he was holding the sapphire dagger engraved with his name. He wore the platinum necklace around his neck. He had on the clothes my mother sewed herself. Even his build and bone structure were exactly the same!”

I pointed toward the door, my finger trembling. “I buried him with my own hands. I watched him lowered into the ground. And now you tell me he’s alive? Then who is buried beneath the earth?”

In the hall, my mother, Astra’s grandmother, had already collapsed onto the sofa, clutching her chest and wailing. “This is a sin… what terrible sin is this?” she cried. “Has Cindy lost her mind? Has she gone mad missing her nephew and picked a random child to claim he’s Astra?”

“Are you trying to kill us?” she sobbed. “Was it not enough that we buried a child once, only to be forced to do it again? If you bring back a fake and give us hope only to shatter it, these old bones of mine might as well give out right now!”

My heart felt like it was being carved apart.

I wanted it to be true as much as anyone.

By the Goddess, I would trade every remaining year of my life for this to be real.

But reason told me it was impossible.

09:51 Wed, Jan 28 GM

Chapter 195 When Hope Hurts More Than Despair

Resurrection existed only in the songs of bards.

Reality was burned corpses and cold gravestones.

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“Roger, calm down.” Morton wasn’t angry. He only sighed. “At first, His Majesty didn’t believe it either. But Prince Adam has vouched for it in his own name, and Cindy has been with the child day and night. As for the body from back then… perhaps there is something we don’t know. A substitute, for instance.”

A substitute?

The words struck my mind like lightning.

No. I dared not think further.

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