The Day Before Sebastian Died
The night was still. The moon hung low.
Elbert didn't slow down. He couldn't.
"Hold on tight, Ms. Mary. We'll be there in no time."
His voice was steady, his mission clear he had to save them.
When they arrived at the harbor, the dock was eerily quiet.
The air was still. No movement. No life.
Only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.
Elbert scanned the area. Nothing. Completely empty.
Then movement. A shadow in the distance.
It grew larger, rising from the darkness as it approached.
A ship.
Not just any ship. The Black Swan
Elbert let out a breath of relief.
From the deck, Captain Brendon's voice boomed. "Hey, boy! I got your princess!"
Elbert smirked. "I could've done it without your help, Captain Brendon."
Brendon roared with laughter. "As if!"
They hurried back to Ms. Mary's house. Clara was still unconscious.
As Brendon listened, Ms. Mary told him everything.
Seraphina sat in her room, staring at the fireplace.
She was confused. Lost.
Then a footsteps. A presence.
Aaron had arrived.
Brendon pulled him into a rough hug, ruffling his hair.
"You've grown, lad!" He grinned, his voice filled with pride.
Aaron hugged him back. "Uncle, it's good to see you."
Ms. Mary smiled warmly. "Welcome back, Aaron."
Then, she paused. Her expression shifted.
"Where are the others?"
Aaron's demeanor changed. His gaze hardened as he turned to Elbert.
Something was different.
Elbert had followed Aaron for as long as he could remember, yet tonight—Aaron's eyes held something sharp. Something painful.
Aaron hesitated. His lips parted, but no words came. Instead, he reached for his coat.
He handed Elbert a long black coat. "Elbert." His voice was firm.
"Take Ashley. Get her far from here. This is your final mission."
Elbert froze. "No." His voice cracked.
"Don't argue with me." Aaron's tone was absolute.
"She needs you more than I do right now. Go."
Elbert clenched his fists. He gives his last bow. He didn't look. He just.
Go without a word, he mounted his horse and vanished into the night.
Brendon turned to Aaron.
"What have you done?"
Aaron didn't answer. Silence hung between them.
Then, softly, he asked Ms. Mary, "How is Selena?"
She smiled sadly. "She's doing alright." Aaron exhaled, as if steadying himself.
"Ms. Mary," he said carefully.
"May I take Selena's hand?" Tears welled in Ms. Mary's eyes. She nodded and smile. Moved by him.
"Please, Aaron. It's about time."
Aaron stepped into the dimly lit room.
Seraphina sat by the fire, hugging his coat.
Beside her lay a book one she carried everywhere.
Her eyes met his. Aaron's heart ached.
She looked at him, yet she didn't know him.
He swallowed hard, forcing his voice to stay steady.
"May I join you?"
Seraphina tilted her head.
"You smell familiar."
Aaron stepped closer, sitting beside her.
Silence. Seraphina pointed at the fire.
"Sometimes... I see a face in the flames." Her voice was distant, hollow.
"He looks at me. His eyes... dark as the night."
Aaron's hands trembled.
He knew. She was remembering him.
Somewhere, buried deep inside, she still saw him.
But she didn't remember Aaron.
His throat tightened. He forced a smile.
"Would you like to hear a story?" he asked softly.
She tilted her head again, shifting to face him.
Aaron steadied his breath.
"Once, there was a beautiful girl named Selena.
She carried herself with such grace,
such elegance, that first moment I saw her, I was lost."
Seraphina listened. Aaron continue.
"She stepped onto my ship, taking her first steps aboard. And in that moment, she stole my sight.
I couldn't look away. She was magnetic. She was wonderful. I fell for her."
Aaron turned to her, their gazes locking.
"That girl is you, Sera." He paused. His voice broke.
"I love you."
Seraphina's eyes glistened.
Aaron reached out, his fingers grazing her cheek.
"Let me do things right this time. Please."
She didn't remember him.
And yet—inside, something stirred.
Something that felt like home.
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
She didn't know why.
But she leaned in, letting him hold her.
And in the quiet, their embrace spoke louder than any words ever could.
Present Day
Ashley stood on the ship bound for Gildorne, her hands trembling as she held the letter.
Sebastian's final will.
Her lips parted, a whisper escaping.
"Sebastian guided me..."
Her fingers clenched around the parchment.
"I will do it right."
At The Confrontation
The grand hall was suffocating.
Ashley stood in the center, surrounded by the highest noble families. All eyes were on her.
Whispers. Murmurs. Judgments.
"I bet they were running from the truth."
"A Vale's blood will always be a Vale's blood."
Ashley inhaled sharply, gathering every ounce of courage.
She lifted her chin.
"The Whitmore family has built their empire on lies."
Her voice rang through the room, steady and defiant.
"They have abused their power, twisted the truth, and stolen our lands!"
Gasps filled the air.
"I have proof." Her tone sharpened. "And now, justice must take its course."
Some believed her. Others scoffed.
"How can we trust you?"
Another voice cut through. "Perhaps you're just like the Whitmores.
Using lies to protect your father or worse, covering up your own crimes with Lord Sebastian."
Then came the final blow.
"You and Sebastian disappeared for nearly a year. Even his fiancée knew nothing."
The murmurs grew louder.
Ashley's hands trembled. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Then "I killed him."
Silence.
The room froze.
Then chaos erupted.
Gasps. Shouts. Chairs scraped against the marble floor as people recoiled.
"What did you say?"
Ashley's voice didn't waver. "I killed him."
Some called her mad. Others began to listen.
Then, from the crowd, a man stood.
"My name is Edgar Sterling. I am a lawyer." His voice was calm, measured.
"Lady Ashley has my support. Her work speaks for itself. We must hear her out."
A noble scoffed. "Oh, tell me, Lord Edgar, how are we to believe Sebastian Vale is truly dead?"
Another sneered. "And what proof do you have of his supposed will?"
Ashley held up the letter.
"You can test the ink, the blood, the seal. But if you dare say this is not Sebastian Vale's hand" her voice darkened, "then I will tear this world apart until I find someone who will listen."
Silence.
And then acceptance.
As Ashley turned to leave, she paused at the door.
The nobles those vultures in silk and gold watched her in eerie silence.
Their faces blurred, shifting in the dim candlelight.
For a moment just a moment Ashley saw something else.
The room twisted.
Their voices melted away.
And instead, standing in their place...
She saw him. Sebastian.
A phantom of what once was. He stood at the head of the room,
his piercing gaze locked on her. Not in anger. Not in sorrow.
Just watching. Like he always did. Like he was still waiting.
The vision flickered. The nobles' voices rushed back, their whispers filling the air.
Ashley swallowed hard
She turned her back on them all on this world, his world, their world.
And walked away.
At Vale Manor
The night was heavy with sorrow.
Clara stood in her dressing room, gazing at her wedding dress.
Today should have been the happiest day of her life. Yet...
"Where is he?" The thought refused to leave her mind. "Where is Sebastian?"
A soft knock. "Lady Clara, you have a guest."
She turned sharply, hope flickering to life.
"Is it him?" Her voice was almost breathless.
Then"Clara."
The voice was hollow.
Clara knew that voice.
Her breath caught in her throat. "Ash...?"
Ashley stood before her, a ghost of herself.
Clara took a step forward, eyes wide. "Where is he?"
Ashley couldn't meet her gaze.
"I'm sorry."
Clara moved closer, her chest tightening. "Pardon me?"
Ashley's trembling hand reached out. She placed Sebastian's ring in Clara's palm.
Clara stared down at it. Her ring. Her fingers curled around the metal.
"Ash... what do you mean?" Her voice quivered.
Ashley still couldn't look at her.
There was blood on her hands. Sebastian's blood.
Then Clara pushed further, reaching out to grab Ashley's shoulder.
"Tell me, Ash," her voice was firm demanding with anger and confusion.
Slowly, Ashley lifted her gaze.
"I killed him." Clara's world shattered.
"No... no, Ash. You're lying." Her grip on Ashley loosened, hands trembling.
Ashley didn't speak. And Clara knew. Ashley never lied.
The truth sank in heavy, suffocating.
Clara's hands trembled around the ring.
Then a memory play in her mind. At vale mention. Clara waited for Sebastian. Yet
Sebastian had come home late that night. Exhausted.
His coat was half undone, his cravat loosened, his usual smug confidence nowhere to be seen.
He didn't say a word as he walked in just collapsed onto the couch, resting his head against her lap.
Clara stiffened. They weren't like this. Not yet.
But for once, he didn't have anything witty to say. No teasing, no arrogance.
Just a soft, exhausted whisper "I'm so tired, Dove."
Clara looked down at him, brushing his messy hair back from his forehead.
"You're just tired, Sebastian." She chuckled, shaking her head. "You're not going to die like this."
His lips curled into a faint smirk, but his eyes...
They were distant. Hollow.
"Dove... if I were to die..." he murmured, his voice quieter now.
"I'd want it to be like this. In your arms." Clara froze.
For a split second, something in her chest ached.
But she shoved it away. He was always dramatic. Always saying things that didn't mean anything.
"You're being ridiculous, Sebastian."
So she just laughed. While Sebastian peaceful. Sleeping on her lap.
Clara's Breakdown
The memory snapped away.
Clara chest tightening so much it hurt.
She gripped the ring so tightly it dug into her palm.
"No... no, you liar.." Her voice broke. "It cant be right." She look at Ashley.
as if she waited for anything that can change the reality.
but Ashley, she just stood there.
Then Clara lunged at Ashley, grabbing her by the shirt shaking her. Her grip was tight, desperate.
"Let me see him, Ash!" Clara's voice cracked, a plea tangled in her sobs.
"No… he wouldn't. He wouldn't just—" The rest of her words dissolved into broken cries.
Ashley didn't fight back. She just stood there, letting Clara rage letting her break.
Clara's breathing turned shaky. Ashley silence crushed her, suffocating.
"Say something!" she begged, her fingers digging into Ashley's sleeves.
But Ashley wouldn't. Deep inside Ashley was crying. But she never show.
Because she couldn't. The truth was unchangeable.
A choked sob ripped from Clara's throat. Her body trembled so violently, she lost her strength, collapsing to her knees. Her fingers curled around the ring—clutching it like it was the last piece of him she had left.
"You were supposed to come back."
She buried her face in her hands.
"You promised you'd be waiting for me."
Ashley just stood there. Watching.
Because what could she possibly say?
After the storm, Ashley left behind Sebastian's final words.
To my fiancée, my dove.
Clara. My world. My everything. My only.
If you are reading this, then I no longer see the sun.
But do not despise dove… or hate Ashley.
She only did as I asked as I commanded.
The curse… it was unbearable. A cruel, wretched thing that twisted my love into something unrecognizable.
I could not exist in a world where you did not love me. Nor could I live loving another.
And I refuse to remain in a world where my heart belongs to someone else.
Therefore.
"Let me die… while my heart still recognize you.
Let me die… while I still love you…"
Forgive me, my dove.
Live. Even if I cannot.
—Sebastian Vale.
Clara's hands trembled as she traced the ink.
Tears dripped onto the parchment.
Her lips parted, a whisper escaping "Ash."
Ashley turned, barely breathing.
"Did you love him?"
Ashley froze. She didn't answer.
But her eyes did.
Clara saw it the truth, the guilt, the pain.
Ashley swallowed hard. "It was the curse." Not agree nor deny it.
Then, without another word she walked away. Walk away from her life for ever.
At long last, peace was restored to the lands.
Don Vo Donmail became the most famous landmark, drawing travelers from far and wide. They came for one reason to see Emily and Gordon's grave, the place where love endured beyond death. The land, once cursed by sorrow, now stood as a symbol of love, loss, and the price of devotion.
Yet the Lancasters kept their claim. Aaron made sure of it.
He rebuilt the town on Montgomery lands, ensuring that nothing changed. No history erased. No graves disturbed. No secrets. And there, he built his home. Together with Seraphina.
As for Clara, Sebastian's duty now fell upon her.
Keeping the family at peace was no small task, especially when his 3 sisters remained as untamed as ever.
At last, Clarence followed in her sister's footsteps proposing to
Sebastian's younger sister, Cecilia Vale.
It was a moment of peace. A moment of joy. For both family.
And Ashley...? No one knew where she's vanished.
Some say she was swallowed by the past. Others say she simply walked away, never looking back.
Then in a dark.
A voice. Soft. Familiar. Too familiar.
"Elbert."
He turned. Eyes sharp—yet for the first time, they wavered.
"...My lady?" A pause.
The wind howled. The lanterns flickered.
And in that single moment, Velmoria breathed once more.
.....THE END...
Epilogue
Somewhere in a dark, empty room A man sat.
Golden hair gleamed under the dim light.
A smirk curled on his lips.
"So bold, Lady Ashley."
He exhaled slowly, watching the embers flicker.
"Sending me to prison?" He chuckled. "How amusing."
His gaze darkened.
"Enjoy your little victory while you can."
He leaned back, smiling to himself.
"Take care of your dog... before the curse consumes him."
.....The end.....