Chapter 224: Let Me Go

Hadrian left Moulin to the bitter silence of the room.

It was when Hadrian finally left that he came back to his senses. The barrier restored itself. Glass and mana accumulating to repair the room in seconds. Moulin sank onto the bed. Shocked and incredulous. Once again, he's imprisoned.

He held his hands and breathes out. Hadrian's words had shocked him to the core. Moulin wasn't sure how to react to them. Silver eyes quivered as his thoughts ran chaotically. Were they lies? Acts of falsehood to gain his trust? No, it couldn't be true. Moulin didn't believe it. Hadrian wouldn't lie to him. Mask his emotions from him…

Moulin stopped. 'But how would I know?

Today he learned how Hadrian has been putting up with him all these times. How Hadrian was internally ignoring his words and perhaps berating him for his fake courage and weakness.

But what would Hadrian gain from him? He would not play Moulin like those scums. Moulin closed his eyes shut. His heart ached painfully.

A few days passed and Moulin grew more and more anxious. He was unable to obtain answers, and worry constantly devoured his heart bit by bit. Locked up in the room, he was not able to see anyone. There were servants who would enter the chambers thrice each day to clean the room and bring him food, but speech restraining magic was cast upon them. They could not speak to Moulin, nor could they go near him.

No matter how much he would destroy the barrier which enclosed the room, it would only recover after a few seconds. And slowly, Moulin could feel his mana slowly being eaten away the more he struck the barrier. Panic and dread fill his heart but he could not give up. Weariness decorated his face, but he stood up again to break the barrier.

"My Lord…"

Alaric stood before his master, who was watching Moulin's movements through the round gold mirror on his desk. His golden eyes were dark, as though a beast was watching his prey. Lord Hadrian was sitting on his chair, not bothering to even spare a glance at his loyal spy. Alaric was already used to the Lord's cold personality, so it didn't bother him even a bit. However, he felt a growing discomfort the more he watches his Lord observe Moulin uselessly trying to escape from the room.

Alaric knew Moulin had already known of the circumstances of the Fraunces estate and his mother's infection of the Kron. He understood how helpless and sorrowful Moulin must have felt to find his most trusted person hiding this information from him. Utter despair and betrayal. A flash of sympathy crossed his gaze. Young master Moulin was a kind and understanding person. A blend of beauty and power. There was no other person like him.

He is a perfect match for Lord Hadrian. Anyone would agree…

However, Alaric figured the youth would become very pitiful if he was truly loved by his master. Seeing Moulin's fierce desperation now. Alaric knew he was right.

"My Lord…" Alaric finally repeated. "Forgive this one for his impulsiveness, however, do you not think the young master deserves to see his family again?" Alaric swallowed when Hadrian finally looks at him. He stuttered. "T-The young master isn't eating well these days."

Hadrian scrutinizes his servant. A terrifying aura engulfs the whole room. Laced with oppression and dominance, it wasn't long before Alaric was on his knees, trembling and struggling to breathe. The poor man held his neck as he felt his throat contract. "M-My L-Lord…"

Golden eyes gleamed ruthlessly. Hadrian's expression remained neutral, however, his eyes speak of darkness most feared by every living being. It was the first time Alaric had witnessed such a terrifying gaze from the Lord. In his mind, he realized. If Moulin was Lord Hadrian's cure and salvation, he will likewise be the source of his ruin and wrath. The knowledge made Alaric fearful.

BANG!

The doors were slammed opened and two people entered the room with powerful strides. One was a man filled with fury, his beast blood boiled with discontent and anger, while the other was calm, however, his aged face was enveloped with coldness and displeasure.

At the same time, the oppressive aura vanished instantly. Alaric desperately breathed the air as he slumped on the floor. Relief filled his mind.

Estuvian with his robes of heavenly white approached the desk with a dark expression. "Let him go."

Hadrian's eyes narrowed. "Don't meddle in my affairs, Estan."

"You…" Estuvian's frown deepened. He had found out about Moulin's confinement a few days ago. It was a shock to him to realize that Hadrian had truly taken his words for granted. Not only did he not tell Moulin about his mother's and his family's pitiful situation, he even locked up the young child in his chambers. Estuvian and lord Hendrick have tried to intervene and persuade Hadrian as much as they could, however, they could not convince the stoic man. He had turned cold and pitiless. They realized that they no longer have any way of changing Hadrian's mind. He was immovable and unfeeling.

"Hadrian…" Lord Hendrick sighed with an imploring expression. "Don't do this…"

Lord Hendrick was reminded of his youth. Although he had peacefully lived off the curse of madness, the mistakes he had done to his beloved were deplorable and unforgiving. He didn't want to watch Hadrian repeat the same things he had done.

"None of you will understand of what comes between us," Hadrian said in a deep voice as he rose from his seat. His eyes stared intently at the hopeless figure sitting on his bed. Hair of moonlight and eyes of captivating silver. For long, Hadrian had wanted to keep Moulin. Clip his wings and force him to his side. It felt right. He had disregarded the hesitance and the painful clawing in his heart. It felt right.

"Grandfather, Guardian…" Hadrian addresses the two with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. A deep, intimidating meaning lingers in his voice as he spoke. "Cease your chiding. I will take good care of him." His eyes narrowed into crescents.

With these words, Estuvian felt a dreadful premonition. Without thinking, he spoke out with a worried expression, "You will lose him…"

Hadrian stops at his words. He turned around with a cold expression. Golden eyes flashed frightfully. It made everyone in the room draw back in fear. A gaze so compelling, it made Estuvian slightly waver. Hadrian slowly lowers his head and stares at Moulin's tiresome, curled figure.

"As long as I have him within my sight. He will not leave this world…"

From behind the doors, a lone figure listens quietly. His sea-green eyes intensified and his hands clenched. Aedion stood motionlessly. He had predicted this outcome long before. Regret seeps into his heart as he thought of Moulin, held captive and trapped. 'I should've helped him escaped sooner. This would not have happened if I had hesitated'

Aedion internally blamed himself.

However, his regrets could do nothing now. What is made is done. The most he could do was help Moulin escape. And to accomplish that, he would need some help.

...............…

Moulin sank at the foot of the bed. He tipped his head back on the soft mattress and released a frustrated sigh. He was exhausted and weak. But he wanted to keep fighting. How was that barrier so strong? Silver eyes closed wearily. The more he attacked the barrier, the faster it recovers and the stronger it becomes. His mana was drained, and he felt his limbs go tired. And the anger he has for one particular lord rose to a dangerous degree.

It has been a week, Moulin wanted to claw the door and cry out like a helpless pitiful child. The hopelessness in his heart has overwhelmed his mind and his heart. Several times, he convinced himself to not give up. However, he felt as though in every second, his mother would be nearing death. A pitiful scream wanted to cry out from his throat, but he resisted. He could not break down now. There was still a chance.

With a sigh, Moulin looks at the crystal balcony doors. Dark clouds have frequently enshrouded the whole fortress, he noticed. It was as though heavy rain would suddenly fall and flood the whole fortress. But even if that was the case, Moulin wanted to hear it. The sound of rain, the whispers of the wind, and the crashes of violent waves.

The youth's brows furrowed.

When will he be set free?

Exhaling deeply, Moulin moved to turn his gaze away.

…

Knock!

Knock!

Knock!

"…?"

Hearing the strange knocking sounds, Moulin thought he was finally hearing things. Desperation had driven him crazy at last. However, when he turned his head to the balcony, he noticed a hooded figure behaving suspiciously as they knocked on the glass.

Moulin stood up from his seat and slowly made his way to the balcony. When the person finally sees Moulin approaching them, their gloved hands pulled down the hood that concealed their face.

Amber eyes met Moulin's silver ones and short midnight black hair was swept sideways by the wind.

Alsander's amused face revealed itself. He chuckled as he watched Moulin's shocked appearance.

"Long time no see, young master" He grinned.