Reborn, Its Time To Save My Family And.. My Enemy!
Chapter 204: By My Side

Chapter 204: By My Side

The carriage rolled to a halt before a towering manor carved from pale stone, Olivia stared at it through the frosted window, her breath fogging the glass.

It was colder here. She stepped out slowly, her boots crunching softly on the powdered snow. The manor loomed above reaching the clouds. But it was deathly silent and cold.

Her last meeting with Rhistel flashed in her mind. His cold eyes had stared at her like a predator had pierced through her. like he already knew what she was. That short encounter had left her shaking for days. And now...

She looked around, expecting to see him waiting near the grand doors and prepared herself for the impact, but when she walked closer, she was stunned to see that he wasn’t there.

Instead, Oriana stood on the wide stone steps, wrapped in a deep burgundy cloak lined with fur. Her red hair was pinned up elegantly, and her lips were parted with emotions Olivia could not recognize, yet she felt drawn to them. Her sister! No matter how cold and distant they have been, they were family! Olivia couldn’t breathe for a moment.

Oriana looked older, but not in the way that meant age, she looked exhausted.

Then Oriana stepped down and to Olivia’s utter disbelief, threw her arms around her.

"Sister," she whispered hoarsely. "I have missed you."

Olivia froze. For a moment, she couldn’t respond. The Oriana she remembered did not hug. She did not cry. She did not break, she stood cold and told even when their parents had died. And she had always been distant and emotionless.

But this one... this woman held her like someone who had spent years bleeding in silence.

"I thought I would never see you again," Oriana said, her voice cracking.

Before Olivia could answer, Oriana pulled back and turned to the children. Her hands trembled as she touched Leo’s face first, then Abi’s hair.

"My babies," she choked. "You’ve grown so much. I am sorry for abandoning you for such a long time. I am so sorry." Leo stared at her, stunned. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Abi hesitated, her small fingers twitching at her sides.

Then Oriana sank to her knees and gathered them both into her arms.

That broke whatever wall had been holding the children back.

Leo clung to her, his face buried in her shoulder. Abi whimpered and wrapped her arms around Oriana’s neck. Their sobs overlapped until it was impossible to tell whose was whose.

Olivia stood silently, her own throat thick with emotion. Her chest hurt watching them, watching the family that had been so painfully torn apart, trying to mend itself.

She wiped her eyes hastily and looked away. But she was shocked to see they were alone there.

Damon was gone. She scanned the courtyard but there was no sign of him. It was rare for him to leave her alone. He was at edge after last night’s incident.

Before she could dwell on it, the elders from the vassal families approached with careful steps and practiced smiles. They bowed to Oriana in turn, voices overly polite.

"My Lady Oriana, we are grateful for your invitation."

"Yes," another added. "We hope to discuss your return. This place is not fit for you. It is cold and bitter. And I am sure the manor did not have enough staff to serve you. You would suffer here greatly."

Oriana straightened and composed herself with an ease that startled Olivia. The tears had dried, but her eyes were still glassy.

"This discussion could wait. You must be tired from the journey. Come in, all of you," Oriana said, her voice steady. "Rooms have been prepared. We will speak after you’ve rested."

Servants emerged from the doorway, guiding the guests toward the manor. The wind howled louder for a brief moment, and snow began to fall in earnest.

Oriana reached for Olivia’s hand before she could retreat.

"Come. You’re not a guest, Oli. You’re home now." the words stung. She had never called the duke Aykroyd’s manor her house. She had always told Olivia that she was a guest living there until she found a perfect man and married her.

But now, this was... "home?" The word felt distant in her lips and a look of guilt flashed in Oriana’s eyes as she slowly nodded.

"I have been too consumed with greed, Oli. to find a place where we could not be thrown out. To live with our head raised high and those nobles bowing to us. To achieve this dream, I have lost a lot of things. I regret it now. Since the dream shattered the moment his grace left us alone. I realized, I could never find the security I was looking for if I looked for it in someone else." Olivia watched her sister with a proud look.

"And now, you have changed?" It was hard to believe that Oriana changed in a few months. But if she wanted to mend her away, Olivia was more than happy to help her.

"I am trying." Oriana confessed. "And his grace is helping me." Olivia knew she was not talking about Aykroyd’s anymore.

She nodded and let Oriana drag her into a large room. One look and Olivia could tell it was meant for the mistress of the house.

Oriana pulled Olivia on the bed.

"Do you like this place? It is cold but the servants keep it warm. Rhistel is kind and understanding and he would not mind if you come with the kids, Olivia. I have already asked him and he accepted. This time, you do not need to marry the royal prince or anyone else. You can start a new life here and look for love. I want you to marry a man you love. Not for power and wealth." Olivia gulped. She did not realize that Oriana would think about her marriage.

"Sister! I am glad you are worried about me, but I already have someone by my side."