Chapter 177: _She’s Not Guilty, But...

Words : 1443 Updated : Oct 4th, 2025

Chapter 177: _She’s Not Guilty, But... "Aunt Althea." I blurted as I slowly rose to my feet, watching the woman who raised me for most of my life walking toward me. Her face wasn’t filled with judgment. It wasn’t filled with the disappointment I’d expected. No, instead it was filled with... Pride? What’s she proud of? "Odessa, my dear sweet child." Aunt Althea got in front of my cell as Marcellus stepped aside for her with a smile. She wore a purple robe with runic designs and had her black hair flowing down freely. Althea paused at first, glancing at Marcellus briefly before she gave him a curt nod. Before I could overthink that interaction or the scrutinizing way she stared at him, my aunt stretched her arms through the metal bars and pulled me into a hug. "I’m so sorry you have to go through any of this." She whispered, brushing my hair tenderly. "I’ve always wanted you to inherit the powerful magic bloodline your mother and I share. But I never expected it to manifest like..." She paused, briefly pulling away from me and placing her hands on my shoulders, staring at me with a wry smile. "Well, like this. With you behind bars, accused of a crime you didn’t commit and then forced into committing one that has alienated you from the continent." I lowered my head, glancing at Marcellus who stood there silently, observing the both of us with a respectful gaze. I placed my hands on my aunt’s wrists, letting myself feel her motherly warmth before I sighed heavily. "The others in the coven." I started, my voice filled with hesitation. "D–Do they—" "Oh, they do, Odessa." She nodded with a sigh of her own. "The Charity Ball was broadcasted all around the continent. The other high priestesses of the coven, including the Coven’s head, are discussing your case. I came here before them to vindicate you first from one crime." I raised an eyebrow, wondering what she was talking about at first until I heard approaching footsteps. I turned to its source only to spot Layla walking toward the cell with a calm and neutral expression. "The Alpha King requests that you be brought to the throne room immediately." She announced as my aunt took a few steps back. I took some steps back as well and watched as she brought out a key, unbolting the smaller locks before unlocking the main lock with it. When the gate creaked open, I blinked, almost unable to believe my eyes. I was getting freed so soon already. But something told me there was something wrong, especially with that slight unease lingering in Layla’s eyes and the fact that I could feel Kaelos’ unstable emotions minutes ago. "Is... Is Kaelos currently occupied with something?" I asked, crumpling my eyes with confusion as I glanced at Althea. "You saw him before coming here, right? Is he—" "Madame Greyheart was found dead in her bedroom." Layla interrupted with a grim tone, causing a cold shiver to run down my spine. I turned my gaze to her, my eyes widening as I struggled to find what to say. Was there even anything appropriate to say in this situation? ’Uh, what about good riddance to the bitch?’ Sirena remarked with a scoff in my mind, causing me to purse my lips. ’Come on, you being released from this prison and THEN that hag getting taken out. Girl, karma works fast!’ I tried controlling Sirena’s thoughts to ensure they didn’t mix with mine as I kept my expression serious in reality. "Come on. No time to waste." Layla gestured with her head, turning her gaze to Marcellus briefly and dimming her eyes. "Uh, good evening, Beta. I–I thought you’d be taking your time recovering back in your residence." Marcellus smiled wryly, his jaw clenching to show that he was holding back pain. "Well, I’m still in the process of doing that. I only came down here to check on..." He paused, glancing at me as his voice softened. "... A fellow victim of circumstances." I couldn’t help myself from smiling in return as Layla nodded slowly before gesturing at the dungeon’s exit stairwell. "Shall we?" She asked again. I turned my gaze to my aunt and felt my heart warm up when she grabbed my hand and held it, encouraging me with a smile and a nod. Maybe I wasn’t as alone as I originally thought... . . When we finally got to Kaelos’ large throne room, which was dark and only partially lit up by some blue lamps that lined the walls, my gaze immediately fell on him at the other end. He sat on his throne, his left hand on his chin while his right hand gripped the armrest of the throne as if he wanted to break it. Standing in front of him was Celine, who had her face buried in her hands as she wept uncontrollably. When the footsteps of me, Marcellus, and the others echoed, Kaelos raised his head, staring directly at me and ignoring all the others. When our eyes locked, all the noise, smells, and things around me seemed to disappear as all that remained was his face, his distinct heartbeat, and his intoxicating cologne. His silver eyes, which were once filled with pensiveness and barely held back anger, now lit up, following me like a puppy after a treat. It was cute... Until his gaze fleeted to Marcellus who walked beside me. That caused his eyes to dim with the faintest hint of possessiveness and anger as if he wanted to come down from the throne and finish what he started at the Charity Ball. Gods, no... "I’m... I’m telling you, Kaelos." Celine suddenly blurted, snapping the tension instantly. "O– Odessa is the one behind my mother’s death. She’s cursed! She’s a hybrid and all she brings is—" "Quiet." Kaelos interrupted with a calm but cold voice as he got on his feet before I could snap at Celine because of her allegations. Kaelos brought his gaze to my aunt and signaled her with a nod. Suddenly, Althea stepped away from me, causing me to blink in confusion as I stared at her. "In the presence of all who are here to witness, I shall now commence a truth spell on Odessa Pierce," Althea announced with a voice that echoed around the walls of the throne room. Suddenly, a magic circle glowing with a bright blue light filled with small runes, surrounded me from below, causing my eyes to widen as I held my breath. ’A truth spell...’ I mumbled, raising my head and staring at my aunt as my face lit up with a smile. Of course! That would be the easiest way to set me free. "Did you, Odessa Pierce, kiss the Beta or in any way have an affair with him? Whether emotional or physical?" My aunt asked as Celine snapped her head to me and snarled with a cracked voice. "No! S–She’s only going to help her hide her—" Before she could continue, I felt a change in the atmosphere, followed by Celine falling to her knees. I spotted Kaelos staring coldly at her, his Alpha King aura overflowing and easily forcing her to obey him. As much as I felt bad for her for losing her mother... A small smile still played at the corner of my lips. I guess I was wrong earlier... Justice was getting served! "No, I didn’t," I responded swiftly to my aunt’s question with the absence of any distractions. Then everyone held their breaths and the room was silent as the magic circle began spinning. "If it turns white, she’s telling the truth." My aunt revealed, glancing back at Kaelos. "But if it turns red, then it’s a lie." No sooner had she said those words than when the circle stopped spinning and then instantly changed from a bright blue color to a white one. My shoulders relaxed as I breathed out in relief while the circle disappeared around me. However, just when I was about to rush to my aunt and embrace her, she raised her right hand to draw everyone’s attention. "I discovered another thing during my walk with Oddesa here." She announced, her face seeming hesitant as she glanced at me briefly before bringing her gaze to Kaelos. I blinked with confusion, wondering what was happening while Kaelos remained stoic and silent, waiting for her to continue. After what felt like an eternity, my aunt drew in a deep breath and dropped what I could only describe as a bombshell. "Odessa is pregnant."

Chapter 177: _She’s Not Guilty, But...

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