Unanswered Questions
1100 Words
Chapter 4-
Kael's Pov
Sleep never really came that night.
I spent most of it staring at the ceiling of my bedroom while the storm outside slowly faded into silence.
Every time I closed my eyes the same image returned.
Her face.
Eliora.
Or Aurelia.
Or whoever she truly was.
By the time the first light of morning crept through the curtains, I was already out of bed.
My feet carried me down the quiet hallway before I even realised where I was going.
The guest room.
For a brief moment, I hesitated outside the door.
A strange unease twisted in my chest.
“What if she had left?”
“What if she had disappeared the same way she disappeared?”
My hand moved before my mind could stop it.
I opened the door quietly.
The room was still.
Soft morning light spilled through the tall windows.
And there she was.
Still asleep.
My shoulders relaxed slightly.
She lay curled beneath the blankets, her hair spread messily across the pillow.
For a moment I simply stood there.
Watching.
Studying every detail of her face like I was trying to memorise it again.
Her long eyelashes.
Soft lips.
Smooth skin.
Three years ago, I had watched them lower her coffin into the ground.
Yet here she was.
Alive.
My chest tightened.
Without thinking, I walked closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like she might disappear if I moved too fast.
A strand of hair had fallen across her face.
My hand lifted instinctively.
My fingers brushed gently against her hair, tucking the strand behind her ear.
Soft.
Warm.
Real.
Not a ghost .
Not a dream.
Suddenly her eyes snapped open.
She gasped sharply and jerked backward.
“What are you doing?!” She blurted.
I froze.
For the first time in a long while, words failed me.
“I…” I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“I came to check if you were still here.”
Her brows furrowed.
“You thought I escaped?”
I ignored the slight accusation in her voice.
“You didn't want to stay here,” I replied calmly. “I had a reason to check.”
She stared at me suspiciously before slowly sitting up.
Her clothes from yesterday were still wrinkled.
“You need to change.” I said.
I walked towards the dresser and pulled out a folded dress.
Aurelia's dress.
The pale blue one she used to wear during cold mornings.
I held it out to her.
“Wear this.”
She stared at it.
Then at me.
“No.”
My brow lifted slightly
“No?”
“I'm not wearing another woman's clothes.”
My voice remained calm.
“You are.”
She crossed her arms stubbornly.
“No.”
I sighed quietly.
“You have no other clothes.”
She hesitated.
“And unless you plan to walk around my house in yesterday's outfit…” I continued.
Her shoulders dropped slightly.
She grabbed the dress reluctantly.
“Fine.”
I turned away to give her space.
A few minutes later, we walked downstairs.
Footsteps echoed in the grand kitchen as the morning staff moved around.
The mansion was finally alive again.
The moment Eliora stepped inside, everything stopped.
A young maid suddenly froze near the staircase.
Her tray nearly slipped from her hands.
“Ma'am?”
Eliora stood still.
“Why is everyone staring at me like that?” She whispered.
The maid stared at her like she had seen a ghost.
“You're….”
Her voice shook.
“You're back?”
Another maid turned immediately.
“What are you talking about, Lila?”
Then she saw Eliora.
She gasped.
“Oh my God.”
More footsteps approached.
Soon three of them were staring.
“It can't be…”
“She died…”
“I was at the funeral…”
Eliora stepped back slightly.
“Okay… this is getting weird.”
A firm voice suddenly cut through the whispers.
“Enough!”
Everyone turned.
Including me.
Helen stood there.
The head housekeeper.
Her sharp eyes landed on Eliora.
For a moment…
Even she looked shaken.
Then something darker crossed her face.
“I can't believe it.”
Her voice was low.
“You actually came back.”
Eliora frowned.
“I'm sorry I don't know what you're…”
“You…” Helena cut in softly.
Her eyes flickered briefly toward me before returning to Eliora.
“After everything he did to you.”
Everywhere fell silent.
Eliora blinked slowly.
“What?”
I cut in coldly.
“Helena.”
She immediately lowered her head.
“Yes sir.”
“Return to work, everyone return to your work!”
The staff quickly scattered.
Eliora looked between them and me in confusion.
“What was that about?” She asked.
“Nothing that concerns you,” I replied.
I gestured toward the dining table.
“Sit.”
She hesitated then eventually obeyed.
Breakfast arrived shortly after.
Eliora barely touched her food first.
The maids hovered around her strangely.
Too attentive.
Too careful.
When she coughed slightly while drinking water, one maid rushed forward immediately.
“Careful, ma'am.”
Another slid a plate closer to her.
“You should eat more.”
Eliora looked bewildered by the sudden kindness.
Her eyes moved toward me again.
Obviously confused.
I simply watched her.
Maybe because to them…
She was their dead mistress.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the hall.
Marcus entered quickly.
His expression was serious.
“Sir.”
I leaned back slightly.
“What is it?”
Marcus held out his phone.
“I found information about the doctor she mentioned.”
Eliora looked up immediately.
“Really.”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
My gaze darkened slightly.
“Well?” I asked.
Marcus hesitated for half a second.
Then he spoke.
“The doctor she mentioned… Dr. Lucas Armand…”
Eliora leaned forward.
“What about him?”
Marcus' voice became quieter.
“He died.”
Silence fell over the dining table.
Eliora blinked.
“What?”
Marcus continued.
“He died three years ago.”
My fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table.
Three years.
The same year Aurelia had died.
Eliora stared at Marcus like she hadn't heard correctly.
“That… that's impossible.”
Marcus shook his head.
“The records are clear.”
Her breathing became uneven.
“But he treated me,” she whispered.
“If the doctor is dead…”
I said slowly.
“Then someone else must have treated you.”
Eliora shook her head helplessly.
“I don't remember anyone else.”
- Writer
