The rain that had no intention of stopping continued until late afternoon. Outside, a thick mist wrapped around the kingdom, its breath dragging itself through the leaves and branches of the trees. Even the rain had its own rhythm as its droplets created an earthy, muffled noise against the clay tiles of the roof, that even the melody itself was enough to coax the hidden frogs into a low, echoing chorus.
Through the cranked down window of a blue tinted grand tourer, the sharp, earthy scent of rain soaked soil flooded the car.
For a moment, Sebastian felt the world finally go quiet. It was a rare kind of peace that made his heavy eyelids drift shut without him even realizing. And the moment his eyes drifted to rest, the peace became a trap. By the time he was out like a light, a familiar darkness swallowed him whole, dragging him back into a memory that refused to let him breathe, even in sleep.
.
.
.
*THUD!*
A violent crash rattled the room as Sebastian shoved the marchioness to the floor. She barely kissed the ground before he grabbed the revolver from beneath his pillow. His hands shook with rage as he aimed it at her.
"Dare to touch me with those FILTHY hands again, and I'll show you the gates of hell!"
Sebastian warned, his voice filled with wrath, making the marchioness tremble in fear, before a pair of doors seemed to sway as if it was struck by an earthquake revealing the Grand duchess.
"What is the meaning of this madness?!"
Her voice snarled in a fury as her brows knit heavily together into a fierce scowl. She glared with wide, bulging eyes before her gaze dropped to the floor.
There lay the Marchioness, her clothes completely disheveled, wearing a meticulously perfect, painted picture mask of fear. Standing over her was Sebastian. His hands shook wildly against the grip of his gun as ragged breaths tore through his chest, while his jaw locked in rage.
Seeing the furious worry in the grand duchess's face, the Marchioness seized her cue. She looked up at Estella, trembling with tear filled eyes, as Vivien let out a pathetic, shuddering sob.
"My deepest…Hick!-a-apologies, Your Grace..."
She whimpered, masterfully playing the victim as she shrank back in feigned terror.
Sebastian scoffed, a bitter, breathless growl escaping his mouth. He raised his hand, still clutching the revolver, as he ran it through his hair, pushing the strands back in utter disbelief.
"Hah!—Fuck!"
He snapped, his voice quavering, but the tone of it was livid. Though deep down, he knew his mother would not take his side, like she always did, but experiencing the same betrayal after all these years seemed to have left a pit in his chest, so deep he almost forgot how to breathe.
"Don't tell me you actually believe her lies?!"
The Grand Duchess bit her lower lip, refusing to answer. Instead, she turned her back on Sebastian and looked down at the Marchioness on the ground, as Vivien played her part perfectly. Adjusting her wrinkled nightgown as she stood up, trembling like a leaf, before she gripped the Duchess by the arm for support, pretending to be absolutely paralyzed with fear.
"THE MARCHIONESS IS GRIEVING RIGHT NOW, SEBASTIAN."
She affirmed, shielding the Marchioness.
"Can't you show any sympathy?!"
Hearing it, Sebastian froze as a faint, demented laugh escaped his mouth. He covered his face while his vision went pitch-black, as if he were entirely consumed by rage.
"Sympathy?!"
Sebastian roared, a terrifying, broken laugh bleed into the air.
"Hah... ha... haha!-You ask me for sympathy?!"
He asked sarcastically, the veins in his neck bulging like twisted cords as he gritted his teeth, screaming with all his might in a desperate attempt to reach the grand duchess's remaining conscience.
"Where was her SYMPATHY when SHE TAINTED MY BODY?!"
The room fell into dead silence. Not a single soul dared to move.
The maids and guards present in the hall averted their gazes, mouths shut tight and eyes remained stuck on the floor. They were shell-shocked, whether from witnessing Sebastian stutter or from the revolting confession that had just come out of his mouth.
"Whe-when she-she-FUCK!"
"HAH!"
"When she was on top of me, FORCING herself! ENJOYING THE PLEASURE while I... l-LAY THERE BENEATH HER?!"
His voice cracked completely as he tried to fight back the tears that wanted to escape from his eyes.
"WHERE WAS HER SYMPATHY WHEN I BEGGED HER TO STOP?!"
Sebastian didn't pause for a moment. With every word he spat, the vivid memory of the marchioness's actions caused the hairs on his skin to stand on end, so sickened that he almost clawed at his own flesh while his mother, the grand duchess shunned his gaze like how she turned a blind eye to the horrific truth of what that Marchioness did to him.
"She r-ruined me... SHE RUINED EVERY SINGLE PART OF ME!"
Just as he caught his breath, Sebastian was left dumbstruck, frozen in place. The grand duchess's following words felt like a bucket of ice water poured straight over him. His eyes widened as he swallowed a lump in his throat, staring at her in sheer disbelief.
That's when Sebastian found himself silently screaming the question in his mind... If it was actually the marchioness who was behind it all, or were the real monsters the ones who shared his blood?
"IT'S FOR YOUR OWN GOOD."
Estelle's voice was cold. Not a single hint of guilt cracked through her tone, just like the unapologetic look on her face.
Seeing it, something inside Sebastian finally snapped. The burning tears in his eyes vanished, instantly frozen over by a heavy, suffocating shock. His face warped into a hollow grin as a brittle laugh escaped his mouth.
"Ha—HA...haha I could hardly believe it… Mother."
He whispered, the final word shattering into pieces of his lips.
"Maybe insanity truly runs in our blood…No sane mother would ever defend the snake that defiled their own son—SLAP!
The servants inside the room jolted in fright, keeping their eyes glued to the floor drawing their shoulders back the moment the grand duchess's hand struck Sebastian's face before he could even finish his sentence.
"ENOUGH!"
Her voice echoed through the room, her finger pointing at Sebastian. Although his face felt like a hot needle poking his cheek, Sebastian didn't fight back. He didn't even move, nor did he even bother to touch his stinging cheek. His head just remained snapped to the side from the force of the blow while his vacant eyes stared blindly at the floor.
Without another word, Estella turned on her heel, guiding the weeping Marchioness towards the door. But as they brushed past Sebastian, Vivien slowed her pace for a fraction of a second. She tilted her head just enough to hide her face from the grand duchess, letting her pathetic, tear-stained mask slip.
Her venomous grin flashed for a split second before anyone else could notice.
"Hmmm…You really are a cut from the same cloth as Rosmound."
Vivien whispered, her words barely a scratch of sound against his ear.