“I never got the chance to give my final farewells.”

The frail woman softly spoke.

“...”

Across her, her brother looked on with an indescribable expression.

“Once I entered that shabby inn, all I remembered was that they laid me down on a bed in one of the rooms and I blacked out immediately. And if I was not mistaken, I was out for a consecutive eleven days. While all that was happening, the maids nursed me back to health.

…I then asked Mr Tai that morning, ‘What happened to Ferase? Is he alright?’.”

“...”

TianXing chuckled in grief.

“The look on his somber eyes. A face full of burnt marks. It’s imprinted deeply in my mind.”

“...”

“He said, “Butler Ferase went to accompany his Master.’ I…”

“...”

“I…I ran. I tried to, but the maids pleaded with me otherwise.”

“what happened…”

Came the mutter of the overwhelmed Eddisson. The realization that came from the news of his absent father’s death and the manner in which he departed. It was an arduous amount for a nine-year old to swallow. Even so, that young boy clinged back to reality and tried his best to further understand his beloved mother’s situation. Albeit, more of his heart would break.

“For the next several weeks, things settled back in ShanWei and my accomplices no longer saw any sights of those belonging to the Kiefrurpez house.”

“...”

“However, as with how the both of us came to be…Heaven never left me be. My trials of life remained a tragedy.”

“...”

“Apparently, the ShanWei City Council was in cooperation with the Keifrurpez and, while the Kiefrurpez had their fill of my suffering, the City Council had other ambitions.”

“...”

Hazy onyx irises glanced towards his way. Yet, he remained stationary.

“The establishment of White Ink had such an influence on the working class, that it sent alarms all over the Council board. Now that I have nothing, they were out to send a message to any future replicates.

They never wanted another fetus of a monopoly like my own.”

“...”

“They blacklisted me.”

She smirked in exasperation.

“...”

In spite of this news, YaoMing kept his silence.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

“...Anyhow, this public decree left numerous impressions. I recall the horrendous display of my ink illustration across social boards and posters. I was wanted.”

“...”

“This also meant that I was essentially trapped in that dreaded place. With constant manhunts and tightened border security, I had to rely on the Triad. Yet, misfortunes met my every turn as I lacked the necessary funds to even gain a briefing. My accounts and assets were either destroyed or frozen by the Central Bank.”

“...”

“Initially, Mr Tai remained loyal to me and readily assisted me in adjusting to my secret life, but even he once narrowly escaped death by the Police Guard. They surely are not to be underestimated.”

“...”

“I was heartbroken by this news and promptly dismissed him of his duty despite his resolute opposition. I…I can’t have another one of mine be killed for my sake!”

She feebly clenched her bony fist.

“So, I sent him off with a duty for his family.”

“...”

“Recounting back, it was not the farewell that I had hoped for. In the end, I left the inn with Eddisson in hand on worse terms.”

“...”

“...Br-Given my circumstances, I was an outcast…And, what better place would there be to accept people like myself besides the infamous Red-Light District…”

“....”

Once again, TianXing tried to play it off with a forced tease. In vain, she looked away in disgrace.

“And as I expected, only a small-time brothel welcomed my employment.”

“...”

Despite her hesitation, TianXing continued her shameless tale.

“I was placed under the lowest label…After all, no man would want to sleep with an aging married woman with an accompanying child for the market price of a ‘virgin’ princess.”

“...”

“...To make ends meet, I began to…spread my repertoire. Eventually, I was barely scraping by through my services to paupers, vagabonds and crate laborers. This detestful job lasted years.”

“...”

“Mo…mother…”

Having accidentally witnessed some of these acts under her negligence, that was all Eddisson could muster for a reaction. Slowly, everything was reconnecting into a slumpy, defiling chapter of a childhood. He remained in an embrace.

“...I was sure that the streets would be my grave. I even contracted untreated syphilis, to worsen matters more.”

“...”

“But, that’s when that happened.”

“...”

She faced YaoMing.

“After another night of labor, I randomly felt the desire to take a stroll across the streets of the district. I took a turn for a shortcut to a park before I was suddenly knocked out upon entry.”

She rubbed her neck.

“At that moment, I was sure they finally found me and glady, that wasn’t the case…by the time I regained consciousness, I found myself on a small transport junk along a minor tributary. Beside me, was Eddisson and the last of our belongings.”

“...”

“I was prohibited to leave the cargo hold and a servant briefly informed me to behave as they headed inland to Yee Province.

Once those news reached my ears…I was not as joyous as I wanted myself to be…Either way, I had no choice to refuse. Till this day, I have no clue on who orchestrated my kidnapping, but I sincerely thank them for their help.”

“...”

“The journey was smooth, albeit uncomfortable. Though, I am now used to it.”

“...”

“They dropped us in a nearby village and initially, the two of us walked our way back to DongBu. Apart from some bandits and alarmed crowds, we finally made it to the outskirts in tatters. To hide Eddisson’s distinctive features, I…forcibly covered it with dirt or ash to ruin his natural blonde…A thing of, previously, my frustration.”

She paused, before Eddisson allowed her to caress his disheveled grayish yellow hair.

“Child, why don’t you wash it off once we reach your uncle’s place?”

“Gladly, Mother.”

A dim smile formed from her anemic lips.

“...Elder Brother, the rest of this scarring tale now comes full circle. And, I would like to once again express my deepest apologies for all my wrongdoings until this point. You, Hamilton…Eddisson, everyone. I’m sorry.”

“...”

Although she wanted to kowtow, TianXing sat lifelessly on the cushions as cramps riddled her body in such a foreign setting of comfort. It has been years since she had such treatment. Yet…

“...”

“B-brother…”

YaoMing was silent.

.