“…Mom?”
Henry's voice was a whisper lost amid the chaos, yet it cut through the tension like a blade. The woman in the doorway, her eyes wild with a mix of fury and desperation, paused at the sound. The toxic plants and poisonous vines that had begun to invade the courtroom halted their encroachment as if the very air awaited her response.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The spectators, the judges, even the guards frozen in their tracks, all eyes were on the pair. Henry felt his heart pounding, the question hanging in the air between them heavy with implications. Could it be? The woman who stood before him bore a striking resemblance to the portrait he had discovered in the library of Twilight Manor.
The woman's gaze softened as she took in Henry’s appearance, her rage momentarily replaced by a flicker of recognition, then disbelief. “Henry,” her voice, though still tinged with anger, carried an undercurrent of something else—hope, perhaps, or sadness.
The courtroom erupted into whispers once more, the crowd stirring with the shock of the revelation. Brax and Sabrina exchanged looks, the weight of the situation dawning on them. Lord John Bearington, however, saw an opportunity in the distraction, his gaze shifting calculatingly between the woman and the door.
Ignoring the commotion, Henry took a step forward, his earlier resignation replaced by a newfound determination. “Mom? But...how? You died, how are you here?” His voice tremored but was strong enough to echo off the stone walls of the courtroom.
The courtroom, once a place of legal proceedings and cold justice, had transformed into the epicenter of a historic discovery. Faces that had been marked by skepticism and intrigue now looked on in wonder and, for some, a hint of envy. The story of Thaddeus—no, Henry Bearington—was a living testament to resilience, a narrative that had defied the odds.
The woman closed the distance between them, her mana retracting, causing the deadly flora to wither and retreat. “My son, oh how I missed you,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. Walking up to him, she held him gently felt the contours of his face, and gently kissed his forehead. With her eyes misting, she hugged him lovingly and whispered to him, “Your father and I knew you’d come here; we’ve never stopped searching for you.”
“Is that him?” came a gentle tenor for the courthouse hallway. “Son is that you?” The man’s voice quivered with desperation.
“Yes, David, it’s our Henry,” the woman sobbed happy tears cascading down her face like a waterfall.
“Will someone tell us what the hell is going on?” the center judge demanded regaining composure.
At once everyone turned to John Bearington, who was poorly attempting to escape out of the courtroom in the confusion. “Lord Bearington, this court demands—”
“Silence!” the woman commanded, her voice amplified by her mana. Turning to face the judges, she continued, “I care not for your demands. My only concern is for my son, whom I've finally found.”
Despite the chaos around him, Henry struggled to process the flood of emotions. Joy, confusion, and anger swirled within him. “How could you leave me to believe I was alone in this world?”
The pain in Henry's voice seemed to wound her more than any physical blow. “We never stopped looking for you, son. The forces that separated us were beyond our control. But we’re here now, and I swear, we’ll never let you go again."
“No,” John Bearington stated firmly. His voice resonated throughout the courtroom, “The elders and patriarch are opposed to him joining the clan. A mudblood will never be allowed to join our clan!”
At that moment, the courtroom realized the truth. Thaddeus, Henry, or whatever his name was the missing Bearington heir! The realization sent waves of astonishment rippling through the assembled crowd. The missing Bearington heir, a mystery that had captivated the imagination and gossip of the Ursa Kingdom for decades, was finally solved. And the man, standing before them, was the very embodiment of legend that came to life.
The courtroom, still gripped by the tension of the previous confrontation, fell into a stunned silence watching the reunited family. Then a new realization hit the crowd, Henry's existence meant the creation of a new Bearington branch family. It was no wonder the Bearington clan tried to falsify Henry's heirship. While not as prestigious as the main family, the Branch Head was influential and entitled to receive financial support and more of a bloodline injection.
All this time, people assumed he was just a missing child, not the heir to a branch family. The significance of Henry’s position suddenly caused people to look at Henry in a new light. The maneuverings and secrecy that had shrouded his disappearance and the subsequent denial of his identity were not just about hiding a scandal; they were about preserving the status quo, a status quo that Henry's return threatened to upheave.
The realization sparked a flurry of whispered conversations among the spectators, each person trying to predict how this shift might affect their standing or the interests they represented. Some saw it as an opportunity, a chance to align themselves with a rising power; others viewed it with apprehension, wary of the changes that Henry's ascent might bring.
Wrapped in his parents’ embrace, all the hurt and loneliness that accumulated over the years seemed to wash away. Since childhood, he’d long dreamt of this moment but feared it would never come. Now, he was choked with tears.
The crowd, witnessing this deeply personal moment, remained silent, the drama unfolding before them more compelling than any tale or gossip. Sabrina and Brax, too, watched the scene unfold, such genuine connection brought smiles to their faces.
Amid the touching scene, 40 Bearkin warriors marched into the courtroom, weapons drawn. Looking at the destruction and rubble, the captain, an angry-looking Bearman with a scar over his left eye, frowned. His gaze sharp and assessing, “Which among you are the insurrectionists.”
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
The presence of the Royal army instantly shifted the atmosphere from one of revelation and familial reunion to tension and uncertainty. The assembled crowd was now frozen in fear. The emotional rollercoaster was nearly too much to bear.
“By the order of the King,” the captain’s voice boomed, commanding the attention of everyone present, “I am here to restore order, and arrest the perpetrators.”
Lord John Bearington, recognizing the captain and understanding the weight of the situation, stepped forward. “Captain, we apologize but this is a family matter. As you can see, the situation is under control. I’m sure the Bearington Patriarch would appreciate your discretion. We shall also compensate everyone here, and pay for the construction of the courthouse.”
The captain looked frustratingly at John but knew better than to mess with a major family. He signaled for his men to lower their weapons but remain vigilant. “Your honors what say you?” Is this matter resolved?
The center judge's reddish-brown face was full of anger, and her annoyance palpable. “Lord John Bearington, you have made a mockery of this court! I shall file a formal complaint to your patriarch. You and your family are barred from court indefinitely. We're done here! This case is dismissed!” She declared; her gaze fixed on John and Lindsey as she stormed out of the courtroom.
As the judges exited the courtroom, leaving behind a sense of resolution, albeit through a tangle of familial discord, the Bearingtons stood amidst the remnants of what had started as a legal proceeding. They had ended in a dramatic family reunion.
“You four,” the captain said pointing to John, Lindsey, David, and Henry. “We’ll escort you home!”
Lindsey Bearington, protective of her son and wary of the royal army’s presence, stood firm. “Fine, as long as you don’t bother my husband and son,” she added, her voice steady despite the tension.
The soldiers let the crowd exit first. The crowd, slowly beginning to disperse, gossiped with news of the missing Bearington heir’s return and the family's secrets. News of the dramatic day in court spread like wildfire, igniting discussions, debates, and speculation across the kingdom. The implications of the day's events were far-reaching, touching on issues of power, lineage, and politics.
“Let’s go, Henry, it’s time you finally time for you to come home,” David said squeezing his son’s shoulders tightly.
"Dad, Mom... I have so many questions," Henry said, pulling back slightly to look at them both.
"And we have much to tell you, too. We can’t wait to hear about your life. But for now, let’s head to the estate,” Lindsey ushered Henry to follow her.
“Before we go, I want to introduce you to Heather…my girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend?” Lindsey said shocked and eyed Heather suspiciously.
“Ha-ha, I can see you have good taste like your old man—ouch,” David shouted as Lindsey's elbow struck his rib.
“Come on dear, I look forward to learning more about you,” Lindsey smiled.
“Me…too,” the normal calm Heather nervously stuttered.
"We'll explain everything, Henry. There's so much to say," David assured him, squeezing his shoulder gently. "But for now, let's focus on the fact that we're reunited. We have all the time in the world to catch up."
Heather, slightly overwhelmed by the unfolding events, finally spoke up, "Henry, I... I'm just so happy for you. To find your family after all this time."
Henry glanced at her, a smile breaking through his contemplation. "Thanks, having you here, means a lot to me."
As they exited the courthouse, the air outside felt different to Henry, charged with a new beginning. The walk to the Bearington mansion was a surreal procession, flanked by the stoic Royal Army soldiers. The streets, usually bustling with the daily routines of the Ursa Kingdom's inhabitants, now served as the backdrop to a moment Henry had envisioned in countless dreams yet never truly believed would manifest.
David, walking with a protective arm around Henry, broke the silence. "I can't begin to imagine what you've gone through, son. But I want you to know, your mother and I... we never stopped looking. Not for a single day."
As they turned onto the boulevard and followed the troops until they were led to an expansive walled estate, with an ornate palace. Thanks to his uncle and mother, they quickly passed through the twin tower gatehouse into the complex. The linear mansion was a quarter of a mile long and flared out perpendicularly at the ends. On either end were two parks with elaborate fountains.
After taking in the immensity of it all Heather inhaled, “Is this where you live?”
“Ha-ha, as if trash would live in the palace. This is the main family residence,” John said walking away in disgust. “I’ll inform the patriarch. I’m sure he’ll summon you later.”
“Good riddance, I hate that brat!” Lindsey said, guiding Thaddeus around to the back.
When they walked past the park, Thaddeus’ eyes nearly fell from his sockets. Behind the palace were rows of uniform mansions, some extended and others isolated. The sprawling grounds were symmetrical, with formal gardens, and geometrical courtyards each perfectly manicured. In the middle of the estate was a large central park, where statues of Bearmen and Women dressed exquisitely in military or regalia decorated the scenery.
“Which is your Thaddeus asked curiously?”
David and Lindsey looked at each other and sadly pointed to an immaculate basilica at the rear of the estate. The symbolism was clear, the most influential family members lived closer to the front and the least respected lived near the back.
Opening the door revealed a quaint two-bedroom apartment with minimal furnishing tuckaway at the back of the basilica. The parents led Henry and Heather inside, “Welcome home, son,” Lindsey said, her voice filled with warmth.
David led them through the hallway, while Lindsey went to put a pot of tea on the stove. Sitting down in an old wooden chair Henry's gaze was drawn to a portrait of a young boy that bore his resemblance “Is that...?”
“Yes, that's you,” David confirmed. “We had it commissioned after we transmigrated, so we never forgot your face, and would never give up hope.” Outside the window, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with strokes of crimson and gold.
Looking down at the floor, David inhaled slowly and exhaled deeply, as he retold a hurtful memory, “The night we died it was raining and dark, we were driving home from…finishing our research at the University of Virginia. Suddenly, a car with its high beams slammed into us, flipping the car over, and… the next thing we knew we were…in this world.
Handing Henry and Heather a cup of tea, Lindsey recounted, her voice a mere whisper, yet laden with the weight of pain. “When we awakened, Demeter told us about the accident…when she told me I couldn’t return to you, I was…inconsolable.”
David’s gaze was distant, lost in memories. “Fifty-four years,” he said, each word heavy with the burden of time. “For Fifty-four years we searched for you, Henry.”
‘Fifty-four years for you… only eighteen for me,’ he murmured, the disparity in time a stark reminder of their separate ordeals. “All this time, I thought you were gone.”
Lindsey reached out, her hand finding Henry’s. “The gods may have brought us here, but it was our love for you that made us never stop searching. Every day, every year, was spent in the hope of this moment. The hope of seeing you again, of being a family once more.”
David stood, moving to a window overlooking the defensive stone wall, now bathed in the soft glow of twilight. “This world, it’s been our home, but it’s also been a prison. Our journey here has been filled with challenges, but none greater than the absence of you, our son.”
“We have a lot to catch up on,” Henry finally said, a tentative smile breaking through the myriad emotions. “I want to know everything about you, and I want to fill you in on some things too… like Twilight.”
Lindsey and David's faces alight with the joy of reunion turned serious. “Then you know the truth about our research…and murder,” Lindsey said, her voice firmer now.