Chapter6 Loss

The Castellan mansion stood in all its grandeur, yet within its imposing walls, the echoes of the tumultuous family gathering seemed to still reverberate. Aurelia had turned the Castellans into her own circus for her enjoyment’s sake and to spite Dante – you could say it was a dumb little victory of sorts, seeing her bastard husband look so vexed. After being honest with the circumstances of their relationship, Aurelia finally won herself a room in the mansion, all to herself with no Dante to irritate her with his presence. As the morning sun filtered through the expansive windows, casting a warm glow upon the room, Aurelia couldn’t shake off the lingering unease that had settled within her. The turbulent events of the previous day and the strained atmosphere in the mansion didn’t really cause her any discomfort, but there was this weird sense of unease haunting her. It annoyed her not to understand what it was. Dante had retreated to his enigmatic silence after the family confrontation. She hadn’t seen him since last night when they had returned to their chambers - and good riddance. His cocky demeanor and volatile attitude were something she could only tolerate for a short period of time. Despite the discord that had unraveled between them, Aurelia couldn’t help but kind of look forward to what the future had in store for her while that man hung around Okay, now she sort of wanted to see Dante and rile him up, just so she could talk to someone. The Castellans didn’t seem keen on letting her out of the mansion in the meantime. Maybe this was their idea of a honeymoon for their newlyweds. Attempting to put the unnerving thoughts aside, Aurelia descended the sweeping staircase with tentative steps. She had planned to speak to Dante, or maybe just anyone who could spare her the time, but her intentions were suddenly derailed by the sight that met her at the bottom of the staircase. Mr. Klint, the head butler, stood there with a solemn expression etched on his face. He wore his typical stoic demeanor like a mask, but his eyes betrayed a hint of sorrow. “Good day, Mr. Klint,” Aurora pensively greeted him. “Madam Aurelia,” he said in his deep, gravelly voice, “As it seems like you are not aware as of yet, there is something I need to tell you.” Her heart pounded in her chest as a shiver ran down her spine. The severity of his tone sent a surge of foreboding through her. “What is it?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. He hesitated for a moment as if grappling with the weight of the words he was about to utter. “Your father, Aurelia... he passed away last night.” The world seemed to crumble around her as the words registered in her mind. She couldn’t comprehend it. It felt like a cruel joke, a nightmare from which she couldn’t awaken. “No,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “That can’t be true.” Mr. Klint’s expression remained solemn, confirming the devastating news. “I’m truly sorry, Aurelia. I received a call this morning. It appears to have been a heart attack, a complication of his existing illnesses. There was nothing they could do.” Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. She clutched the banister for support, her legs threatening to give way beneath her. The weight of her grief threatened to engulf her, leaving her feeling adrift in a sea of sorrow. The sense of unease she’d been feeling early this morning had been an omen of his impending death. If there was a person she hated the most in the world, it was her father, the patriarch of the Di Angelis clan, Atticus Di Angelis. And yet, she was her only source of strength in this world and the only poor excuse of support she ever had since her birth mother died. They had a cold relationship, only bound together by their surnames, but it was sufficient for Aurelia who was used to being all on her own. Now, his steel-like but sturdy existence was gone, leaving her feeling vulnerable and utterly alone. In the midst of her overwhelming grief, Aurelia remembered this had happened before in her past life. She should be used to it. She shouldn’t feel this pathetic and lonely all of a sudden. She shouldn’t be thinking of the strained relationship she had with her father. She shouldn’t be holding a bit of regret about their last conversation which had been fraught with anger and disappointment. After all, she had left him behind to enter a loveless marriage, and now she would never have the chance to mend the rift between them. None of those should even matter anymore. What good would it do if she got hung up on the past? Aurelia’s father shouldn’t warrant such strong grief from the daughter he only acknowledged once in a blue moon. Aurelia straightened her back as she wiped away her tears. She felt a little embarrassed to see that Mr. Klint still stood there, gallantly holding a box of tissues that he took from who knows where. Upon seeing that she was trying to collect herself, he took the initiative to hand her the tissues. “Thank you, Mr. Klint,” Aurelia sighed after she cleaned herself up as best as she could. “You are always welcome, Madam Aurelia. Is there anything I could assist you with?” “Is it possible for you to help me go back to Di Angelis’s residence? I would like to take the time to arrange the funeral services of my father and deal with legal proceedings.” Yes, Aurelia should be headstrong. Now that her father was dead, she needed to take over the family’s business before other unscrupulous family members ruined everything. “As you wish, Madam,” Mr. Klint gallantly bowed his head. “However, I’ll have to inform the elders and the Second Master about your plans. It is to ensure your safety.” “Feel free to do so,” Aurelia waved a hand. “Let me fix myself. I’ll come down within an hour. I’ll be in my room if you need me for anything.” “It is as you say, Madam.” Aurelia retreated to her room, a whirlwind of emotions raging within her. The news of her father’s passing had left her in a state of shock, and she couldn't help but feel a confusing mix of grief, guilt, and regret. Ah, Aurelia failed to expect this. She had been too at ease about how the events of this life had been diverging from her previous. She failed to expect that there would be some things that would still happen no matter how much she changed. Things are going to be more troublesome now that she has the family business to worry about. Aurelia’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door, and Mr. Klint appeared at the doorway. “Madam Aurelia,” he began, “I have informed the elders and the Second Master about your plans. They have granted their consent for you to return to the Di Angelis residence to attend to your family matters.” Aurelia nodded, grateful that they weren’t being difficult. She half expected Dante would appear. “Thank you, Mr. Klint. I appreciate your assistance in this matter.” Her confusion must have been evident, as Mr. Klint voluntarily said, “I am not quite sure if you remember the itinerary, but there is a scheduled house party in honor of your marriage in a few days. The guests are mostly of you and Second Master’s same generation. He cannot accompany you because he will have to entertain the guests.” “Oh,” Aurelia nodded her head as she secretly grimaced. There really was an event like that, and it’s going to be filled with obnoxious people. “That’s fine. I’ll be going on my own.” He inclined his head respectfully. “I shall make the necessary arrangements for your departure. Please take the time you need to prepare.”