Chapter 2192

It was the first time Thalia had heard about her mother's past with her father from Louise's own lips. Unlike Shannon's point of view, Louise's tone was calm. But it was impossible to hide the fact that, even after more than four centuries, she still vividly remembered that person from her past. "Your father, he… appeared to be a dignified man. But in reality, he was the most rebellious of them all." Others would be terrified at the sight of a demon, running away in fear. Yet he, knowing full well that Louise was a demon, still approached her willingly. Relying on the fact that she wouldn't harm him, he grew increasingly bold. Even when he saw her true demon form, he was unfazed. He would cling to her, asking her to tell him stories about demons and ghosts, and even took those tales, twisting them into his own versions and writing them into books. According to Louise's agreement with the clan elders, she was supposed to return the child to the clan after bearing one with human blood. However, with Edmund in the picture, she turned against the original plan. Instead, she hid him and the child they had together. It was well known that demons rarely had offspring, especially the more powerful ones, who found it almost impossible to conceive. No one had expected that she would get pregnant so quickly. She hid it perfectly well at first, but the clan elders eventually started to notice. She didn't want to put Edmund or Thalia in danger, so she returned to the clan alone. She thought she could settle everything and then come back for them. Louise said, "When I left, I set up a barrier around the estate where you and your father were staying and across the entire mountain. As long as you didn't step out of that mountain, no one would be able to find you, let alone harm you." To her surprise, Edmund left the mountain, despite her warnings. Thalia lowered her gaze slightly upon hearing this. She wasn't an ignorant child, so she remembered those events clearly. "Father and I waited at the estate for five years. When the war broke out, his family wanted to take us away to seek refuge, but he refused. "He said it was because he had promised you he'd never leave the estate. It was his brother who told him that a white nine-tailed fox had appeared near the border city. "Allegedly, the fox had been injured during the defense." It was only because of that news that Edmund left the estate. He couldn't wait any longer after sitting around for five years with no word. He left Thalia behind at the estate and took the protective charm that Louise had given him to find her. He said he would bring her back, yet he never returned since the trip. Thalia stayed alone at the estate for over half a year, only to receive the news of her father's death. Louise then brought her back to the clan, but her attitude toward Thalia was never as warm as it had been before. As a half-demon, Thalia still faced considerable bullying, both openly and covertly, even though she was the daughter of the Ruler of Foxes. The reason was simple—everyone knew she was merely a vessel for breeding an ancestral bloodline. To Louise, she was insignificant; if she had mattered, Louise wouldn't have left her and Edmund for five years without a word. Thalia's life seemed to split into two worlds at that time. One was the estate in the mountains, where she had her parents and the companionship of the birds and beasts in the forest, living in peace and happiness. The other was the Wynthorpe clan, where her father was gone, her mother no longer loved her, and the only thing that mattered was strength. Thalia's heart wasn't without resentment. She had once sought answers, tried to find comfort, and had longed for her mother's protection, just like any child would. Yet, Louise's answers were always the same. "Being bullied just means you're not strong enough." "You're a half-demon. Your supernatural power is weaker than that of other demons. If you can't stand up for yourself, who else is supposed to protect you forever?"