Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ikeep my spine straight as we re-enter Ruby Hall the next day, flanked by Dohwan and Eunho.
Their presence steadies me, though my heart still races.
The grand throne room stretches before us, all polished wood and gleaming red trim and furnishings.
Rows of stern-faced elders line the path to the dais where the Ruby Queen sits regally upon her throne.
Her presence commands attention—waves of power radiating from her that make my halfblood senses tingle. Her eyes, dark and sharply intense, fix on us as we approach. I sink into a deep curtsy while Dohwan and Eunho bow beside me.
“Your Majesty,” we murmur in unison.
She inclines her head slightly, gesturing for us to take our seats below the dais. Dohwan's hand finds the small of my back as he guides me to sit between him and Eunho. The tension in the room is thick—I can feel the elders' agitation like static in the air.
Elder Nam's voice cuts through the murmurs. “This behavior is unprecedented! An attempt on another fae's life within these very walls!”
“And where is Lady Ga-in?” another elder demands, her dignified face flushed with anger. “She and her mother were summoned nearly an hour ago!”
“Living in Ruby Hall itself and still managing to be late to a royal inquiry,” another elder adds with clear disgust. “The disrespect!”
The Ruby Queen remains silent, but I notice her fingers tightening on the armrests of her throne. The massive ruby in her crown catches the light, sending crimson reflections dancing across the walls like drops of blood.
Dohwan's low growl vibrates through me where our shoulders touch. On my other side, Eunho's usual easy smile is nowhere to be seen, his face set in hard lines as we wait.
The elders' voices rise and fall around me like waves of indignation, but their priorities make my jaw clench. I catch fragments of their complaints—“centuries of history nearly destroyed” and “irreplaceable artifacts at risk”—while barely a whisper about the attempt on my life.
“The east wing contains priceless heirlooms dating back to the first Ruby Queen!” One elder clutches her chest dramatically. “To think it could have all gone up in flames!”
Eunho's mother, Elder Kang, cuts through the hysteria with a sharp voice. “Are we truly more concerned about property damage than an attempted murder of my son's mate?” Her eyes flash dangerously. “This was a direct attack on the Kang household.”
“Indeed,” Dohwan's mother adds, her usually aloof expression hardened with anger. “Lady Ga-in's actions show complete disregard for two of the most prominent families in House Ruby.”
I feel Dohwan's muscles coil with tension beside me. His father, normally so diplomatic, nods in stern agreement from his seat among the noble families.
The bickering continues until a hush falls over the room as the grand doors swing open. A servant's voice rings out clear and formal. “Announcing Lady Choi, First Lady in Waiting to Her Majesty, and her daughter, Lady Ga-in.”
I turn with everyone else as the grand doors open, but my breath catches in my throat. Time seems to slow as my eyes move past Ga-in to the elegant woman beside her. The world tilts on its axis.
Lady Choi glides into the throne room with perfect poise, her long black hair swept up in an intricate style adorned with ruby pins. Her face is refined, aristocratic—and I recognize it instantly.
A gasp tears from my lips before I can stop it. The sound echoes in the sudden deafening silence that falls over the chamber.
Lady Choi's eyes meet mine, and shock transforms her composed features. Her steps falter, color draining from her face as she stares at me like she's seen a ghost. Her hands tremble as she raises them to cover her mouth.
Murmurs of recognition ripple through the crowd as the other fae look between us, seeing what I see.
The resemblance between us is undeniable, from the sharp angle of our cheekbones to the distinctive curve of our lips.
Looking at her is like seeing myself twenty years in the future—the same features, just more refined by age and status, polished to aristocratic perfection.
Even the way she holds herself, spine straight and chin lifted, mirrors my own instinctive posture.
My heart pounds behind my sternum as realization crashes through me, each thundering beat echoing in my ears as it washes down on me.
This woman is my mother.
I feel Dohwan and Eunho tense on either side of me, but I barely register their presence. My entire world has narrowed to the woman standing frozen at the entrance—the woman who abandoned me, who I've searched for my entire life.
The weight of two decades of questions threatens to crush me as I stare at my mother's face. My mother. The words echo in my mind, foreign and overwhelming. After all this time, all the searching, here she stands before me, wearing my face.
The chamber erupts in chaos as disquiet ripples through the crowd. Elders leap to their feet, their voices a cacophony of shock and outrage. Papers flutter and chairs scrape against marble as nobles crane their necks to stare between Lady Choi and me, comparing our matching features.
Even the Ruby Queen rises from her throne, her perfect composure slipping as she looks between us with widened eyes.
My gaze drifts to Ga-in, expecting to see the same shock mirrored on her face. But what I find instead makes my blood run cold. Where others gasp and whisper, Ga-in's expression is resigned, bitter—the look of someone who's known an unpleasant truth for far too long.
The realization hits me. She knew. She must've known since the moment she saw my face, or put it together shortly after.
Every sneer, every cruel word, every attempt to undermine me—it wasn't just prejudice against halfbloods.
It was personal—the shame and resentment of discovering her noble mother had birthed a halfblood sister.
The Ruby Queen's voice cuts through the chaos like a blade. “Silence!”
The room falls quiet instantly, though the tension remains thick enough to choke on.
Lady Choi seems to gather herself, smoothing her features into a mask of composure, though her hands still tremble slightly.
Her eyes linger on my face for a long moment, drinking in the features that mirror her own.
Then she moves forward with careful grace, the whisper of her silk robes the only sound in the hushed chamber.
Ga-in follows at her heels, both of them gliding across the polished floor until they reach the dais.
As one, they sink into deep bows before the throne, heads lowered in perfect submission.
I watch them kneel there, my newfound mother and sister, and feel nothing but hollow emptiness where answers should be.
I watch Lady Choi rise gracefully, her hands clasped before her as she addresses the queen. The sight of her familiar mannerisms in someone else's body makes my chest ache.
“Your Majesty, I humbly beg your forgiveness for my daughter's actions.” Her voice carries clearly through the chamber. “Ga-in is young, untested. She acted rashly, driven by emotion rather than reason. I ask the court's mercy and understanding in this matter.”
The Ruby Queen's gaze drifts between us again, studying our matching features with keen interest. Her expression remains neutral, but I sense her sharp mind working behind that composed mask.
“The severity of punishment will depend on Lady Ga-in's ability to demonstrate true remorse,” the queen states evenly. “Lady Ga-in, step forward and explain your actions to the court.”
Ga-in moves with the same fluid grace as her mother, sinking into a formal bow before the throne. She turns and bows to the assembled elders as well, her voice steady as she begins.
“Your Majesty, honored elders, I offer my deepest apologies. I meant no disrespect toward the noble families of House Ruby.”
But as she lifts her head, rage transforms her features. Her composure cracks and bitter fury bleeds through as she whirls to face me, jabbing an accusing finger in my direction.
“But I was mocked!” she spits. “This halfblood challenged my pride as a fae!”
Twin growls rumble from either side of me as Dohwan and Eunho bristle at her tone. The sound echoes off the chamber walls, a clear warning.
Elder Kang's derisive snort cuts through the tension. “Hardly sufficient cause to attempt murder against a member of two noble houses and set fire to the palace itself.”
Lady Choi's face has gone pale, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stares at her daughter's outburst.
The elders' murmurs fill the chamber like angry bees. Ga-in's face contorts as she jabs a finger in my direction again.
“She stole my fiancé!”
“One cannot steal their destined mate from another,” Elder Nam states flatly. Her face creases with disapproval. “And wasn't your engagement to Lord Dohwan dissolved long before Lady Gawon's arrival?”
“She's disrespected me from the moment we met!” Ga-in's voice rises shrilly. “She deliberately provoked me, tried to make me look foolish in front of everyone!”
I meet her wild gaze steadily. “You're the one who lured me into a secluded building by stealing my mate's phone and tried to murder me.”
“Shut up!” Ga-in shrieks, taking a threatening step forward.
“That is quite enough.” The Ruby Queen's voice cracks like a whip.
Throughout this entire exchange, I watch Lady Choi from the corner of my eye. Her face remains a perfect mask of indifference, neither defending nor silencing her daughter as Ga-in continues to unravel. The cold detachment in her expression makes my chest tighten.
The Ruby Queen's disapproving gaze pins Ga-in in place. “It is clear to me that your actions were driven by malice and jealousy.” Her eyes flick meaningfully to Lady Choi. “And perhaps some personal resentment.”
The silence that follows is deafening. Every eye in the room seems to dart between Lady Choi, Ga-in, and me as the queen's implication sinks in.
“House Ruby maintains an alliance with the halfblood queens,” the Ruby Queen continues after a long moment. “We welcome halfbloods of Ruby heritage. We cannot abide members of our house showing such active hostility toward their halfblood peers.”
She straightens on her throne, power radiating from her slight frame.
“Lady Ga-in, you have proven that you cannot be trusted within Ruby Hall where our halfblood members are welcome to visit. You and your mother will remove yourselves from these premises, effective immediately. Furthermore, you are banned from all Ruby territories adjacent to Halfblood Hall.”
Ga-in's composure shatters completely. Her wail echoes through the throne room as she collapses to her knees, tears streaming down her face. Lady Choi steps forward, her perfect poise wavering for the first time.
“Your Majesty, please.” Lady Choi's voice trembles. “I give you my word that I will keep her under control. She will learn from this mistake.”
The Ruby Queen lifts one elegant hand, silencing Lady Choi mid-plea. “Be grateful this is the extent of her punishment. Your years of loyal service are the only reason she isn't facing more severe consequences.”
Lady Choi's shoulders slump in defeat. She grabs Ga-in's arm, hauling her sobbing daughter to her feet and practically dragging her from the throne room. The sound of Ga-in's crying fades as the doors close behind them.
I release a breath. Dohwan's hand squeezes mine as we rise to leave, Eunho's warmth steady at my other side.
We've barely cleared the dais when Elder Kang sweeps forward, wrapping me in a tight embrace that catches me off guard. “Thank the seasons you weren't harmed.” Her voice is thick with emotion as she pulls back to examine my face.
Dohwan's parents approach more sedately. His mother gives me a cool nod while his father offers a formal bow before they take their leave.
The walk through Ruby Hall feels endless. My mind spins with everything that's happened, barely registering the opulent corridors passing by. As we near the front gates, I spot two familiar figures ahead and my steps falter.
Lady Choi halts when she sees us, turning to face me fully.
My breath catches as I watch various emotions flicker across her face—the face that's so like mine.
Her lips part as if to speak, but no words come.
Her eyes trace my features hungrily before she seems to catch herself, schooling her expression back to cool detachment.
“You look well,” she says stiffly. “It was … nice to meet you.” Without waiting for a response, she turns away.
As soon as Lady Choi turns her back, Ga-in steps forward, leaning close to hiss at me with a sneer curling her lips.
“You'll never be my sister.” Ga-in's venomous hiss carries clearly to my ears—and to my mates', judging by their threatening growls. The words slice through me like ice despite the fire in my blood, and I watch her perfectly manicured hands clench into fists at her sides.
I meet her hateful glare with a chilly smile. “I never wanted to be.”
Ga-in's face twists with rage before she spins on her heel, hurrying after her mother's retreating form.
I stand motionless at the top of the steps, watching Lady Choi's elegant figure guide Ga-in toward a sleek black car waiting at the curb.
The morning sun catches on the ruby pins in her hair, making them glitter like drops of blood.
My heart thumps against my ribs as I wait, hoping she'll turn, hoping for one last look or word or something.
She doesn't.
Lady Choi slides into the back seat with perfect grace, her spine straight and chin lifted.
Not once does she glance back at the daughter she abandoned.
The car door closes with a soft thud that echoes in my chest. Through the tinted windows, I catch a final glimpse of my own features reflected back at me before the driver pulls away from the curb.
Just like that, my birth mother vanishes from my life as suddenly as she appeared in it.
A strange sense of peace settles over me as I watch the car disappear around the corner.
I'd spent so many years wondering, searching, imagining this moment.
Now it's come and gone, leaving me feeling oddly light.
Empty, but not in a hollow way—more like I've finally set down a heavy burden I've carried for too long.
Warm fingers thread through mine, and I look up to find Eunho studying my face with concern in his dark eyes. “Are you alright?”
A genuine smile curves my lips as I stretch up on my toes to press a kiss to his cheek. “Of course I am. I came to Ruby Hall with a mission and managed to take down a particularly nasty villain in the process. I'd call that a successful venture.”
I reach out and loop my other arm around Dohwan's waist, drawing him closer until I'm nestled between them both. Looking up at their worried faces, my smile widens. “I think it's time we went home.” I squeeze them both gently. “Our home.”