Chapter 144: Under the Moonlight

Ophelia's eyes drifted back to the drawing before her, then moved downward to the text written beneath it. The ink used was dark, just like the drawing itself, but the handwriting was uniquely distinct. 'You don't need to be alarmed, Nikolai; I, Ophelia Viadislav, will always protect you.' A wave of disbelief washed over Ophelia, and her mouth went dry. "W... what?" Suddenly, a familiar dark presence filled the room, accompanied by a gentle murmur. "I drew that, and you wrote it. But don't be surprised; royals typically ensure their children start learning to read and write as soon as they begin to speak." Ophelia sprang to her feet, turning to face Nikolai. He was clad in a loose gray shirt and baggy slacks— an appearance quite different from what he had been wearing when he left her. Overwhelmed with questions about the wall, the unresolved issue he had gone to address, and the hidden room, Ophelia approached him in silence and enveloped him in a fierce embrace, her emotions raw