Aster Veren
Episode 182

- Ansel

I hurried over to Albert who was sitting on the living room couch.

"What's going on?" I asked without further ado, immediately taking the stance of sitting on the other sofa. While Hans and Mila were following me, they chose to stand not far behind me.

"What ... are you sure you haven't remembered anything about your daughter?" He asked, pausing his words for a second while looking at me seriously. It seemed like she was astonished by my worried reaction which looked exaggerated.

"Say what happened? Why does my servant look like that?" Kilahku pointed at the figure of Mila who was still crying beside Hans, not wanting to answer his question.

"Hah~ I came to give you this, it's a pity that I–" he said after sighing deeply, then his right hand thrust out a piece of blue cloth with blood spots and black stains like burning on the ends of the cloth.

I looked at Albert in confusion before grabbing the cloth in front of me, "you can confirm his DNA to the hospital." This made my feelings even more angry. What does it mean to confirm DNA? Didn't he come to tell me about his success in capturing Rigel?

"What do you mean?" I squinted my eyes full of probes, trying to shake off all my bad thoughts when I found a picture of something from his gaze, and I didn't want to admit it.

"As you think. We're a step late. I'm sorry," he said, guessing my thoughts, sounding full of regret.

"What do you mean, sir? Miss is fine, right? Miss not–" Hans said as I remained silent for a second, trying to digest Rigel's words.

"Non–the boy was not found anywhere after he entered the building burned down by Rigel's men. I got that information from my men, and they only found the piece of cloth after the building was extinguished." Clearly Albert cut off Hans speech after shaking his head in lethargy.

I who heard it was completely shocked to death, even though I intended to bring him back in good health without a single cut on his body. And I've asked Hans to send some men to search for Aster in secret without the knowledge of Rigel and his other men. But, what do I hear now?

"lik! That must be a lie, right? Where could it be, miss?" Mila said a little screaming making my throbbing head even more felt.

"Miss," continued Hans sounding desperate.

"I ..," I murmured still feeling the throbbing of my head becoming. Lately the pain has been more excruciating, and somehow my conscience keeps asking for the whereabouts of the boy.

Strange, though a few weeks ago I wanted to finish off the boy, I sent Rigel and his men to look for his whereabouts. But, upon hearing Rigel's rotten plan from Hans a few weeks ago. I–niatku to finish him suddenly disappeared.

I even asked Albert for help to find Aster and catch Rigel, because I could not ask for Arsel's help which clearly still holds his anger towards me.

Ah, I remembered the vow that day ..., my mind remembered the ravings of Arsel who gave me his vow of absorption before he left the Veren residence.

"Helen ...," I murmured suddenly remembering the woman while squeezing the cloth in my hand with all my energy. I don't know why I feel so angry right now, either angry at Rigel and his men, or angry at myself for not being able to bring the boy back.

I .., I continued in my heart, before the pain in my head managed to take away my consciousness.

***

albert

"How's it?" Asked Arsel with a worried expression, I heard his breathing slightly hunting with his disheveled appearance. It seemed like he was in a hurry to return to the Veren residence when he heard Ansel lost consciousness.

"Doctors still handle it inside." I answered while watching Ansel's room door with both hands still folded on my chest.

"What actually happened? Why did that fool lose consciousness?" She asked while pulling her hair back.

"I've secured them all, don't switch the conversation. Answer me! Actually what's–"

"Aster ... It looks like the boy has died in the flames," I answered cutting off his words.I lyrically the figure of Arsel who pecked with his mouth agape. Seemed so surprised by what I said.

"Don't just talk! Aster couldn't possibly–" he growled straight at the collar of my shirt with both hands, then gripped it firmly. His red bead looked even more flaming, looking at me sharply.

"My men saw him enter a building that was engulfed in flames as he chased after Rigel's men. Dia–"

"Then why didn't he help Aster?"

"He's done it, but from the explanation I heard, the fire is growing fast and he–"

"He's out alone without Aster?" He asked as he pushed my body with all his strength, lucky I can balance my footing.

"You can meet him at the hospital. He also suffered a serious burn while trying to save your niece." I said again remembering that quite horrendous incident.

***

- Arshel

I looked at the pitiful-looking figure of my sister on her bed, then turned to the untouched food on the nightstand. It seems that she did not eat a single bit after hearing the news of her daughter's death, although I did not acknowledge her death in the slightest. I don't know, I feel like there are some weird things I can't ignore.

And somehow I felt a little satisfied when I saw my sister slumped like that. I feel like he should have been like this in the first place if his memory hadn't been lost. But, unfortunately, that didn't happen. So when I saw him screwed up like this, I felt it was natural. Although it was not really natural since his memory had yet to recover by a hundred percent.

The doctor said that my memory is slowly returning. Although the development is quite slow, "hmm, if the doctor says so. Is it possible that at this time big brother has remembered Aster little by little? Should I hit her head this time?" I muttered in wonder and immediately shook my head quickly as those bad thoughts flashed by.

If indeed his memory has returned little by little, yes it should be that this thing I see is indeed natural right? After all, which parent can look okay after hearing bad news about his child? I continued in my heart while biting my lower lip with anxiety. Especially when remembering Albert's explanation of the fire incident.

A clock ticking filled the room, accompanying the silence of the night that felt colder than usual. Then I set both my legs to get closer to my sister.

"Is ... are you satisfied now?" He stopped my steps right in front of him. I saw my brother raising his head in a daze.

What the fuck is that expression? Why does he look so bad? Hasn't his memory fully returned? And again, wasn't Aster's death what he expected? Normally he should feel relieved, right? My mind suddenly felt annoyed again when it saw the look on its pitiful face. A few seconds ago, I felt sorry for him.

"I'm .. This might sound stupid. But I feel broken now. It felt like there was a big hole in my heart. Isn't that weird? Though I wanted the child to disappear, but when I heard of his death .. why does my heart feel so sick?" It looked pitiful, especially when the tears came out of his eyes.

"What's your memory–"

"It looks like your swearing that day really happened huh? God granted do'amu–" his cut surprised me. I did swear at my stupid brother, but this is not what I expected.

"I ..," I murmured as I clenched my hands together with all my strength, keeping all my feelings there. I don't know what to say to her.

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