The Return of the Mad Witch
The Heart of Valencia

Valencia smiled, but it was not an ordinary smile but a smile that hid deep pain and despair. Klarybell has given him the opportunity to talk to two people who have been the source of his suffering throughout his life.

Adarian and Helen are also very surprised to hear Valencia again calling them Father and Mother. Ever since Valencia was possessed by Klarybell, they had never listened to their daughter call her that.

"What's that empty muzzle are you talking about? Are you dead already? You are clearly standing in front of us. Don't talk about anything that doesn't make sense" Adarian pointedly denied.

"You must withdraw your consent as Archduke Calestine's adopted son. Have you never heard a rumor how scary he is? You're now in the lion's den, Valencia!" said Helen.

Valencia bowed down, both of her hands squeezing her dress.

"Haha. So, is that what you're worried about? You guys are acting like good parents? You guys completely forgot what you did to me?"

Valencia straightened his head, tears welling up in both corners of his eyes. The one crying was Valencia, not Klarybell. The girl let go of all the sadness during her lifetime.

"Don't make me laugh, you've been ignoring me all along. Should I stay in a house that I consider hell? Where were you when I was sick? Where were you when I was dying? Even when I die, you don't care. You left me alone to face every bullying in this residence."

"Am I wrong to be born a woman? If I may ask, I want to be born a man so that you love me. Am I guilty of being a woman? I did things to attract your attention. I fell down the stairs, drowned in the lake, I sliced my hand, and lastly I tried to commit suicide. Do you guys care about me?"

Silent. Valencia expresses his feelings for Helen and Adarian. He shouted his entire agony with unstoppable tears.

"Dad, Mom, I just want to be loved, I want to be loved like a child in general. If you gave birth to me just to torture me, you better kill me. I don't need a world of treasure, I just need your love. Please stop hurting me, I beg .. I'm tired of sticking with all this."

The servants and knights who happened to be there suddenly felt a pain in their hearts. However, Valencia's feelings were more sliced. Even when he died, he was still overshadowed by his suffering.

"Dad, what have I done to you? Why do you love Endry? Why do you love Linnea more than I do my own son? Did I ever hurt Dad? Have you ever looked at me so lovingly? Dad, I'm a sinful child, yes ...."

"Then Mom, why do you hate me so much? Mom always blames me for cheating on me. Though I knew nothing, I was born also the will of my own mother. Mom, I want you to hug me just once, but did you ever do that? Please don't hate me, Mother, I'm not wrong. I want you to be happy, I don't want to be born if I'm the source of your suffering."

Valencia sobbed, his eyes hot filled with tears that did not go dry. Helen and Adarian are transfixed, Valencia's momentary outpouring of heart becomes a burdensome feeling for them. Their daughter had gone through a lot to last this long.

"So, I beg you, please don't forbid me from being Archduke Calestine's adopted son. I just want to get out of this hell, I don't want to suffer anymore because of your selfishness. Dad, Mom, please let me go."

Valencia bowed his body, tears falling to the floor. Without realizing it, it turns out Henzo was behind the door earlier. He heard all the words of Valencia that pierced the heart.

"Grand Duke, I think it's been enough to get here" Henzo said.

Valencia straightened his body, but he lost his balance. Fortunately, Henzo came and directly concentrated Valencia's body that almost hit the floor.

"Valencia, you've survived this long. Now you don't have to carry a heavy load on your back" Henzo said.

"Thank you, Uncle."

Valencia smiled, a sincere smile that Henzo had never seen in knowing Valencia. Yes, it was the last smile of the owner. He disappeared right after thanking Henzo.

After that, Valencia was unconscious in the decapitation of Henzo.

"Bring Valencia out of here, it seems like he's already quite tired," Henzo orders one of his subordinates.

"Okay, Your Majesty."

Helen was about to chase Valencia outside, but hurriedly her steps were intercepted by Henzo.

"Grand Duchess, you heard that, right? Please don't involve Valencia again in your household matters."

"Your Majesty, can't you cancel Valencia's adoption? Whatever she is my daughter, you can't see—"

"You just recognized Valencia as your daughter? Do you feel sorry now? You guys are really driving me crazy!"

Henzo was furious, the atmosphere of Adarian's room was no longer calm. He now drew his sword and pointed it towards Adarian.

"Grand Duke, don't ever ask me to cancel Valencia's adoption. That girl had already suffered enough in this residence. How can you let such a little girl survive in the midst of a storm of pain? You guys don't seem to be sane."

Henzo sheathed back to her, somehow having some way to resuscitate Adarian and Helen.

"Your Majesty, please let me speak once more with Valencia. She was my daughter, I gave birth to her. I beg—"

"Grand Duchess, anyone can give birth to a child, but not everyone can be a parent. You gave birth to her, doesn't mean you can be her mother. You understand what I mean?" press Henzo.

Helen undoes her intentions, she sees a shadow of the ill-treatment she has done to her own daughter. Adarian is now swayed by complicated feelings that he does not understand.

"Because of the Emperor's request, I won't kill you both." Henzo beckoned a gesture at his knight. Then the knight rushed in with a crate.

"I have destroyed the Valencia residence pavilion, so this is the compensation money." The knight opened the contents of the chest which was apparently filled full by gold coins. "Not only is the pavilion redress, but it's also the money you spent on Valencia. I hope you understand your position. Now Valencia is my daughter."

Adarian and Helen did not respond, they were still drowning in the waves of stifling feelings.

"All right, I assume you understand. I say retreat and never again do you show your nostrils in front of my daughter" Henzo recalled leaving the room.

***

Valencia had arrived at the residence of Henzo, currently he was still asleep in the room that had been provided. Luxury room with perfect design. All of the items on display there are very expensive. Anyone would have been amazed to see the Valencia room at that time.

Valencia suddenly opened his eyes, his head was dizzy and his eyes were swollen due to the soul of the owner of the body crying incessantly. Now the soul of Valencia is no longer in the body.

"Damn! Holding two souls in one body seems to be very burdensome. It's a good thing Valencia didn't stay in this body for too long" he murmured.

When Valencia turned to the left, he was amazed by the soul of the owner of the body who apparently had not yet gone to heaven.

"Why are you still here? Is your business still not done?"

The soul of Valencia shook. "No, Your Majesty, I've been quite relieved after venting feelings to them. Right now I just want to say thank you."

"thank you? Wh-wh-what for? This is your body, you don't have to say thank you."

Valencia's soul suddenly hugged his body.

"Thank you for trying to avenge me. You're always trying to get this body out of the bad of my past. Thank you, Your Majesty, in this way I can leave quietly."

Slowly the soul of Valencia vanished along with the grains of light flying in the air.

"May you be blessed with happiness and I hope you can find love and then understand how to love others."

Valencia petrified on the bed, he had not even had time to answer the words of the owner of the body.

"Have love? What is love? How does it feel to love someone? I don't know, because no one ever taught me what love is."