With a steady hand, Magnus wrote down the date of Cecil's death, a sense of trepidation settling in as he gazed at the words on the page. According to the novel, Cecil would meet his demise on his 20th birthday. Magnus calculated the time left, his mind racing with the thought of the limited time he had to change his fate. It was a daunting task, but he was determined to make the most of it.
As he looked at the date he had written, a sense of resolve hardened within him. He would not go down without a fight. He would uncover the truth behind his stepmother's plot, find a cure for his illness, and rewrite his own destiny. The countdown had begun, and Magnus was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. With a newfound sense of purpose, he dipped his quill in the inkwell once more, ready to continue writing down his plan.
The sudden knock on the door startled Magnus, and he quickly composed himself, remembering that he was supposed to be Cecil. He assumed that it was probably Maria, the maid who had always shown him kindness despite his cruel behavior. Magnus decided to keep his true identity hidden for now, and he stood up, trying to get into character. He attempted to adopt Cecil's usual demeanor, but it wasn't easy. His mind was still reeling from the revelations about his past and his fate.
As he approached the door, he heard Maria's voice, and his heart skipped a beat. The tone, the pitch, it was almost identical to his sister Layla's voice. A wave of nostalgia washed over him, and for a moment, he felt like he was back in his old life, surrounded by the people he loved. The memories came flooding back, and Magnus felt a pang of longing. He missed his sister, his family, and his friends. He missed the life he had left behind.
Magnus's grip on the door handle tightened, and he hesitated for a moment, collecting his thoughts before opening the door. He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He slowly turned the handle, and the door creaked open.
But instead of Maria, Magnus's eyes widened in shock as he saw a face that made his heart stop. It was Layla's face, but older, more mature. The same bright eyes, the same gentle smile. Magnus's mind reeled as he stared at the woman in front of him. Was this some kind of cruel joke? He felt like he was dreaming, like he was hallucinating. His legs turned to stone, and he froze, unable to move or speak. The woman's eyes locked onto his, and Magnus saw a mix of concern and curiosity in them. But he couldn't respond, couldn't react. He was trapped in a sea of emotions, unable to escape.
Magnus's composure shattered, and he felt a wave of emotion wash over him. Tears began to fall from his eyes, streaming down his face as he gazed at the woman who looked so much like his sister. He couldn't contain himself anymore, and he felt a deep sense of longing and loss overwhelm him.
Without thinking, Magnus reached out and pulled the woman into a tight hug. "Layla...?" he whispered, his voice shaking with emotion. But as he held her, he realized it wasn't his sister. It was Maria, the maid, who had a similar face and voice.
Despite the mix-up, Magnus couldn't let go. He held onto Maria tightly, tears streaming down his face as he felt a sense of comfort and familiarity. Maria, taken aback by Cecil's sudden display of emotion, hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around him, holding him close.
"It's okay, Master Cecil," she whispered softly. "I'm here for you." Magnus didn't respond, too caught up in his emotions. He just held onto Maria, letting the tears flow, and for a moment, he felt like he was home.
After a while, Magnus's tears subsided, and he slowly pulled back from Maria, his eyes red and puffy. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself, and looked at Maria's concerned face. He knew it wasn't Layla, but the resemblance still lingered, and he felt a pang of sadness.
Maria, still in shock from Cecil's sudden display of emotion, looked at him with a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Master Cecil, are you okay? What happened?" she asked politely, her voice soft and gentle.
Magnus forced a smile onto his face, trying to brush off the emotional moment. "I had a nightmare, that's all," he said, his voice still shaking slightly. He didn't want to reveal too much, didn't want to show his true feelings. He needed to keep up the facade of being Cecil, the arrogant and cold young master.
Maria looked at him skeptically, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she nodded and said, "I'll get you some water, Master Cecil. You look like you could use it." Magnus nodded, still smiling weakly, and Maria turned to leave, her eyes lingering on him with concern.