After breakfast, the families slowly dispersed across the estate.
Some decided to walk through the old streets of their hometown, while others explored the gardens surrounding the large ancestral residence.
The town itself had a strange charm.
Ancient stone houses lined the narrow paths, their walls covered with ivy and soft flowers. Small lanterns hung above the streets, even during the day, giving the place an almost timeless atmosphere.
It felt peaceful… almost magical.
Jade walked beside Daniel as they explored the grounds.
To her surprise, Daniel was unusually attentive.
He adjusted her coat when the wind passed, guided her carefully along the stone paths, and occasionally placed a gentle hand on the small of her back to guide her.
Jade glanced at him suspiciously.
"You're being suspiciously nice today."
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"Suspiciously?"
"Yes," she said. "Did you do something wrong?"
Daniel smirked slightly.
"Not that I remember."
"Then stop acting like a guilty husband."
"I'm simply taking care of my wife."
Jade rolled her eyes, but a faint smile appeared on her lips.
At that moment, a deep, calm voice came from behind them.
"So this is the famousJade."
Daniel turned slightly.
His grand-uncle had just approached them.
He was a tall, dignified man with silver hair and a charismatic presence that commanded respect without effort.
Daniel nodded.
"Grand-uncle."
He gently pulled Jade closer.
"Jade, this is my grand-uncle. The one who organizes the gathering every year."
Jade smiled politely and bowed her head slightly.
"It's an honor to meet you, sir."
The old man observed her carefully.
Then he reached out and lightly touched her hand.
But the moment his fingers made contact—
He suddenly withdrew them.
Almost as if he had felt something unexpected.
His eyes flickered for a brief second.
But he quickly composed himself.
Jade didn't seem to notice.
"Please enjoy the estate," he said calmly.
"Thank you," Jade replied.
Not long after, Jade noticed something shimmering near the lake not far from the residence.
"Oh! What is that?"
Without waiting for an answer, she walked toward it with curiosity.
When she was far enough away, the old man's expression changed slightly.
His gaze followed her silhouette.
Then he spoke quietly to Daniel.
"It is very rare… but that girl was born the night the constellation VESPERIS appeared."
Daniel's eyes darkened slightly.
"Are you certain?"
The old man nodded slowly.
"VESPERIS rarely appears in the sky. Sometimes years pass without anyone seeing it."
His voice lowered.
"And yet… she was born exactly that night."
Daniel remained silent, watching Jade near the lake.
The old man added thoughtfully,
"Fate has strange ways of weaving destinies."
Then a small amused smile appeared on his lips.
"You should keep an eye on your wife, Daniel."
Daniel looked back at him.
"Why?"
"If what I suspect is true, my son… Daniel… you are the one affected by the curse of VESPERIS in this generation, aren't you?"
The old man's voice was calm, but heavy with meaning.
Daniel remained silent for a moment.
He had thought about denying it.
But it was useless.
His grand-uncle was known as a sage among the families of the Constellations. Hiding the truth from him would be pointless.
Daniel finally nodded.
"Yes."
The old man closed his eyes briefly, as if confirming something he had already guessed.
"You both must be careful," he said quietly.
Daniel frowned slightly.
"Tell me more, Grand-Uncle. I need to know."
His voice was firm now.
"There are too many things I don't understand."
He glanced toward the lake, where Jade was still examining the strange glowing symbols in the water.
"How can the curse be stopped?" Daniel continued.
"And why does Jade have an effect on it?"
The old man remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he turned away slowly.
A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
"Sometimes," he said softly, "it is better to know nothing… and simply watch what fate has prepared for us."
Daniel's brows tightened.
"Grand-Uncle—"
But the old man was already walking away.
He left Daniel standing there… with even more questions than before.
Not far away, Jade was still staring at the lake.
The strange symbols carved into the stone beneath the water reflected softly under the sunlight.
They looked ancient… almost alive.
"Strange place…" she murmured.
Later that morning, Jade wanted to explore the hometown more.
However, Daniel had a meeting scheduled through a webcam with some executives from the company.
"I can't come with you," he told her.
Jade sighed dramatically.
"Work, work, work… what a boring husband."
Daniel smirked.
"You are fiancee to a CEO. What did you expect?"
Before Jade could reply, a familiar lazy voice interrupted them.
"I can escort her."
Riguel was leaning against the doorway with his usual relaxed posture.
Daniel glanced at him.
Riguel raised his hands innocently.
"What? I'm just being a good brother-in-law."
Jade looked between the two men.
"Well," she said, shrugging, "at least someone here has time for me."
Riguel grinned.
"Come on, sister-in-law. I'll show you the real hometown."
Daniel watched them leave together.
But before Jade disappeared around the corner, she turned and pointed a finger at him.
"Don't work too much!"
Daniel chuckled softly.
Yet as soon as she was gone…
His expression became serious again.
His thoughts returned to his grand-uncle's words.
.
.
.
Riguel and Jade walked through the streets of the hometown together.
The place looked even more magical during the day.
Colorful banners hung between the stone houses, and the narrow streets were filled with small shops and stalls selling handmade crafts, herbs, and strange ornaments that seemed to belong to another era.
Jade looked around with bright curiosity.
"This place really looks… magical," she said.
Riguel shrugged lightly.
"I wouldn't know. I've only been here three times."
Jade turned to him, surprised.
"Only three times?"
"Yeah," he replied lazily. "Daniel comes more often than I do."
They soon reached the town's market.
The atmosphere there was lively and warm. Vendors were calling customers, children were running around, and the scent of spices and baked bread filled the air.
Jade's eyes sparkled.
"Oh! These are beautiful!"
She stopped at a small stall selling delicate handmade objects.
"I want to buy some souvenirs," she said with a smile. "I'll bring them home and show them to my mother."
Riguel leaned slightly against a nearby post.
"Take your time. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Jade nodded, already focused on the small objects in front of her.
Riguel walked away through the crowd, apparently having spotted something that caught his interest.
Meanwhile, Jade carefully picked up a small ornament shaped like a star.
"This one is nice…"
She smiled softly, imagining her mother's reaction.
Suddenly—
A hand grabbed her wrist.
Firmly.
Jade startled and turned sharply.
A woman stood in front of her.
Her entire face was hidden under a dark shawl.
Only her eyes were barely visible.
Jade frowned.
"What's wrong with you?" she snapped, trying to pull her hand away.
The woman leaned closer.
Slowly, she lowered a small part of the shawl just enough for Jade to see a glimpse of her face.
The moment Jade saw it—
Her heart skipped.
Her eyes widened.
"You… you…" she stammered.
Her mind raced.
"It's you…"
The mysterious woman from before.
"What are you doing here?" Jade demanded.
The woman's voice was urgent.
"Jade Lee… you are in danger."
Jade's brows furrowed.
"You need to stay away from the Ooman family."
Jade's shock quickly turned into anger.
"What are you talking about?"
Her voice sharpened.
"And how do you even know my name?"
The woman looked around quickly as if making sure no one was listening.
Then she leaned closer.
"If you want to know the truth," she whispered, "come with me."
Jade hesitated,She didn't trust her.Not even a little.
But deep inside…
A strange feeling told her she needed answers.
Not just answers.
Understanding.