Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 323: I never thought I would see this face again.

Lucas grabbed the case and stepped out into the corridor while the sky was still pale. He held the case with both hands as if it were made of fragile crystal, and he walked with steady steps until he arrived at the Empress’s private quarters.

Two guards straightened the moment they saw him. One of them spoke in a low tone.

"You are here very early, my lord. Her Majesty has only just risen."

Lucas nodded.

"I will not take long. I only need to deliver something important."

The guard exchanged a brief glance with his partner before knocking on the door. A few seconds passed before it opened from within, and Seraphine appeared, already dressed for the morning but clearly not expecting visitors.

Her eyebrows lifted slightly when she saw who stood outside.

"Xavier? What brings you here at this hour?"

Lucas offered a polite bow.

"I apologize for arriving without notice. I completed what Her Majesty requested, and I thought it would be best to bring it at once rather than wait until later."

Seraphine’s curiosity sharpened at once.

"You finished it already? I did not even know you had begun."

Lucas gave a faint smile.

"I worked through the night. May I enter?"

Seraphine stepped aside immediately.

"Of course. She is awake. Come in."

Lucas walked inside, and the warmth of the chamber surrounded him. The fireplace was lit, its flames steady and quiet, casting a soft glow across the carpets and silk-covered chairs. The Empress sat alone beside the fire, her posture perfectly composed, both hands resting on her knees as she stared into the flames.

This time, she wore no veil.

Her features were calm and elegant, untouched by cosmetics, and her expression was distant as if she had been lost in her own thoughts. When she heard footsteps approaching, she turned her head slowly.

Seraphine cleared her throat gently.

"Your Majesty, Xavier has come to see you."

The Empress blinked once, the coldness in her eyes giving way to mild surprise.

"Xavier? At this time of morning?"

Lucas stepped forward and bowed.

"Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty. I did not wish to delay. I have completed the potion you asked for."

The Empress straightened slightly, as though she suspected he was merely being courteous.

"You completed it already?"

Lucas opened the case and lifted the vial with both hands before offering it to her.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I finished a few moments ago and came here directly."

Seraphine’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"You truly worked through the night? I thought you would still be resting. No one expected you to arrive before sunrise."

The Empress reached out and accepted the vial carefully, her fingers brushing the glass as if she needed to confirm it was real. Her voice was quieter now, touched with genuine astonishment.

"I did not expect you to bring this so soon. I believed it would take several days at the very least."

Lucas remained standing before her, waiting for her response as both women stared at him, equally surprised to see him there so early.

The Empress stared at the vial for several long seconds, her grip tightening ever so slightly. The liquid inside shifted with the movement, catching the light from the fire. Seraphine watched her closely but remained silent.

The Empress did not look away from the vial.

"My heart has not beaten this fast in years," she murmured.

Seraphine moved a little closer.

"Your Majesty, are you all right?"

The Empress exhaled slowly, almost unsteady.

"All this time I have worn a veil because I could not bear for anyone to see me. I had nearly accepted that this would be permanent."

Lucas lowered his voice.

"You will not need to hide anymore. That was my promise."

Her eyes flickered up to meet his for a moment before returning to the potion.

Lucas took a step closer, keeping his tone gentle.

"You do not need to fear the outcome. I checked every ingredient twice. There is no risk."

She traced her thumb along the glass, her hands no longer steady.

"I have dreamed of having my face back... yet now that the moment is here, I find myself terrified. If this fails, there will be nothing left to hope for."

Seraphine placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It will not fail. Trust him."

The Empress swallowed hard, her throat tightening.

"For so long I prepared myself to live behind a veil until the end of my life. And now I am holding the possibility of freedom in my hands."

The Empress finally lifted the vial with both hands and closed her eyes for a brief moment. Lucas and Seraphine watched without breathing. Then she removed the stopper and drank the entire content in one smooth motion. For a heartbeat nothing happened.

Her brows slowly drew together.

"There is a strange heat," she whispered.

Lucas stepped forward slightly.

"Where?"

"My face... it feels as if it is burning from the inside."

Seraphine’s eyes widened.

"Should we call a physician?"

"No," Lucas answered firmly, "this is normal. Do not panic."

The Empress lifted her hand toward her cheek but stopped halfway, her voice growing unsteady.

"It feels as though something is moving beneath the skin."

Seraphine stared at her without blinking.

"Your Majesty... look."

A faint layer of old scar tissue began to loosen, almost like dried clay cracking. Pieces began to fall away, landing soundlessly on the floor. The Empress gasped, frozen in place. Lucas remained silent, waiting.

Seraphine brought her hands to her mouth as the last of the warped flesh peeled away. Underneath, new skin appeared, smooth and bright, untouched by any wound. The glow of the fire reflected off her face like polished porcelain.

Seraphine whispered in disbelief.

"I cannot believe what I am seeing."

The Empress took a shaky step forward.

"It is gone... I cannot feel it anymore."

She touched her cheek with trembling fingers, then pressed her palm to the other side of her face, searching for the scar that had been there for years.

"There is nothing... nothing at all."

Suddenly she stood up, almost knocking over the chair. Without another word she rushed across the room to the mirror. Seraphine and Lucas followed her with their eyes only.

When she reached the mirror, she stopped abruptly.

The reflection staring back was not the disfigured face she had forced herself to accept. Her features were whole again, delicate and breathtaking. Her skin had a soft radiance, almost youthful, and her lips parted slowly as shock spread across her expression.

She touched the surface of the mirror with both hands.

"This cannot be real."

Seraphine stepped behind her, tears gathering in her eyes.

"It is real. You look just as you once did."

The Empress shook her head, overwhelmed.

"I look... even better than before."

She turned slightly to confirm every angle, unable to stop herself from checking again and again.

Lucas remained silent, allowing her the moment. The Empress stared at her own reflection, her voice barely above a breath.

"I never thought I would see this face again."