Transmigrated Into The True Heiress-Chapter 104: Not Yet

One by one, the others followed. Liam approached next, handing her a neatly wrapped gift and wishing her well. Then came Han, Reed, and Miles, each bearing their own presents and warm greetings. Finally, the butler stepped forward, bowing slightly as he handed her a small, elegant package.

Once everyone was done, Jania bounded over, her energy contagious. She took Ephyra’s hand and tugged gently. "Come on! We have a surprise for you."

"Another one?" Ephyra asked, slipping on her slippers.

Jania grinned mischievously and gestured for her to turn around.

Before Ephyra could protest, she felt a cloth slip over her eyes, tying snugly behind her head.

"You’re blindfolding me? Is that really necessary?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"You’ll see soon enough. Just trust me—and try not to trip."

Ephyra rolled her eyes under the blindfold but followed obediently, stepping forward with cautious steps. Navigating blindly wasn’t easy, especially when she had to descend the stairs.

Her heart raced each time her foot hovered uncertainly over the next step, but somehow, she managed not to trip, tumble, or land flat on her face.

Finally, they came to a stop.

"We’re here!" Jania announced, moving behind Eira to untie the blindfold.

Ephyra squeezed her eyes shut instinctively as a flash of light filtered through her closed lids.

"Open your eyes," Jania urged excitedly.

Ephyra opened her eyes to a breathtaking sight: she was in a glass house, and the snow was falling gently outside. Large flakes danced and swirled in the air, blanketing the surrounding garden in pure white. Icicles hung like ornaments from the edges of the glass roof, refracting the soft glow of the fairy lights strung across the room.

Her breath hitched as she took in the scene. It was magical, almost dreamlike.

"It’s snowing?" she asked her voice barely above a whisper, her dazed expression betraying her astonishment.

"Yes." Jania replied. "It started snowing just a few minutes after you arrived. I was also surprised, Liam almost couldn’t make it because of the surprise snowfall. But It gave us the perfect idea for this surprise. Remember how you said you loved watching snowfall?"

"It was Master Lyle who arranged most of this." She added.

Ephyra turned her gaze to Lyle, who was standing slightly off to the side, his hands in his pockets. His usual calm demeanor seemed to falter for a moment when their eyes met, but he quickly recovered, offering her a faint smile.

"You really did all this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lyle shrugged, "It wasn’t much. Just... thought it would be nice."

Ephyra turned her head slowly, taking in the effort they had put into creating this moment. A long wooden table stood in the center of the room, adorned with flickering candles, a decadent cake, and plates of her favorite desserts. A cozy arrangement of blankets and cushions lay nearby, perfect for lounging and enjoying the view.

For a moment, Ephyra didn’t know what to say. Her chest tightened with emotion as she realized the lengths they had gone to for her.

"Do you like it?" Jania pressed eagerly. "Oh, and I took your phone earlier—messages from your friends have been coming in nonstop."

She handed the phone to Ephyra, who took it with trembling hands. Unlocking it, she saw a flurry of notifications. Among them were messages from Malia, Orla, and Cyran.

Malia’s message was especially long.

Malia: Happy Birthday! I hope today is as amazing as you are! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but since I can’t, here’s a virtual hug! 🎉 Don’t forget to eat lots of cake! I miss you, Ephyra. Let’s all meet up tomorrow to celebrate your birthday, okay?

Orla’s message was shorter but no less heartfelt:

Orla: Happy Birthday, Ephyra. May this year bring you all the happiness you deserve.

Finally, Cyran’s message was, as always, straightforward and warm:

Cyran: Happy Birthday, Ephyra! Take care of yourself today and every day. Don’t let anyone ruin your special day. Enjoy the snow!

She lingered on the words, her fingers trembling slightly as she reread them.

Ephyra’s fingers hovered over the screen as she scrolled through the words. Her lips twitched into a small smile before her vision blurred with unshed tears. She quickly blinked them away, feeling an odd sense of warmth in her chest.

"Thank you, it’s beautiful," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "I don’t know how to—"

"Don’t overthink it," Liam interrupted with a grin, his breath visible in the cold air. "Just enjoy yourself. That’s all we want."

Reed, standing nearby, nodded. "Besides, it’s not every day we get to see you flustered. It’s a nice change from the usual cold, calculating you."

Miles smirked. "And here I thought you didn’t know how to smile."

Ephyra rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the small laugh that escaped her lips. Despite the storm of emotions swirling within her, she felt something she hadn’t experienced in years: peace.

"Thank you, all of you," she said, her voice firmer now as she addressed everyone in the room. "This... this is more than I could have asked for."

"Well, the night’s not over yet!" Jania chimed in, clapping her hands. "Come on, let’s cut the cake before it melts under all these candles!"

———

Away from their celebration, a majestic mansion stood on the edge of a hill. Below it was an expanse of thick forest. The building was unlike traditional mansion structures; it was built with a fusion of modern and vintage architecture.

The mansion’s sleek exterior, crafted from a combination of white stone and tempered glass, mirrored the moonlight with a gentle glow. Tall, angular windows stretched from floor to ceiling, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding forest and the distant city skyline. A grand staircase, framed by intricate wrought-iron railings, led to the front door—a massive structure carved from dark mahogany with a seamless, touch-sensitive panel embedded for access.

The main foyer boasted a pristine white marble floor streaked with veins of silvery blue, its polished surface reflecting the ambient light from an intricate chandelier overhead. The chandelier itself was a marvel of futuristic design, constructed from fine crystal panels that emitted a soft, adjustable luminescence.

The walls were painted in calming shades of ice blue and pearl white, accentuated by minimalist art pieces and holographic projections that shifted and morphed with a wave of the hand. Smart glass panels served as windows, adjusting their tint based on the time of day or the resident’s preferences.

The living room extended beyond the foyer—an expansive space that blended comfort with cutting-edge technology. Plush, navy-blue sofas with white accent pillows were arranged around a sleek, transparent coffee table that doubled as a digital interface. Built-in wall screens displayed soothing nature scenes, though they could transform into high-definition entertainment hubs at the touch of a button. The room’s centerpiece was a floating fireplace, its flames dancing in an invisible enclosure, seemingly suspended in midair.

In the kitchen, gleaming white countertops with subtle blue lighting framed state-of-the-art appliances. The refrigerator responded to voice commands, the oven operated through an interactive touch display, and the cabinets opened with a light press. A glass backsplash displayed real-time recipes, news updates, or even video calls, blending utility and sophistication.

A woman was currently standing by the countertops, dishing the food she’d prepared. One after another, she walked out of the kitchen to the dining area, which was separated by a sleek partition and featured a long, translucent table surrounded by high-backed chairs upholstered in soft, blue leather. Above the table, a linear light fixture cast a warm glow, its intensity modulated by the house’s AI system. She placed the dishes on the table with a soft smile, and just as she placed the last one, a mechanical voice echoed through the mansion.

[Sole Assistant, now named Donna, is active.]

[Miss Ephyra’s Status: She is healthy and currently feeling a mix of emotions such as happiness, disbelief, surprise, and confusion.]

[Does the administrator want me to report something particular about Miss Ephyra?]

As soon as the voice started speaking, the dark-haired woman froze. When she heard the name "Ephyra," she hurriedly made her way out of the dining area and ran through the mansion. Finally, she reached the top floor and walked into a large hall where windows lined one of the walls.

It was dark in here, but the dark-haired woman didn’t bother turning on the light as she could see the silhouette of the person she was looking for.

"Aerona! Ephyra’s AI just activated! She is... she is fine!"

The silhouette by the window remained still for a moment, bathed in the pale glow of moonlight filtering through the glass. Aerona’s figure, tall and commanding, exuded an aura of restrained power, though the tension in her posture was palpable. Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the dim light, cascading down her back in untamed waves.

At the words, her head turned slowly, and her piercing gaze locked onto the dark-haired woman. "What did you say, Aurora?" Her voice, low and gravelly, carried an edge of desperation.

Aurora hurried closer, her breath hitching as she fought to control the excitement bubbling within her. "Donna reported her status. Ephyra is alive! She’s... she’s feeling things—emotions! Happiness, disbelief, confusion! This means she’s conscious!"

Aerona staggered back a step, her hand gripping the edge of a nearby console for support. Her chest heaved as though the weight of years of torment had just lifted, only to be replaced by a fresh wave of overwhelming hope. "She’s perfectly fine, right?" The words left her lips in a whisper, as if saying them too loudly might shatter the fragile truth.

"Yes." Aurora reached out, grasping Aerona’s trembling hand. "Her AI core activated fully. Donna wouldn’t have spoken otherwise. Ephyra is somewhere out there."

Aerona closed her eyes, her expression crumpling under the weight of her emotions. Memories of her daughter—those fleeting moments when she held her as a baby, her delicate fingers brushing against her cheek—flooded her mind. Her voice was choked when she spoke. "Aurora, my daughter."

Aurora squeezed her hand, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "We can find your daughter and bring her back."

A tear fell from Aerona’s glistening blue eyes. "Not yet. Remember, the reason why Ephyra isn’t with me is because I promised that until I kill every single one of them and create a safe world for my daughter, I won’t be with her."

"But—"

"She is fine and feeling happy, right? That means she is celebrating her birthday and perfectly fine. I didn’t create 11-59 for nothing," she turned back to her sister. "Please understand."

Aurora nodded, wiping her tears. "I understand." frёewebηovel.cѳm

"Then let’s get to work, shall we? We need to deliver the body of Carver’s Patriarch’s first son to him, after all."