Chapter 49

After uncovering Serena’s pact with a castle entity, he’d puzzled over which one.

Rosie seemed prime suspect at first, posing as family head with high odds of such dealings.

Suspicion shifted to Mrs. Blackwood next, the enigmatic figure glimpsed in Rosie’s wall art.

But instinct dismissed her; the painting had reacted to him.

If capable of direct action, she’d have done so then.

Finding the couple’s remains in the lab, plus the log, brought revelation.

The log outlined Vile Gaze powers: shadow manipulation, kin creation, illusions.

As top fusion match, Bella wielded them all.

Thus, kin creation was hers.

Her diary’s later instability, timeless haze.

Likely post-fusion Vile Gaze fallout, birthing a split mind.

Yet she grieved her “parents’” killings, showing profound care.

Their prior talk affirmed that attachment.

If the castle’s Rosie and Mrs. Bennett were Mrs. Blackwood’s puppets to dupe Bella, Ethan doubted emotional investment.

High likelihood they were Bella’s kin, linked by feelings and master-kin ties.