Chapter 17: The Woman Everyone Finally Saw

The peace conference continued for three days.

By the second day, I had become unexpectedly busy.

Several Council officials approached me with questions about the Highmoor archive system, and two Pack representatives asked whether I would consider helping them establish similar mediation offices.

For years, I had been known in the capital as Gavin Mercer’s fiancée.

Now people were introducing me by my own accomplishments.

It was a strange feeling.

On the final afternoon, the Royal Council held a formal reception for the delegates.

My grandmother, Eleanor, was there.

The moment she saw me, she pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Celia.”

I smiled against her shoulder.

“Grandmother.”

She stepped back and looked at me carefully.

“You look happy.”

“I am.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I worried that sending you to Highmoor would make you lonely.”

I shook my head.

“It taught me how to be alone without being lonely.”

She squeezed my hands.

“I'm proud of you.”

Those words still affected me.

I looked down for a moment so she wouldn't see how emotional I had become.

Then I noticed someone approaching behind her.

My mother.

She stopped several steps away.

For years, I had imagined what I would say if we met again.

Now that she was standing in front of me, I had nothing prepared.

She looked older.

“Celia,” she whispered.

I nodded.

“Mother.”

Her eyes moved to my royal badge.

“Your grandmother told me about your position.”

“Yes.”

She swallowed.

“I'm proud of you, too.”

I didn't know what to say.

She took a hesitant step closer.

“I know I failed you.”

My heart tightened.

“I know I always asked you to give in because Evelyn was sick. I told myself I was protecting the family.”

Her voice trembled.

“But I didn't realize I was teaching you that your feelings mattered less.”

I looked at her quietly.

She wiped away a tear.

“I'm sorry.”

For years, I had dreamed of hearing those words.

But when they finally came, I didn't feel victorious.

I only felt tired.

“Thank you for saying it,” I replied.

She looked at me hopefully.

“Can you forgive me?”

I thought for a moment.

“I can forgive you.”

Her expression softened.

“But things won't go back to the way they were.”

She nodded slowly.

“I understand.”

Across the reception hall, I noticed Gavin watching us.

Our eyes met.

He didn't approach.

He simply gave me a small nod.

I returned it.

Later that evening, Grandmother walked beside me through the palace gardens.

“Do you regret leaving him?” she asked.

I smiled.

“No.”

“Not even once?”

I shook my head.

“I regret how long it took me to leave.”

She laughed softly.

“Then you made the right choice.”

I looked toward the palace windows glowing in the night.

For the first time, I understood something I hadn't been able to understand at twenty-two.

Sometimes closure wasn't an apology.

Sometimes it wasn't revenge.

Sometimes closure was simply standing in the same place where you had once felt powerless and realizing that you no longer needed anyone's approval to walk away.