The next morning, I was sitting in the garden, quietly drinking a cup of coffee while reading a book.
The morning air was cool, and the sunlight filtered softly through the trees. It was peaceful—exactly the kind of quiet I needed after everything that had happened last night.
As I turned a page, I noticed someone walking toward me.
It was Lucas.
When I looked up, my eyes briefly studied him. My stepbrother was tall and broad-shouldered, his muscular build obvious even beneath the elegant noble clothes he wore. His crimson-red hair was styled neatly upward, giving him a sharp and confident appearance. With his striking features and calm smile, it wasn't surprising that many people admired him.
"Yo, brother. Reading again?" he said as he approached. "Don't you ever get tired of reading all day?"
The memories from last night were still fresh in my mind, making it strangely awkward to even look at him.
Instead of answering, I simply nodded and continued reading.
A moment later, he casually sat down beside me.
My eyes widened.
"W-what do you think you're doing?" I asked, startled.
Lucas chuckled lightly. "Come on. Isn't this normal for brothers?"
Before I could respond, another familiar voice spoke from behind us.
"Hm? What are you doing with Kael, Brother Lucas?"
I looked up and saw Leon approaching.
Lucas waved casually. "Yo, Leon. Him? I'm just comforting him. He said his body was hurting."
Lucas glanced at me with a teasing smirk, and panic immediately rose in my chest.
"Hurt?" Leon repeated, frowning slightly as he stepped closer. "What happened, Kael?"
"I—I'm fine. Don't worry about it," I quickly replied.
"Are you sure?" Leon asked again, studying me carefully.
"Yes," I said, trying to sound firm. "So you two can go now. Stop disturbing me."
These two are really annoying, I complained silently in my head.
Lucas suddenly spoke again.
"By the way, why don't you come with us to the farm?"
"Farm?" I asked, still pretending to focus on my book. "What are we doing there?"
"The farmers are taking the day off," Lucas explained. "Father asked us to check on things and help out for a while."
He leaned back casually.
"So I figured I'd invite you too. It's not like you have anything else to do."
Leon nodded. "That's actually a good idea."
"Alright," Leon continued. "Why don't we start preparing now?"
I sighed quietly.
In the end, I agreed to go with them. If I refused, Leon would probably keep asking me again and again anyway.
The carriage began to move, its wheels rolling steadily along the dirt road as we headed toward the farm.
Inside the carriage, the space was quiet except for the soft creaking of wood and the rhythmic sound of the horses pulling us forward.
I sat across from my brothers, a book resting in my hands as I continued reading.
Lucas leaned back lazily against the seat, watching me for a moment before letting out a quiet chuckle.
"You really brought a book with you," he said.
I didn't even look up. "Of course."
"We're going to the farm, not the academy library," he continued, shaking his head.
"That doesn't mean I can't read," I replied calmly, turning the next page.
Lucas sighed dramatically before reaching toward the small stack of books beside me and picking one up.
"Huh… you even brought more than one," he muttered, flipping it open.
Leon, who was sitting beside him, glanced over curiously. "What kind of book is that?"
Lucas squinted at the pages. "Looks like some kind of strategy or history book."
"That's because it is," I said.
Lucas smirked slightly. "You know, most people our age would rather practice swordsmanship or magic."
"I already told you," I replied flatly. "I have no talent for either."
Leon crossed his arms. "Still, knowledge alone won't protect you."
I shrugged. "Maybe not. But it's better than wasting my time pretending I can become something I'm not."
For a moment, the carriage fell silent.
Lucas continued flipping through the book in his hands before glancing at me again.
"You really are strange, Kael," he said with a faint smile.
I didn't bother responding.
Instead, I simply turned another page, letting the quiet rhythm of the carriage fill the space between us as the farm slowly drew closer.
The carriage continued along the road, the gentle rocking making the atmosphere inside calm and quiet.
Lucas closed the book he had been flipping through and stretched his arms.
"You know," he said casually, "Father really expects a lot from us lately."
Leon glanced at him. "He always does."
Lucas chuckled. "True. But lately it feels worse. Every time I see him, he's talking about responsibilities, training, and the family name."
Leon leaned back slightly. "Well, we are part of a noble family. Expectations come with that."
Lucas tilted his head slightly. "Still… sometimes I wonder if he pushes us too much."
Leon shrugged. "Maybe. But that's just how Father is."
I quietly continued reading, pretending not to listen.
Lucas suddenly glanced at me.
"And what about you, Kael?" he asked.
I looked up from my book. "What about me?"
"Do you ever think about it?" he said. "About the family. About what Father expects from us."
I stared at the page for a moment before answering.
"There's no point," I said calmly.
Leon frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," I continued, turning another page, "you two are the talented ones. One good with the sword, the other with magic."
Lucas and Leon exchanged glances.
"As for me," I added quietly, "Father already knows I'm useless when it comes to those things."
Lucas frowned. "Don't say that."
"It's the truth," I replied simply.
The carriage grew silent for a moment.
Leon sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Father doesn't hate you, you know."
Lucas nodded. "Yeah. He's just… strict."
I didn't respond.
Instead, I kept my eyes on the book, even though I wasn't really reading anymore.
Outside the carriage window, the fields slowly came into view.
The farm was getting closer.