That Night — Daincrest Mansion
Moonlight poured through tall glass windows.
Seris lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
She shouldn't have cared.
They were just orphan girls. Disrespectful. Unrefined.
And yet—
She couldn't get them out of her mind.
The way they didn't bow.
The way they spoke in unison.
The way one of them looked almost identical to the other.
She sat up abruptly.
Her silver hair spilled over her shoulders as she moved to her desk. She pulled a sheet of parchment toward herself and picked up a pen.
Slowly…
Carefully…
She began to draw.
Two figures standing side by side.
Long dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
Similar faces — but different expressions.
When she finished, she stared at the image.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the paper as she lifted it closer.
A soft creak echoed through the room.
Her door had opened.
"You're still awake," Vaelor's voice said from the shadows.
She didn't flinch.
"I couldn't sleep," she replied evenly. "And you know you're not supposed to enter a young lady's room without knocking."
He stepped into the moonlight.
"You know I'm your father, correct?"
She didn't answer.
She tried to slide the paper beneath another stack—
Too late.
Vaelor saw it.
His eyes lingered on the drawing.
Then on her.
"You were thinking about them."
"Maybe."
"Do you want to see them again?" he asked, smiling faintly.
She hesitated.
"…Maybe."
She stood and walked toward her bed, deliberately dismissing him.
Vaelor watched her carefully.
Then he smirked.
And left.
As the door shut behind him, Seris stared at the ceiling again.
What is he planning…?
Exhaustion eventually pulled her into sleep.
The Next Morning — Orphanage
Elara pushed open the dormitory door to wake the children—
The door slammed shut behind her.
Locked.
Laughter echoed.
"Well… we've been waiting," one of the older boys said.
Her heart began pounding.
"What do you want?" she asked, voice trembling.
"You're wasting yourself here," another sneered. "Why don't you give that body to someone who appreciates it?"
She instinctively measured their presence.
Their Aetherion levels were higher than hers.
Much higher.
She had no chance in a direct struggle.
"I—"
The world blurred.
The dormitory vanished.
The next second—
She was seated beneath the oak tree outside.
Her breathing was ragged.
"What…?"
Across from her, Kael sat casually against the trunk.
"You really can't take care of yourself without me, can you?" he asked lazily.
Relief washed over her before she could hide it.
She sat beside him.
"…Maybe."
After a moment, she frowned.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"I wanted to ask you about that silver-haired girl. Who was she?"
The question pierced deeper than expected.
Elara instinctively looked away.
A faint, uncomfortable tightness formed in her chest.
"All I know," she said calmly, "is that she's Seris Daincrest. Daughter of Lord Vaelor Daincrest. The noble who oversees this village."
"I see," Kael murmured. "So she's the daughter of someone powerful."
"Basically."
She stood.
"Is that all?"
"For now."
She walked away.
Kael watched her back.
"She sounded different," he murmured.
Girls' Dormitory
Lyra sat on her bed when several girls surrounded her.
"I heard you went out with Kael yesterday."
"What's he like?"
"Does he always look that perfect?"
"I tried talking to him once but lost the courage."
Lyra blinked.
"I don't see what you all see in that jerk," she muttered.
"What do you mean?"
"He's beautiful."
"His long hair is everything."
"I wonder what our children would look like—"
Lyra stared blankly.
Children…?
A knock interrupted them.
One of the girls opened the door.
Kael stood there.
"Hey."
Silence.
Then—
Every girl in the room collapsed dramatically with nosebleeds.
Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose.
"What do you want?"
"I came looking for you."
"Oh? Now you want to talk to me?"
"Why is talking to you a crime?"
"I don't want people mistaking you for the original."
Kael sighed.
"The old man is calling us."
"Why?"
"He said it's an emergency."
Lyra groaned.
"Let's get it over with."
Head's Office
"You called for us?" Lyra asked as they entered.
The head didn't look pleased.
"Lord Vaelor has applied both of you to the Elarion Sovereign Academy in the city."
Silence.
Kael's eyes flickered faintly.
"It's not like we can deny," he said calmly. "When are we to leave?"
"Tomorrow."
Lyra turned and walked out immediately.
Kael remained a moment longer.
"I'll agree to go," he said quietly, "on one condition."
The head frowned.
"What condition?"
Kael smiled faintly.
"…You'll find out."
And he left.
Daincrest Storage Room
Artifacts lined the walls.
Vaelor sat comfortably while Orin stood nearby.
"I've arranged their admission," Vaelor said.
"They will pass through the eastern forest on their way to the city."
Orin nodded.
"And on their way?"
Vaelor's smile widened.
"You know what to do."
"Yes, my lord."
The candles flickered.
And somewhere in the orphanage—
Kael's eyes opened slowly.
As if he had heard everything.