The sun shone brightly as usual, and the sound of birds chirping filled the air. It was a wonderful place to live. There was plenty of farming, and the level of civilization was almost on par with the Zodiac Kingdom.
This was where the runaway queen now lived… or rather, where Selene lived. That name suited her now.
She still looked beautiful, and she worked hard, despite once being royalty.
But hard work alone wasn't enough to feed both her and her child.
So she got married into a stable family.
Or at least… it looked stable from the outside.
"How dare you, you witch of a woman!"
A plate slammed against the floor.
"What are you trying to do? Poison me after everything I've given you?" Girrack shouted.
"I'm sorr—" Selene began.
"Just let her be, father," Rylan said calmly. "You're drunk again. Go to bed and we'll talk tomorrow, alright?"
"Why should I—"
"I won't repeat myself."
A small laugh came from the side.
"He's serious," the young girl said, giggling. "You should go to bed, father."
Her name was Lira.
Girrack muttered under his breath, "You little piece of shit… think you're all tough, eh…"
Silence.
For a few seconds, everyone stood still.
Girrack frowned slightly.
He wondered if the boy in the corner had heard him.
Of course, he had.
The alcohol just made him think he said it in his head.
That wasn't good.
"Well then," Rylan said, sitting back down. "Let's eat and go to bed. Father, we can go hunting tomorrow."
"…Of course, son," Girrack replied. "Anything you say."
"Mother… I'm hungry," the boy said quietly.
His name was Kael.
"Don't worry," Selene said softly. "I'll get you something after your brother and sister finish eating."
Rylan glanced at him.
"…Did something just talk?" he said. "Or did we get a new pet?"
Kael lowered his head.
"It was nothing, sir," he said quietly.
"I told you to call me big brother," Rylan replied.
"…Yes, big brother."
"Good."
Rylan leaned back slightly.
"After the hunt tomorrow, we'll have a private session in the cellar."
Kael's eyes widened.
"No, big brother… it was my mistake, I will nev—"
"Oh?" Lira laughed. "He's scared."
Selene stepped forward immediately.
"You said he wouldn't go there again," she said, her voice shaking. "You promised me. Please don't do this to him."
Rylan looked at her.
"Well, he promised to call me big brother," he said calmly. "But he broke it."
He turned to Kael.
"So I'll do the same. Or will you disagree?"
"Let him be," Selene said quickly. "I'll go with you."
"That's his choice to make," Rylan replied.
He smiled slightly.
"So what will it be, Kael? Will you let your dear mother go… or will you do it yourself?"
Kael's eyes filled with tears.
"I'll go," he said. "Just leave my mother out of it."
"No, son—" Selene said. "Don't do this. I'll be fine, don't worry. I'm strong, I can take anything."
Rylan looked disgusted.
"If you're all done with this," he said, "go to bed. I'm not in the mood for drama."
And just like that—
Everything went quiet again.
The estate was peaceful.
But only from the outside.
No one knew what really happened inside people's homes.
Morning arrived.
Girrack and Rylan left for hunting, while Selene went to work.
That left Lira and Kael alone in the house.
"I'm bored," Lira said, stretching. "What should we do for fun?"
She looked at him.
"I'm tired of punching you all the time. And my magic aiming has gotten better. If I use my flames again on you, you might actually die."
Kael paused.
This is the best time to get closer to her.
"Well… big sis," he said, even though they were thesame age, "we could explore the estate. I heard the Baron's son is back."
A small pause.
"I think you'd like that."
I know she likes him… I hear things at night. The walls are thin. Her breathing gets heavy sometimes… and it always stops after she says his name out loud.
Lira's eyes lit up.
"…Really?"
"Yeah."
"…Fine. Let's go."
She stood up.
"Guess you're not completely useless."
She changed into a new dress Rylan bought for her.
Then forced Kael to fix her appearance before they left.
After about thirty minutes, they reached near the Baron's estate.
A group of six boys blocked their path.
Two were their age. The others were older.
"Where do you think you're going?" one of them said.
A fight broke out.
Lira stepped forward without hesitation.
Flames gathered in her palm.
She released them—
But controlled.
Sharp.
Precise.
The boys were forced back.
She didn't kill them.
But she easily could have.
"…Impressive."
A voice spoke.
They turned.
A boy and a girl stood nearby.
"Hello," the boy said. "I saw your fight. I was intrigued. How did you learn to use flames so well?"
"Greetings," the girl added calmly.
Kael and Lira bowed.
"Greetings, my lord," Lira said, her voice softer now. "I was taught by my big brother… and I can also use a sword…"
She looked slightly nervous.
"…if you'd like to see."
The boy's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Then his gaze shifted to Kael.
"…Who is that?"
"I couldn't sense anything from you," he said. "Are you an assassin class?"
Kael shook his head.
"I don't have mana," he said calmly. "That's why you can't sense anything."
"And she doesn't like it when I get involved in her fights," he added. "That's why I stayed back."
"I see," the boy said.
"Well, a true warrior should stand his ground with or without magic."
He stepped closer.
"Raise your chin when you speak to me. It's not like I'm much older than you."
"…Yes, my lord."
"I'm Leon," he said. "Come to our house. Let's train."
His sister stepped forward.
"Take it easy on him," she said. "He looks worn out."
Her name was Elena.
"I'll be fine," Kael replied. "I'll do my best."
"Good," Leon said. "Let's go."
Their house was massive.
Beautiful.
Even Kael and Lira couldn't hide their reactions.
"Your house is beautiful… my lord," Lira said.
"Stop being formal," Leon replied. "Call me Leon. Talk normally. We're friends, right?"
"…Okay… Leon," she said, smiling.
"I'm happy to be your friend."
Elena crossed her arms.
"Wow. You finally made friends. That's shocking."
Lira laughed nervously.
"Don't mind her," Leon said. "She's just bored."
"I've been bored since the day I was born," Elena replied. "Especially because of you."
Kael chuckled slightly.
"Are you two actually siblings?"
"I'm not even sure," Elena said.
"Of course we are," Leon said. "Now, Lira, let's spar in the courtyard."
"Okay," she said quickly. "But I need to use the restroom first… and Kael too."
She gave him a look.
"…Yeah," Kael said. "I need to go."
Inside—
"How is my makeup?" Lira asked.
"It's fading," Kael said.
"Fix it."
"…Sit."
He adjusted her appearance carefully.
He was used to it.
He took care of her like that.
That was one of the reasons she didn't completely hate him.
They returned.
Leon stood in the courtyard, holding a wooden sword.
Lira stood opposite him, flames forming in her palm.
"Come at me," Leon said.
She moved first.
A burst of flame shot forward.
Leon stepped to the side, dodging easily.
"Too direct," he said.
She adjusted immediately.
Another attack—this time faster.
Leon blocked with his blade, pushing through the flames.
He stepped in—
Swung.
She barely dodged.
Her flames flared again, forcing him back.
"Better," he said.
She smiled slightly.
Then attacked again.
This time—
She mixed movement with magic.
Leon's expression changed.
He started taking it seriously.
Steel and flame clashed repeatedly.
Neither backing down.
In the end—
Leon stopped.
"…Not bad," he said. "You've got talent."
She smiled.
Meanwhile—
"So," Elena said, sitting down. "What do you do for fun?"
"I've always wanted to try chess," Kael replied.
She laughed.
"You?"
"…Yes."
"…Fine. Let's try."
They played.
She explained as they went.
Confident.
Calm.
She won the first game.
Then the second.
The third—
Stalemate.
Then—
Kael started winning.
Again.
And again.
After a while—
He noticed her expression.
So he let her win.
"…Let's stop here," Elena said suddenly.
"…Okay," Kael replied. "Thanks for the game."
After some time, the spar ended.
They said their goodbyes.
Leon asked if they could meet again.
They agreed.
And then—
They went home.