A servant carrying a bowl stopped in the middle of a step. Another nearly dropped the teapot before catching it at the last moment.
Faha's smile disappeared.
Fahan stared at Maya as if he had forgotten how to breathe.
Naya's fingers tightened around her spoon.
"P-Poison?"
"Yes."
Silence. No one even moved.
Fahad's gray eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
Mahi's face became solemn.
Around the table, each member of the family wore the same expression—
HORROR.
Meanwhile...Maya lowered her gaze again.
She picked up another bite of vegetables.
"...The vegetables are good."
Mahim was the first to speak.
He looked at Maya carefully as though afraid of startling her, "...Maya."
She lifted her eyes, "...Yes?"
A faint crease appeared between Mahim's brows,"Do you... realize what you just said?"
Maya looked at him quietly, " I do."
Mahim searched her face for some sign of a joke, a misunderstanding— anything.
He found none.
"Maya... are you saying things without thinking or...Are you mistaken?"
"No."
Silence settled over the dining hall once again.
The aroma of the fish dishes, so inviting only moments ago, now seemed strangely oppressive.
No one reached for them.
Faha stared at the grilled fish on his plate as though he had never seen it before.
"...I don't think I can eat this anymore."
Fahan slowly set down his fork.
"...Neither can I."
Naya quietly pushed the small piece of fish on her plate to one side,
"...I suddenly have no appetite for it."
Ohi gave a slow nod,
"I thought breakfast smelled wonderful a few minutes ago."
Even Nahi, who usually joked about everything, remained unusually quiet.
"...This is the first time fish has made me uncomfortable."
Fahim adjusted his glasses and glanced around the table.
"That is a normal psychological response.
The association between fish and poison has become emotionally linked in everyone's mind."
Fahan slowly pushed his plate away.
"Science or not... I'm eating vegetables today."
A servant hesitated beside the table.
"...Should I remove the fish, sir?"
Mahim looked around the room.
He gave a quiet nod, "...Yes."
Without another word, the servants carefully lifted away every fish dish from the table.
The dining hall grew silent.
Maya watched them for a brief moment.
"...Did I ruin breakfast?"
Everyone looked at her.
Naya immediately shook her head.
"No, Maya. You didn't ruin breakfast."
She offered a faint, reassuring smile.
Maya lowered her eyes, "...I see."
She quietly picked up another spoonful of
rice and vegetables.
Breakfast gradually came to an end.
The lively chatter that had once filled the dining hall never truly returned.
Only the quiet clink of cutlery and the occasional murmur of servants broke
the silence.
One by one, the family finished their meal.
No one mentioned fish again.
At the far end of the table, Maya finished the last spoonful of vegetables and carefully set her spoon beside the plate.
She folded her hands neatly in her lap for a brief moment before rising from her chair.
Mahim looked up from his cup,
"Are you leaving already?"
Maya gave a small nod,
"I would like to explore the estate for a while."
A faint smile appeared on Mahi's face.
"Of course."
She glanced toward the servants.
"If Miss Maya wishes to go anywhere, make sure she has whatever she needs."
Several servants bowed immediately.
"Yes, Madam."
Maya inclined her head politely,"Thank you."
Without another word, she turned and walked toward the doors of the dining hall.
Her footsteps were so light that they barely made a sound against the polished marble floor.
The servants standing along the walls stepped aside respectfully as she passed.
The tall wooden doors opened.
Warm morning sunlight poured into the hall.
Click.
Silence lingered.
Faha continued staring at the closed doors.
"She leaves as quietly as she arrives."
Fahish murmured,
"I think ... She's spent so much of her life walking alone that she doesn't know how to walk with other people."
No one found an answer.
Outside...The morning breeze drifted gently through the vast gardens of the Sunayana estate.
Sunlight filtered through the ancient trees, painting shifting patterns of gold across the stone pathways.
Birdsong echoed softly in the distance.
Maya walked alone with slow, unhurried steps. Her calm black eyes quietly observed everything—
the towering trees, the flowering shrubs, the gentle movement of the leaves.
A cool breeze wandered through rows of ancient trees, carrying with it the fragrance
of blooming jasmine and damp earth.
Golden sunlight filtered through emerald leaves, scattering shifting patterns across
the winding stone paths.
Nearby, a small pond reflected the clear blue sky like polished glass.
Bright orange koi glided beneath the surface, creating gentle ripples that shimmered in the sunlight.
She continued to go deeper into the gardens.
Ancient banyan trees spread their enormous branches overhead, their shade cool and comforting.
Colorful flowers lined the pathways, while birds sang from hidden branches high above.
Somewhere in the distance, the soft sound of a fountain blended with the rustling leaves.
A faint breeze stirred her dark hair as she continued along the winding path.
An hour passed quietly.
Throughout that entire time, Maya wandered through the vast Sunayana estate.
To anyone watching, she appeared to be admiring the beauty of the estate.
But inside her mind, something entirely different was happening.
Every turn she took, every intersection she crossed,doorway and open space was being organized with remarkable precision.
Within a single hour, the scattered images had assembled themselves into a complete three-dimensional mental map of the estate.
She no longer needed to look around to know where she was.
Click.... Click..... Click.
The sound of quiet footsteps echoed through the entrance hall.
Maya stepped inside.
A faint breeze followed her in, carrying the fresh scent of flowers and sun-warmed leaves from the gardens.
A few loose strands of her dark hair swayed gently before settling back into place.
The servants standing nearby immediately straightened."Welcome back, Miss ."
She acknowledged them with a polite nod.
In the drawing room, Mahim was seated in a large armchair, reading several documents.
"So... your tour of the estate is over?"
"Yes, Mr.Mahim. "
He chuckled softly,
"I was beginning to wonder if you had gotten lost ."
"I didn't."
"Good. This is your home. Take all the time you need to explore it."
"...Thank you."
She inclined her head politely before turning to leave once more.
——
Elsewhere in the mansion...An entirely different battle was taking place.
Without saying a word to each other, Five brothers had unknowingly come to the same decision.
"I'll celebrate her return with a gift she'll never forget. It had to be the very best."
Fahad stood in his office, looking at Maya's old photograph.
He murmured,
"She came back to us after all these years... This isn't just a welcome- gift.
It's proof that she'll never have to wonder whether she belongs again."
None of the brothers intended to admit it aloud, but they had all spent the morning thinking about the same thing.
The problem was...Everyone wanted their plan to remain a secret.
No one would let the others know.
Their egos simply wouldn't allow it.
If one brother discovered another had carefully chosen a gift...The teasing
would never end.
Faha muttered to himself while hiding a neatly wrapped gift behind his back.
"If they find out...they'll copy me."
He selected an exquisite diamond jewelry set from one of the most prestigious international houses.
At almost the same time...
Fahan quietly peeked around the corner of the corridor, making sure no one was nearby.
Satisfied, he hurried toward Maya's room with a small gift box tucked under his arm.
He acquired the most advanced custom-built computer available, assembled with cutting-edge components that had only recently entered the market.
Meanwhile...
Fahish was moving just as cautiously,
"...Perfect. No one's seen me."
He purchased a first-edition collector's set of timeless literary classics , together with a masterfully crafted bookshelf made from rare wood.
Not far away.....
Fahim adjusted his glasses, glanced down the corridor, "Good...No witnesses."
He searched the enter night before obtaining a handcrafted fountain pen made by a legendary artisan.
At that exact moment...
Fahad stepped out from another passage carrying a small velvet box.
He, a businessman who never settled for second best.
Chose one of the world's most exclusive luxury Swiss watches— a rare collector's piece produced in extremely limited numbers.
Faha hugged the velvet gift box to his chest.
"...Perfect."
He stepped around the corner.
The moment he noticed footsteps approaching from the opposite direction,
his eyes widened ,"...Brother?"
Without hesitation, he slipped the bag behind a marble pillar.
A second later, Fahish appeared.
He, too, was carrying an gift wrapped in elegant black paper.
Seeing Faha, he casually moved the package behind his back, "...Morning."
"...Morning."
An awkward silence followed.
Neither brother mentioned the obvious.
Just then...Fahan rounded the corner.
Both twins were standing there.
"...What are you two doing?"
"Nothing."
They answered at exactly the same time.
Fahan narrowed his eyes, "...Really?"
"Really."
He looked unconvinced.
"...Good. Because I'm doing nothing too."
As he said it, he quietly slid the luxury gift box behind his leg.
Moments later...Fahim walked into the corridor.
The others immediately straightened.
Fahim glanced at them,
"...Why are you all standing here?"
Faha shrugged, "Just walking."
"I see."
Fahim calmly replied.....while discreetly placing the expensive gift case behind his coat.
Then came Fahad. His sharp eyes swept across the corridor, "...Interesting."
No one spoke.
Finally...Faha broke the silence,
"So...Anyone planning to go somewhere?"
Fahan folded his arms, "No."
"...You?"
"No."
Fahish answered calmly,
"I was merely taking a walk."
Fahim nodded , "So was I."
Fahad's expression remained unreadable.
"Coincidentally... so was I."
Another silence.
Everyone knew, no one admitted it.
Faha suddenly pointed at Fahish,
"...Then what's behind your back?"
Fahish didn't even blink, "...Nothing."
"...Are you sure?"
"Very."
"...Then show me."
"No."
"...Why not?"
"Because there's nothing to show."
Fahan smirked,"...That sounds suspicious."
Fahish immediately replied,
"So does hiding whatever's behind that pillar."
Faha stiffened."... There's nothing behind the pillar."
"Oh?"
"Then move."
"...No."
Fahim adjusted his glasses,
"Statistically speaking, the probability that all four of you are lying is remarkably high."
Fahan looked at him,
"...What about the metal case you're hiding behind your coat?"
For the first time...Fahim was silent.
Everyone slowly turned toward him.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
A few seconds later...
Fahim cleared his throat,"...That is unrelated."
Fahad folded his arms, "No one asks, no one tells."
The others looked at him.
He continued in the same calm voice.
"...Agreed?"
One after another...They all nodded.
"Agreed."
Not because they didn't know.
But because each brother's pride refused to let him admit the truth.
The moment the five brothers finally reached their silent agreement, they dispersed in five different directions as if nothing unusual had happened.
The corridor fell quiet for exactly three seconds.
Then— A muffled snort echoed from behind one of the towering marble pillars.
"...Pfft."
Another followed, "...I can't—"
A third, "...Stop..."
The sound grew louder until—
"Hahahahahaha!"
From behind the corner stepped Ohi, clutching his stomach.
Behind him came Naya, laughing so hard she had to lean against the wall for support.
Nahi was doubled over, one hand on his knee while the other pointed toward the corridor where the brothers had disappeared.
They had witnessed....Everything.
Every suspicious glance, every terrible lie.
Every desperate attempt to hide an expensive gift.
Ohi wiped a tear from the corner of his eye ,
"...Did everyone hear the same conversation I just heard?"
Nahi burst into another fit of laughter.
"'I'm just walking.'"
He imitated Faha's voice almost perfectly.
Then he switched to Fahish's calm tone,
"'There's nothing behind my back.'"
Another switch.
"'Statistically speaking...'"
He pushed imaginary glasses up his nose, perfectly copying Fahim,
"'...the probability that all four of you are lying is remarkably high.'"
Naya laughed so hard she nearly lost her balance, "Stop... stop... I can't breathe..."
Ohi grinned,
"The funniest part wasn't the gifts. It was that every single one of them thought he was the only genius."
Nahi slapped the wall, "And Brother Fahad..."
He straightened his posture and crossed his arms exactly as Fahad always did,
"'No one asks, no one tells.'"
He paused dramatically before adding in an exaggerated serious voice,"'Agreed?'"
All three cousins exploded into laughter again.
"I can't believe what I just witnessed."
Naya covered her smile with her hand,
"Five brothers, five highly successful people.
Five people who can handle business, science, engineering, art, and countless responsibilities."
He paused.
"And yet...They were defeated by a gift box."
Nahi was completely defeated,
"They're supposed to be some of the smartest people in the family."
She shook her head, smiling.
"And yet five grown men almost started a cold war over welcome gifts."
Ohi laughed,
"They looked less like successful adults ...and more like children hiding birthday presents."
Naya covered her face,
"I've never seen them act like that. They were guarding those gift boxes as if they contained state secrets."
Nahi nodded vigorously,
"Exactly! If someone had walked in without context...they'd think those boxes contained classified military documents."
Naya shook her head,
"Faha almost looked like he was protecting a national treasure."
Ohi nodded seriously,
"True.He looked around the corridor three times before moving."
Nahi copied Faha's expression, holding an imaginary box close to his chest.
"Nobody can know."
The three of them burst into laughter.
Naya tried to calm down.
"Stop copying them.You'll make me laugh again."
Nahi pointed toward the direction the brothers went,
"But tell me I'm wrong.
Did they not all behave exactly the same?"
Naya nodded, "Especially when they all walked into the same corridor."
"The entire family knows they are competitive. But I never expected them to compete with each other this much ."
After a while, Ohi wiped another tear from his eye,
"You know what?I don't think they're finished."
The others looked at him.
He wore the mischievous smile everyone recognized,
"They'll definitely try to sneak into Maya's room one by one."
Nahi's eyes sparkled, "And they'll all think they're being incredibly stealthy."
Naya giggled,
"Which means...they'll probably run into each other again."
Silence.
Then—All three cousins exchanged knowing looks.Their smiles grew wider.
Ohi rubbed his hands together,
"...Should we watch?"
Nahi answered before anyone else could,
"Absolutely."
Naya laughed,
"I feel a little guilty...but only a little."
Ohi pointed toward the staircase.
"They're impossible. We're merely... observers."
Nahi nodded solemnly, "Professional observers."
Naya raised a hand,
"I support this scientific investigation."
Everyone immediately looked at her.
She smiled innocently, "...What?"
Ohi burst into laughter again,
"Now even you're sounding like Fahim."
For the first time that morning.....The heavy atmosphere left behind by breakfast completely disappeared.
—-
After leaving the drawing room, Maya quietly returned to her bedroom.
The faint fragrance of jasmine drifted in through the open balcony doors as a cool breeze stirred the white curtains.
Without a sound, Maya walked toward the bookshelf.
Her black eyes scanned the neatly arranged volumes before stopping on a thick documentary book about world history and civilizations.
She carefully pulled it from the shelf.
Then she settled into the armchair beside the window.
Crossing one leg neatly over the other, she opened the book and began to read.
The room became completely silent.
Only the occasional sound of a page being turned broke the stillness.
Five peaceful minutes passed.
...
Outside the room...
A figure cautiously peeked around the corner.
It was Faha. He held an elegant velvet gift box tightly against his chest.
His eyes darted left, looked right.
Still no one.
He let out a tiny sigh of relief, "...Good."
Then...He began moving.
One careful step.
Then another.
His footsteps were unbelievably light.
Every few seconds he stopped, looked over one shoulder...then the other.
His expression was so serious that anyone watching from a distance would have thought he was carrying out a top-secret espionage mission.
Not delivering a welcome gift.
A maid emerged from another corridor carrying freshly folded towels.
The instant she spotted Faha tiptoeing toward Maya's room, she froze.
Young Master...was sneaking.
She blinked twice.
Had she... interrupted something?
Faha noticed her, his entire body stiffened.
The gift box disappeared behind his back with astonishing speed.
The maid stared.
Faha stared back.
Several painfully awkward seconds passed.
Finally, the maid smiled politely.
"Good morning, Young Master."
"...Morning."
"...May I help you with something?"
"No."
"...Are you looking for Miss Maya?"
"...No."
The maid looked at the closed door beside him, "But...This is Miss Maya's room."
Faha glanced at the door then back at the maid. "...I'm aware."
The maid gave another respectful bow before walking away.
The moment she disappeared around the corner...
Faha covered his face with one hand.
"...That was close."
He took a deep breath.
"It's only a gift. Why am I acting like I'm robbing the mansion?"
He straightened his jacket.
Checked the ribbon on the gift box.
Then quietly walked to the door once more.
He raised his hand,"...What if she's busy?"
He frowned at himself.
"...Come on, Faha. You've stood on stage in front of thousands of people.
You've dealt with reporters. You've performed before entire stadiums...Why is knocking on one door terrifying?"
Inside the room...Maya calmly turned another page of her documentary.
Without lifting her eyes from the book, she quietly continued reading.
The silence beyond the door had already told her someone was standing there.
Faha took one long, steady breath,
"...Now."
Before his courage could disappear again, he gently knocked once.
Knock.
A calm voice came from inside,"...Come in."
Faha slowly opened the door.
The room was quiet.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, and the curtains swayed gently in the morning breeze.
Maya sat in the armchair beside the window, a thick documentary open in her hands.
She lifted her eyes from the page,
"...Good morning."
"G-Good morning."
Faha stepped inside, trying his best to look natural.
He failed completely.
His movements were so stiff and awkward that he looked more like someone sneaking into a museum than visiting his own sister.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then, in one sudden motion—
Faha hurried forward, placed the beautifully wrapped velvet box on the small table beside Maya.
Before she could say a single word—
He spun around,
"I.... I have something important to do!"
And bolted for the door.
His footsteps echoed down the corridor.
[Thump!
Thump!
Thump!]
The bedroom door swung shut behind him.
Maya blinked once.
Then she slowly looked at the neatly wrapped gift resting on the table.
She examined the elegant wrapping paper, the perfectly tied ribbon, and the small handwritten card attached to it.
She glanced once again toward the box.....
Opened her documentary again and continued reading.
The room had returned to its peaceful silence.
Five more minutes passed.
Then—
Knock... Knock....Knock.
Without looking up from the book, she calmly,"...Come in."
The door opened only wide enough for someone to slip inside.
Fahad entered.
As always, his posture was perfectly straight.
His tailored suit looked immaculate.
In his right hand rested a small navy-blue velvet box.
His expression remained composed, but his eyes immediately landed on the gift already sitting beside Maya.
He stopped walking.
"..."
A faint crease appeared between his brows.
Someone...Had beaten him here.
Very slowly, he looked toward Maya.
She was still reading.
It was impossible to tell whether she had already opened the gift or not.
For reasons even he couldn't explain...
That somehow made him feel slightly relieved.
He quietly cleared his throat, "M...Maya."
"...Yes?"
Fahad walked forward with measured steps.
He placed the velvet box beside the first present.
It was positioned so neatly that the corners of both gifts aligned perfectly.
Maya looked at the two boxes.
Then at Fahad, "...Thank you."
That simple response was somehow enough to make Fahad's usually unreadable expression soften almost imperceptibly.
He turned toward the door.
Then—
[Thump....Thump...Thump. ]
Footsteps, drawing closer.
Fahad instantly stopped, his gray eyes narrowed.
"..."
Those footsteps...He knew them too well .
Fahish.