By the next morning, the house had already begun to shift.
Subtly.
Quietly.
But unmistakably.
---
Servants moved faster.
Guards stood straighter.
And the air itself felt… heavier.
---
News of Esther's engagement had not been announced publicly yet—but within the estate, nothing stayed hidden for long.
Whispers traveled faster than truth.
---
I walked through the corridors without hurry, my steps measured, my presence—deliberately—unremarkable.
It was a skill I had learned well.
To exist without being seen.
To listen without being noticed.
---
"…House Veridan…"
"…a strong alliance…"
"…the Countess arranged everything…"
---
Of course she did.
---
I turned the corner.
And stopped.
---
Andrias stood at the far end of the hall.
Waiting.
---
"…You've been busy."
His voice carried easily across the distance.
Sharp.
Unpleasantly calm.
---
"I could say the same."
I didn't move closer.
Neither did he.
---
For a moment, we simply stood there—two sons of the same house, separated by more than blood.
---
"I heard about Esther," he said.
"I'm sure you did."
---
A faint scoff.
"She didn't even resist."
"No."
---
His lips curled slightly.
"Pathetic."
---
I watched him.
Carefully.
"You think so?"
"Yes."
His gaze sharpened.
"Powerless people should at least *struggle* before they're used."
---
There it was.
---
Not misunderstanding.
Not ignorance.
---
Projection.
---
"You're angry," I said.
---
The words landed cleanly.
Andrias' expression darkened instantly.
"I'm not angry."
---
"You are."
---
His aura flickered.
Just for a moment.
Barely visible.
But I saw it.
---
Rank 2.
Possibly approaching 3.
Impressive—for someone our age.
---
But unstable.
---
"You think you understand everything," he said, his voice dropping.
"Not everything."
"Then don't pretend."
---
I tilted my head slightly.
"You envy her."
---
Silence.
---
Wrong target.
---
His jaw tightened.
"…Don't be ridiculous."
---
"Then who?"
---
I didn't need to say it.
---
His gaze sharpened further.
And this time—
He didn't deny it.
---
"…You," he said.
---
There it was.
---
Not hatred.
Not entirely.
---
Something uglier.
---
"You were supposed to die."
---
Ah.
We're not pretending anymore.
---
The words didn't surprise me.
They didn't even sting.
---
They simply… confirmed what I already knew.
---
"I didn't," I replied.
---
His expression twisted.
"That's the problem."
---
Silence settled between us.
Heavy.
Tense.
---
"You have something you didn't earn," he continued.
"Do I?"
"You're a mage."
---
Of course.
---
Rare.
Valuable.
Untouchable.
---
Everything he wasn't.
---
"You think that makes you special?" he asked.
---
I met his gaze.
Calm.
Steady.
---
"No."
---
The answer threw him off—just slightly.
---
"It makes me a target," I added.
---
Andrias frowned.
---
"For people like you," I continued, "and people like her."
---
A flicker of realization crossed his eyes.
Quick.
Gone just as fast.
---
"…You think you're above this house," he said.
"I think this house is predictable."
---
That—
That hit.
---
His aura surged again, more visibly this time.
Unstable.
Emotional.
---
"You should be careful," he said.
"Of what?"
---
A step forward.
Just one.
---
"Of forgetting your place."
---
I didn't move.
---
"And what place is that?"
---
He smiled.
Cold.
---
"The one beneath me."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
I exhaled softly.
---
"I see."
---
Andrias frowned.
---
"You misunderstand something," I said.
---
My voice remained even.
Unshaken.
---
"I don't belong *under* you."
---
A pause.
---
"I don't belong here at all."
---
That—
That unsettled him.
More than anger ever could.
---
Because anger, he understood.
---
Detachment?
---
That was something else entirely.
---
"…We'll see," he said finally.
---
I inclined my head slightly.
---
"We will."
---
And then—
I walked past him.
---
He didn't stop me.
---
But I could feel his gaze on my back.
Burning.
---
Not hatred.
---
Not yet.
---
But it would become that.
---
Eventually.
---
That evening, I received confirmation.
---
Not from the house.
---
From outside it.
---
A letter.
Simple.
Unmarked.
Delivered without announcement.
---
I read it once.
Then again.
---
And allowed myself a small, almost imperceptible exhale.
---
He had agreed.
---
Of course he had.
---
Interest like his didn't come often.
---
And talent like Charles'…
Even rarer.
---
The following day, I found Charles where I expected him to be.
---
The library.
Again.
---
"You're here early," he said, looking up.
---
"I have news."
---
His posture straightened immediately.
Hope.
Again.
---
Careful.
---
"I found someone," I said.
---
His eyes widened slightly.
"Really?"
---
"Yes."
---
I placed the letter in front of him.
---
"He's… not conventional."
---
Charles blinked.
"…What does that mean?"
---
I considered my answer.
---
"It means," I said slowly, "you'll learn more than what's written in books."
---
"…Is that good?"
---
A pause.
---
"Yes."
---
Mostly.
---
"…Will he be strict?"
---
I almost smiled.
---
"No."
---
That might actually be worse.
---
Charles hesitated.
"…Will he… like me?"
The question was small.
Quiet.
---
Too quiet.
I met his gaze.
---
"That depends."
---
His shoulders tensed slightly.
---
"On what?"
---
"On whether you're willing to learn."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
Slowly—
He nodded.
---
"I am."
---
Good.
---
Because the man I had in mind…
Didn't teach those who weren't.
---
"Then you'll leave in three days," I said.
Silence.
---
"…That soon?"
"Yes."
---
He looked down at the letter again.
Then back at me.
---
"…Will you come with me?"
---
A simple question.
With a complicated answer.
---
"…Not this time," I said.
---
His expression fell—just slightly.
But he didn't argue.
Didn't complain.
---
"…Okay."
---
Stronger than before.
Good.
---
I reached out—
And, after a brief hesitation—
Placed a hand lightly on his head.
A simple gesture.
Unfamiliar.
But not unwelcome.
---
"You won't be alone," I said again.
---
This time—
He believed me.
---
As I left the library, the weight in my chest felt… different.
Lighter.
Not gone.
But shifting.
---
Charles would be safe.
Or at least—
Safer than he had been.
---
Esther was waiting.
Andrias was watching.
The Countess was moving.
And me?
I was preparing.
Because soon—
Very soon—
I would leave this house.
And when I did—
I wouldn't return as the same person.