Cutlery clinked and quiet chatter filled the air around Kael as he sat, sipping his coffee. It had been three days since he met Syleena.

  Before she had fully regained her composure, they had exchanged only a few words, then he left her there, alone by the coastline.

  She had left quite the impression on him. Not only had she forced him to reach out to her just to arrange a meeting, she had even attempted to subtly manipulate his thoughts. That alone was enough for Kael to reconsider the entire mission.

  Sure, the reward was almost worth dying for.

  Almost.

  Things had gotten out of hand—too fast, too messy.

  Kael tapped his finger slowly against the table.

  “What to do… what to do…” he murmured under his breath.

  ‘To think Syleena was in such a predicament. Sigh… I’m not sure how I’ll get out of this.’

  Kael had just about a clear picture of the entirety of the situation and his own standing and position. Some details were still missing, but he got the idea. It did not look too good.

  Currently, the three Luminaires he had traveled with to Velthoria were waiting for his return with Syleena, only a day's journey from the city.

  ‘How long are they willing to wait? A month at best.’

  Kael wanted to be sure, so he could not help but wonder. He had met Syleena and gained an understanding of her. However, he had no doubt that the Eireindaile family knew her better. That was where she had grown up, after all. He was almost certain they were willing to give him more time than one might expect. The reason was simple. He knew the family would not underestimate the firstborn heir. He had no doubt they knew that she had an understanding of what was happening.

  ‘It’s not that I’m not willing to hand Syleena over to the family, it’s that I’m not sure I can. She definitely has cards she didn’t play last time we met. Just like me...’

  It might have looked like Kael was the one in control when he had her by the throat, but even he doubted that.

  If she was really that easy to catch, she wouldn’t have made it this far, after all.

  Luminaires are deadly, sure, but they’re usually held back by reason and careful planning. Push someone into a corner, though, and all of that goes out the window. At that point, pride and honor don’t matter anymore. They’ll throw everything they have at you, no matter the cost. Someone who stops thinking about their own safety, someone who’s willing to spend their last breath just to drag you down with them — that’s when they’re at their most dangerous.

  That’s what made Kael hesitate with Syleena. Even if the family wanted her dead now, there was a time when they cherished her, raised her, gave her everything. She had been trained personally, both in combat and education.

  Even if his actions seemed reckless last time, every move had been cold and calculated. He pushed her to the edge, just far enough to test her limits without pushing her into a full-blown fight. If they had ended up clashing as Luminaires, out in the open like that, it wouldn’t have been advantageous for either of them.

  ‘And I'm not sure I’m able to abandon this mission either.’

  His eyebrows furrowed as the thought weighed on him.

  He had never underestimated the noble families, but after traveling with them for so long, it brought new clarity. He’d seen firsthand just how capable each of the noble family members were—and these weren’t even the higher ranking Luminaires of the family.

  At this point, he had learned too much… way too much. So much in fact, that if he ever spoke up, he could permanently ruin the reputations of both the Eireindaile and Valthorne families.

  He was almost certain they’d chase him to the ends of the world just to silence him.

  Cling.

  Kael scoffed quietly as he set down the empty coffee cup, his expression bitter.

  This was quite the predicament.

  He couldn’t afford to sit around passively, hoping for the best. He had to act. Soon.

  During the past few days, Kael hadn’t been idle. He had spent his time walking through the city, talking to people, reading the news, and listening in on rumors. He was putting in the effort to understand the city’s political climate, as well as gathering information about its Luminaires. Little by little, he was piecing together the intel he needed to shape a more precise plan.

  As Kael set down his cup, his gaze lifted. A few tables ahead, a man in his early thirties sat, calmly enjoying a pastry and a cup of coffee just like he did at the end of every week. He wore a simple vest over a white shirt, his short black hair neatly kept. There was a warm, approachable air about him, the kind that made people feel at ease striking up a conversation.

  It was Aven. The man Kael had been keeping an eye on for the past few days. He was a blood relative of the Valthorne family, the firstborn son of the family head.

  For years, Aven had been trying to break away from the noble life and everything that came with it. He had fallen in love with a mortal woman from the city, and that love had slowly pulled him away from the world he was born into.

  Normally, falling for a mortal wouldn’t be considered a crime. But because he was the direct heir to the Valthorne family, the expectations were different. He was meant to marry within the noble circles, not just to keep the bloodline pure, but to form political alliances with other families. In his position, love wasn’t a choice. It was a luxury he was never supposed to have.

  This kind of behavior was normally unacceptable, but since he was still a blood relative, he was given more leeway than most. Even so, noble families weren’t generous enough to let someone of his status live freely without consequence. In an effort to make him reconsider his choices, they regularly forced him to carry out unpleasant missions—ones he couldn’t refuse.

  That was why he had been sent to assassinate Syleena.

  Missions like that would never be given to an heir under normal circumstances, but in his case, it served as a punishment. A consequence for choosing love and freedom over duty and bloodlines.

  Kael sat in silence, watching him from a distance, quietly going over everything he had learned—both from his own investigation and from what Syleena had told him.

  —

  Sigh...

  "Yet another long day... Who would've thought being a fisherman could be this exhausting?"

  Aven let out a quiet chuckle at himself as he spoke under his breath.

  He was both a Luminaire and a noble, yet here he was—relying on fishing to make a living. Ever since he tried to break away from the noble family, they had completely cut off his allowance. With no support from them, he’d been forced to turn to mundane work just to earn enough to keep food on the table.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “I suppose I’ll find my peace beneath the soil."

  he said, half-mocking himself, before rising from his chair. He placed his flat cap on his head, adjusting it with a light touch, then turned and made his way out.

  "What a beautiful sight. I never get tired of it."

  As he walked, he took in the charm of Velthoria. The red houses, with their cozy warmth, gave the city a welcoming feel. Bathed in the golden glow of the low-hanging sun, the scene looked almost like a painting. Soft colors, vivid light, and a calm that lingered in the air.

  His steps were light and unhurried as he made his way through the city, occasionally offering a polite wave to people passing by. Soon, a small corner shop came into view. The big windows showed off all kinds of items they had for sale—flowers, books, flour, candy, and more.

  This was the place he usually stopped by to pick up his daily essentials like food and other small things.

  “Hmm…”

  He spent quite a while looking at the flowers before finally choosing a simple white rose. He also grabbed a colorful lollipop, that decision taking only a second.

  After making his selections, he continued through the city. His steps felt even lighter now, and a small smile played on his lips. Almost skipping down the street, he made his way toward a small stone apartment building. Sculpted statues rested at the corners of the structure, giving it a grand and slightly imposing look.

  He stepped inside, walked up a few staircases, and stopped in front of a door. Sliding a key into the lock, he opened it and stepped inside holding a flower and lollipop behind his back.

  “Honey, I’m home,”

  he called out, making sure his arrival was heard.

  He began to remove his flat cap but froze mid-motion, caught off guard by a voice he didn’t recognize.

  “Oh, hey! We’ve been waiting for you.”

  Aven’s eyes shifted toward the source of the voice, landing on a stranger standing comfortably inside his apartment.

  He didn’t know the man. The stranger had long black hair that brushed past his shoulders, and his deep green eyes were striking, impossible to ignore. He wore a warm, relaxed smile—completely at odds with the fact that he had just broken into someone else’s home.

  “Who are you and what are you doing in my home?”

  Aven’s voice turned sharp and serious.

  He made no attempt to hide his Luminaire presence. It surged outward, thick with killing intent, pressing down on the stranger like a weight.

  “Ah. Me? It’s nothing, I just came to pay a visit, that’s all.”

  The stranger’s tone was calm and friendly as he casually took a step toward Aven while speaking.

  “Don’t.”

  Aven’s voice was sharp and unwavering.

  The stranger stopped immediately, then let out a soft sigh, his expression shifting into something that looked almost disappointed by Aven’s cold reception.

  “As I said, we’ve been waiting for you.”

  His voice remained calm, but there was a noticeable weight behind the word “we.”

  As he finished speaking, the stranger reached around the corner and gently pulled someone forward—a young child, no older than seven, held close with one hand wrapped loosely around his neck.

  Upon seeing this Aven’s eyes shot open and his face paled turning almost as white as paper.

  “What... what do you want?”

  Aven’s voice trembled, and the composed demeanor he had just moments ago shattered instantly.

  “Nothing, nothing. I’m just here to deliver a message. Isn’t that right, little Evan?”

  The stranger waved his free hand in a casual, dismissive gesture, like he was trying to defuse the situation with mock reassurance. He smiled down at the boy as he spoke.

  But there was nothing comforting about it. Neither the stranger’s calm tone nor the soft smile he gave Evan eased Aven’s growing unease, it only made it worse.

  “Listen, I’ll give you anything, alright? Just let Evan go to his room. We can talk. Just us. Like adults.”

  The stranger’s smile faded. His expression grew firm, his voice colder.

  “We’re way past simply talking, Aven.”

  Aven tensed, gathering himself. He shifted just slightly, a subtle motion that hinted he was preparing to strike.

  But before he could move, the stranger raised his hand and slowly wagged his finger, a silent warning not to try anything. His grip around the boy tightened just enough.

  Evan let out a faint squeak, barely audible, but it pierced through the room like a blade. His eyes widened.

  Instantly Aven froze, not willing to move a muscle. He grew more worried and hints of irritation started to show.

  “Tell me what you want. Now.”

  The stranger raised an eyebrow, mildly amused by Aven’s attempt to sound fearless. Then, he spoke a single name.

  “Syleena.”

  Aven’s expression darkened instantly. Darker than it had ever been before. Of course he understood what that name meant. Syleena was the girl he had been sent to assassinate just a few months ago.

  He never forgot anyone he was ordered to kill. Especially not the ones he failed to. And she was the only one.

  He had failed to eliminate her. She had seen through him from the start, never giving him a clear shot. She read him like a book. That meant she knew his face. That meant she was a threat. And anyone who became a threat to his family, he made sure to remember.

  He couldn’t afford to forget her, even if he wanted to.

  And now, it seemed, that fear had become reality.

  “Are you here on behalf of the Eireindaile family?”

  Aven’s voice was icy cold.

  “Indeed, I am.”

  “You think you can just walk around freely after attempting to take the life of the rightful heir to the Eireindaile family? Just how arrogant has the Valthorne family become lately?”

  The stranger’s tone held no warmth. Every word was laced with venom.

  “Listen… I don’t know if you’ve been informed, but I’m not with the Valthorne family anymore. I gave that up a long time ago. If you want trouble, go find them. Leave me out of it, please.”

  All the bravado Aven had shown earlier was gone. Now, he was just pleading.

  The stranger’s expression twisted at his words.

  “Just how far has the Valthorne family fallen?”

  He shook his head slowly, then met Aven’s eyes with a gaze that could freeze fire.

  “Aven. Killing you would be too merciful. Someone like you doesn’t deserve that kind of grace. So instead, in the name of the Eireindaile family… I will punish you myself.”

  With those words, the stranger’s hand tightened around little Evan’s neck. Evan’s eyes widened at the sudden pressure, and his small arms shot up, grabbing at the man’s wrist in a desperate attempt to break free.

  Then—with a sickening crunch—his body went limp.

  His arms, once reaching out in panic, dropped to his sides.

  And with a dull thud, he collapsed to the floor, lifeless.

  “NO!”

  Aven lunged forward without thinking, driven only by instinct and panic.

  His mind was in chaos. Nothing made sense anymore.

  Only Evan existed in that moment.

  He hadn’t noticed the stranger was gone.

  He hadn’t heard the door slam shut behind him.

  He dropped to his knees in front of the boy, scooping Evan’s small body into his arms with ease.

  “No, no, no…”

  His voice was trembling, barely audible.

  He couldn’t think.

  He couldn’t breathe.

  All he could do was hold him.

  He held Evan for what felt like an eternity.

  Time lost all meaning.

  He had no way of knowing how long he sat there, water pouring down his cheeks in steady streams.

  Eventually, he managed to force himself to calm down, at least enough to breathe.

  Sniffling, he wiped his face with trembling hands and looked down at his son again.

  Then his eyes widened in horror.

  “Elsa!”

  His voice cracked as he cried out, panic rushing back in full force.

  He stumbled to his feet and bolted into the living room.

  There, on the floor, a single body lay motionless in a pool of blood.

  A clean, brutal wound pierced her neck.

  “No… no no no…”

  He dropped to his knees beside her, collapsing forward and clutching her limp form to his chest.

  Tears poured down his face again, heavier than before.

  Endless.

  There were no words, only grief.

  The once snow-white rose, fallen beside her, was now stained red.