"Big sister?" Ning asked in surprise. "You know her?"
"She... she is my cousin," Minhya said. "Are you saying she's dead?"
Her expression changed at once, and for the first time since Ning met her, the fear was replaced by something closer to surprise.
"She was my cousin," Minhya said after a short pause. "I remember her from a long time ago, before everyone started scattering and hiding. She was older than me, but not by so much that I didn't know her."
Ning was a little surprised by that.
Minhya looked away as old memories surfaced. "She used to visit sometimes. I remember that she hated being watched all the time, even back then, and everyone always acted like that was somehow improper for someone from the Royal Family."
Ning remained quiet until she looked back at him.
"Were you aware of what happened to her?"
Minhya shook her head slowly. "No. I knew she escaped, and after that, I heard nothing. I thought that meant she had made it somewhere safe."
