The next morning, Ninhu's father—once a decorated general—sent for him and Kazhan.
Ninhu had spent the night in his sister's quarters, watching over her as she recovered. When he heard the summons, a wave of fear surged through his body. His hands trembled. His breath caught.
Kazhan sat up slowly, her strength still fragile. She looked at Ninhu and whispered, "Everything will be fine," but her eyes betrayed her. He saw the lie behind the smile.
Ninhu didn't need her to explain. He already knew the truth—knew why their father hated them so deeply.
It had all begun when their mother, Chanie, abandoned the family to pursue a higher military rank. She left to train the next generation of soldiers, choosing duty over blood. Ninhu was only three years old. Kazhan was eight.
Her departure shattered their home. General Sakone, once proud and feared, resigned from the army and turned to alcohol. Though the family still had wealth, and Sakone's siblings held power within the kingdom's defenses, he couldn't bear the shame. He retreated to the mansion—and that's when everything changed.
The pain Sakone felt from Chanie's betrayal became a weapon. And he used it on Kazhan and Ninhu for the smallest of reasons.