After the last bell rang, students poured out of the gate in pairs and groups, laughing, gossiping, or dragging their tired feet toward the bus stop. Lila walked past them silently, her school bag slung loosely over her shoulder, her gaze distant but calm. She wasn't heading home immediately. There was something she had to do first.
The moment she reached the Ravencourt mansion, the guards opened the gate without a word, recognizing her from the previous visit. The air carried the faint scent of lavender, and the afternoon sunlight filtered through the long rows of trees. She had barely stepped into the large living room when a warm voice called out from across the hall.
"Lila!"
Before she could respond, Lady Sophia Ravencourt rushed toward her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. The woman's soft perfume filled the air, and her arms trembled slightly as she clung to Lila. "My daughter… you're finally here."
Lila froze for a heartbeat. This again. Every time she came here, the woman called her daughter as though it were the most natural thing in the world. She didn't know what to do, so she simply returned the hug lightly, letting Sophia hold her for as long as she wanted.
"Let's go in," Sophia said happily, tugging her hand like a child showing off a new toy. Inside, they found Magnus Ravencourt sitting in his armchair with a newspaper on his lap, and Adrien—his grandson—standing nearby, typing something on his tablet. Both looked up as soon as Lila entered.
"Ah, Miss Lila," Magnus greeted, setting his newspaper aside. His kind but sharp eyes assessed her quickly. "It's good to see you again."
Lila bowed slightly, her lips curving in a polite smile. "Good afternoon, sir."
"Sit down, dear," Sophia said, motioning her toward the couch. "You must be tired. I had the chef prepare something special."
She wasn't hungry, but she didn't want to be rude, so she nodded. When the food arrived, steaming bowls of soup, roasted meat, and soft bread—Sophia personally filled her plate, watching her with motherly affection that made Lila uncomfortable. Yet, oddly enough, she didn't hate it. It was… warm. Familiar in a way she couldn't explain.
As she ate, Sophia's gaze remained fixed on her face, and after a long pause, she asked softly, "Lila… where is your twin sister?"
The question nearly made her drop her spoon. "A twin?" Lila repeated slowly.
Sophia's eyes glistened. "Yes. I had twin daughters once. Aria and Ariel. They disappeared the same day—both of them, gone without a trace." Her hands trembled slightly, and Adrien placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression darkening. "I've searched for years, but…" She smiled weakly.
Lila's heart thudded painfully. She forced a small, awkward smile. "My twin is fine," she said vaguely, hoping to end the topic.
Sophia's face lit up instantly. "Then I'll finally see her soon! Oh, my girls will be together again." Tears filled her eyes as she hugged Lila tightly again.
Adrien and Magnus exchanged glances but said nothing. When Sophia finally drifted off to sleep on the couch, exhausted from her emotions, Lila sat quietly beside her, watching the woman's peaceful face. Something tugged faintly in her chest, something she didn't want to acknowledge.
Magnus cleared his throat gently. "Miss Lila, earlier you mentioned that my daughter's condition wasn't natural. What did you mean?"
Lila straightened, meeting his curious eyes. "Someone tampered with her brain," she said calmly. "That's why she behaves like a child and lost her speech for so long."
Adrien frowned. "But that's impossible. We've had dozens of doctors examine her—none of them found anything wrong."
"That's because whoever did it knew what they were doing," Lila replied. "It's not something medicine can detect easily. You'd need someone with… a particular kind of skill."
Magnus's grip on his cane tightened. "Then can it be reversed?"
Lila hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "It's difficult, but not impossible. I'll look into it. When I find the right method, I'll tell you."
Both men stared at her, astonishment clear on their faces. Adrien was the first to speak. "You're serious about helping her?"
"Yes," she said simply. "No one deserves to live like that."
Magnus's expression softened, gratitude glimmering in his sharp old eyes. "Thank you, child. You don't know how much this means to us."
Lila just nodded and stood up. "I'll take my leave now. Please don't tell her anything about what I said. Not yet."
"Of course," Magnus said.
As she walked out of the mansion, the cool evening air brushed against her face. She didn't look back. It wasn't her place to ask what really happened to Sophia Ravencourt, but she could tell from the guarded expressions of Magnus and Adrien that whatever tragedy had struck their family was deep—rooted in secrets and enemies far beyond what she could imagine.
For now, she had done her part.
By the time she reached home, the sun was gone. The soft glow of the living room light spilled across the porch, and she could already tell something was off. Her entire family was gathered inside—her mother, Vivian, sitting tensely on the couch; Ethan lounging in a corner with a mischievous smirk; and David pacing back and forth like a restless guard dog.
Lila sighed. So much for a quiet evening.
The moment she stepped in, all eyes turned to her.
"Where have you been?" David's voice came sharp and accusing.
"Traffic," she said dryly, dropping her bag on the couch.
David scoffed. "You walked home, Lila. Don't insult my intelligence."
She didn't bother replying. He was always like this—wound up, suspicious, protective to a fault. Before he could speak again, her mother stood and hurried over, her face softening instantly.
"I heard you ranked top in your class today," Vivian said, pride and warmth filling her tone. "And I also heard that some people didn't believe you. But don't worry, my dear, I do. I saw how hard you studied. I know my daughter could never cheat."
For the first time that day, Lila felt something warm spread in her chest. She smiled—a real smile this time—and nodded. "Thank you, Mom."
"Bro, you're unbelievable," Ethan suddenly chimed in, rolling his eyes at David. "Your sister just did something amazing, and the first thing you do is interrogate her? At least let her breathe."
David glared at him. "And you'll always defend her, huh? You two act like I'm the villain here."
Ethan stretched lazily, smirking. "You said it, not me."
Lila hid a chuckle. The brothers were always like this—David the strict, overbearing one, and Ethan the easygoing troublemaker. Sometimes, she wondered how they came from the same family.
"When are you retaking the exam?" David suddenly asked, his voice snapping her attention back.
"So fast?" Lila murmured. "Information really travels in this house."
"Just answer," he said flatly.
"I don't know yet," she replied simply.
He hummed, clearly unsatisfied but too tired to argue. He started to leave, then paused at the doorway and turned back. "I heard someone influential came to settle things for you. Is that true?"
The question made the room go silent. Vivian and Ethan both turned to her, curious.
Lila met her brother's gaze evenly. "Yes. Someone did. I guess he wanted to help a poor girl who was wrongly accused."
David studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable, then finally nodded and left the room.
Vivian sighed. "Ignore your brother. You know how he gets when he's stressed." Her tone softened. "What would you like to eat, sweetheart? I'll make it for you."
"Anything's fine," Lila said with a small smile.
Ethan leaned back, grinning. "Look at you, the genius of the family. I can't believe I have to start respecting you now."
"Don't," Lila said, smirking faintly. "I prefer peace."
They all laughed, and for a while, the tension eased. Vivian returned with food—rice and stew, simple but delicious. They ate together, the sound of spoons clinking against plates filling the room. For a brief moment, it felt almost… normal. A family dinner, laughter, warmth.
But beneath that calm, Lila's mind was elsewhere.
David knowing about Nathaniel's visit unsettled her. How did he find out so quickly? Who was feeding him information about her? It wasn't something she could ignore.
She chewed slowly, deep in thought. There were too many eyes on her lately—too many people watching her life unfold. She'd need to be more careful from now on.
After dinner, she excused herself and went upstairs. The moment her door shut behind her, she leaned against it, closing her eyes. The day had been long, exhausting, and filled with questions that had no clear answers.
She walked to the window, watching the city lights flicker in the distance. Somewhere out there, people like Nathaniel and Magnus Ravencourt moved pieces in games she didn't yet understand. She wasn't sure how she fit into all of it—but one thing was clear: she couldn't afford to let her guard down.
Lila exhaled deeply and let a small smile curve her lips. "One problem down," she muttered. "A thousand more to go."