The heavy oak doors creaked open as my father finally returned from the war. The air in the grand hall thickened with anticipation—and something else.
At the dining table sat the whole family: my father, the duke, a fierce man whose scars told of countless battles; my stepmother, graceful but distant; and my "little sister" — not truly mine, but a stepsister, wrapped in delicate silence.
Their eyes swept over me when I entered. A look that could only be described as 'love'—or rather, something bitterly sarcastic.
My sister didn't dare meet my gaze. Her hands trembled as she wiped the sweat from her brow. When our eyes locked for the briefest moment, I saw only fear and shadows.
"Young master," my father's booming voice shattered the tense silence. "Come here!"
The warmth of his embrace shocked me. He hugged me tightly, whispering, "How have you been? Has anyone troubled you?"
I shook my head, voice small but honest. "No, Father."
His eyes softened. "You're behaving well today... good kid."
I noticed then—he loved only me. No warmth in his gaze for my sister, no kindness for the stepmother. Only a fierce, protective love for his son.
Later, back in our private chambers, I tried to reach out to my sister. "You don't have to be afraid. I'm not like before."
But she turned away and fled down the hall, her footsteps hollow and fast.
I sighed. Of course, she remembered the old Leonhart—the one who beat her without mercy. I could see her pain, even when she avoided me.
Days went by, and I began to notice something strange. Every morning, she'd wear a dark cape and sneak out of the manor. No one seemed to know where she went.
Curiosity gnawed at me, so I trusted one of the maids — quietly instructing her to follow the girl, with strict orders not to tell anyone. "If you expose me... you'll lose your place here," I warned.
Later, the maid returned with news. "She goes outside... to play with commoner children."
That was a surprise.
A plan began to form in my mind, frost edging my grin.
If she—my feared little sister—was seeking refuge among the commoners Maybe I could change things... from the shadows.