Nyx's hand ran through the young man's dark hair. The motion stopped as a knock on the door shattered the quiet.
"Rhea Edelweiss, I beg your pardon."
"Right. Give me a moment."
Nyx walked over and pulled the door open. Before him stood the young woman, her head bowed low, fingers tightly clutching the fabric of her long skirt.
"Rhea. Come in."
Rhea gave a faint nod. "Thank you."
She stepped inside, taking short steps. Nyx immediately shut the door behind her.
Silence settled over the room once more. Nyx walked past the girl with golden hair and peridot eyes, stopping five paces ahead of her.
Her peridot gaze remained fixed on the floor, her knees and trembling hands resting flat against the ground. "Forgive me... I truly never meant to hide it."
Nyx let out a low sigh. "Is what you're hiding the same as what Honest is keeping secret?"
Rhea froze, her teeth sinking into her lower lip.
Nyx retreated to the edge of the bed where the young man lay fast asleep. "Rhea, do you know him?"
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
"Nox Eosvile... Ron Eosvile's adopted younger brother."
Nyx blinked, his posture slumping. "Ah... so that's why."
Rhea pressed her forehead against the back of her hands, prostrating herself. "Master Charon, I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit."
"Have you not been punished enough already?"
"I have... yet I still chose to conceal the truth."
Nyx returned to stroking Nox's hair. "Honest was the one who asked you to, wasn't he?"
Rhea's eyes widened, her lips parting in silent shock.
"Just as I thought."
Turning to face her fully, Nyx looked down at the trembling girl. "Rhea... if Aaron were still alive, would he be the same age as the boy lying beside me?"
Rhea snapped her head up, her eyes brimming with tears. "That... that can't be..." Tears spilled over, trailing down her cheeks. "How is that possible?"
A faint, bittersweet smile touched Nyx's lips. "Ah, The Connection is truly magnificent." His own eyes glistened with unshed tears. "If only that brat—Ron Eosvile—were half as sharp as you, perhaps..." he muttered.
Rhea's cheeks were drenched, her head drooping once more. "I truly... had no idea... and I have failed miserably in the duty entrusted to me."
"When you first met Nox... did you really feel nothing?"
"I... when Sir—Young Master Nox met me, he and Master Lian were already at each other's throats."
"Hah... Vellion..." Nyx murmured, shaking his head. "Rhea, when Honest exiled you to Echo, you weren't alone, were you?"
Rhea went dead silent. The goosebumps on her skin stood on end.
"Even if you weep a river of tears, it won't erase the agony Serenity suffered back then."
Her entire body shuddered. "I... I am so sorry..."
"You could offer a thousand apologies, and not a single one would reach Serenity's ears."
Rhea's body went rigid. "Master Charon... what do you mean—"
"Honest has already punished Serenity..." Nyx turned his gaze away, staring back down at the sleeping youth. He even did it right in front of my eyes.
The light instantly drained from Rhea's peridot eyes, leaving them hollow. Because of me...? Why Miss Serenity...? Young Master Honest... why...?
"Rhea, return to Peaceraft Manor."
Nyx's voice sounded distant, as if echoing from far away.
He stood up, looking down at the girl kneeling blankly on the floor.
"Rhea Edelweiss... that boy—Honest, merely put my little girl to sleep."
Rhea lifted her chin slightly, though her lips remained sealed. Is it possible that Miss Serenity sent me to Syntax back then?
"Rhea, this time, you must return to Avalon."
"But for a sinner like me—"
"If you are a sinner..." Nyx clenched his fists, his eyes darkening as he thought to himself, ...then what does that make Honest?
"Master Charon..."
The floor beneath Rhea suddenly flickered, radiating a deep, crimson light.
"Go back to where you belong, Rhea Edelweiss."
"I..."
The light surged upward, forming a translucent crimson pillar that enveloped her.
"Please... take care of Serenity," Nyx whispered.
Rhea's eyes widened in shock. "Master—"
Her voice dissolved alongside the pillar of light, leaving the garnet-eyed man alone in the sudden quiet.
"Now then... I have two other guests to attend to."
He stepped out of the room, casting one last lingering glance at the youth sleeping soundly on the bed. Closing the door behind him, Nyx traversed the long corridor—a hallway barren of wall ornaments, flower vases, or drapery to cover the grand windows of the manor.
He arrived before the drawing room.
Before he could reach for the handle, a servant opened the door from the inside.
"Pakis, how are they?"
Pakis looked back toward the young man and woman resting against the sofa. "They are still fast asleep."
"I see..." Nyx stepped into the room.
Two steps in, the youth with hair the shade of autumn maple leaves slowly fluttered his eyes open.
"This is..." Zigh grunted.
His eyes snapped fully open, and he scrambled to his feet on instinct. "Where am I?!"
Nyx closed the distance between them. "Ipsix."
Memories of the earthquake suddenly flashed through Zigh's mind. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together. "You!"
His fist cut through the air, but Pakis darted forward to block it. The raw, unrefined punch veered off course, landing squarely on the elderly servant's cheek and sending him reeling backward. Crimson liquid seeped from his cracked lip where his fist had grazed the skin.
Despite his swollen, bruised cheek and bleeding lip, Pakis merely let out a slow exhale. "You may hit me all you like, young man, but not Master Charon."
Zigh froze, reflexively taking a step back.
Beside them, Lena opened her eyes. "Zigh..."
All eyes turned toward the young woman. Zigh hurried to her side—the girl who shared the exact same hair and eye color as him. "Lena! Are you alright?"
Lena adjusted her posture, sitting up straight. "What about you—"
Her voice trailed off when her gaze locked onto the two figures nearby. "Master Charon..." She pushed herself up and walked straight toward the man with the bruised cheek. "Grandpa..."
The three men stunned into complete silence.
Pakis offered a gentle smile. "How on earth did you figure it out?"
"Lady Rhea."
"Ah... Lady Edelweiss, I see."
Zigh stood rooted to the spot. He's... Lena's grandfather?! He looked down at his own hand, noticing small specks of blood on his knuckles. I just... I...
Nyx let out a weary sigh. "Pakis, this will make things much easier for you to explain—"
Lena reached out, tenderly touching the red mark on her grandfather's cheek. "ZIGH!"
Her voice roared through the drawing room.
"L-Lena... I..." Zigh stammered, flinching.
Pakis gently wrapped his arms around Lena. "There, there, don't be too hard on him."
Lena glared daggers at the trembling Zigh. "Grandpa! Don't spoil him!"
Zigh remained silent, turning his face away.
"Now, now. I am not spoiling him, my child. I simply know he is still shaken up."
Nyx remained quiet, observing the interaction between his servant and the girl.
"Hah... fine," Lena huffed.
Pakis released his hug. "There's my good granddaughter."
Lena offered her grandfather a small smile. Then, she took a step toward Nyx and bowed politely. "Please forgive this crude boy's reckless behavior."
Zigh balled his hands into tight fists. "What is that supposed to mean?! They're the ones who destroyed our city!"
Pakis sighed, rubbing the deep wrinkles on his forehead. He still hasn't realized it, has he?
Lena shot Zigh a fierce glare. "Did Vaston teach you to strike your own great-grandfather?!"
"What did Grand—" Zigh stopped mid-sentence, his eyes darting toward Pakis. "GREAT-GRANDFATHER?!"
Nyx turned toward the doorway. "Pakis, I will speak with you two later."
"Thank you for your understanding, Master Charon."
Nyx stepped out of the room.
The moment the door closed behind Nyx, Lena immediately sat down. "Sit!" she commanded, pointing directly at Zigh.
Pakis took a seat beside Lena, while Zigh slunk into the chair opposite them, his head hanging low.
"Zigh, what do you have to say for yourself right now?" Lena demanded.
"Auntie...?"
"Zigh Eosvile! You just punched Grandpa, and instead of apologizing, you call me Auntie?!"
Pakis patted his granddaughter's back. "Lena... go easy on Zigh. You're confusing the poor boy."
"He deserves it, Grandpa! He became a colonel at such a young age, yet he has zero manners!" Lena snapped back.
Zigh abruptly stood up. "Len—Auntie! You never even visited me!"
Lena stood up to match him. "That's because you don't even remember!"
Zigh raised an eyebrow, his expression incredulous. "Huh?!"
"Both of you, please calm down," Pakis pleaded.
"Grandpa, let me tell you," Lena said, crossing her arms. "When he was seven years old, he cried all by himself in the park, complete with a snotty nose!"
Zigh's eyes widened in sheer horror. "How... how do you know about that...?" His face flushed bright red as a realization struck him. "Don't tell me... the girl who gave me that handkerchief back then was..."
"See, Grandpa? I told you he didn't remember a thing!"
Zigh grunted, trying to recover his composure. "Then why did you act so formal and distant when you took me to see Ron and Nox?!"
"Call me Sis, not Auntie!"
"Lena, please, stop arguing," Pakis coaxed.
"I can't, Grandpa! An arrogant brat like him needs to be taught a lesson!"
Zigh clenched his fists tight. "Is it my fault I don't remember?! It's not like you came to see me again after that!"
"Oh please, I literally went to see you right after you won the tournament against Rhax Brown!"
Zigh went completely still. Wait... what...? When...?
Lena snorted. "You really are full of yourself, aren't you? I approached you right after you received your award and certificate!"
A sudden memory flashed through Zigh's mind—a brown-haired girl approaching him with a bright greeting on his way to the locker room. WHAT?! So that was Auntie—Sis?! His face burned up. Damn it, I thought she was just a fan!
To be continued...