The Wynnstar Estate was enormous, almost like a small town on its own.
It was split into two clear sections.
The inner estate belonged to the true blood of House Wynnstar: nobles, direct family, and those the Count personally favored. They lived there in polished luxury behind carved stone gates. Beyond those gates lay the outer estate, home to the lesser staff, the guards, workers, servants, and everyone who kept the vast estate running like a well-oiled machine.
Tonight though, the outer estate felt tense.
Near the servants' quarters, a small cluster of maids huddled together under a dim wall lantern, voices hushed to cautious whispers. Their black-and-white uniforms remained neat despite the late hour.
"Have you heard?" one murmured, glancing over her shoulder before leaning in. "Lady Audrey gave birth to a boy… just a couple of hours after the Count's concubine did."
The others stiffened.
Strange expressions flickered across their faces.
Under normal circumstances, such news would have sparked celebration across the estate. Everyone knew how desperately the Count wanted a male heir. For years the noble house had waited.
But the mood tonight was… complicated.
Because the situation was messy.
Lady Audrey was the Count's only official wife and more importantly, the woman he doted on above all others. Despite his status and wealth, he had never taken another wife. For most of their marriage he hadn't even entertained concubines, something rare among nobles.
That alone spoke volumes about his feelings for her.
But time had been cruel.
Years passed, no heir came, pressure began to build up.
Eventually the Count relented and brought in a concubine.
Even then he had been careful. Instead of choosing a noble lady who might threaten Lady Audrey's position, he selected a lowborn commoner. The gesture was obvious. The concubine existed for one purpose only.
To bear an heir.
Nothing more. No real standing in the Wynnstar household.
Or at least… that had been the expectation.
But the heavens clearly had a twisted sense of humor.
No one could have predicted both women would become pregnant at the same time.
And even fewer could have imagined they would both give birth to boys the very thing the Count craved most.
The only problem was that the concubine's son had come first.
The maids quietly sucked in cold breaths.
One muttered under her breath, "The next few years in this house won't be peaceful…"
None of the others disagreed.
---
Deep within the inner estate, far from servant gossip, a vast bedroom lay steeped in extravagancy.
Everything in the room whispered wealth.
Silk curtains pooled against polished floors. Gold-threaded tapestries lined the walls. Soft lamplight danced across crystal ornaments placed with deliberate care.
At the center of the room stood a woman.
Lady Audrey.
She wore a flowing silk gown adorned with fine embroidery, diamonds glinting subtly at her neckline and wrists. Every detail of her appearance was flawless, composed… noble.
But her eyes were cold.
Before her stood two cradles.
The difference between them was impossible to miss.
One was crafted from pale, polished hardwood with delicate jade inlays along the frame. Soft layered bedding filled the interior, plush and pristine clearly made for a noble child.
The other looked as though it had been dragged out of a commoner's storage shed.
Rough wood with plain clothing and no ornamentation whatsoever.
In the luxurious cradle slept a silver-haired infant, breathing softly, utterly at peace. His delicate features bore a faint resemblance to the noblewoman watching over him.
Her son.
But in the poorer cradle lay another child.
Dark hair that gleamed like polished ink.
And silver eyes that were very much awake.
Very much cautious.
Very much staring warily straight at Lady Audrey.
She stepped closer, fingers lightly gripping the edge of the rough cradle. Her gaze sharpened as she studied the infant.
"…So this is the wench's child?" she asked quietly.
A shadow in the far corner of the room rippled.
A masked man emerged as though peeling himself from the darkness.
"Yes, Lady Audrey," he replied evenly.
Her nose wrinkled faintly in distaste as she continued staring down at the baby.
"What about the mother?"
"Locked in the dungeon," the masked man answered. "Shall I proceed with the elimination as planned?"
Lady Audrey paused.
For a moment the room fell silent.
Then her lips curled slightly.
"…No."
The masked man stilled.
Her eyes glinted with something far colder than simple anger.
"For daring to bring this filth into my path, death is far too merciful." Her voice turned smooth, almost pleasant. "Have Sebastian handle her. I want her sold off as a branded slave."
A wicked light flickered in her gaze.
"Let her suffer properly."
Beneath his mask, the man's brows drew together slightly.
"Lady Audrey," he said carefully, "I understand you're upset, but I don't believe that's necessary. We should focus on the plan—"
"What do you think?"
Her voice cracked like a whip.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"You think I'm being emotional?" she demanded, eyes flashing. "You think I've lost sight of the bigger picture?"
The masked man immediately bowed.
"My apologies. I overstepped."
His tone was respectful, but not truly submissive.
Lady Audrey noticed, of course. Her eyes narrowed.
"Do not forget," she said coldly, "I am the one overseeing this entire operation. Your role is to assist when required."
A sharp pause.
"Know your place."
The masked man didn't react to her glare. If anything, he seemed mildly bored.
"…Then what are your next instructions?"
Lady Audrey exhaled slowly, irritation simmering beneath her composed exterior.
"Our plan has already been delayed for years because I failed to produce an heir," she said tightly. "Now that I finally have one, things should have proceeded smoothly…"
Her gaze slid back to the dark-haired infant.
"…Yet that wench just had to place an obstacle directly in my path."
Her fingers curled slightly.
In House Wynnstar, bloodline meant less than talent.
That was the real problem.
If this child awakened exceptional magical talent—the Wynnstar specialty—the family elders would not hesitate to favor him over her own son.
Even if his mother was a commoner. Even if his blood was inferior.
The masked man spoke again.
"Should I remove the obstacle?"
Lady Audrey shot him a sharp glare.
"And risk everything?"
She bit down lightly on her finger, tension finally cracking through her calm mask.
_Father is already growing impatient with the delays… and now this happens. If I cross the line and kill the Count's son, even his affection for me may not protect me. And that old monster guarding the Wynnstar Estate definitely won't sit still. This is troublesome… far too troublesome._
Her expression tightened briefly.
Then her gaze flicked toward the masked man, who had gone quiet again.
_I don't even know why Father assigned this blockhead to assist me. He's only good for brute work. Useless._
With a casual wave of her hand, the masked man melted back into the shadows and disappeared.
The room grew quiet again.
Lady Audrey's gaze returned to the dark-haired baby.
"…Sarah."
The door opened almost immediately.
A woman in a pristine maid uniform stepped inside. Unlike the maids in the outer estate, her posture was straight, her movements precise. Clearly a higher-ranking servant.
She bowed smoothly.
"My lady. You called for me."
Lady Audrey spoke without hesitation.
"Dispose of that cradle and replace it with something appropriate."
Sarah's eyes flicked briefly toward the rough wooden crib, but her expression remained unchanged.
"Yes, my lady."
"Also," Lady Audrey continued, voice calm once more, "announce that the boy's mother died from childbirth complications."
A brief pause.
"I will personally raise him alongside my son."
Sarah inclined her head.
"It will be done."
Without another word she turned and exited the room.
Silence returned.
Lady Audrey slowly stepped closer to the dark-haired infant.
He was still staring at her.
Too focused, too aware for a newborn but she didn't seem to notice as a slow smile curved across her lips.
"I know exactly what to do with you."
---
Inside the tiny body, Abel was internally losing his mind.
_What do you mean you know what to do with me? What do you mean, woman?! Someone please.... ANYONE! GET ME AWAY FROM THIS CRAZY ASS LADY!_