"Can you repeat what you just said?" I asked, my voice tight with disbelief.
General D'Arcane met my eyes—steady, but shadowed. "Your parents were framed," he said quietly. "But I don't know who did it."
The words hit like a blow to the chest.
"And why should I trust you, General?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
"Because I overheard them—them-the ones who plotted it," he said, his voice dropping lower. "It was the night after your parents were arrested. They were already being transported to the Kingdom of Althera. I had just arrived at the western wing of Velmoria Citadel, carrying out orders from the King himself. I was meant to meet His Majesty… but then I heard something."
His gaze drifted as though replaying the memory.
"A voice. A name. Sedea. I stopped. I shouldn't have—gods know I tried to walk away—but I couldn't. It was midnight. The halls were dark. The maids had already taken out the lights. I couldn't see their faces… but I heard every word."
His voice lowered to a near-whisper, echoing the voices of that distant night.
"What are you doing here? Why are you talking right now?" an old man snapped.
"I did what you told me. Now, where's the money?" someone younger said.
"What are you talking about? I gave you the money."
"Do you want me to tell the world what you did to the Duke and Duchess of Hartwell?"
"WHAT?! Don't you dare—"
"I don't care if I go to jail. I'll escape. But you, who will save you? If I tell them how you paid me to plant the evidence, how a witness saw the Hartwells kidnapping children… they'll dig deeper. They'll find you. And your master."
"Fine. Take it. Now get out of here."
"Thank you for your service."
"I'd better not see you again. Do you hear me?"
"I was terrified," the General whispered. "They mentioned my niece's name. I didn't know what they were planning. I couldn't risk her safety. So I left. I swore I'd protect her... and the truth."
The floor swayed beneath me. My knees nearly buckled.
Then—
"Brother!"
Lily's voice tore through the fog. My eyes snapped open.
She was there, flames dancing behind her, smoke curling into the air. The piano was a ruin. General D'Arcane lay in a pool of blood.
And in my hand, my sword.
"What… happened?" I asked hoarsely. Lily's hands were streaked with blood.
"Lily," I whispered, horrified, "what happened to you? Who did this?"
"It's nothing," she interrupted gently, too calm. "Are you alright, Brother?"
I looked into her eyes, and in them, I saw the truth.
I surged to my feet. "Eleanor! Put out the fire! And take care of the General!" I shouted, taking control. I ripped at my sleeves, wrapping them around Lily's wounds. The blood was still warm, soaking through the fabric.
"Did I hurt you anywhere else?" I asked, desperate.
She shook her head. "No."
I exhaled, but my heart pounded with guilt and shame.
What have I done?
I let my rage take over.
And now… everything is falling apart.
As I walked toward my office to clear my head, I sensed someone behind me. I turned.
It was Lily.
I wanted to apologize—to say I didn't mean to hurt her, that I knew she wasn't my sister, just a soul who had taken Lily's place.
"Julian?" she said softly. It was the first time she'd used my name instead of "Brother." It felt... strange.
"I want you to know," she continued, her hand reaching toward me, the wound I gave her still raw, "if you ever need help… I'm here."
I couldn't speak. I couldn't look at her. That wound was mine. I did that to her. I hated myself for it.
And then, I walked away.
In my office, my thoughts swirled like a storm.
The western wing of Velmoria Citadel. That's where the General had been—where the servants lived. Knights, butlers, maids.
One of them had planted the evidence. A butler, perhaps. Only someone with wealth and influence could have paid for such a scheme. Which meant one thing:
It was someone from the royal family. Or someone who served them closely.
There's a traitor in this mansion.
If I find them—if I follow the thread back—I'll find who framed my parents. And I'll make them pay.
Earlier that day…
I still couldn't believe Althaea had come to the mansion.
I wondered if the original Lily, as a child, had ever met her. I was grateful Julian had arrived when he did.
"So, Lily, what's your favorite place in this dusty old house?" Althaea asked, eyes scanning the halls with thinly veiled disgust. Her true personality bled through—arrogant, condescending. The novel never mentioned this side of her. Oddly enough, I found it… refreshing.
"Well, I like the library," I said honestly.
"Oh? Is that where you met Alistair?" she asked, smirking. "Oh! I mean His Highness," she added, feigning innocence.
"Yes. Would you like to see it?"
"NO!!" the boy beside her shouted. "Who knows what kind of dust is floating around in there? Look at these floors—I can't even see my reflection! Do they not have maids to clean this filth?"
Brat.
"Auren, don't be rude," Althaea said, though her tone lacked conviction. "They don't have any money, remember?"
"It's fine," I said, teeth gritted, just as shouting erupted from the living room.
"Looks like your brother's at it again," the boy said, stepping toward the door.
I stopped him. He pushed me away, sneering.
"Don't touch me, monster. Who knows what kind of disease you have?" He kicked me hard.
"I'm sorry for my brother," Althaea said, "but maybe if you weren't so… pitiful, this wouldn't happen."
I was about to rise when the door opened and slammed into me. Lord Duskvale stepped through.
"We're leaving. I can't stand this place," he said coldly.
They walked past me like I was invisible.
After they left, I lingered. The door had been left ajar. And inside, I heard the General.
"Because I overheard them," he was saying. "The ones who plotted it…"
I froze.
The story continued. The western wing. The voices. The bribery. The lie.
My breath caught. I backed away, unable to hear more.
Someone had framed them. Julian's parents. And mine.
They were just children, and the world turned them into scapegoats.
Why them? Why us?
I wanted to scream. To destroy everything.
Then—the glass shattered. A voice rang out: "Please forgive me!"
I rushed back. Lightning crackled around Julian. The General knelt, bloodied. The piano was splintered. The room was in chaos.
Julian's sword was raised, his eyes wild.
Without thinking, I ran. "Julian—stop!!" I screamed.
Maids flooded the room. Chaos erupted.
Julian didn't stop. Not until I grabbed him, my voice rising over the din.
"Brother!"
He froze.
He looked at me, then my bleeding hand.
"Eleanor! Put out the fire! Take care of the General!" he ordered, then turned to me, panic in his voice. "Did I hurt you anywhere else?"
I shook my head. "No."
He looked relieved. But I could see it in his eyes.
He hated himself.
He got up and left.
I followed him, unable to leave it like this.
"Julian."
He didn't answer. Just looked at me—cold, guarded.
"I want you to know… if you ever need help, I'm here."
He said nothing.
And walked away.
I stood there, watching him go, my eyes stinging with tears.
I'm not his sister.
But tonight… I cried like I was.
night.