The golden light from the chandelier above shimmered across polished silverware and crystal goblets, but for Rayan, it did little to warm the chill buried inside him. The banquet had been filled with laughter and conversation, but none of it belonged to him. He was an outsider seated at a table where once he might have belonged. Every smile, every murmur, every glance seemed to remind him of what he had lost.
When the meal ended, Kaelen Sunreign, his father, finally turned his unreadable gaze toward him. The hall fell into a hush as if waiting for judgment.
"I've arranged an engagement for you," Kaelen declared, his voice firm, carrying the authority of a man who expected no objection.
Rayan's eyes narrowed instinctively. "With whom?"
Kaelen gestured toward the far end of the chamber. From the shadows stepped a figure Rayan recognized immediately. The young maid Lina.
Her steps were quiet, her hands folded before her. Though her dress was plain, her posture carried dignity. Her gaze, though cautious, did not waver.
"Her name is Lina," Kaelen said. "You are going to marry her."
The words struck Rayan like a blow. He stared at her, torn between disbelief and confusion. A servant girl. A daughter from a fallen family who had been stripped of wealth and station. And now she was to be offered as his bride as though two disgraced lives stitched together could create respectability.
His breath caught, his chest tightening with a storm of emotions. Humiliation, frustration, even anger. Yet beneath it all, another memory rose.
His grandfather's frail voice from the night before "I want to see your wedding, Rayan. But I fear I won't make it that far."
The words echoed in his heart like a bell tolling against the silence. He looked at Lina again. There was no mockery in her eyes, no contempt. Only quiet strength, like a flame refusing to be extinguished.
Rayan exhaled slowly. His voice was steady when he spoke. "I accept."
Kaelen gave a curt nod, his expression as unfeeling as stone. "Good. Tomorrow is your engagement ceremony. Be ready. Behave. Guests will be arriving."
And just like that, the decision was sealed.
The rest of the evening blurred. When the gathering ended, a servant led Rayan to a guest chamber. He sat heavily on the edge of the bed, the weight of his father's decree pressing down on him. The old wooden floor creaked under his boots as he leaned forward, burying his face in his hands.
"Up until now, I've barely been managing to take care of myself," he muttered, his voice raw. "And now I have to look after someone else too."
For a moment, doubt clawed at him. Could he protect her? Could he give her even the simplest life she deserved? He had no title, no crest, no respect. Only his determination.
His hand tightened into a fist. Then I'll just have to work even harder. Earn more. Be more.
With that thought as his anchor, exhaustion finally dragged him into sleep.
The morning sun rose over the Sunreign estate, spilling golden light across the forest-lined roads and the towering stone walls. Servants bustled about in preparation, carrying linens, flowers, and trays of food for the guests who arrived in gleaming carriages.
Rayan dressed simply but neatly, his clothes unadorned compared to the nobles who swept into the mansion. As he walked among them, he felt their stares their curiosity, their disdain, their whispers hidden behind fans and polite smiles.
Inside the grand hall, his grandfather Aelric was seated in a tall ceremonial chair. He had been dressed carefully for the occasion, his frail frame draped in fine robes, though it was clear the effort had cost him dearly. Yet his eyes shone when he saw Rayan approach.
Rayan stood silently beside him, shoulders squared, ignoring the sideways glances of nobles who treated him like a curiosity on display. No one spoke to him at first. It was Lucen, ever the polished heir, who broke the silence with a smile too perfect to be genuine. He greeted Rayan in front of others, and only then did the guests follow suit, offering polite words and empty pleasantries.
From across the hall came the hiss of gossip.
"Did you hear? Lucen is engaged to the daughter of the Crimson Flame Knights' Captain."
"Really? That's quite the match. She's a third-rank crest holder."
The words were daggers, sharp and intentional. Rayan clenched his jaw but said nothing. In this world, status was everything measured in titles, wealth, and the light of the crest each noble bore. His father, a knight of renown, had built their family name upon glory and power. To him, sons were chess pieces to elevate the house.
Lucen was the golden piece, engaged to a woman of high birth and formidable power. Rayan was the pawn, placed on the board only to polish the family's tarnished edge.
The Captain of the Knights' Order soon arrived, accompanied by his daughter. She was tall and graceful, her silver-blue robes shimmering like flowing water. Her presence commanded the attention of the room. She carried herself with elegance and power, her crest shimmering faintly at her wrist as she accepted the official engagement with Lucen.
The hall buzzed with admiration and envy. Rayan felt the sting of comparison, but he remained silent.
When the moment came for his own announcement, Kaelen stepped forward, his voice carrying across the chamber.
"My father, Lord Sunreign, is happy to witness the engagement of Rayan and Lina. May this union bring strength and dignity to our house once more."
The words were spoken without warmth, more proclamation than blessing. Yet as Lina stepped to his side, bowing politely, Rayan saw her composure, the calm dignity with which she endured the stares and whispers. There was no shame in her eyes, only resilience. For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of something he thought had died in him hope.
The ceremony passed quickly after that. Nobles lingered, feigning courtesy while whispering judgments under their breath. One by one, the carriages rolled away, the hall emptying until only the Sunreign family remained.
Before leaving, Rayan returned once more to his grandfather's chamber. The old man's breaths were shallow, his body weak, but when Rayan took his hand, he managed a faint smile.
"I'm proud of you, boy," Aelric whispered. His voice was no stronger than a breeze, but it carried the weight of a lifetime. "No matter what they say… you've grown."
The words lodged deep in Rayan's heart.
With a quiet farewell, he left the chamber.
This time, he did not walk alone.
Lina walked beside him, her steps measured, her eyes steady. Together, they crossed the forest path away from the estate, the towering walls of Sunreign fading into the distance behind them.
Rayan glanced at her once, uncertain of the road ahead. His life had been defined by scorn, betrayal, and loss. But now, for the first time in a long while, he carried something new.
Not a crest. Not a title. But the fragile beginnings of partnership.
Whatever the future held, they would face it together.