Years ago, within the mansion of the Ranus Family, Shion Ranus wandered aimlessly through the halls with nothing to do. He was unwanted in the mansion and constantly received looks of contempt from everyone because he was the son of a maid. Because of this, his life was bitter. Even so, his father ignored his pain and paid him no attention.
Shion eventually went to complain about the mistreatment he suffered in the mansion. When he arrived at the family head's office, he could not enter because there was a guest inside. Since no one was guarding the door, curiosity drove him to eavesdrop.
Although he could not fully understand the conversation at his young age because many words were unfamiliar to him, he still caught fragments such as "deal," "smuggling," "forbidden items," and "my life is in danger."
Then he heard a noise from inside, like something falling. Without permission, he entered to check what had happened. Inside, he saw several beads and circles scattered across the family head's desk. Standing there beside his father was a man he did not recognize, though he somewhat resembled his father's wife. Before Shion could process anything else, his father moved toward him with terrifying speed and struck him across the face with a slap powerful enough to disfigure him.
Shion was hurled into the wall, crashing against it as he lost consciousness from the impact. Yet before blacking out completely, he heard his father screaming furiously at the guard who was supposed to be standing outside the office door.
When Shion awoke later, he found himself in the mansion's underground cells where servants and guards were punished. He could not understand why he had been thrown there. Soon he heard whispers criticizing the family head:
"He's a bastard!"
"He's a traitor!"
"He deals in forbidden goods!"
"Even his so-called Sixth Level strength is a lie!"
"He even killed the guard outside his room last night!"
Shion looked around and saw someone he recognized, yet all he truly noticed were unfamiliar faces filled with hatred. One of them smiled and said,
"Quiet down, everyone! Don't you realize we have a very special guest here?"
Everyone turned toward the speaker, who pointed at Shion and continued,
"This little brat is that bastard's son, so… let's have some fun."
All the prisoners gathered around Shion, who immediately began screaming and calling for his father. Yet the only response he received was laughter from the people approaching him. He tried to beg for mercy, but a large man grabbed him by the neck with a cruel grin and seized his arm, intending to break the bones slowly. Shion's screams grew louder until he lost consciousness once more…
But when he opened his eyes again, everyone had backed away from him. Their expressions were no longer hateful but terrified. The once noisy cells had become silent and still, with only the sound of heavy breathing remaining. For some reason, Shion felt as though he had lost something deep inside himself—his desire to resist. He wanted to surrender completely to his fate.
He sat on the floor staring at everyone. Hours passed, and he remained alone in a wide empty circle that no one dared approach. Then he heard the scream of a woman. He could not tell whether he failed to recognize the voice or simply did not want to admit he already knew who it belonged to.
The dungeon door burst open, and a maid rushed inside desperately searching for the most precious thing in her life. When she found Shion, she embraced him tightly.
"My son!! Are you alright?! Say something! Please!"
Yet Shion's cold gaze was directed elsewhere—toward the man who was supposed to be his father. At that moment, Shion wished he could see even the slightest trace of concern on that man's face. But instead, all he saw was shock… shock that Shion was still alive, that he had not been torn apart in this filthy prison cell.
His father glanced around nervously, lips trembling as though he wished to say something. But Shion could endure no more. He closed his eyes once again.
That incident deeply scarred him as a child. From then on, he believed he had to live up to his father's expectations so he would never be abandoned again. Yet he failed once… then failed again…
And his failures continued until the very moment he was cast out of the family and poisoned. Even though he survived, he blamed no one but himself for being unable to resist what had happened. He treated it merely as another reminder of his weakness.
But this time would be different.
This time, he could strike back mercilessly.
This time, he could settle every debt from beginning to end.
In the present, Shion Lan looked toward the Second Princess, Jina Joul, who was stunned after hearing the secret of the Ranus Family that he intended to reveal. She cautiously asked,
"But… what kind of information do you have that could condemn them?"
Shion replied,
"Do you remember, Your Highness? That ring we found inside His Highness's chest?"
Jina immediately remembered the ring Shion had extracted during the academy entrance exams at the beginning of the academic year.
Those rings were forbidden within the kingdom. She instantly asked,
"Does the Ranus Family have something to do with this?!"
Excitement filled her voice at the thought of finally obtaining evidence that could damage both that family and her brother. Yet she quickly realized Shion was still there, watching her ugly side emerge. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks, and inwardly she prayed he would not comment on it.
Instead, Shion calmly said,
"I'll tell you everything I know. In return, I want a favor from you."
Jina immediately answered,
"What is it? I'll do it for you!"
The moment those words left her mouth, she realized she had once again exposed an unbecoming side of herself. Lowering her gaze, she waited. But Shion ignored it and said,
"I want to know who in that family tried to poison me."
Jina's thoughts froze. This time, the lack of composure on her face was not because she was trying to remain calm, but because of what she had just heard.
Poisoned? Shion?
Shion tilted his head slightly and asked,
"Does Your Highness disagree with this request?"
But instead of answering, Jina's fists tightened violently, her breathing trembling as she asked in a mercilessly cold tone,
"When?! …When did that happen?!"
Even the maids standing behind her instinctively stepped back after sensing their princess's anger. They silently decided to leave the matter to Shion.
With a tired sigh, Shion gently patted Jina's head while channeling a trace of his star energy to calm her. Her breathing gradually slowed, her fists relaxed, and her cheeks flushed red from his sudden closeness.
Shion sighed again and said,
"Seriously… if your emotions fluctuate this much, I have no idea how you're supposed to rule this kingdom."
Yet Jina only smiled foolishly without saying a word.
Then Shion continued,
"I'll tell you what the Ranus Family and the Razor Family truly represent."
Jina frowned in confusion.
"What does the Razor Family have to do with this?"
Shion answered,
"They cooperate in everything."
He glanced toward the maids, and Jina immediately understood.
"Leave us."
Once the room was empty, Shion took a deep breath as memories of the distant past resurfaced alongside traces of sorrow. Then he said,
"You could say, Your Highness, that the Razor Family imports forbidden artifacts, while the Ranus Family distributes them. It was also said that one member of the Joul Family was involved and provided them protection, though I don't know who that person is. Furthermore, someone among the Six Great Families secretly manages the entire operation, though I don't know whether other families are involved as well."
The princess was utterly shocked.
"Could my brother…"
Shion nodded.
"I believe he became involved long ago. I was only seven or eight years old when I first learned about it—I don't remember exactly—but the operation had already existed for more than ten years at that point."
Jina frowned.
"But I don't think Shun Ranus still carries that ring inside him. My brother already reached the Fourth Level and removed his own ring as well."
Shion calmly replied,
"The head of the Ranus Family still carries the ring inside his body."
Jina stared at him in shock.
"How do you know that? Don't tell me you injured your own father and saw the ring!"
Shion shook his head.
"He once discussed it with a relative from the Razor Family while negotiating a deal. During the conversation, the head of the Ranus Family suddenly coughed violently and collapsed. But the moment he saw me, he pretended to be perfectly fine."
"And what does that have to do with the ring?"
"One of the terms of the deal was that the Ranus Family Head would receive a ring capable of keeping him alive despite his illness."
A trace of pity appeared on Jina's face.
"But don't you feel anything doing this to your father?"
Shion answered in a heavy voice,
"His illness, his suffering, everything happening to him—it's all the result of his greed and ambition. I feel nothing for him."
Jina wanted to object, but she met Shion's cold gaze instead.
Then he asked quietly,
"Your Highness, may I ask you something?"
Surprised, Jina nodded.
"What do you believe defines a family bond?"
She thought carefully before answering,
"Death, perhaps. Death separates family members. Honor does as well… and sometimes rights."
Shion looked at her calmly and said,
"As for death, my father once tried to kill me after I overheard the deal, but he failed. Later, I was poisoned when I was expelled from the family. And in the end, my brother tried to sacrifice me to save himself."
Gina's heart clenched painfully as she remembered his exile and heard of the murder attempts against him.
Shion continued,
"As for honor… I don't think the son of a maid has the right to such a thing. No father acknowledged me, no family accepted me, and no social class valued me."
Jina closed her eyes, unable to meet his gaze anymore, yet his voice still echoed in her ears.
"And regarding rights… as I said before, I was never granted the right to live or enjoy the honor the rest of the family possessed. Not even the smallest privilege—being called a son. I was either addressed by my name or as 'the maid's son.' Even my right to enter the academy when I turned sixteen was handed over to the Razor Family so I could be denied that opportunity."
Then he looked directly at her.
"Now tell me, Your Highness…"
Jina finally raised her eyes—and her heart skipped a beat.
Shion's silver eyes were no longer beautiful. They were hollow, utterly devoid of emotion. Yet he wore a perfect smile as he asked,
"Tell me, Your Highness… what relationship do I truly have with the Ranus Family other than sharing their blood?"
Jina's breathing grew heavy as she realized Shion was capable of making such a terrifying expression.
He continued,
"Your Highness, I endured that family because I believed I could eventually forget them and forget what they did to me. But they crossed the line with me again and again… to the point where they offered me as a sacrifice. So…"
He smiled faintly.
"Don't I have the right to take revenge?"
But Jina could not answer beneath those haunting eyes.
Shion finally closed his eyes, regaining his calm demeanor.
"I apologize, Your Highness, if I overstepped while speaking. Please forgive my earlier rudeness."
Jina looked at him and saw genuine pain hidden beneath his expression. Her heart twisted painfully.
Then she firmly declared,
"Shion Lan, it's not only you who suffered because of the Ranus Family. My brother also aided them, protected them, and deceived me as well. Therefore…"
Jina steadied her breathing before saying decisively,
"Let's take revenge on both of them."
A faint smile appeared on Shion's face as he replied,
"Thank you, Your Highness."