Chapter 12: The Reflection in the Mirror
"Look at me," I said, holding Finn and Elera by their shoulders. "From this moment on, we are not street rats. We are nobles. We are part of the Dor Hoven family."
The weight of those words hit them all at once. The years of hunger, the cold nights, the fear—it was all over. Elera burst into tears first, followed by Finn. I pulled them into a hug, feeling a lump in my own throat. We had survived.
After a quick breakfast—the leftovers of the meat stew—we stepped out of the house.
We were still wearing our ragged clothes, but our stride had changed. We didn't walk with our heads down, avoiding eye contact. We walked with our heads held high, marching through the streets like kings. Passersby stared, confused by the three beggars walking with the confidence of royalty.
We reached the Royal Street. The cobblestones were clean, and the air smelled of perfume and expensive spices. We stopped in front of a grand building with glass windows: The Gilded Mirror.
We pushed open the heavy oak doors. A bell chimed softly.
"Welcome, s—"
The receptionist froze. She looked at our matted hair, our dirt-stained tunics, and our worn-out shoes. The smile on her face didn't disappear, but it became strained.
"How can we help you?" she asked, her voice polite but firm. She glanced at the security guard nearby. "Sir, perhaps you are lost? This establishment is... quite exclusive. It is likely out of your budget. Please, I can direct you to a barber in the lower district."
She wasn't rude. She was just stating a fact. To her, we looked like we couldn't afford a single comb, let alone a service here.
I didn't get angry. I just smirked.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the pouch Lucas gave me. I loosened the drawstring and let the golden glint catch the light of the chandelier.
"We are here for the full grooming package," I said calmly. "And I believe I have the budget."
The receptionist's eyes went wide. The security guard stepped back.
"I... I apologize, sir! Right this way!"
They rushed to offer us the velvet chairs. Finn and Elera were whisked away by two assistants. They were nervous, but the staff treated them like porcelain dolls once they saw the gold.
However, there was a problem with me.
Two junior barbers tried to approach me, but they hesitated. My hair was a mess, yes, but it was more than that. The aura I released—the cold, killing intent I had developed from years of survival—was too intense for them. They couldn't stop their hands from shaking when they stood near me. They were terrified.
"I-I can't do it," one whispered. "He's too... scary."
"I'll handle this."
A soft, melodic voice came from the back of the shop.
I looked up in the mirror, and my breath hitched.
The owner of the shop stepped forward. She was breathtaking. She had pitch-black hair that fell like a waterfall of silk down her back, contrasting perfectly with her porcelain skin. But it was her eyes—deep, shimmering blue like the ocean—that captivated me.
She had a gentle, charming smile that seemed to light up the room.
Thump-thump.
My heart, usually as cold and steady as stone, skipped a beat. Then another. It started pounding against my ribs so hard I thought it might explode. For the first time in my life, I was speechless.
"I am Seraphina," she said softly, stepping into my personal space. She didn't flinch at my aura. She wasn't scared.
She placed a warm hand on my shoulder and looked at my reflection in the mirror. "You have strong eyes. Let's see what we can find underneath all this."
She began to cut. Her movements were graceful, like a dance. The scent of lavender and honey wafted from her, making my head spin.
An hour later, she spun the chair around.
"All done," Seraphina smiled.
The room went silent.
Finn and Elera, who had finished earlier, gasped. The staff stopped working. Even I was shocked when I looked in the mirror.
The drunkard was gone. The beggar was gone.
In his place sat a handsome young man with sharp, aristocratic features, neatly trimmed hair, and piercing eyes that commanded respect. I looked like a true noble.
"Not bad," Seraphina whispered near my ear, her blue eyes twinkling. "Not bad at all."