That night, Arthur's eyes opened slowly.
The room was dim.
He pushed himself up gently.
"Arthur! You're finally awake."
Arthur turned his head.
Verona sat beside the bed.
"…Mum."
The memory of the courtyard flashed in his mind.
Arthur lowered his gaze."…Are you also mad at me?"
Verona didn't answer immediately.
Arthur's fingers tightened around the blanket.
Verona gently took his hand and loosened it.
Then she tapped it lightly.
Arthur froze.
She smiled softly."Of course not. Why would I be?"
Tears slid down Arthur's cheeks before he even realized it.
Verona blinked."You're crying… but why?"
Arthur wiped his face quickly."It's nothing."
He forced a small smile.
Verona simply watched him quietly.
The door opened.
Elizabeth stepped inside carrying a tray.
She stopped."Young master… you're awake."
Arthur nodded.
"You've been asleep all day," she said softly. "We were worried."
Arthur blinked slowly."All day…?"
Verona shook her head gently."Let's leave that aside."
She picked up the tray."Eat your dinner. You must be hungry."
She fed him slowly like when he was younger.
Arthur didn't protest. He ate quietly.
When he finished, Elizabeth took the tray and the two women quietly left the room.
Arthur sat alone on the bed.
A single sentence kept replaying in his head.'Who're you?'
After a while he walked out of his room.
The hallway outside was quiet.
As he passed his parents' room—Voices came from inside.
Arthur slowed down, then he started walking again.
But the next words stopped him."Arthur will be leaving the mansion tomorrow morning."
Arthur froze.
Verona's voice came next."Why? Isn't that too harsh for him?"
Aldric's voice answered."I've made my decision. Tell Elizabeth to help him arrange his things."
"That's not happening!" Verona snapped. "You're speaking out of anger. Calm down before you make a decision like this."
"I am calm, Verona."
A pause.
Then—
"A son who couldn't awaken a blade is nothing but a stain on our noble name."
Arthur felt something sharp twist inside his chest.
"I have no need for such a son."
Arthur quietly stepped away from the door and walked back to his room.
He lay down on the bed curling himself slightly, arms wrapped around himself.
Sleep eventually took him.
———————
Morning came quickly.
Arthur was still lying the same way.
Elizabeth walked in."Good morning, young master."
She moved to the curtains and pulled them open.
Sunlight filled the room.
Arthur slowly sat up. His expression was dull.
"Did you sleep well?" Elizabeth asked.
Arthur didn't answer.
He simply stood and walked toward the bathroom.
Elizabeth blinked."…Young master?"
When he returned he was shirtless and had a towel around his neck.
Elizabeth forced a small smile."I picked a dress for you."
Arthur looked at the bed.
A blue coat. White trousers.
Arthur wore his coat and fasten the buttons.
He didn't look at her."…Nena."
Elizabeth paused.
"When do you all plan on kicking me out of the mansion?"
She froze.
Arthur continued calmly."Father said it would be today."
He glanced at the suitcase beside the wardrobe.
Already packed.
"I guess I should thank you for preparing everything."
Elizabeth finally spoke."How did you know about that? Lord Aldric hasn't—"
"I overheard them last night."
Arthur walked toward the suitcase.
Then turned back toward her."I guess this is goodbye."
He bowed his head."Thank you… for taking care of me all this while."
Elizabeth stared at him."Something's changed.The young master never spoke like this before."
"You don't need to lower your head to me," she said softly.
Arthur straightened.
Elizabeth left the room."I'll inform Lord Aldric you're ready to depart."
——————
The mansion gates opened slowly.
Arthur stepped outside with one small bag.
Elizabeth approached him.
She slipped a folded paper into his hand."Go to this address," she whispered. "You'll be welcomed there."
Arthur glanced at it.
Then nodded."Thanks."
He turned to leave.
Elizabeth called out softly."I don't know what changed in you overnight… but I want you to know we'll miss you."
Arthur stopped."…Where's Mom?"
"Lady Verona is trying to convince lord Aldric" she said quietly.
"I see."
"Please be safe… young master."
Arthur began walking."I will."
"Big brother!!!"
Arthur froze.
He turned."Evelyn…"
She ran toward him, crying so hard she stumbled and fell.
Maids rushed to hold her back.
"Wait! Where are you going!?" she sobbed. "Why are you leaving!? If something's wrong you could've told me and we would've fixed it together!"
Arthur walked over.
He knelt beside her and smiled softly."Everything's fine, Evelyn."
He gently brushed her hair back."I'm not going far."
Evelyn grabbed onto him tighter immediately, her small hands bunching the back of his clothes as tears spilled down her cheeks.
"No…" she shook her head quickly. "No, you're lying."
Arthur's smile faltered for a second, then he smiled again, softer this time.
"Hey…" he said quietly. "Do you remember the story I always used to read to you?"
Evelyn's crying slowed a little.
She looked up at him with wet eyes, her breathing uneven.
Arthur wiped one of her tears away with his thumb. "Well? Do you remember it?"
She nodded slowly, sniffing. "The one about the hero…"
"…who came back for the princess," Arthur finished gently.
Evelyn bit her lip hard, trying not to cry again.
Arthur rested his forehead lightly against hers."You're the princess, Evelyn."
His voice became warm and steady."And me?"
He smiled faintly."I'll come back as the hero and take you with me."
The moment those words left his mouth, Evelyn broke again."Big brother…"
Her voice cracked completely as she buried her face against him.
Arthur froze for a moment when he felt her shaking.
Then his arms slowly wrapped around her properly.
"Just wait for me a little longer," he whispered."…Okay?"
Elizabeth watched from behind."He smiled…"
Arthur stood up and immediately the maids pulled Evelyn back.
Evelyn reached toward him through the maids' arms.
Arthur turned away.
Elizabeth whispered quietly."We'll wait for your return… young master."
Arthur nodded once, then kept walking.
He climbed into the carriage.
The wheels turned and the mansion slowly disappeared behind him.
——————
Arthur sat silently inside the chariot.
The wheels rolled along the road in a steady rhythm.
Creak. Thud. Creak. Thud.
Through the window, the horizon stretched endlessly beneath the pale morning sky.
The wind brushed lightly through the curtain and against his hair.
Arthur barely noticed.
In his hand, he held a folded piece of paper. His fingers had tightened around it so much the edges were already wrinkled.
He looked down at it for a moment."The City of Aurelion…"
The words felt strange in his mouth.
He looked back outside again.
The road continued forward.
By noon, the chariot arrived.
The City greeted him with a kind of silence that felt colder than winter.
The chariot stopped beside a small house near the river.
The water flowed slowly behind it.
Arthur stepped down from the carriage with his suitcase.
Ban stretched his back with a groan before glancing at him."Young master," Ban said with a grin. "You've finally gotten rid of your motion sickness. Congratulations!"
Arthur didn't bother looking at him."Did I?" he said quietly. "I didn't realize it myself... I guess I was lost in my thoughts."
Ban blinked once.
Arthur turned away.
Ban watched him walk toward the house, his brows slowly pulling together."The young master feels… different."
His gaze lingered on Arthur's back."And the disturbing part… I don't sense anger nor sadness from him ."
He whispered softly, almost like a prayer carried by the wind."Take care of yourself, young master."
He flicked the reins.
The horse took off down the road, the chariot quickly disappearing into the distance.
Arthur stopped in front of the house.
It was small. Wooden walls slightly faded with time.
A narrow porch. A few flower pots by the window that had clearly been taken care of, though the paint around them had chipped.
The river behind the house murmured quietly.
Arthur stared at the door for a long moment.
His hand hovered in the air before finally knocking.
The door opened.
A woman with soft black hair stood there.
Her eyes were gentle… the kind that seemed to welcome people before they even spoke.
"You must be Arthur," she said.
Arthur raised his head slightly, his expression still blank."You know my name?"
She lifted a letter."Elizabeth sent this to me last night."
Arthur stared at the letter for a second."I see…"
Two small heads peeked from behind her.
"Who's that?" the boy asked bluntly.
The woman smiled faintly."He'll be staying with us for a while."
She glanced at Arthur."You can think of him as family."
Arthur looked at the two children.
They stared back at him like curious little animals meeting something new.
"Come in," the woman said gently. "I made soup for dinner."
Arthur stepped inside.
The house was simple.
A small living room with a wooden table that served as a dining table. A narrow staircase leading upstairs. A few shelves filled with books and small decorations.
"Make yourself at home," she said. "I'll serve dinner."
She disappeared into the kitchen.
Arthur stood there for a moment.
Then two small footsteps approached.
The boy puffed his chest proudly."I'm Luca!"
The girl stepped forward right after him with a bright smile."Mira! Nice to meet you!"
Arthur looked at them."Arthur," he said quietly.
The two children exchanged a glance before suddenly saying together—"Can we call you big brother?"
Arthur froze.
Before he could answer—
Their mother walked back into the room carrying a tray.
She stopped."Both of you, that's enough."
Her tone was gentle but firm."He just arrived. Let him feel at home first."
The two children immediately lowered their heads."Yes, Mum."
She placed the tray on the table."Come. Let's eat."
Arthur sat down.
The others followed.
The meal was warm and simple.
Luca talked too much. Mira tried showing Arthur a drawing that looked absolutely nothing like a horse.
Liana didn't ask about the mansion. She obviously didn't want to pry.
Arthur didn't speak. He mostly listened.
Later that night, Arthur went upstairs to his room.
The room wasn't as large as his.
Just a bed, a small table, and a window.
He laid down on the mattress and stared at the ceiling.
Moonlight leaked through the window like pale water.
The bed creaked softly when he turned his head.
He looked outside and whispered." Who... am I?"