The rain fell in unrelenting torrents, fiercer than any the ancient forest had known. Savage winds howled through the tall evergreens, bending their trunks until they groaned and swayed in violent protest. Thick curtains of water lashed the windows, turning the world outside into a blurred, chaotic haze of green and gray.
In the distance, a magnificent mansion of pristine white marble stood defiant against the storm. Its flawless walls gleamed with intricate gold filigree, crowned by a roof of deep sapphire tiles. To any traveler braving the downpour, it might easily have been mistaken for a forgotten royal palace rather than a private estate.
Inside, within a lavish chamber bathed in rich crimson tones, a boy lounged in a deep armchair by the flickering hearth. His dark hair drank in the dim firelight, while his golden eyes gleamed with an almost unearthly luminosity, golden and radiant, showing no trace of the room around them.
His skin held an ashen pallor far too stark to be natural.
At first glance he appeared composed, yet closer inspection revealed the truth: his left hand trembled uncontrollably against the armrest, while his right remained steady. Every shallow breath carried a subtle hitch of frailty. He was gravely ill.
Even so, a soft smile curved his lips. He was savoring the scene. The relentless rhythm of the rain, the comforting warmth of his coffee, and the cozy glow of the fire. In this moment, wrapped in luxury amid the tempest, he felt like a king… a frail one, perhaps, but a king nonetheless.
'This coffee is quite good,' he thought, taking another slow sip. 'Tina's been adding a touch more sugar lately. It's actually quite good.'
He set the porcelain cup on the polished wooden side table beside him.
"Would you care for some cookies, sir?"
The voice emerged so softly from beside him that, if it wasn't for his partially paralyzed leg, Edric would had jump out of the chair. His golden eyes snapped toward the source.
"Tina! Must you always sneak up on me like that!?"
The maid, Tina, stood gracefully at his side, a silver tray balanced in one hand. She was slightly taller than him, her brown hair neatly tied back to complement her crisp uniform. Her eyes remained gently closed, as they almost always did, concealing the striking honey-gold irises he had glimpsed only a handful of times.
"My apologies," she replied, a hint of playful warmth in her tone. "I did knock. Perhaps the storm drowned it out."
Edric listened to the howling wind and the distant creak of branches, then conceded with a small grin.
"Fair enough. Some cookies would be wonderful, thank you."
With elegant precision, Tina placed the tray on the table. An array of perfect, freshly baked treats beckoned: chocolate, strawberry, caramel, and zesty lemon. Their warm, sweet aromas mingled with the coffee and woodsmoke, making his mouth water instantly.
Before he could reach out, she selected a chocolate cookie and lifted it gently toward his lips.
"Say 'ahh.'"
Heat flooded his cheeks.
"W-what are you doing? I can feed myself!"
She didn't withdraw, simply waiting with patient affection. Face burning, Edric had little choice but to open his mouth and accept the treat. Rich chocolate melted on his tongue.
"I know you can," Tina said softly, already preparing another. "But I enjoy taking care of you."
A delicate chime suddenly rang through the vast mansion. The clear note of the doorbell.
Edric tilted his head, curiosity sparking despite the impracticality.
"A visitor? In this weather?"
Galleon would handle it with his usual impeccable efficiency, of course. Still, he found himself quiet curious about who would arrive at such an hour.
Ignoring Tina's next offering, he gripped his ornate cane with his trembling left hand and pushed himself upright with visible effort. His legs protested, but he straightened as best he could.
"I'll see who it is," he announced.
Tina rose at once and slipped to his side, her arm sliding supportively beneath his without a word. Together they moved from the warm chamber into the illuminated corridor, its walls lined with deep red tapestries that absorbed the golden glow of wall sconces.
They reached the grand marble staircase overlooking the entrance hall. The same rich tapestries cascaded down toward the massive double doors below. A magnificent golden chandelier hung from the high ceiling, casting prismatic light across polished floors and masterful wall paintings. The entire space whispered of palatial grandeur—though time and quiet circumstance had lent it a subtle air of melancholy elegance.
From the second-floor landing, Edric gazed down. At the entrance stood Galleon, the epitome of a flawless butler. His black uniform was immaculate, his white hair swept back neatly, and his posture ramrod straight. Those sharp green eyes missed nothing.
With measured dignity, Galleon opened the heavy double doors, letting in a gust of storm-scented wind.
The angle prevented Edric from seeing the visitor, yet he strained to listen, golden eyes narrowing as intrigue sharpened into focus.
"Welcome to Holden's Residence," Galleon's voice sounded exactly as one would expect. Old, wise, formal, and a bit horseal. Yet Edric noticed a slight touch of gentleness, something that wasn't common, but it didn't took long for him to understand why.
"Excuse me, sir," a little girl's voice, no older than twelve, Edric guessed. "I–I am Rachel and this is my sister Raquel. We–Can we take shelter from the rain here?"
Galleon didn't respond right away, nor could he, it wasn't his decision to make. He turned his head towards Edric, already knowing he was watching.
Edric thought for a second. He wasn't a monster, there was no way that he would let two children out in a strom like that, yet he also needed to be careful. It wouldn't be the first time an assassin sent by his brothers and sister, infiltrates his house.
'But they are kids…' With a sigh, Edric nodded his head.
Galleon turned back to the door with a gentle smile.
"Come in." He stepped aside.
A fair-skinned girl with curly black hair stepped inside. Her clothes were battered and drenched beneath a mantle so thin it might as well have been absent. Her blue eyes sparked with sudden wonder as they took in the magnificent interior of the mansion. A moment later, a younger girl followed close behind.
She could have been her sister's mirror image: same fair skin, blue eyes, and rounded face. Only the hair set them apart: Raquel's was cropped short and jet-black, sleek and unyielding, unlike the wild curls that framed her sister's features.
Instead of greeting his guests as any proper host might, Edric turned and retreated to his room. He wasn't trying to be rude, but it would be better for everyone if they never meet, purely out of safety. Tina walked alongside him the entire way, only releasing his arm once he had settled onto the edge of his bed.
"Tina," he said, as he injected himself with the IV needle. "Take care of our guests and…make sure they aren't sent by my family."
Tina nodded, without a word, she stepped out of the room. Turning off the lights and closing the door as she left.
Alone in the dark, Edric's eyes were the only things visible. It's unnatural glow never fading. The only sounds being of the rain and the drops of serum. In this silence, his sigh sounded louder than it should.
'What a day...'
He hasn't done anything out of the normal, yet he felt completely exhausted for some reason.
So much so, that just as soon as he closed his eyes, sleep completely won over him.