Aelira opened her eyes slowly.

  ?The familiar crystal chandelier hung from the dark blue ceiling, catching the morning light. She was in her room.

  ?She tried to sit up, but a sharp ache in her side stopped her. Looking down, she saw a pristine white bandage wrapped tightly around her ribs.

  ?Beside the bed, Lassandra lay curled up on a chair, breathing softly in a deep sleep.

  ?Rustle.

  ?The sound of the sheets shifting stirred the maid. Lassandra blinked, then shot upright as if an alarm had gone off.

  ?“Lady Aelira! You’re awake!”

  ?She lunged forward, wrapping the girl in a desperate embrace.

  ?“Ugh—” Aelira winced.

  ?“Oh! I’m sorry!” Lassandra pulled back instantly, her hands hovering nervously. “I forgot about your injury!”

  ?“It’s fine.” Aelira pushed herself up slowly, gritting her teeth against the throb in her side. “More importantly... what happened? Did I pass out?”

  ?“You don’t remember?” Lassandra asked, tilting her head.

  ?Aelira shook her head.

  ?“After you punched Master Zaek, you collapsed. You’ve been out for almost nine hours.”

  ?“I... punched him?”

  ?The memory felt hazy, like a dream that didn’t belong to her. She remembered Grandfather’s words about determination. She remembered jumping. She remembered Zaek’s boot hitting her.

  ?But a punch?

  ?“Of course! It was part of the training. It was quite a punch, too!” Lassandra made a playful fist, beaming with pride.

  ?“I remember him kicking me,” Aelira murmured, rubbing her temple. “But after that... it’s all blank.”

  ?“You pushed yourself past your limits,” Lassandra said gently, smoothing the blanket. “But you’re safe now.”

  ?Aelira nodded slowly.

  ?“I’ll go inform the others. You had everyone worried sick.”

  ?“Okay.”

  ?Not long after Lassandra left, the door burst open.

  ?Aelira flinched.

  ?Her parents rushed in.

  ?This was... wrong.

  ?They never came to her room. Not when she had a fever that burned for three days. Not when she collapsed from exhaustion in the training yard. Not even on her birthdays.

  ?“A-Are you okay, my sweetheart?” her mother cried. Vivianne’s voice trembled—a performance Aelira had never seen before—as she wrapped her daughter in a hug.

  ?The scent of expensive perfume was suffocating.

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  ?“Darling, don’t crush her. She’ll suffocate,” Wilkram said gently, placing a hand on Vivianne’s shoulder.

  ?“Oh! Sorry. My bad.” Vivianne pulled away, her eyes scanning Aelira not for injuries, but for results.

  ?Then, Wilkram grinned—a proud, almost arrogant smile. “I heard you punched him. Well done! Just like I taught you!”

  ?“I—” Aelira started, confused. You never taught me anything.

  ?“Darling, now’s not the time. I’m sure she’s tired,” Vivianne cut in firmly. Her mask of concern slipped back into place. “Aelira needs rest.”

  ?“You’re right, darling. She definitely needs rest. We must let the hero’s disciple recover.”

  ?“Th—”

  ?Before she could even respond, they turned and left. The door clicked shut.

  ?The room fell silent.

  ?Aelira stared at the closed door, stunned. Their sudden affection felt colder than their usual neglect. It was transactional. Alien.

  ?“...What was that?”

  ?Knock. Knock.

  ?A gentle tap at the doorframe broke her stupor.

  ?“C-Come in.”

  ?Zaek stepped inside. He leaned against the wall, casual as always, though his eyes were sharp as they swept over her.

  ?“May I?”

  ?“Y-Yes,” she replied, looking away.

  ?“You look alright,” he said, walking closer. “I came to apologize for the kick. Didn’t mean to hit you that hard. Guess it’s harder to hold back when you’re old and rusty.”

  ?“It’s fine. I’m sorry too... for the punch. I don’t even remember doing it.”

  ?“Hmm?” Zaek raised an eyebrow. “You’re apologizing for what?”

  ?“...The punch.”

  ?The old warrior blinked. For a second, he looked genuinely confused.

  ?Then, he threw his head back and burst into laughter.

  ?“WAHAHAHA! She—she apologized for the punch! HAHAHA!”

  ?The sound boomed off the walls. Aelira watched him, bewildered, as the legendary hero laughed so hard he had to wipe a tear from his eye.

  ?“Kid,” he wheezed, grinning down at her. “It’s twenty years too early for you to be apologizing for hitting me.”

  ?“But... it might’ve hurt,” she said, her voice small but serious.

  ?Zaek froze. His laughter died down into a soft chuckle. He reached out and ruffled her hair—rough, but warm.

  ?“You’re a nice kid, aren’t you? Don’t worry. This old man is tough. I won’t die just because a six-year-old tapped my stomach.”

  ?Aelira’s cheeks flared red. “I’m not a baby! And I wasn’t worried you’d die!”

  ?Zaek smirked, covering his mouth to hide his amusement.

  ?“Anyway, get some rest. We’ve got training tomorrow.”

  ?“...Huh?” Aelira stared at him, wide-eyed. “Does that mean...?”

  ?Zaek turned halfway at the door, glancing back over his shoulder.

  ?“Yes. I’ve chosen you as my next disciple.”

  ?And with that, he walked out without waiting for a reply.

  ?Aelira sat frozen on her bed.

  ?A disciple... to a Hero.

  ?She didn’t fully grasp what it meant—the politics, the expectations, the danger. But a warm feeling bloomed in her chest.

  ?He chose me.

  ?Outside in the hallway, her parents were quietly celebrating.

  ?“He agreed! Did you hear him?” Wilkram pumped his fist, beaming. “With this, it will be impossible for your father to ignore you now!”

  ?Just then, the door opened. Zaek stepped out.

  ?He stopped. His cold, black eyes bored into them. He didn’t say a word, but the judgment in his gaze froze them in place.

  ?Wilkram’s smile faltered. “Ah... Master Zaek.”

  ?Zaek just grunted and walked past them, leaving an awkward silence in his wake.

  ?Down the hall, Lassandra saw the old hero leave with a smile. Putting the pieces together, joy surged through her.

  ?She rushed into the room.

  ?“Lady Aelira!”

  ?“Lassy?”

  ?Lassandra grabbed the girl and spun her joyfully in the air. “You did it! You really did it, Lady Aelira!”

  ?Aelira had never seen Lassandra so happy. Touched, she smiled softly.

  ?But mid-spin, the movement pulled at her bruised ribs.

  ?“Igh—!”

  ?Lassandra froze instantly. “Ah! Lady Aelira!” She gasped, lowering the girl carefully back onto the bed. “I’m so sorry! Are you hurt?”

  ?“...It hurts a little,” Aelira murmured, clutching her side.

  ?“Oh no! I was too excited... please forgive me!” Lassandra fretted, checking the bandages with shaking hands.

  ?Unseen by them, a sharp pair of eyes watched from the open doorway.

  ?Vivianne stood in the shadows of the hall.

  ?“Vivianne, isn’t it great?” Wilkram whispered beside her, oblivious to her mood. “Everything is going according to plan.”

  ?“...Yes. It is great,” Vivianne answered quietly.

  ?But her silver eyes weren’t looking at her husband. They were fixed on the scene inside the room—on the maid fussing over her daughter with a love that Vivianne herself did not possess.

  ?And did not want.

  ?“Vivianne?” Wilkram asked, sensing the shift in the air.

  ?Vivianne turned away, her face a mask of cold indifference.

  ?“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

  ?“...Alright.”

  ?Wilkram followed her, but he cast one last glance at the room where the nanny was apologizing to the laughing child. He shrugged and walked away, leaving the warmth behind.