"Okay, guys, give me ten minutes. I got something to do. I'll be back soon," Valeria said as she stood up and brushed the grass off her dress. She gave them a quick smile before turning and walking back toward the mansion, her footsteps fading into the night.
Lucian and Silvana were left alone in the garden. The night was calm, the sky a deep blue dotted with countless stars.
The soft chirping of crickets could be heard, and the cool breeze carried the faint scent of blooming flowers.
Silvana sat cross-legged on the grass, her silver hair shimmering under the moonlight. She glanced at Lucian lying on his back, hands behind his head, staring up at the stars.
After a moment of silence, Silvana spoke up. "Umm, Lucian… if you don't mind me asking, why did Valeria always lock herself in her room when I first came here? At first, I thought it was because of me… but now that I've been here for a few months, I don't think that's it. Even Aunt Elisa and Uncle Cassius act… different sometimes. Oh, it's fine if you can't answer. I'm really sorry if I'm touching on something sensitive."
Lucian didn't respond right away. He kept his eyes on the sky, his expression thoughtful. Finally, he sat up and turned to her.
"It's okay," he said slowly. "It's not something we've told other royals yet. You know Valeria and I had an older brother, right?"
Silvana nodded. "Yes, I've heard a little about him."
Lucian's voice grew quieter. "Well, about a year and a half before you came here, he went missing. And no, I don't think he's dead… he just disappeared. One day, he was here, and the next, he was gone. No trace, no explanation. Nothing."
Silvana's eyes widened, but she stayed quiet, letting him continue.
"It hit all of us hard," Lucian said, his voice steady but burdened. "I didn't leave my room for three months after it happened. I just… couldn't. But then I decided I had to get stronger, strong enough to take on his responsibilities and find him."
He paused, his gaze drifting back to the stars. "Mom and Valeria took it the worst. Mom barely ate for weeks, and Valeria… she stopped talking to anyone. She just locked herself in her room and cried for days. With Dad and me helping, they've gotten better over time. But with me always training and Dad and Mom busy with work, Valeria… she felt more alone than any of us."
Silvana's heart ached for him. She could see the pain in his eyes, even though he tried to hide it. "Lucian, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have-"
"No," Lucian cut in gently, shaking his head.
"I should be thanking you, Silvana. Since you came, Valeria's been doing better. She smiles more and talks more. The melancholic feeling in our house is gone. Mom and Dad… they've started to laugh again. You've made a big difference. So, thank you. Just you being here has helped us a lot." He smiled at her, his eyes soft and grateful.
Silvana's face turned red, and she looked away, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her sleeve. "N-no, I should be thanking you all. Uncle Cassius and Aunt Elisa treat me like their own. Valeria and you… You've never made me feel lonely here. You didn't judge me for my hair, unlike most people in the Everaine clan. They always looked at me like I was… weird or didn't belong there."
Lucian laughed a little, lying back on the grass. "Come on, Silvana. You should be more confident. I've told you before, right? You're beautiful, and your hair is cool. Those people who told you that you didn't belong there are the ones who don't belong there; they don't know a thing about you."
Silvana's ears turned red, and she fidgeted, not sure what to say. She wasn't used to compliments, especially not from someone like Lucian. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Valeria's voice interrupted them.
"I'm back!" Valeria shouted as she ran back into the garden, her dress fluttering behind her.
"Did I miss anything? You two weren't having fun without me, right?"
"Nah, you didn't miss much," Lucian said, sitting up. "Why'd you go back to the mansion, anyway?"
Valeria and Silvana exchanged a glance, and then both turned to Lucian with knowing smiles.
"It's almost the ninth of February," Silvana said like it was obvious.
"Yeah, so?" Lucian looked confused.
Both Valeria and Silvana sighed in unison, shaking their heads at his cluelessness.
Valeria smacked his arm lightly. "It's your birthday, dummy!"
"Oh," Lucian said, finally realizing. He scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed. "I forgot."
"Happy birthday, Lucian," Silvana and Valeria said together, their voices warm with affection.
"Here, Silvana and I got you something," Valeria said, handing him a small, neatly wrapped box.
"Thanks, you two. But you didn't have to do this," Lucian said, taking the box. He opened it carefully, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Rings?" he asked, lifting one out. He turned it over in his hand, examining the intricate design.
"Three rings for the three of us," Valeria explained, her voice brimming with pride. "And they're not just normal rings. They have more storage space than any others! But that's not even the best part. No matter where you are, you can send a voice message, and it'll go to all three rings. So we can always stay in touch. But we can't use that just yet. We'll need to use mana, and it'll depend on how far apart we are."
Lucian's eyes lit up as he listened. "This is amazing," he said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Thank you, both of you. The design is really nice, just like the two of you. This ring will always remind me of you."
Valeria grinned. "Just so you know, Silvana picked the design. I just told Dad to get someone to make it."
Silvana blushed, looking down as Lucian handed each of them a ring. They all slipped them on, the metal cool against their skin. Silvana held her hand up, admiring the way the ring caught the moonlight.
"Umm, guys…" Silvana said hesitantly, her voice soft but firm. "Promise me our bond will never break. I don't want to lose you two. And let these rings always be a symbol of that."
Valeria and Lucian looked at each other, then back at Silvana. Valeria's grin softened into a warm smile, and Lucian nodded.
"Of course," Valeria said, pulling Silvana into a tight hug. "No matter what, this bond will never break."
Lucian laughed softly, shaking his head. "You have our word, Silvana. Always."
A/n:- I would be updating this chapter. This chapter is lacking emotional depths and all. But as I am busy rn, I ask for ur forgiveness. I'll do it as soon as I am free. And that's also the reason why chapters haven't been updated