-so that's why you act differently-

The Training yard

I, with the cream and red dress complements my skin and myself , but it's getting a little chilly on a sunny day like this. I should have brought the coat outside. I am out here to watch Jodai practicing but of course there are other people in the yard as well. 

"*Sigh."

I try my best not to think about the conversion with Achlys. I don't have the courage to ask Mr.Kaiza about the agreement, or perhaps I want to avoid figuring it out from him. Since, secretly, my gut feelings tell me I might get hurt. Some part of my heart is beating and pounding for him. I question myself and say that I'm a fool. I'm just a fool for being in love...I fall for him truly, for sure, and I don't even know him entirely. My gut tells me so clearly that I will get hurt someday, but I blur those thoughts by intention, cross that, and just fall for him.

"Miss Zephyra."

The white hair man, Caius. He calls my name and walks toward me.

"Hi."

"How long have you been sitting here?"

He asks.

"Umm...have no idea, hehe."

I chuckle. I must be dozing off.

"Then why doesn't Jodai come over? I'll call him for you."

"No, he knows that I'm here. I'm just watching him practicing."

I answer him and smile.

"You really pay attention to your man skills. I admire that, Miss."

Then he stands beside me and faces the yard together.

"I just enjoy watching him practice, that's all."

"..."

"He's a very lucky man."

"Hm? Or an unfortunate one.. he might die for his job."

"Everybody here is ready and aware of that matter, Miss."

"I just wish they would rather see that in another way.."

"..."

"If they always think I could be killed anytime, I'm okay with dying, It's just a waste to see their own lives in that way. Well, if they think like... I could be killed anytime. I would rather push myself to live. Dying is just a waste and that sudden. When you have a whole life to experience...you know."

"..."

"I'm sorry, I'm just mumbling."

"No, I don't mind, Miss Zephyra."

"Master, is this man bothering you?"

And Jodai comes in with his sweat all over his face and uniform.

"This man? Don't you know his name?"

I ask.

"Of course, he knows, Miss."

Craius smirks at Jodai a bit.

"Jodai, you should call him by his name."

"Yes, Master."

He startles and bows a little to me.

"Are you done with your training?"

"Yes."

"Then go to the city with me, will you?"

I ask him with a genuine smile. I think Jodai and I are getting closer. He understands my expression very well. I don't need to explain much unless I want to be specific. Even though he's quite a serious person, I love to tease him occasionally to make him lose the tight eyebrows on his face.

"Of course, Master. I'll go clean up first. It won't take long."

"Sure, take your time. I have a good companion here."

I answer him and hit Craius's body on his hard stomach.

"... I'm...glad, Miss Zephyra."

He answers with a smile.

"Or maybe I don't need to clean. I can go with you right now."

Jodai changes his mind and glares at Craius.

He's funny.

"Ehhh, just go wash yourself."

I tell him and push him to his way.

"Hehe."

I chuckle at Jodai and watch him leave.

"You are quite close with him."

"Yeah...maybe just from my side…*Sigh…why do I feel like the rain is going to fall soon."

I tell him, and then I exhale. Then I look up at the sky, and the sun is starting to fade away, surrounded by blurry clouds.

"Miss Zephyra."

"Hm?"

"The things that you said earlier,.. to me, dying is not a waste if I die for someone I love.. or at least for my great purpose."

"...I see… it might be nicer if we try to live together with someone we love... It's hard to be the one who watches a person you love die, and it's even harder to live… without them."

"..."

He looks at me with his dazzling eyes.

Does he pity me? Am I trying to forget the fact here? The fact that my mother is lying underground in Flower House, waiting for me to do something.

The Stygian Mansion

Fuck. I hate this place.

I get inside the house and wait in the living room. I was greeted by some of their servants earlier at the entrance. The servant told me to wait here, but I really didn't want to. I just hope that I won't see anyone here.

I won't wait any longer. 

Sitting here makes me hardly breathe. I get up, walk upstairs, and head to the office. I'm walking past the hallway and the same old rooms. I wonder what they did with my old bedroom. Whatever they did, they probably renovated on the day I left.

"*Sigh."

I breathe out and am about to knock on the door. 

I pause myself. Shit, did I get scared?

"Knock, Knock."

I hit the door.

"Who the fuck come to me now."

I hear his voice shout loudly. I haven't seen him in this way before.

"Sir, it's Miss White..."

The servant opens the door for me and is about to announce my name.

"Zephyra?"

But the man wearing a black shirt calls my name first.

"I came here at the wrong time?"

I ask.

"No, I thought you were someone else. I'm about to go downstairs."

He explains himself. He looks hasty.

"I don't want to wait downstairs."

I tell him.

"I'm sorry... come in."

He walks out of his desk, and I step inside and head to the chair in front of the desk.

"You remember my office."

He asks.

"I used to live here for 11 years..."

She answers while putting her body to rest on the chair.

"Yes..."

He softly says it and glances at the servant to leave the room.

And I look at his action when he is going to sit on his chair behind this desk.

"Do you want anything to drink?"

He asks.

"It's okay, why don't you sit?"

"I'm just...still surprised...that you're here."

"You told me to come to see you myself."

"Yes."

He answers, steps closer, and then sits on his desk facing me. I look up to see his face—smiling.

Hmm.

"Did your fiancé know that you're here?"

"..."

"No, then."

"Achlys, I'm here to finish our conversation."

"I know. Otherwise, you would not come here. I just wanted to think you came here because you miss me."

Not this vibe again.

"So, what do you want to know first?"

"What is the other agreement?"

"...The agreement about your marriage will start when you really get married."

"..."

"What is it about?"

I ask.

"My father... wanted Takaki to keep supporting his business. To do that, you have to marry Kaiza."

"I thought... him marrying me was to end the debt of the Stygains."

"That's also right. There's a business that...Are you sure that you really want to know?.. It's deeper and more complicated than you think."

"Do you think I can't handle that?"

"It's not that. I mean, you despise our kind of business and don't want to get involved.. if you receive the information…That means you are a part of it."

"...I am already a part of it."

"...Takaki wanted to end the contract because my father broke the rules by having the business under the Dirtline. The Dirtline is the territory that Takaki doesn't have access to. Maybe he has some people there, but I don't know exactly why Takaki doesn't want us to do business there. Because of fear or respect, I don't know."

"..."

"So Takaki had an idea to break the contract by canceling the debt that my father owed by giving you..to Kaiza.. but you know the greed that my father had. He wanted them to keep supporting his business. Well, at least in Sovereign City...Takaki had another idea to grant that wish to my father: You have to marry Kaiza so that the new agreement can begin."

"The day I marry Mr. Kaiza, the agreement starts?...and he will continue supporting your 

business, is that right?"

"Yes."

"..."

What is the real reason he wants to marry me so badly? I have asked myself this question since the first day I learned about the engagement.

Achlys observes me while he's still sitting on the edge of his desk. He leans his body to me and puts his hands on the armchairs on both sides.

"Are...you alright?"

"When I marry him, live with him, and you guys get the benefits and continue your usual life?"

"..."

"I know that I was being used. I just thought that.., leaving this mansion, changing my last name, and accepting the fate of being with Kaiza was the way out. And could end all the mess behind and just live my new life…even I'm leaving my new life right now, and I don't even fucking know that they are the reason behind it. He always controls my strings behind my back, all this time."

I know he's listening while I'm facing down, looking at my own lap. He raises his right hand, and about to touch my head, I look at his face, and then he pauses his hand in the air.

"And what is another thing?"

"..."

"You told me there's one more thing."

"..."

He's gazing into my eyes so deep that I can feel the depth of it.

"You're not Stygians."

"Hm?"

"You don't have Stygian's blood."

He leans his body back to the same position.

"What?"

"My father, Charon Stygian, is not your real father."

Ha!? What!? 

"Are you speaking the truth, Achlys?... Don't joke with me."

"..."

He gets up, kneels one knee on the floor, and faces me.

"Does he...know?...your father?

I ask while I'm still in shock. He puts his right hand on my left knee.

"He had a doubt since you came here...he might have known since the beginning."

"Then why did he want me to keep his last name...and why did he say I was his daughter? I 

don't understand."

"...He loves your mother...very much to ignore the fact..."

"Loves?"

"You might not believe me, but the way I noticed the love he gave was different from others…my mother or Veronica..."

"..."

"And how long did you know?"

"The day you left the Mansion."

"..."

"So you're not my brother..."

"..."

"Who could have thought of the words I always tell you? It came true."

"..."

So that's why you act differently.

"Then why do you still care about me? You were always worried about me because I was your sister, but you already knew why you're still..."

"Because It's... I always care about you, Zephyra. My sister or not. But I am relieved that you're not my real sister."

"!!"

"Because I finally know my true feelings for you."

"!!?"

"And knowing that...I can finally do whatever my heart tells me."

"Achlys...are you teasing me again..?"

I ask him in confusion, and I try to push myself back, but my back hit the back of the chair.

"No, not at all."

He tells me and he moves his left hand to touch my hair on my right side. And moves some pieces of hair that cover my face back behind my ear gently.

My heart is pounding like crazy.

Back then, when he kissed my neck and touched me, that meant...Was it for real?

"That man...also using you, Zephyra…to get what he wants."

"..."

He moves his fingers to slightly touch my lips.

I look into his silver-gray eyes. Damn it, he's genuinely serious about his feelings.

You genuinely have feelings for me.

It's giving me feelings almost like Kaiza's... but,

"Knock, Knock!!"

"..."

"Achyls! I know you're in there."

The woman's sound that I heard before. It's the head lady's voice.

"I have to go."

I quickly get up

"Wait."

He gets up and grabs my hand instantly.

"I'll come to see you."

"No, please don't go to his place."

"...Wherever you say, you still want me to see you, right?"

"..."

"Zephyra?... I'll find a way to see you."

"I gotta go."

I tell him, and he lets go of my arm.

I open the door and see the blonde hair that is tied up real-nice.

"Zephyra!!?"

He screams out my name.

"Why are you here!? Achlys, you!?"

She shouts at me and Achlys, and then I ignore her by walking past her.

"Wait!"

She grabs my arm aggressively.

"Let her go."

Achlys grabs the head lady and pushes her away from me. I look at his actions. And he glances at me and sends me a signal to go. 

So he's not my brother. If he had been my brother like before, he wouldn't have done something like this. I still look at him without a blink.

"!!"

He is startled by my expression. He looks right back at me. 

"I'm sorry."

I quickly tell him softly and run away.

"What are you thinking!? Invited her here!?"

"It's none of your business."

"Don't fucking tell me you're still in love with that girl!?"

"..."

"Open your eyes, Achlys! Stop this nonsense. I always knew that you always have something for that girl. You never act or care about other sisters."

"Get to the point. What do you want? You came all the way here to my office?"

"Pft! You and your businesses are way out of hand. Stop it before it's too big to solve."

"Solve what?"

"Don't act stupid… Don't tell me you did all of these because of her!?"

"Then what?"

"You're foolish...Stop it if your father knows this."

"It's not about my father. It's about you...you want to take over all of his...so you are the one to stop. You should know when to retreat and accept the fact that you're losing the game."

"Heh-heh, I have tried so hard...Do you think I'm gonna stop here...I will not let you take down our business to the ground because of that girl...I took my time and effort to the plan. Catalina was dead, and her daughter was out of my life, and now you bring her back!?"

"What did you say?...What plan did you make for Zephyra's mother?"

"Haha. I poisoned her drinks...not one time, of course."

"Fuck you!!"

He shouts.

"Thug!!"

He pushes the head lady to the wall by using his arm.

"Haha, your temper is goner, eh, Achlys."

"What did you do!!?"

"My plan was to slowly kill her without any evidence that was attached to me. The doctor blamed her sickness, not the tea she drank every day."

"You! You're fucking crucial!! You killed her mother!!"

…

The head lady killed my mother…

She poisoned the drink for her to drink every day...

I am eavesdropping on their conversation. And I call myself back and run away from them, from this mansion.

"Arg!"

I slip down the stairs.

She killed my mother.

I run out to the gate door. 

"Master!"

Jodai, who is waiting for me outside, calls my name. I don't have time to care for another thing right now. I need to get out of here.

"Master!!"