chapter 6

I am Aurora of the Ravenhert family.

Once a prestigious house, now drowning in debt with no escape in sight. My life has been a cruel sequence of loss and misery. My father, the pillar of our family, took his own life when the weight of our burdens became too much. My mother followed soon after, consumed by grief. That left only my younger brother and me—until fate, ever merciless, decided to take even him away.

Zed, my precious little brother, fell victim to a tragic accident, leaving him in a deep slumber. The doctors told me he would never wake up. I was shattered beyond repair. The only thing keeping me alive was the flickering hope that perhaps—just perhaps—he would open his eyes again.

I prayed endlessly, begging the gods to take my life instead if it meant he could be saved.

Then, a miracle happened.

Zed woke up.

But he was not the same. He had no recollection of our past, of our family, of the tragedies that had shaped our lives. For a brief moment, I didn't know whether to cry or celebrate. But deep down, I felt relief. The painful memories that haunted me were now lost to him. He no longer carried the weight of our suffering.

Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.

The next morning, a sight shook me to my core—Zed had asked to be trained by sir jaeger .

The same boy who once shied away from swords, who ran from training, now sought strength.

I could hardly believe it.

Yet, amidst my confusion, there was a sense of comfort. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to change for the better.

But reality was not so kind.

Just as I allowed myself to hope, Greyrat arrived at our doorstep—a reminder that we were still far from salvation.

That night, he came for me.

He murdered my maid in cold blood and cornered me in my own chambers. His lecherous hands clawed at me, his foul breath thick with the stench of alcohol. I struggled, fought, but he was stronger. In my frantic attempt to escape, my dress tore, leaving me vulnerable. My body trembled as I shrank back, curling in on myself like a helpless creature trapped in a predator's grasp.

My mind was consumed with despair.

Why?

Why must I endure this? Why must I always suffer?

Would it end if I simply surrendered?

If I gave him what he wanted, would he leave me and my brother alone? Could we ever return to those days when we were just children without a care in the world?

For a fleeting moment, I wanted to give up.

But then—

The door burst open.

A deafening silence filled the room, broken only by Greyrat gasping in shock.

I turned, my blurred vision barely making out the towering figure standing in the doorway.

Sir Jaeger.

Greyrat stumbled away from me in fear, but before he could react further, another figure entered—Zed.

He stood there, bathed in moonlight, his golden eyes cold and unreadable. In one hand, he held a sword stained with fresh blood. In the other—a severed head.

With an effortless motion, he rolled it across the floor, stopping it at Greyrat's feet. The vile man recoiled, his body convulsing in terror as he collapsed to his knees, vomiting in sheer horror.

I barely had time to process it.

This was Zed—the same boy who once cried over scraped knees, who feared even holding a wooden sword.

And yet, standing before me was someone else entirely.

He walked towards me, his footsteps slow, measured, devoid of hesitation. Without a word, he pulled off his shirt and draped it over my trembling shoulders, shielding me from the cold and my own shame. His hands, warm despite the night's chill, briefly rested on mine.

"You're safe now, sister," he said, his voice gentle yet unwavering.

Safe.

I never thought I would hear that word again.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but before I could utter a single word—before I could let myself feel the relief that surged within me—

darkness consumed me.

The next thing I knew, it was morning.

Sunlight streamed through an unfamiliar window, warming my skin. My head throbbed, but the ache in my heart had lessened—if only slightly.

I sat up quickly, my pulse racing.

Where was Zed? Where was Sir Jaeger?

Throwing off the covers, I rushed out, finding a maid just outside my door. "Where is Zed? And Sir Jaeger?" I asked, my voice laced with urgency.

The maid bowed slightly. "Young Master Zed is in the dining hall, my lady. Sir Jaeger is still resting."

Relief washed over me as I made my way there.

When I entered, I found Zed sitting at the table, waiting patiently.

He looked up at me, his golden eyes bright, and smiled.

"Sister, come join me for breakfast."

I hesitated.

He was acting as if last night had been nothing more than a bad dream. Like the horrors that had unfolded were nothing more than shadows passing in the dark.

I sat down across from him as the maids served our food. Still, I couldn't shake my unease. I needed to know.

"Zed," I said cautiously, "what happened last night after I lost consciousness?"

Zed's expression remained gentle, unbothered.

"You don't need to worry about it, sister. I have taken care of everything. All you have to do now is sit and enjoy your food. Go on."

There was something reassuring in his voice—something unyielding. A part of me wanted to press further, but another part of me felt exhausted.

For once, I wanted to believe that things would be fine.

So, I nodded and picked up my fork.

As I took my first bite, Zed spoke again.

"Sister, thank you for holding on for so long. It must have been hard for you, but now you can rest. I will take care of the family."

The food halted in my throat.

Those words—those were the words I had yearned to hear for so long.

A strange, unfamiliar warmth bloomed inside me.

Was this… happiness?

Zed stood and walked around the table, placing a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm yet comforting.

"But you must do one thing for me, sister."

I met his gaze. "What is it?"

"Never bow to anyone. Not even the king. Never show weakness. Never falter before our enemies. You are our family's pride. If you waver, it will not look good..."

I was stunned.

Was this truly my brother?

His blue eyes burned with an intensity I had never seen before.

"From this day on, I swear to protect you and the Ravenhert family. Anyone who dares to hinder us will pay the price."

I couldn't help but smile, shaking my head slightly. "Alright, my brave, gallant knight. Now sit down and eat your breakfast."

Zed groaned in annoyance. "Sister, I was serious!"

I chuckled. "And your seriousness makes me laugh."

Zed exhaled, exasperated, but I caught the faintest glint of amusement in his blue gaze.

For the first time in years, the weight on my chest felt just a little lighter and it finally felt like home.

Just then, Sir Jaeger joined us.