Chapter 29 - Fragments of the Past

The warmth of Evelyn's embrace lingered even after she pulled away.

Lucien remained still, his body rigid as if processing an unfamiliar sensation. He had fought countless battles, seen men fall before him without a shred of hesitation—but this? The simple warmth of another person holding onto him? It was foreign.

Evelyn quickly realized what she had done and stepped back, face flushed. "S-Sorry… I just—"

Lucien didn't react immediately. He simply watched her with unreadable eyes. Something inside him had shifted, though he wasn't sure what it was yet.

---

The atmosphere was slightly awkward but not uncomfortable.

They had breakfast together, the sound of rain lightly tapping against the windows. Evelyn stole occasional glances at Lucien, wondering what was going through his mind.

Lucien, however, was quieter than usual.

Eventually, Evelyn couldn't hold back her curiosity anymore.

"So… you really don't remember anything about your parents?"

Lucien's gaze remained on his plate, his voice calm but empty. "No. If they ever existed, they're nothing but shadows in my mind."

Evelyn's chest tightened at the cold detachment in his tone.

---

Lucien's First Memory

For the first time in years, a memory surfaced in Lucien's mind—one clearer than the rest.

A war-torn city. Buildings reduced to rubble. The air thick with smoke and the stench of death.

And in the middle of it all, a young boy walked alone.

He had no name. No past. No sense of fear.

Then, a shadow loomed over him.

A man stood before him, tall and imposing. His voice was deep, almost cautious.

"You're still alive?"

The boy didn't flinch. He simply looked up, his golden eyes unblinking.

Not with fear. But with excitement.

---

Lucien was taken to a facility—a hidden orphanage run by a secret organization.

The other boys there were trained mercilessly. Failure meant punishment. Weakness meant disappearance.

But Lucien?

He wasn't forced to train. He wanted to.

While the other children struggled, he thrived. The pain, the discipline, the endless combat drills—it exhilarated him.

At the age of 11, he was already being sent on life-threatening missions.

And the man who found him that day? He became his teacher. The one who molded him into what he was today.

---

Back to Reality

Evelyn noticed something in Lucien's expression had changed.

"Lucien…?"

He blinked and shook his head. "It's nothing."

Evelyn frowned. She knew that was a lie—but she didn't push.

Instead, she turned to the window, watching the raindrops race down the glass.

"Do you ever wonder… what life would be like if things had been different?"** she asked softly.**

Lucien exhaled. "I don't waste time thinking about things I can't change."

Evelyn sighed, but in her heart, she wished he would.

Because now, she was starting to see him differently.

---

The sound of rain echoed in Lucien's ears. And suddenly, another memory flickered in his mind.

A woman's voice.

Gentle. Warm. Calling his name.

"Lucien… don't forget… you are loved."

He remembered hands—soft and comforting—pulling him into an embrace.

But the face?

It was blurred. Fading. Just out of reach.

Lucien's fingers clenched around his wrist.

Who was she?

Was she real?

Or just another illusion in the fragments of his past?

---

End of Chapter 29.