Shadows of Envy

The down painted the sky in soft pinks as Elios out of his modest home, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His heart swelled with quite satisfaction, warmed by the sight of his wife, Mira, and their son, Kayden, standing at the door. Kayden's small face crumpled with a childish pout, his eyes glistening with the ache of his father's departure. "papa, stay and play," he'd whispered earlier, tugging at Elios's sleeve. Mira's gentle smile held a trace of sadness, as if she, too, wished to keep him close. They are love was tether, grounding him, and IT fueled his resolve to work harder, to curve out a better life for them.

Elios's journey took him to the edge of town, where the sterling mansion stood like a jewel beside a serene lake. Willow trees draped their branches over the water, there leaf's brushing the surface in whispering dance. The mansion's White stone walls gleamed in the morning light, its towering windows reflected the world in shimmering fragments. Passerby often paused, struck by its grandeur, as if the building itself demanded reverence.

As Elios crossed the iron gates, a sharp voice cut through the air. " You bastard! How long does it take you to get here? Hurry up and water the flowers!" Winnie, the head maid, stood with her hands on her hips, her tone as biting as the morning chill. Her stern facade, however, didn't fool Elios. Beneath her gruff exterior beat the kindest heart in the mansion. A grin spread across his face, and he snapped a playful salute. "yes, madam!"

Winnie lips twitched, a fleeting smile betraying her amusement." Stop grinning like a fool and get ready to work," she huffed, turning on her heel and vanishing into the mansion. Elios chuckled, his spirits light as he headed to the servant room beside the main house. He traded his worn jacket for the crisp black and white uniform, its familiarity settling over him like a second skin.

Bucket in his hand, Elios drew water from the small artificial pond near the mansion's entrance, its surface rippling under the weight of his dipper. He moved among the flowerbeds, pouring water with care, his thoughts drifting back to Kayden's pleading eyes and Mira's slightly saddened face. His body was here, but his soul lingered at home, wrapped in the warmth of his family.

From the balcony above, Clara watched him. Her dark eyes narrowed, her fingers tightening on the railing. Elios's smile unguarded, radiant - stirred something bitter in her chest. His contentment, his simple joy, felt like an affront. Why did he, a mere servant, possess such happiness when her own heart gnawed at itself, consumed by envy? She stood motionless, her gaze sharp enough to pierce , as if she could unravel his peace with a look.

A sudden crash from the within the mansion - plates shattering on the floor - snapped Clara out of her trance. A maid's flustered apologies echoed, and Clara's tightened. She retreated inside, her thoughts a tangle of resentment.

Moment later, she emerged again, transformed. Her gown , a cascade of emerald silk, shimmered as she moved, her auburn hair swept into an elegant knot. She looked every inch the noblewoman, her beauty a carefully crafted weapon. descending the stone steps, she approached Elios, who was now shaping the hedges with precise snips of shears. his focus was absolute, his hands steady, as if the plants were an extension of his care for the world.

Clara stopped behind him, her shadow falling over the clipped leaves. "Elios," she said, her voice smooth as velvet, laced with politeness that felt deliberate. " if you don't mind, may I have a moment?"

Elios froze, the unfamiliar voice catching him off-guard. he turned slowly, his breath hitching as his eyes landed on Clara, the mistress of sterling mansion, standing mere steps away. her sudden presence struck him like a thunderbolt - she had left town two years ago, vanishing without a word, and no whisper of her return had reached him. yet here she was, her emerald gown shimmering in the sunlight, her gaze sharp and unreadable.

coming his senses, Elios met Clara's gaze. A faint smile curved her lips, but her eyes burned with a cold resentment, a flicker of envy that seemed to pierce straight through him. her fists were subtly clenched, betraying the tension she tried to conceal. her intentions lurked like a shadow, coiled and ready to engulf Elios at the slightest misstep.

A moment later, Elios managed to hesitant smile, a flicker of nervousness crossing his face. he rubbed the back of his head, unsure of how to proceed, and spoke with a deferential tone. "of course, my lady. what do you wish of me? I'm... I'm at your command."

Clara's lips curled into a fleeting smirk, her eyes glinting with unspoken intent. she gestured toward the lake, her movements fluid and graceful, yet each step carried a deliberate weight, as if laced with the hidden purpose. "Walk with me," she said, her voice soft but edged with an authority that brooked no refusal.

Elios's instinct was to protest - he had duties waiting- but Clara's authority as the mansion's mistress left no room for refusal. silently, he fell into step behind her, his heart uneasy. due to sudden call from Clara. as they moved away from the mansion, the air thickened with unspoken menace. Clara's envy, like a shadow were following along with them grinning.

As Elios followed Clara toward the lake, his thoughts drifted to home.

at the modest home Elios left behind, Mira swept through the rooms, her broom battling an endless tide of dust. "curse it," she muttered herself, a wry smile tugging at her lips, "the moment I clean, the dust creeps back, stubborn as ever." her hands moved with practiced rhythm, but her mind wandered, tethered to thoughts of Elios and his long hours at the mansion.

as she were cleaning. A sudden burst of energy interrupted her reverie. Kayden bounded into the room, his eyes sparkling like a stars, clutching a sketchbook. "mama, look!" he exclaimed, thrusting the page toward her. "see what I drew!"

Mira set the broom aside and took the sketchbook, her breath catching as her eyes fell on the portrait. it depicted a man of unearthly beauty - sharp cheekbones, eyes that seemed to hold secrets, and a presence that radiated from the page. even Mira, a seasoned artist, felt a pang of awe. the lines were bold yet delicate, as if the figure had leapt from Kayden's mind fully formed.

"who is he?" she asked, her voice soft as she studied the portrait, tracing its contours with her gaze. 

Kayden shrugged, his enthusiasm undimmed. "I don't know. I was sitting under the tree out back, trying to think of something to draw, and this face just.... appeared in my head. it was so clear, mama, like he was standing right in front of me, and my pencil knew exactly what to do." his words spilled out, alive with wonder. "so, what do you think? is it good?"

Mira met his eager gaze, her expression briefly serious. then, with a deliberate flourish, she raised her thumb, in their secret gesture of approval. it was their ritual, a silent code to shield Kayden's passion for drawing from discouragement. words could wound, but a thumbs up kept his spark alive. for Mira, nurturing his art was more than encouragement - it was a refuge for Kayden, a way to drown out the strange whispers that plagued him, whispers no one else could hear. she couldn't bear the thought of her son being mocked or shunned for something beyond his control, treated as different from other children.

she ruffled his hair, her smile warm but shadowed by a quiet resolve. "keep drawing, my love," she said, handing back the sketchbook. but as Kayden beamed and scampered off, Mira's eyes lingered on the portrait, a faint unease stirring in her chest. the face felt too real, too alive, as if it carried a story yet to unfold.

Elios and Clara reached the lake's edge, where the water shimmered like liquid silver under the rays of sunlight that coming through clouds. Willow wept over the surface, their branches swaying in a gentle breeze. Clara lowered herself onto the grass, her emerald gown pooling around her, while Elios stood nearby, shifting uneasily. his eyes softened with concern as he spoke. "my lady, if I may, shall I fetch a chair for you?"

Clara paused, her gaze fixed on the lake, her expression unreadable. "no need," she said, her voice low and tinged with an odd gravity. "sit with me. I don't mind." her words carried a weight that belied their courtesy, and she avoided his eyes, her profile sharp against the serene backdrop.

Elios hesitated, studying her a fleeting moment. with a quiet hum, he settled onto the grass beside her, saying nothing. they both gazed at the tranquil lake, lost in the stillness, though the air between them thrummed with unspoken tension.

"where is Ethan?" Clara's question sliced through the silence, abrupt and pointed.

Elios's heart stuttered, a flicker of fear gripping him. would a wrong word cost him his place at the mansion? Clara's eyes remained on the lake, her face caressed by the breeze, betraying nothing. "I said, where is Ethan?" she repeated, her tone hardening into a command.

"w-well," Elios stammered, startled by her intensity. "he... he went to Ember light, the capital, to pursue his dreams. his career." his voice steadied as he spoke, though his pulse raced.

Clara tossed a pebble into the lake, its ripples shattering the glassy surface. "and his martial status?" she asked, her voice deceptively casual. "did he marry before leaving Willow bridge?"

Elios's brow furrowed, a spark of confusion igniting. Why was she so curious about my brother? what tied her to Ethan? he cleared his throat, choosing his words carefully. "yes, he married huixin, a woman from the east lands. she came to Willow bridge to see its beauty. and they met by chance. it was... like fate. they fell in love instantly, married two years before I did, and moved to the capital, they have a daughter now, nine years old."

as he spoke, memories of Ethan flooded back - shared laughter, boyhood adventures, the bittersweet farewell when his brother left. Elios's voice softened, warmed by the recollection, unaware of the shadow deepening in Clara's eyes. While she clenching her fist slightly.