Lyssander legacy

As Mireyna walked out of the restaurant alongside her grandmother and grandfather, two bodyguards followed closely behind them. The late afternoon sun bathed the kokishibu village road in gold, and just then, her phone buzzed unexpectedly in her pocket.

Startled, she paused and pulled it out.

Her grandfather turned toward her, brows gently furrowed.

"My dear, what was that sound?"

Mireyna blinked. "Oh… there's a signal here? I didn't think we'd have any reception in this village. It's a call from Mama." She glanced up. "You two go on ahead. I'll answer this real quick."

Her grandmother smiled warmly. "We're planning to visit the Hiroshi family down the road. Why don't you and your guards stroll around the village for a bit? Maybe play with the children or take in the sights? We'll be just fine."

Mireyna hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure? I'm a little worried about your safety…"

Her grandmother chuckled softly, the sound light like wind chimes. "Don't be. We've lived in this village for decades, darling. Nothing ever happens here."

Still unsure, Mireyna turned to her guards,identical twins dressed in black montsuki-style robes. The only way to tell them apart was the thin scar slashing across the right eye of one. Kai, the younger-looking one with a clean face, stood to her left. Kae, the one with the scar, stood slightly behind.

Mireyna pointed softly. "Kai, please go with obāchan and ojīchan. Just in case. Kae will stay with me. This won't take long."

With a silent bow, Kai stepped forward and followed the elderly couple as they made their way down the path, the hem of their garments brushing against the earth with each step.

Mireyna raised the phone to her ear. The call connected—and almost instantly, her mother's voice burst through the speaker in a breathless wave of concern.

"Little Nana, my sweet girl, are you okay? How's the village? Are you eating well? I know there's barely any reception out there—you must be boiling in the heat! I'm so worried about you."

Mireyna tried to respond, but her mother didn't pause.

"You forgot your morning vitamins again, didn't you? Did you even bring them? What about your sunscreen? Oh my god, no Wi-Fi? How are you even surviving without Wi-Fi?!"

She let out a dramatic sigh on the other end.

"Did you pack your power bank? The digital mini air-conditioner? The small fan I put in your bag? What if you get a scratch? I told Kai and Kae to carry the full first aid kit. All the medicine is there—if you feel even slightly unwell, you tell them, okay?"

There was a brief pause. Her voice softened.

"Little Nana… Mama worries about you. So, so much."

Mireyna smiled faintly, her fingers tightening around the phone.

"Mama, don't worry… I'm okay, really. The power bank's fully charged, and surprisingly, there are power sockets here too—it's not as old-fashioned as before. Everything's complete. Actually… it's pretty cold at night, so the mini aircon and the fan aren't even necessary."

But her calm explanation didn't stop the flood of concern.

"Vitamin?! Did you take your vitamins? Are you drinking enough water?" her mother exclaimed. "Oh no—there's no filtered water there, is there? How are you getting proper nutrients? The water must be filthy..oh my god!"

"Mama…" Mireyna gently interrupted, trying her best to soothe her. "I didn't take the vitamins because… well, every morning, Ojīchan makes me tea. It's herbal and really rich in nutrients. Honestly, I think it's even healthier than the vitamins you bought me. And the water here—it's boiled before drinking, so it's totally safe."

For a heartbeat, there was silence. Then her mother's voice returned, slightly sharper.

"You're listening to that old fossil again, aren't you? That tea nonsense—don't be ridiculous! Modern medicine is scientifically proven. Those dusty old leaves can't replace real supplements!"

Mireyna flinched slightly but stayed quiet as her mother went on.

"And don't even get me started on that boiled water! Without proper filtration, it's just hot bacteria soup! Honestly, if I didn't have to stay in Las Vegas with your father, I'd have flown there and dragged you home myself!"

Mireyna lowered her eyes, clutching the phone tighter. She was never the kind of girl who talked back to her parents. She respected them deeply—especially her mother. But the words just now… they hurt. Deeply.

Taking a soft breath, she spoke, her voice trembling slightly, yet calm.

"Mama… I don't want to speak harshly. I never do. But… I don't think you should say those things about Ojīchan. He's the one who makes me smile here. Without him, I'd be so lonely."

There was a pause. Mireyna continued, her tone turning gentler—but the pain was still there.

"Ojīchan… he's Papa's father. Is it wrong for me to be close to my own grandfather? I know you don't like them, Mama, but… the blood that runs through me is theirs too. It's Tokushiro blood. That's a part of who I am."

On the other end, her mother went quiet for a second—then replied, stunned, and a little sharp.

"Little Nana… what are you even saying? Tokushiro, Tokushiro—that's all you ever talk about lately!"

She exhaled sharply.

"You should be proud of your Lyssander heritage. We are direct descendants of House Lyssander, a noble bloodline that has served the Crown in Florence for generations! Your Nonno Vittorio was the Duke of San Fioresco, and your great-grandfather sat on the High Council of Nobles! That is your legacy—elegance, diplomacy, power."

There was a sting in her voice now.

"And you're choosing to admire your father's side? That dusty old clan hidden away in the mountains—clinging to paper charms and boiled herbs? Even your father tries to distance himself from the Tokushiro name. Why can't you see that?"

Even so, a quiet ache tugged at Mireyna's heart.

She knew—her mother wasn't wrong. The Lyssander name carried weight. Her maternal lineage was noble, prestigious, and deeply rooted in European history. But to her, those things had never been what truly mattered. Status, power, titles… none of it could replace the warmth of real family. The kind that welcomed you with open arms—not cold expectations.

She remembered the visits to Italy. The family estate still stood, untouched by time, in the hills outside Florence. A grand ancestral manor—more like a palace than a house. Tall, arched windows. Marble columns. Velvet drapes and gilded chandeliers. Along the hallways, countless oil portraits lined the walls—generations of Lyssanders, dressed in formal garments, eyes proud, posture regal. Some had the look of minor royalty, others of military generals and noblewomen. It was a home soaked in history, heavy with legacy.

She thought of her cousin—one who had always stood out among the rest. Graceful. Perfect. Untouchable.

Her name is Isabella Fiorella Lyssander.

A name that carried elegance like it was woven into her very soul.

Isabella Fiorella Lyssander was the daughter of the eldest son of the Lyssander family—Marco Valerio Lyssander, Mireyna's uncle or as they said in Italian, her Zio Marco.

Zio Marco was a man of commanding presence, bearing both the authority and refinement expected of the Lyssander heir. He had two children—Alessandro Lucien Lyssander, the eldest, and Isabella, the rose of the family. These two siblings were considered the most distinguished among all the Lyssander cousins.

Alessandro and Isabella were gifted in every way—fluent in ten languages, trained in classical music and horseback riding since childhood. But what truly set them apart was their precision and grace in archery. Whether on foot or riding at full gallop, both siblings could shoot a moving target without breaking composure. It was a skill passed down through generations, once practiced by their noble ancestors during ceremonial hunts. Among the Lyssanders, this talent was more than a sport—it was tradition, elegance, and discipline in motion.

With golden blonde hair, porcelain skin, and regal bearing, the two siblings embodied everything the Lyssander name stood for—legacy, refinement, and quiet strength.

Their father, Marco, was the eldest among five siblings in the Lyssander bloodline:

Anne Lyssander — Mireyna's mother

Rochelle Lyssander - Mireyna's aunt

Lucas Lyssander - Mireyna's uncle

Ferdinand Lyssander — the youngest uncle