The Knave frowned at the arguing crowd.
"Do you not see there are children here? They are the future of Snezhnaya. Don't frighten them."
Someone muttered under his breath, "He… he's from Liyue. He's not one of us."
"If he is in Snezhnaya, then he is one of our people."
The Knave stepped up to Kael, her expression softening into something gentle.
"Little one, what's your name?"
Kael lowered his head to hide the hatred burning in his eyes.
"Kael."
"Kael, you don't have to be afraid. I won't let anyone hurt you. From now on, I'll be the one taking care of you, alright?"
The others swallowed their fear and forced themselves to speak.
"Lady Harbinger, their family hasn't finished paying their debt… This brat must know something."
Her warm expression vanished instantly. A sharp, icy glare swept across the room.
"If you have business, come to my office tomorrow. I will repay the debt he owes."
If any other child had heard that, they would have fallen to their knees in gratitude.
But Kael knew all too well that this was simply how the Knave bought loyalty.
He lifted his eyes just enough to show a flicker of moved emotion.
"And my sister…?"
The Knave gently patted his head.
"We'll bring her too. I'll take both of you to the House of the Hearth. From today on, that will be your home."
"Alright."
Given the situation, Kael knew there was only one path he could take.
He had to go with her.
If it were just him, he could run. But Snezhnaya's climate was unforgiving, and his little sister was still an infant. Escaping with her was impossible.
Besides… the House of the Hearth was where the Fatui raised children into useful tools.
Maybe he could use this opportunity to slip inside the Fatui itself, then look for a way forward.
Kael went upstairs to pack for himself and his sister.
Katarina followed right behind him.
"Kael, that woman… she feels wrong. There's so much resentment coming off her. She must have killed a lot of people. She's not a good person. Don't go with her!"
"I know."
He lowered his voice.
"But right now, we don't have a choice. My sister and I can't survive in Snezhnaya on our own… and she's the only one who can keep us alive for now."
Katarina opened her mouth again, but Kael stopped her.
"That's enough, Katarina. Don't worry. I'll survive. Stay here… I'll find a way to come back and visit you."
Katarina bit her lip.
If only she were human. Then she could follow him wherever he went.
But as a ghost, she was bound to this house. Leaving it would weaken her until she faded.
She looked at him, sadness tightening her voice.
"Kael, you have to stay alive."
"Don't worry. I will."
This time, even if he died in this simulated life, he wouldn't let the Fatui walk away unscathed.
Especially the one responsible for his parents' deaths.
The Knave was waiting in the living room. By the time Kael came downstairs with his sister in his arms, the earlier intruders had already left.
He approached the Harbinger.
"Lady, I'm ready."
"Good."
The Knave took the luggage from his hands and led him out of the house that had once been filled with laughter.
The House of the Hearth appeared on the surface to be a welfare home for Snezhnaya's orphans.
Inside, though, children were renamed, reshaped, and trained for the Fatui.
Soon after arriving, Kael and his sister were given new names.
Boys received the surname Snezhevich.
Girls received the surname Snezhevna.
The Knave selected a name that suited Snezhnayan culture for him.
Kael Snezhevich.
A large, muscular boy walked up to Kael, eyes openly hostile.
"You carry that little baby around all day like some woman. Don't tell me you've got milk in there?"
A chorus of laughter erupted around them.
"Yeah! Let's strip his shirt and find out! Maybe he really does have milk!"
Despite its appearance as a peaceful orphanage, every child here underwent strict daily training.
When they grew up, they would join the Fatui and serve one of the Eleven Harbingers.
The children of the House of the Hearth were the Fatui's reserve army.
The boys and girls lived and trained separately. When Kael first arrived, the Knave had suggested taking his sister to the caretakers responsible for the Snezhevna girls.
But Kael refused.
The only reason he agreed to come here at all was to keep his sister alive.
He would never let her be taken away.
Naturally, the children of the House of the Hearth disliked him from the moment he stepped inside.
To them, he was clearly an outsider.
Why should an outsider enter this place?
Worse, he had been brought personally by the Knave.
She didn't even let the normal staff give him a name.
That kind of treatment was something no one else in the building had ever received.
What made this foreign boy so special?
And seeing him cling protectively to his sister only fueled their jealousy.
He had family. He still had someone who cared for him.
Most of them had lost everything.
Their resentment flared instantly.
One of the boys reached out, trying to grab the infant from Kael's arms.