Lumian was stunned to see the figure blocking his doorway. Instinctively, he hid the knitted teddy bear behind his back.
Standing before him was Evangeline, his little sister. The thirteen-year-old girl now had a glint of maturity in her clear grey eyes, her whitish-blonde hair flowing down—often making Lumian forget that Eva was no longer a child he could protect from everything.
"Morning," Lumian greeted, trying to normalize his voice which had caught in his throat.
"Morning, Brother! I thought you weren't up yet, so—" Eva stopped mid-sentence. Her curious eyes narrowed, catching the suspicious movement behind her brother's back. "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing," Lumian replied, striving for a flat tone.
A mischievous smile spread across Eva's lips. Her hands moved deftly, her fingers threatening to tickle. "I know you're hiding something. Come on, show me!"
Lumian slowly retreated, avoiding his sister's fingers as they threatened his vulnerable sides. "Eva, stop that!"
But Eva wasn't listening. After a brief moment of playful chasing in front of the door, Lumian finally let out a soft sigh. Slowly, from behind his back, emerged the knitted teddy bear with its patched-up body.
"This... is for you," he said, his voice flat yet hesitant. He stared at the bear for a moment, noticing every crooked stitch and imperfect patch. A feeling of inadequacy washed over him. "Sorry, it's not as nice as the dolls you used to have."
But before his worry could linger, Eva's small hands were already reaching for the gift. The look in her eyes—once full of laughter—instantly softened, touched by a deep emotion.
Eva stared at the bear, her eyes wide. She immediately accepted it and hugged the teddy bear tightly to her chest…
"You... you made this?" she pressed, her voice trembling with disbelief.
Lumian only gave a stiff nod, holding back the sudden surge of emotion clogging his chest.
"I love it, I absolutely love it!" Eva exclaimed, rubbing the bear against her flushed cheek. A wide smile spread across her face, brighter than the morning sun. "This... this is far more special than all the dolls I used to have." She looked deeply into her brother's eyes, her grey gaze shining with sincerity. "Thank you, Brother."
In that very instant, a smile-soft and warm-finally bloomed on Lumian's face, melting the last remnants of the nightmare's chill clinging to his heart. In that moment, all the sweat, the cold, and his needle-pricked fingers from the long night were fully repaid.
"Young Master, Princess, breakfast is ready," a hoarse yet gentle voice called from the direction of the dining table.
Auntie Maya, a middle-aged woman with neatly braided greying black hair, was setting the meal. Her braids, as usual, were still tidy even though a few grey strands had come loose-a remnant of the style she had maintained since she was her mother's lady-in-waiting, or more accurately, her mother's loyal servant. Her hands trembled slightly as they fumbled for a plate before finally grasping it with certainty.
Her eyesight is getting worse, Lumian thought, his chest tightening. The ever-present worry knocked on the door of his heart once more. She was the only trusted lady-in-waiting of his mother who had remained loyal, following them into exile, sacrificing her old age to care for two children not of her own blood.
"Auntie, let me help!" Eva said, still clutching her brother's gift tightly. Her footsteps made the wooden floor creak.
Lumian followed behind, helping to arrange the plates with practiced movements.
Once everything was ready, a bowl of clear soup awaited Lumian. He took a spoonful, but the broth tasted... bland. So bland that he unconsciously winced.
"Bland, isn't it?" asked Auntie Maya, who caught his expression. "Auntie ran out of salt, so I could only cook with what we have..." Her breath hitched slightly, a hint of guilt lacing her voice.
"It's fine, Auntie," Lumian countered quickly. I must go to the market today, his resolve strengthened. Not just for salt.
A silence fell for a moment, and Lumian felt the need to break it. Then, his gaze fell upon Eva, who was devouring her meal heartily, without a single complaint. A lesson in gratitude delivered directly from his sister.
"Don't worry, Auntie. Just look at Eva," Lumian said, his voice warm again with a faint smile.
"Huh?" Eva frowned, puzzled, her mouth still full of rice.
Auntie Maya smiled, as if she had been expecting such a response from Lumian.
"Just watching you eat makes this food taste delicious," Lumian continued, his smile widening for the first time that morning.
Eva choked lightly, then hit her brother's arm with feigned indignation. "Brother!"
Auntie Maya, watching from across the table, also chuckled, the wrinkles on her face smoothing momentarily. "The Young Master is right."
"Auntie, don't you start too!" Eva protested.
Lumian chuckled, enjoying his sister's pretend outrage.
Eva's cheeks grew redder. She cleared her throat quickly to change the subject. "I'm off today. You're off work too, right, Brother?"
Lumian chewed slowly before answering, his smile not yet faded. "Yes. But I plan to go to the market to buy some supplies." And... medicine for Auntie, he added in his heart.
"I'm coming!" Eva requested instantly, her grey eyes wide with hope.
"Coming?" Lumian's smile vanished instantly. The crowded city market, visited by merchants from all corners—including, however unlikely, from the kingdom they had fled years ago. If someone recognized them...
"No," he said shortly, his voice louder than he intended.
"Why?" Eva's face fell in surprise, her eyes welling up at his sharp refusal.
"You need to stay here and look after Auntie Maya," Lumian continued.
"Auntie can take care of herself," Auntie Maya interjected softly from across the table, as if in support. This made Lumian's spoon stop mid-air.
"You hear that?" Eva pressed her brother further.
Lumian bit his lip. Beside him, Eva stood with the grey eyes that held the sharp gaze inherited from their father, and the whitish-blonde hair—the last legacy from their mother. Every line of his sister's face was a reminder of all they had lost in their lives. Eva was the only treasure he had left, a treasure beyond value. Protecting her was Lumian's deepest instinct—an absolute fear of losing again. No! His soul rebelled at the mere thought of life without Eva. But was protecting her by confining her the right way?
"Brother..." Eva's voice broke the silence, suddenly soft yet full of conviction. Her eyes were glistening. "I'm not a little kid anymore. I can take care of myself. I... I will prove it to you. That way... you won't have to carry everything alone anymore."
That sentence struck Lumian right in the depths of his heart. He hadn't expected Eva to voice feelings so profound.
Eight years on the run—Lumian had desperately tried to fence off the last remnants of Eva's innocence, keeping her able to laugh and live her days without burden. For him, his sister's bright laughter was his source of strength, the reason to keep getting up and fighting every morning. But it turned out, behind the laughter and naivety he had preserved, Eva had grown. Not because she realized the dangers of the outside world, but because she understood the heavy burden… that he had been carrying alone all this time.
As he gazed into Eva's eyes, which no longer pleaded but stated her resolve with firmness, he realized— I have to introduce her to the world slowly… If I just keep her confined in this village and stunt her growth… his thoughts halted. That's selfish. I'm only thinking of myself. There will surely come a time when she has to face things on her own, and if I never teach her, it will be dangerous for her.
A smile spread across his lips, tasting bitter yet full of pride. Alright then… he murmured in his heart, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Finally, he decided, the tension in his shoulders slowly easing. "Alright, you can come," he whispered softly. Then he tried to lighten the mood again. "But finish your food down to the last grain of rice, or I'll leave without you." A hint of teasing crept into his tone.
Eva's eyes shone, accompanied by a firm nod—an acknowledgment that this wasn't just a simple outing, but the first step towards responsible freedom.
"Got it!" Eva replied, her face beaming with joy.
As Eva ate her breakfast with renewed vigor, Lumian watched her with mixed feelings—deep affection, undiminished worry, and a flicker of pride...
Is this decision of mine right? Lumian wondered inwardly, as if seeking confirmation from the brother who was no longer there.
…
The food was finished. With a well-practiced rhythm, they cleared the table together.
After everything was tidied up, Lumian turned towards his room. But he immediately realized—Eva was following close behind like a faithful shadow, entering the room uninvited, as if afraid this opportunity would vanish if she hesitated for even a second.
Seeing his sister's antics, Lumian could only shake his head with a soft smile tinged with emotion. From the simple wooden wardrobe that didn't even have a proper door, he pulled out two dark green cloaks. "Wear this," he said, tossing one towards Eva.
Eva caught it deftly, but her brow immediately furrowed. "Why do we have to wear cloaks?"
"Just a precaution," Lumian answered briefly. Those two words sounded ordinary, but behind them lay a mountain of worry and bitter, unspoken memories.
Eva nodded, though not fully understanding. For her, if her brother said so, it must be for the best.
After neatly arranging his own cloak, Lumian turned around and found his sister hadn't put hers on at all.
Huh? What is she doing?
Eva was busy examining the motionless Barnaby on the table. She traced the wooden soldier's body with her fingertips, following the wood grain smoothed by age. Her small fingers then began tapping the doll's head inquisitively, like knocking on the door of someone's bedroom. Lumian could hear Eva's faint whisper, as if reciting an incantation: "Barnaby… Barnaby…" her voice full of hope, as if the name was a magic word that could wake the doll.
Lumian's heart was tickled by his sister's behavior. Is this the same girl who just said "I'm not a little kid anymore"? he thought to himself.
"Brother, why isn't he alive?" she asked, still tapping. Her clear grey eyes looked at Lumian with an innocent expression that made his heart feel pinched.
Lumian sighed. He paused for a moment, searching for the right, digestible words. "He... needs a long rest," he finally said, trying to simplify the complex truth with a gentle metaphor.
Eva nodded slowly, accepting the explanation with a innocence now mixed with a glimmer of understanding.
"The name I gave him is good, isn't it?" she said again, as if needing her brother's approval.
Lumian, who was retrieving a pouch from under his bed, nodded. "Yes... Barnaby also told me he likes it very much."
"Really?" Eva cheered, her eyes sparkling.
Lumian nodded as he stood up. "By the way," he said, gently touching his sister's head, "Hurry up and put your cloak on before I change my mind."
…
With their cloaks now on, they stood at the front door. Eva clutched her woven shopping bag tightly, her face radiant with anticipation as if this was the greatest adventure of her life.
"Bye, Auntie!" Eva called out cheerfully.
"Be careful out there," said Auntie Maya, standing in the doorway, her gaze full of affection and anxiety.
Lumian only responded with a slight nod and a meaningful, thin smile.
They stepped out, descending the creaky wooden stairs that faithfully accompanied their every step—the regular accompaniment to every departure from their simple apartment.
"Eva," Lumian said, his voice soft yet laden with meaning. "Remember, at the market you must always stay by my side. Follow all my instructions without question. Understood?"
Eva nodded slowly, her face turning serious for a moment. To break the tension, she leaned her head briefly against her brother's arm and whispered, "Yes, my dear brother... I promise." A sweet smile spread across her face, trying to pierce through Lumian's wall of worry.
But Lumian remained firm. His expression didn't change—no returning smile, no warm blink. For him, Eva's safety was everything, surpassing comfort, momentary happiness, or the impression of being a warm brother.
They reached the apartment's main door. With a gentle push from Lumian, the heavy wooden door swung open slowly, emitting a long, drawn-out creak.
The bright morning sunlight greeted them, illuminating Lumian's face and accentuating the dark shadows and fine lines under his grey eyes—the marks of sleepless nights and unspoken burdens. He squinted, unaccustomed to such direct light.
With a reflexive movement, Lumian raised his cloak's collar, shrouding his face in shadow. He glanced at Eva, his sharp eyes sweeping over his sister's face. "Eva," he called, making a gesture. "Pull it up."
Eva nodded quickly, immediately raising her hood until almost her entire face was covered, leaving only a gap for her still-shining eyes.
Lumian observed her for a moment, ensuring not a single strand of blonde hair was visible. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.
I hope everything goes well…