Three years had passed since that birth that paralyzed the Amatsu family.
The birth of the firstborn of Lumiére and Dorian had become a topic of conversation throughout the entire empire. However, to the outside world, the Amatsu family remained one of the most influential and powerful, and the child's condition had been concealed by the empire itself.
The child was given the name Reo Amatsu, a name decided even before his birth.
During those three years, he lived isolated in a single room, cut off from everyone, with the sole exception of Kanna. She had met with her lady to inform her that a guard had handed the child over to her.
A well-constructed lie.
Days later, that guard was found dead in a remote area. The official conclusion was suicide.The reason? To everyone, it was obvious: the child he had carried in his arms.
There were no questions or doubts when Kanna asked to take charge of Reo's care. His mother accepted without a second thought.
'Now we wait…,' Kanna reflected after fulfilling her task.
From a very young age, she devoted herself to teaching him how to read and write. It was a difficult task, but the child managed to master it by the time he turned three.
Reo was a normal child: curious, active, and full of energy. When he learned how to speak, phrases like "Why can't I go outside?" or "I want to see my mother" became common.
Normal questions for an infant who did not understand why he had to spend his days locked away, seeing only Kanna.
The only answers he received were, "You can't," or "The lady is busy." At first, he accepted them, but over time they stopped convincing him.
◇ ◇ ◇
'I'm bored… I wish I could go out and see Mom.'Those were the thoughts of a bored Reo.
He was sitting on one of the few chairs in the room, surrounded by books, while Kanna watched him. Her expression was the same as always: a cold gaze that made anyone uncomfortable.
Since she had taken on the role of the child's (mother), the staff avoided approaching her. They feared attracting something. She couldn't care less; she had never had any bonds with them.
She looked at the boy beside her and slightly tilted her head.
"Today, your sister Himari turns three," she suddenly mentioned.
Reo, who had been reading, lifted his gaze and set the book aside. His eyes shone with excitement.
"Yes, I know. Will she have a birthday party?" he said, then asked.
Kanna nodded her head. The child's excitement grew—something only she could notice.
"It would be amazing to have a birthday party!" he exclaimed, before falling silent.
She was the one who had explained to him what a party was. Despite wanting to attend one, he had never been given permission.
"I turned four a few months ago… and I didn't have a party like my little sister. I want to meet her…," he murmured dejectedly.
"Hmm…," Kanna exhaled as she stretched her arms."You know you can't. Finish reading those books, and when I come back, I'll explain it better."
She stood up and left the room. It was Himari's birthday, and most of the servants would be busy.
About thirty minutes passed after Kanna left.
Reo tried to focus, but anxiety wouldn't let him.
'I wish I could go.'
He looked at the door. He knew there were no guards or staff nearby. No one would notice.
He jumped up and approached it. He hesitated for a moment. Then he sighed and opened it.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Kanna was right, there's no one around here," he murmured as he stopped in a hallway that split into three paths.
He looked both ways and continued forward, quickening his pace. At the end, the path split once more.
There was nothing to the left.
To the right, he saw a girl in the distance. She was smaller than him and wore a white dress that highlighted her bicolored hair.
"Is that her…?" he whispered.
Kanna had told him that his sister had two different colors in her hair.
'She looks scared.'
Without thinking, he ran toward her with a wide smile.
The girl didn't notice him until she felt a strange presence. Her body froze instantly.
"Heeey! Don't worry, I'm coming," Reo shouted.
Himari looked at him in fear. Her blue eyes opened wide. She trembled, tears forming, unable to move.
When Reo reached her, the girl tripped as she tried to flee.
"Careful!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hand.
But he couldn't hold her, and both of them fell to the ground.
'Ow… that hurt.'
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.
Then he heard heavy footsteps.
Before he could react, a large man shoved him hard, slamming him into the ground. Pain shot through his back.
He wanted to protest, but he saw his sister crying. A familiar liquid seeped from beneath her dress.
"Th-this… I—?"
He didn't finish. The man grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up.
"S-sir…?" Reo said in fear.
"What are you doing here? Didn't you learn not to leave that room?" the man demanded furiously.
Reo froze.
He heard hurried footsteps behind him.
"My apologies, Dorian-sama. I believed I had made it clear to young Reo-sama that he must not leave under any circumstances."
It was Kanna.
Her tone was formal, unlike usual.
Upon hearing the name, a thought crossed Reo's mind:'Is this man… my father?'
Kanna was punished for failing to restrain him, but since it was Himari's birthday, she quickly left so the girl could be changed.
Reo remained silent, his gaze dull. He didn't dare look at Kanna.
"We will talk about this in the room," she declared, her tone colder than usual.