The Vistro family's main house was an architectural marvel. It was a huge monument of white marble and gold, showing they'd been big names in the Luminaris Kingdom for ages. Unlike the Exile part, which felt like it was dug out of the damp ground, the main rooms were full of light and smelled like fancy perfumes from and old cedar.
In one of the most spacious suites of the East Wing, the atmosphere was calm, but in a fake way. Sara Vistro, the eldest daughter of the Marquis, sat before a large mirror at the end of the room. Her long, dark brown hair was being brushed by Kristi, her personal maid and a woman who had been by her side since childhood.
"Your hair is a gift, my lady," Kristi said softly, the brushing sounded like a quiet song. "Even the silk sellers in Vaeloria would be jealous. It looks amazing today."
Sara smiled a little in the mirror. Unlike her father or her half-brother Damian, Sara did not carry herself with the sharp edges of noble entitlement. She was the kind of person who remembered the names of the stable-hands' children and ensured that the elderly servants were given lighter duties. To her, the staff were not mere furniture of the estate, but living, real people.
"You're sweet, Kristi," Sara said. "It is just hair. But I appreciate the care you take with it. I know I can be a bit restless during these sessions."
It's my pleasure, my lady, Kristi said, laughing a bit. "And it is a necessary care. After all, the Fourth Royal Prince will surely be captivated. They say he is a man of refined tastes, and he would be glad he's marrying someone of such grace and beauty. To have a Vistro as a bride is a prize that even the King must envy."
Hearing about the marriage was like a cold slap. Sara didn't freak out. She was too well-behaved for that. But her eyes went dim. Her shoulders, which were usually straight, dropped a little.
Kristi stopped, the brush in the air. She bit her lip, knowing she messed up. "My lady... I apologize. I spoke out of turn. I did not mean to—"
"It's okay, Kristi," Sara said softly, but she sounded sad. She looked at her hands in her lap. "It is the reality of my life. As the first child of this house, it is my duty to uphold the Vistro name and increase its standing within the seven kingdoms. My father has made his wishes clear, and a daughter of a Marquis must understand the weight of her lineage. Personal feelings are... luxuries that people like us cannot afford."
In the context of the Vistro family, Sara was a full sibling of Edward, sharing the same mother and father. Unlike Damian, who was their half-sibling and got their father's coldness, Sara felt she needed to protect her younger brother.
The conversation was interrupted by a sharp, hurried knock at the door. Another maid, breathless and pale, entered the room and performed a customary bow before rushing to Kristi's side. The two servants engaged in an inaudible gossip, their eyes darting occasionally toward Sara. The second maid bowed again and fled the room as quickly as she had arrived.
After that, Kristi resumed the brushing, but her movements were now jerky, lacking their previous grace. The silence in the room had changed after the second maid left.
"What is it, Kristi?" Sara asked, looking at the maid in the mirror. "Your hands are shaking."
Kristi swallowed, "My lady... you may not like what I am about to say. It is... it is concerning your brother, Master Edward."
Sara's heart skipped a beat. "Edward? Has something happened to him? Is he ill?"
"No, my lady," Kristi said, her words tumbling out in a rush. "The news is spreading through the kitchens. They say... they say Master Edward just severely injured Master Damian in a violent altercation in the garden. He apparently used a strength no one knew he possessed. The Lord is outraged, he has summoned the third child to his office immediately for judgment."
Sara stood up so abruptly that the chair scraped harshly against the floor. "Injured Damian? Edward?"
She was shocked. She couldn't imagine the quiet, timid boy she visited in the annex with the thought of him committing an act of such violence. Edward didn't have mana or training. How could he possibly harm Damian, who was already approaching the middle stage of the Apprentice Rank?
"This cannot be right," Sara said, her mind spinning. "There must be a mistake. Edward wouldn't... he couldn't."
Without waiting for Kristi, Sara grabbed her dress and ran out. She ran through the hallways to her father's office.
**********
By the time she got to the heavy doors of her father's study, Sara was out of breath. She didn't wait for the guards. She pushed past them, caring more about Edward than being a good daughter.
Inside, the room was dark, with old books and war stuff on the walls. Lord Vistro stood at the window, his back to her, his shape dark against the sky. The air felt cold.
"Father," Sara gasped, stepping into the room. "Tell me it isn't true. The servants are saying Edward attacked Damian."
The Marquis did not turn around immediately. He remained still . "It is true, Sara. Your brother has revealed a side of himself that is as unexpected as it is... problematic."
"Damian is a 3rd Circle mage!" Sara cried, moving closer. "How could Edward possibly injure him? Was it an accident? Did Damian provoke him?"
"It wasn't an accident," the Marquis said, turning around. "Edward displayed a level of physical control and cold-blooded intent that should be impossible for a child of his standing. He has humiliated the heir of this house and defied my direct summons at the door of my own study."
"He is just a boy, Father!" Sara's voice broke. "He has been isolated in that annex for years. If he lashed out, it was because he was pushed! Please, you cannot judge him too harshly. He is your son."
"He is a Vistro," the Marquis corrected. "And a Vistro who cannot control his impulses is a liability. More importantly, a Vistro who thinks he can challenge the hierarchy of this house must be taught the reality of his position."
"What are you going to do?" Sara asked, scared. "You're not going to hurt him, are you?"
The Marquis looked at her. He didn't say anything about the solitary confinement which was the abyssal cells, but he hinted towards it.
"He needs to reflect," the Marquis said. "He needs to know that power without control is nothing. I'm sending him somewhere quiet, where he can think about what he did without being bothered. He will be alone until I say he can come back."
"For how long?"
"As long as is necessary, Sara. Now, return to your rooms. You have a marriage to prepare for, and I will not have your reputation tarnished by the antics of a wayward brother."
Sara looked at her father, feeling bad. She knew that alone time was never good in this house, but she didn't know how bad it really was. She turned to leave, thinking about how to find him.