You might be curious about how Xyriel evolved into the person he is today. Shy and unpredictable, yet full of kindness in his heart.
...
"Xyxy, my sweet baby," Xyriel's mother called out, extending his hands to reach for him.
With a warm smile, Xyriel's mother gently picked him up, cradling him in his arms.
At that time, Xyriel was still a delicate infant, reliant on his parents for care and support. He needed someone to feed him, change his diapers, and look after him.
With a gentle sway, his mother cradled him, softly singing a lullaby in his ears.
"Hush, little baby, don't be scared~" his mother sang.
Xyriel felt joy in being cradled and sung to. He didn't understand why his mother did it; all he knew was that he was loved.
To provide some context, a certain individual was present in their mansion. Xyriel's father and the guest were in the adjacent room, locked in an argument, exchanging words that were not meant for infants or young children to hear.
Though his mother heard it all, Xyriel remained oblivious to the conflict. After all, he was still just a baby, unaware of the complexities around him.
"I hope you grow up differently from all those wicked relatives of yours!" His mother exclaimed, lifting Xyriel high up. "May you prosper and become a kind, intelligent, and handsome young man like me!" He giggled, twirling around and making Xyriel laugh.
"I will always love you, my sweet little angel," his mother declared, holding him tightly in his arms.
Fast forward, Xyriel turned ten. As time went on, he began to develop a sense of awareness. Xyriel was a bright child; one could even discern that he was a prodigy from the way he read complex books and quickly absorbed what his teachers taught him.
As he grew, he came to learn more about the family dispute that had been ongoing for a long time.
Observing his parents' desire for him to stay uninvolved, given his tender age, Xyriel obediently absorbed their words, without questioning or harboring doubts. He maintained an unwavering faith that the conflicts would be resolved by the adults.
His conviction in the seamless resolution of matters was unshakable, a belief he held firmly based on the harmony that had prevailed in the preceding years.
However, it wasn't long before his convictions crumbled, much like delicate glass shattering upon impact with the ground, leaving behind a tumultuous mess.
Xyriel's parents had ventured to the outskirts of the kingdom. They bid farewell to Xyriel, explaining that they had to journey beyond the borders to settle a dispute, and that they would be away for a couple of days.
With a warm hug for each of them, Xyriel waved goodbye, a broad smile lighting up his face. He wanted to convey that he was a big boy and didn't want them to worry.
Xyriel's day proceeded as usual, his patience intact as he eagerly awaited his parents' return.
He waited day and night, praying for their safe return. It had been a week since they departed, leaving poor Xyriel all alone in the vast mansion, with only the maids and butlers to care for him.
As Xyriel waited by the door after his tutoring session, a knock echoed – an unusual occurrence at the hour he typically awaited. He eagerly swung open the door, anticipating his parents' arrival, only to be met with unfamiliar faces donning soldier uniforms.
The soldiers formed a line in front of the door, offering a grand salute.
Xyriel's smile faded as the soldier standing before him bowed in greeting to the young duke.
As the soldier saluted, the head maid stepped forward to welcome them.
"We bring unfortunate news," the soldier said, his voice carrying a somber tone.
"Grand Duchess Igrayne Kazamir and Grand Duke Knox Kazamir passed away two days ago while returning to the kingdom," the soldier explained, removing their side cap to pay respect to the deceased duchess and duke.
The head maid's eyes widened as she covered her mouth to suppress her emotions. "H-how could this happen?!" she questioned, her voice quivering.
"We received reports that the carriage carrying the Grand Duke and Duchess was attacked by bandits, causing the carriage to tumble down a steep hill. We rushed to the scene upon receiving the reports, but unfortunately, we arrived too late."
"N-no..." The head maid fell to her knees, her face covered as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"T-this can't be *hic-. Igrayne, you can't leave me!" she cried out.
The other maids rushed to console the weeping head maid.
Xyriel, who overheard everything, didn't know how to react. It felt like everything was moving too quickly for him to fully comprehend the situation at hand.
"We deeply and sincerely regret what has transpired. If only we had arrived sooner, we might have been able to save both of them," the soldier expressed, weighed down by guilt over the tragedy. He noticed Xyriel standing there, his gaze fixed on the floor. The soldier clenched his hands, struggling to contain the remorse he felt knowing that the Grand Duke and Duchess had a son that was waiting for them.
Meanwhile, Xyriel could only observe as the head maid sobbed inconsolably. Feeling lost and unsure of how to react, he remained rooted to the spot even as the soldier explained that the funeral arrangements would be carried out as promptly as possible.
In the blink of an eye, the burial came to an end. Xyriel stood at the graves where his parents had been laid to rest, gazing downward as the rain turned the soil into mud. Even the sky wept in mourning for the loss of his parents.
The others who had paid their respects had already departed, leaving only the head maid and Xyriel behind.
"Igrayne... *Hic- Why did you leave me? *Hic- You were the only person I could rely on, and now you're gone too soon!" The head maid sobbed uncontrollably, holding onto Xyriel's hands tightly.
"What am I going to do? How will our little master manage without the two of you *hic-* here?" She continued, her voice cracking with emotion.
Xyriel glanced up at the head maid, sensing her gaze. When their eyes met, she offered him a forced smile. "W-will Mom and Dad come back to us?" Xyriel questioned so innocently, hearing him say those words would tug at anyone's heartstrings.
Despite her effort to smile, the head maid couldn't hide the wince that crossed her face upon hearing his words. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she knelt to be at eye level with Xyriel.
Gently gripping his shoulders, she drew him into a tight hug, her tears falling onto his small form.
"I-I'm sorry, *hic-* Xyriel. I wish *hic-* that the Grand Duke and Duchess could come back to us, but *hic-* I'm afraid they won't return anymore," she spoke as gently as she could, mindful not to make her words too harsh for a child's ears.
As the reality settled in, Xyriel finally grasped that his parents were no longer alive. And so, he cried.
His cries were loud, yet muffled by the falling raindrops. He wept with all his heart, holding onto the head maid tightly.
The sky was already dark, yet the heart of young Xyriel grew even darker, surpassing the intensity of the sky. His tears weighed heavily, much like the raindrops that fell above their heads.
"Hush, child!" his uncle's voice boomed, drawing closer to where they were.
The head maid flinched at the sound of Duke Arthur's voice. She promptly rose and bowed in acknowledgment of the duke's presence.
Without a word spoken, Duke Arthur approached, his grip forceful as he seized the head maid's face. He unveiled a defenseless woman, her eyes swollen and red from crying incessantly for hours on end.
"Not even a proper greeting for a mere maid?" Duke Arthur scowled, his disdain evident as he brushed her face aside, inadvertently scarring her pale cheeks.
"I should consider amending the rules of the house, to prevent the presence of more incompetent fools like you," he declared, fixing a stern glare on the head maid.
Feeling pitiful, she could only hold her cheeks to ease the pain.
Grand Duke Arthur then shifted his attention to the weeping little Xyriel.