Victor Valdis had run out of time, and he was fully aware of that. He had long known this day would come due to Arthur Regan's temperament. He did his best as a husband, father, and brother, only for it all to end soon in a brutal way.

The grandfather clock in his office continued to swing its pendulum; the Arthurian soldiers would arrive in the morning to arrest him and take him to the gallows. Victor didn't feel any particular fear, not towards death, but he feared for his young daughter as she would be the last of the Black Pearl; his wife couldn't bear a second child. Lilith had nearly killed her, but Victor was happy regardless. His daughter was a source of pride for him.

"I've come to say farewell, brother." Regef had quietly snuck into the duke's office; the moon was obscured by ominous clouds that night.

"So it was you," Victor said. It was apparent now that his brother had a hand in framing Victor. Was he so blinded by greed that he'd conspired with the emperor to have his brother killed? Regef had always been a strange boy. His behaviour was always cruel towards what he considered beneath him, and he was weak. It should've been no surprise to anyone that Regef would betray his flesh and blood.

But Victor had foolishly hoped his brother would change.

Regef laughed, but it held no humour. Otherwise, it would've had broken the tension in the room, Victor sighed.

"You were always the best, the honourable Victor Valdis," Regef scowled, "I hated every minute of living in your shadow, whispers of me being a possible bastard child simply because I did not hold the great and honourable treasure of Valdis." His words were full of malice and rage towards Victor, who knew that Regef had resented that he did not inherit the eyes, but Victor didn't think twice about it as to him, it was just eyes.

"I didn't think any less of you," Victor spoke softly, and it was the truth. Regef is his brother, his blood, and he never once considered him less than, but it seems Victor's words only further angered Regef, a prominent vein appearing on his forehead as his scowl deepened.

"I don't need your approval," Regef hissed, "I just need you gone; I am much better suited to become duke than you ever were."

"By all means, take over as head of the family after my death." Victor abruptly stood up and, in two strides, stood in front of his brother, who trembled with rage. "--- but do not forget, brother. Lilith is the true duchess of this estate. You know that well, don't you?"

Regef glared, "I don't believe in the words of dead gods."

"Those dead gods named her before they ceased to exist, did they not?" A name bestowed by those gods declared to the world who the next holder of the Black Pearl was, and it was with their dying breath that Lilith's name was spoken—a sign that she was to be the last.

Silence encompassed the office, and the wind howled amongst the stars as Regef contemplated. Victor stared down upon him once again, his eyes unwavering and all-encompassing, as they had always been throughout their childhood. Victor was the older of the two and a young teen when Regef turned five, but the comparisons had already begun.

The Valdis family had a long and impressive lineage, marked by the Black Pearl, often referred to as the treasure of Valdis; it symbolised something greater than the ancient Titans and the time of gods, and as such, the imperial family had long harboured disdain for the ducal family, pushing them out of politics, the capital and into the barren lands of the icy north. So when Regef was born without the treasure, many compared him to Victor, which extended to his intelligence, height, and overall demeanour. No matter how hard Regef tried, he could not beat his brother.

And now, ever since Lilith was born, Regef's hatred deepened.

He could recall the chaos of that day; the birth had nearly killed Theresa, and a terrible snowstorm blanketed the territory, so at the time, the handmaid had to help Theresa deliver Lilith as the doctor was unable to make it through the storm. Victor was the most unkempt Regef had ever seen his brother, the soon-to-be father, wracked with worry for his wife and child.

It was eight years ago, but Regef still got chills down his spine when the wind howled and carried the words of the dead gods that declared his newborn niece's name, words only Victor could hear, who would subsequently translate for the rest, delivering the words while trembling, Regef had never seen his brother as pale as he did that day.

"O Great Lilith," The gods cried her name as they perished, "Bringer of the End, and the Original Sin."

The last part, Victor kept to himself, fearing possible persecution of his child, only relaying her name back to those who were in the room that day.

"Regardless, there is no need to fret, brother." Regef finally spoke. "I will take her under my wing." He was quick to calculate in his head the worth Lilith may have once she got older— especially as somebody's wife, Regef was sure she'd fetch a good price.

Victor was silent as he pondered over Regef's words, weighing if there was any truth in them, but he could not tell, and there was no way for him to confirm, especially not with his death arriving soon.

He would die the following morning with his only thought being that his daughter would rise above what may come her way; just as the dead gods decreed her name, Victor Valdis, too, died with nothing but a name upon his lips and the knowledge of Lilith's true role in this world.