Mariel took a slow sip of her iced coffee and began to speak, her voice soft and tentative. This was the first time she had opened up about her past. Wataru had learned a little about Ea's history, but this was new. He made sure to stay quiet, not wanting to interrupt or add unnecessary commentary. It was clear how difficult it was for her to share, and he wanted to give her the space she needed to express herself freely.
Her gaze was fixed on the glass in front of her, as if the story she was about to tell was etched there.
"My family… we were known as the Hanover family, a baron's house with a long history. We've been around since the kingdom's founding."
"That's impressive. How far back does that go?" Wataru asked, curious about the history of such a noble lineage.
"My father was the ninth head of the family. I believe the house lasted about 160 years. We were just a small, rural barony, though. Nothing that would elevate our status."
