Inside the grand hall of a large mansion, the small body of a child collided violently with the wall. The boy fell to the floor of the hall, vomiting blood and writhing in pain.
After some time in agony, Tristan lifted his head, staring at his attacker with fury in his eyes.
Vivian, Valerie's eldest daughter, was the one who attacked him. Looking at her face, he noticed the smile that highlighted her baby cheeks.
"Oh, if it isn't my half brother. How's life as a mere piece of trash with a Solid Red core?" Vivian said.
"Do you still remember the time when everyone praised you for being talented? People always compared us. Back then, they thought you were amazing and that I would just be your shadow in the future. You were so arrogant back then, looking down on me with disdain. Look at you now," Vivian said with a look of contempt on her childish face.
'Is this kid delusional? Arrogant? That never happened. I was never as great as she makes it seem. Maybe she's crazy, or maybe Valerie filled her head with nonsense and lies.'
"You want to know something cool? I've become a Mid-Orange and entered the best academy in the Marquisate. I already have four abilities, while you have none. Oh, and I'm almost learning a Rank 2 ability. Who's better now?" Vivian boasted, puffing out her chest with pride.
'She's already reached Mid-Orange?' Tristan was surprised by this because it meant Vivian's talent wasn't small. She had a good chance of securing a prominent position in the kingdom's future.
'And it also means she didn't try to kill me. Not turning my fragile body into a pulp of flesh isn't easy for an Orange Mist, let alone a Mid-Orange like her.'
Disappointed with his emotionless face in response to her biggest achievements, Vivian approached him and stepped on his head.
"Where are my compliments, little rat? Say I'm better than you, or I'll crush your filthy head," Vivian said angrily.
Tristan felt his head being pressed harder against the floor. It felt like his skull would crack, but he remained silent.
'Damn, this hurts. Doesn't this idiot realize she could kill me?'
They stayed like that for a while, neither showing any sign of backing down.
Finally, Vivian said, "So, you don't value your life! Very well, then why don't you swallow my shoe? You must be hungry."
Vivian removed her shoe and grabbed Tristan's chin, trying to force the shoe into his mouth. He tried to fight back, but the difference in strength was immense.
At that moment, someone else entered the hall.
"Vivian!" Victor, who had just arrived, ran toward his older sister.
"You shouldn't do this. What if you end up killing him?" he said.
Vivian looked at her younger brother and said, "You're so annoying."
She released Tristan, who stood up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and straightened his clothes. He looked at the two of them without showing much emotion.
With the awkward silence hanging in the air, Victor approached Tristan and said, "Ah, Tristan! It's been so long since we last saw each other."
He extended his hand to Tristan.
Tristan looked at the boy in front of him. All of Valerie's children had red hair and lilac eyes, looking a lot like her. Then he glanced at Victor's hand and decided to accept his greeting.
After that, the three of them distanced themselves from one another.
Then time passed, and the wooden doors of the hall opened once more. Two people entered. A maid accompanied a little girl. The young girl shared the same physical characteristics as her siblings; the color of her hair and eyes made her lineage quite obvious.
When the girl saw Tristan, she ran toward him with her short legs. She hugged him and said, "Tristan, you came."
Of course, that girl was Vivienne, Tristan's half-sister and Valerie's third child.
"You disappeared for so long! Where were you?" Vivienne said.
He struggled to figure out what to do. He wasn't used to so much social interaction, so he simply said, "Ah, well, I was in a very distant place, so I couldn't see you. Um, it's good to see you, Vivi."
"How long will you stay here?" Vivienne asked.
"Your mother only allowed me to stay for one day."
Vivienne pouted and said, "She's so mean. What if we ask her to let you stay longer?"
Tristan froze for a moment, thinking of the consequences he would face if Valerie were further bothered.
He shook his head and said, "You shouldn't bother your mother too much. That's not something a good girl should do. You don't want to be a bad person, right?"
"Okay! I'm not a bad girl," Vivienne said, pouting.
"Did you bring me a present?" Vivienne asked excitedly, her eyes full of expectation.
'No, how could I?'
"Um, my presence is already a gift," Tristan said, shrugging.
At that moment, Valerie entered the hall. Her eyes quickly scanned everyone in the room, stopping on Tristan for a few more seconds. There was a scowl on her face.
But her expression completely changed when she looked at her daughter, Vivienne. Her eyes lit up, and her face was full of happiness. She gave a charming smile. She almost looked like a normal human being at that moment.
She walked over to Vivienne, then hugged her daughter and kissed her on the cheek. "My little girl, are you enjoying your birthday?"
Tristan kept Vivienne company throughout the afternoon, acting as though the others didn't exist.
As the sun was setting, Valerie said, "It's getting late, Vivienne. Go to bed."
Valerie turned to the guards and told them, "And take him back. He's stayed here long enough."
"Mom, can you let big brother Tristan stay a little longer? Please!" Vivienne said, her eyes sparkling like a puppy's.
"Go to your room. Don't make me repeat myself." Valerie pointed to one of Vivienne's nannies nearby, and they dragged Vivienne away.
"Mom, please!" She cried, but it was to no avail. Vivienne was taken away.
"And you, get out of my sight," Valerie said.
Tristan stared at Valerie for a moment. His face showed no expression, but his pitch-black eyes gleamed with fury.
He looked at the guards and began walking toward them.
"Wait!" Valerie said her sharp order.
Tristan froze and turned to Valerie, fearing what might happen next. He studied her face, noticing a hint of madness in her eyes.
Valerie grabbed his face with her right hand and lifted his body effortlessly, as if he were as light as a toy.
She raised Tristan's face until it reached her eyes.
She narrowed her eyes and clenched her teeth.
"These eyes! You have the same eyes as your despicable mother! I bet you have no respect for me, just like she didn't. Your family was always so proud of your filthy tongue," Valerie said, full of disdain.
"Maybe I should tear out these irritating eyes," she said as she brought her sharp fingernail closer to his left eye.
Tristan shuddered, feeling a chill run down his spine. He thought about his situation, and then, as her fingernail touched his eyeball, he said, "Please, Lady Valerie, I beg you, forgive my insolence."
Hearing his words, she grimaced. Without saying anything, she threw Tristan's body aside. He was furious that he had to beg the person he hated the most. It was humiliating. There was a time when he wouldn't have cared about losing an eye, but now he couldn't allow it—because he had hope.
***
Back in the dungeon, Tristan followed the two guards as they walked down the corridor. While walking silently, he eyed the three keys on the guard's belt. As they neared his cell, he tried to get closer to the dungeon leader without being noticed. When he was about a meter away from the guard, he moved as quickly as he could and tried to grab the dungeon keys.
Unfortunately, almost immediately, the guard turned around, but Tristan didn't give up. He continued his advance, grabbing the keys and clutching them as tightly as he could.
Then, the dungeon leader's fist smashed into his face, completely crushing his nose. Tristan almost lost consciousness, but he tried to stay awake with every bit of willpower left in his body. He collided with the floor, his now-broken nose gushing blood.
"Give it back, you thief!" The guard shouted angrily.
But Tristan ignored the order and continued gripping the keys with both hands as tightly as he could. The guard began kicking him in fury, and Tristan felt as if his body was being torn apart.
Then, the other guard said, "Wait, you don't need to do this. He's just a child!"
"Shut up!" was the leader's response. He continued kicking Tristan, who felt like he was going to die.
The other guard clenched his teeth as he watched.
"Fine, you take the keys back," the leader said to his subordinate.
The second guard approached Tristan's body and grabbed his hand to retrieve the keys. Tristan tried to resist, but the difference in strength was far too great. The guard managed to take the keys back without much difficulty.
The dungeon leader grabbed Tristan and threw him into his cell. He slammed the heavy metal door shut and locked it.
'Damn it.'
He writhed in pain. He had really almost died this time.
"Good thing I didn't pass out when he hit my face."
He lay on the ground, his nose completely shattered, his body bruised, but a faint smile formed on his lips.
Tristan extended his right hand, and then three holographic Light Keys appeared.