Rhea's POV
The lively hum of the market buzzed around me as I wandered through the crowded streets of Sommeral Free City's capital, the colorful stalls bursting with an array of rare foods, clothes, and jewelry. The clinking of coins, the chatter of merchants, and the laughter of children filled the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
I had a mission today—a mission that I'd secretly looked forward to for weeks: finding a birthday present for Falko. He was turning nineteen, officially a man in this world, though he'd always been more mature than the boys I knew growing up.
As I moved between the stalls, my fingers brushed over silks and leathers, fabrics with intricate embroidery, and necklaces encrusted with gemstones that shimmered under the sun. Men adored jewelry more than anyone—it was one of the many things that was different about Falko. Gold chains, rings, earrings, and bracelets were a symbol of status and beauty for them. But Falko wasn't like other men. No, he'd never been interested in flaunting wealth or appearance.
I smiled to myself, my thoughts wandering. Falko. He was different. While most men I knew sought admiration and comfort, Falko longed for strength. He never cared for showing off or drawing attention to himself. That was one of the things I liked about him. No, loved about him.
Not that I'd ever say it out loud. I mean, he was like a younger brother to me, wasn't he? How embarrassing it would be if I say I love you to my brother.
I passed a stall displaying some elaborate rings. A man in his position—nineteen and looking like a noble son—should be flaunting rings on every finger, should he not? But even though Falko carried the looks of a prince, his fingers were bare, his hands rough from wielding swords rather than showing off jewels.
"Hmm... maybe I could find something here," I murmured, glancing over the rows of sparkling accessories, but none of them seemed right. They were too flashy. Too delicate. Too... ordinary.
Falko wasn't ordinary.
I shook my head and kept moving. My feet eventually led me toward the heart of the city, the familiar feeling of dread curling in my stomach as I neared the Capital Square. I didn't want to go there, but my feet took me anyway, as if drawn by some cruel invisible force. When I reached the edge of the square, I stopped and stared at it. My chest tightened.
This is where it all began...
I whispered the words to myself, a sad smile pulling at my lips as memories flooded back. The day we arrived, full of hope and promise, thinking we could save Brina. But what we found was nothing short of a nightmare. Her hanging body, lifeless in the sun. The rage. The helplessness. It all started here.
It was also the day I opened my eyes to the truth of the world. Do I ever regret becoming what I am today? No, but if I was given the chance I want to see mother once again and embrace her and tell that she is greatest mother I could ever ask for.
I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath, pushing the memory away. No use in thinking about the past. There was no time for that.
After wandering the market for what felt like hours, I finally stumbled upon something that caught my eye—a ring. It was simple, not too gaudy or delicate, but the vendor claimed it was imbued with good luck. It seemed suspicious, given the vendor's shifty eyes and the slightly shady appearance of his stall, but something about the ring felt... right.
Maybe it was the design which looked much more suitable for Falko, since it looked like something a knight would wear for the good fortune on a battlefield.
"How much?" I asked.
"More than it's worth, for the bravest and luckiset of them all." the vendor chuckled, clearly in on his own joke. "But for you, a discount. Ten silver coins."
I raised an eyebrow. "Five."
He frowned but after a bit of haggling, I got it for seven coins. It wasn't a steal, but it was fair enough. With the ring safely in my pouch, I continued to pick up a few other things—some delicious food to enjoy later with Falko. Maybe we'd have a quiet evening, just the two of us like older times.
As the sun began to dip lower, casting the city in a warm golden light, I made my way toward the southern gate. This part of the Free City was quieter, away from the busy central areas. Mercenaries, workers, and other lower-class residents often stayed here, far from the noble estates. Our small house stood at the end of a narrow road, its worn exterior making it look far more modest than it really was.
I pushed open the door and stepped inside, expecting to see Falko in the living room, maybe lounging or preparing for another job. But the room was empty. My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of him. "Falko?" I called out, but the silence told me he wasn't there.
Maybe he went out with the others...
A small sigh escaped my lips as I moved through the house, my thoughts drifting back to our arrival in the Free City. Those first few weeks had been a nightmare. We barely scraped by, and I hated to admit it, but sometimes I thought we wouldn't make it. Falko never complained, though. Even when we had nothing, he always found a way to manage. I, on the other hand, was haunted by what had happened to Brina.
"It's actually impressive how quickly he adapt to everything. He was so broken when he saw mother for the first time, but it only took him few hours to regain his composure," I thought about Falko's strength, which I admired.
We struggled for months until we finally caught a break—joining a mercenary group thanks to a certain person we owed our lives to. It wasn't easy work, but it was better than starving. And now, we were a part of something larger, something that gave us purpose.
I'll never forget what they did for us, I thought, the faces of the other two members of our group flashing through my mind. How will I ever repay that debt?
Shaking my head, I snapped back to reality. No use getting lost in thought now. I still had to find Falko. I made my way upstairs, heading straight for his room. Being the only male in our group, he had his own space, unlike the rest of us who had to share. I knocked on the door.
No answer.
I knocked again, louder this time. "Falko, are you in there?"
Still nothing.
I sighed and slowly pushed open the door. "Falko, I—" My words died in my throat as my eyes landed on his figure sprawled across the bed. Naked. Completely naked.
His amazing look butt was open for me to see, with something hard and long sticking out from the front, which I easily identified as his penis. But I had to admire his body, which was chiselled unlike any men I knew.
Not that I saw any other men beside Falko, it's just I heard from the rumors in the travern that men are delicate and lacks any kind of muscles.
Heat rushed to my cheeks as I quickly averted my gaze, grabbing a nearby blanket and tossing it over him without looking directly at him.
"Falko!" I scolded, my voice rising in embarrassment. "Cover yourself up!"
He stirred beneath the blanket, groaning softly before blinking up at me with bleary eyes. He stretched his arms above his head, completely unbothered by the fact that he'd just been lying there in the open and naked in front of a woman.
"Good morning to you too, Rhea," he mumbled with a sleepy grin, clearly enjoying my flustered state.
"Morning? It's late afternoon, you idiot!" I turned away, keeping my eyes firmly on the floor. "And you're supposed to be dressed! You're nineteen now, Falko! You can't keep... acting like this."
Falko chuckled and slowly sat up, the blanket still draped over his lower half. "Come on, Rhea. It's not like you're going to lust after me or something, right?" He gave me a cheeky smile, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "You can't possibly do that to your so-called brother right?"
"Uhhh~ you're such a little-" I felt my face turn redder as I quickly turned to leave. "Just... get dressed and come downstairs. I've got something for you."
As I shut the door behind me, I could still hear him laughing softly to himself. Gods, he's become so much more vulgar since we first arrived here. The pure, innocent boy I knew four years ago was gone. He'd grown up, for better or worse, but I had to admit at times it was hard for me to see him as a brother.
But despite everything, he was still Falko. My Falko.
And today was his birthday.