The cold, stone halls of the Varnhart estate in central region of the Varnhart Duchy were silent as Liora, the young maid, endured the pain of labor. The grand manor, set amidst the sprawling, snow-covered lands, was surrounded by the imposing walls of the estate, and the ever-present sounds of the distant clang of swordplay echoed through the halls. For it was here that Casimir Varnhart, the Duke of the Varnhart Duchy, ruled with an iron fist. A man known across the Astrion Empire as the War Saint, his reputation was one of unmatched power, strength, and unyielding control.
Casimir Varnhart was a towering figure—tall and broad-shouldered, with long silver hair that cascaded down his back like a river of light. His handsome face, carved from stone, had the air of someone who had conquered entire armies, and his ocean blue eyes could pierce the strongest of wills. His dominance over his duchy and his esteemed rank as High Marshal of the Empire ensured that his rule was absolute. To the outside world, Casimir was a noble hero, the very embodiment of justice.
But to Liora, Casimir's concubine and the mother of his illegitimate child, the Duke was a distant figure. In the shadows of the Varnhart estate, far from the grand halls of the Duke's family, she endured the quiet sorrow of raising a son in secret.
Liora, despite the storm of pain that wracked her body, still looked every bit the picture of grace. Her long blonde hair framed her face, and though the weight of her situation bore heavily upon her, she was still an embodiment of beauty. Her ruby red eyes, filled with sorrow and yet love for the child she bore, shone even in the dim light of the room. She had once been a maid in the Duke's service, but when Casimir had taken her as his concubine, her life had changed. She had never expected this moment—the birth of her son, the son she had named Orion, after a star she had once seen in the sky on a quiet night.
Her heart, though filled with love for the boy she carried, also carried the burden of his origins. She had been nothing more than a servant in the eyes of the Duke, and this child, born from a union of shame, would never be welcomed by the family he had come into.
The labor seemed endless, the pain unbearable, and yet, Liora held onto the thought of her son, her beacon of hope. Finally, with a final scream of agony, Orion entered the world. His small body, covered in the marks of birth, was placed into Liora's arms. And as she gazed upon him, she could not help but be taken aback by his beauty. His silver hair shimmered in the dim light of the room, a perfect match for his father's, and his eyes—wide, curious, and full of life—were an exact match to the Duke's own ocean blue, like the calm before a storm.
Liora's heart swelled with love and sorrow as she held him close. "Your name will be Orion," she whispered, her voice soft and gentle despite the overwhelming weight of her circumstances. "I'm sure it's one of the stars in the sky… Hee, hee hee…"
It was then that Duke Casimir entered the room, his tall form looming in the doorway, his expression unreadable. His long silver hair fell across his shoulders, a stark contrast to his cold eyes.
Without a word, he strode into the room, casting a shadow over the scene. His gaze fell upon the newborn in Liora's arms. There was no warmth in his eyes—only disdain. Casimir Varnhart, the War Saint, the man who had conquered kingdoms, whose name was whispered with awe and fear throughout the empire, stood before his son, the child he had never wanted.
"This child is a disgrace," Casimir's voice was like a cold wind, cutting through the warmth of the moment. "A mistake. A stain on my bloodline."
Liora, her eyes filled with both love and sorrow, cradled the child closer, her voice shaking but firm. "He is your son, my lord."
Casimir took a step forward, his towering form making Liora feel smaller than ever. "He will never be acknowledged," he declared. "And if anyone discovers even the slightest trace of his existence, I will erase both him and you from this world." His gaze flicked to the infant Orion, as though the very sight of him made him sick.
Liora, her heart breaking, could only nod silently, the weight of her son's future crushing her under its reality. The Duke turned on his heel and left the room, his steps echoing in the vast hallway as he walked away, leaving mother and child in their desolate solitude.