A boy abruptly jolted awake from a deep sleep, gasping for breath and feeling suffocated. His eyes were contracted in horror, as if he had just emerged from a horrific nightmare.
"I killed my father! I—actually..." Tears streamed down the boy's cheeks as he cried in anguish.
"Mother, father, I am the cause of your deaths. It's all my fault; it's all mine!" The boy clutched his pitch-black hair, overwhelmed with self-blame.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I'm truly sorry!"
He collapsed into a fit of sobs, crying for hours on end. His gray eyes eventually ran dry, yet he continued to blame himself and apologize to the void. Soon, tears mixed with blood flowed from his eyes, soaking the fluffy white bed beneath him.
It had been a week since Aeuu encountered Duchess Luminous and became part of her family. Since then, he had isolated himself in his room, only emerging out to eat for sustenance.
Since that fateful night, every time he closed his eyes, his mind was haunted by the nightmares that replayed the tragic events.
In the past week alone, he had woken up countless times in the dead of night, consumed by guilt and tears.
Eventually, the weight of his sorrow exhausted him, and he fell into a heavy silence. Rising from his bed, he made his way to the balcony.
Aeuu ran his fingers along the cool glass of the window, gazing out at the serene beauty of the moon and stars, which offered a momentary reprieve to his tormented heart.
"I see... So that's what happened... *Sigh*," a barely audible voice drifted from the other side of the glass window.
Startled, Aeuu turned toward the balcony, where he spotted a white figure standing silently, enveloped in the misty glow of the fogged glass.
The white figure noticed his gaze and offered a faint smile. In the blink of an eye, she vanished from view, only to reappear right beside Aeuu.
Recognizing the figure, Aeuu called out hurriedly, "Aunt..."
Jenia gently cupped his cheeks, her fingers brushing away the tears that mingled with blood on his face."Aeuu, didn't I tell you to stop calling me aunt?"
At the sound of her voice, Aeuu averted his eyes, choosing silence.
Jenia's smile turned wry, a mix of affection and disappointment.
"How long have you been here...?" Aeuu inquired.
"For quite some time..."
"D-d-did y-you..."
"Yes, I heard your cries," Jenia replied softly, her voice filled with compassion
Upon hearing her confirmation, Aeuu quietly lowered his head.
Jenia knelt beside him and wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace, offering him comfort. "I understand that this isn't your fault. There must be a reason behind your self-blame, right?"
Aeuu remained silent.
"Can you tell me...?" Jenia prompted gently.
But Aeuu continued to hold his silence.
Jenia let out a soft sigh in sadness. "Perhaps not now. But I truly hope that one day you'll feel comfortable enough to share your pain and sorrow with your new family."
As her soothing words washed over him, Aeuu bit his lip, tears once again trickling down his cheeks
Suddenly, Jenia lifted his head and locked eyes with him, her own deep blue orbs searching the depths of his grey ones. "Do you want revenge?"
Aeuu was taken aback, his voice faltering. "I-I-"
Noticing his hesitation, Jenia spoke with a calm assurance, "I understand. It seems you haven't yet considered the idea of vengeance."
She tenderly caressed Aeuu's cherubic face and continued, "But, know this: if you ever want to pursue revenge, I will be there for you. Even if I have to put my life and the entire dukedom on the line, I will support you."
As her solemn vow resonated within him, a ripple of emotion stirred in Aeuu's dead heart.
He looked into his aunt's glistening deep blue eyes, recognizing the depth of her concern and unwavering determination.
Jenia then broke the tension with a warm smile, gently ruffling his pitch-black hair, which lightened the mood. "Do you know how worried Celestia has been about you well-being? She's quite upset that you haven't been speaking to her."
Listening to her, Aeuu was reminded of the little white-haired girl who always evoked a strange, unknown feeling within him. Recently, he had noticed that whenever he stepped out of his room—whether to eat or simply for a change of mood—she would either stares at him intently or follow closely behind until he returned to his room.
Jenia sighed with concern, "Because of certain issues, I've never allowed her to leave the mansion. As a result, she hasn't had any children her age to play with. Now that she has a sibling, she's been eager to get to know you."
Aeuu quietly nodded.
"Anyway, enough about that. It's already late night. Let's discuss this tomorrow. Now, it's time for you to sleep." Jenia gently nudged him and guided him toward the soft bed.
Once he was settled, Jenia tucked the blanket around him. She offered a reassuring smile, "Good night, sweetie."
After that, she vanished.
Aeuu stared blankly at the place where his aunt had just been. His thoughts swirled chaotically, filled with negativity. Then, a flicker of darkness ignited in his gaze as he whispered, "Revenge, huh?"
Gradually, his once-emtied heart began to stir, replaced by a burgeoning desire for vengeance. Unbeknownst to him, a profound change was taking root within him; or perhaps since that tragic night, he was no longer the same..
Eventually, Aeuu closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
...
In the early morning, the sun began its ascent in the east, casting a warm, golden glow across the horizon.
As the curtains were drawn back, the radiant sun rays streamed through the window, falling on the sleeping boy nestled in his bed.
"Good morning, young master. It's time to wake up," a maid said softly, her brown hair catching the morning light as she leaned closer to the boy.
Aeuu's eyelids fluttered as he slowly opened his eyes. Once his vision adjusted, he saw the maid leaning over his bed, her presence both gentle yet insistent.
With a nod of acknowledgment, Aeuu sat up, causing the maid to jump back in surprise, her cheeks flushing a bright red.
Aeuu looked at the maid curiously, tilting his head. Nevertheless, he soon got out of bed.
"Young master, please freshen up and come to the dining hall; breakfast is ready," the maid said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she quickly exited the room.
....
In the dining hall,
As he stepped inside, the first thing that caught his attention was the vibrant celestial, happily chatting with her mom.
"Good morning, brother!" she called out, waving enthusiastically at him with a radiant smile.
Aeuu tilted his head, puzzled by why this girl always appeared so genuinely delighted to see him.
Nonetheless, he offered a slight nod and took a seat at the dining table.
"Now then, let's begin breakfast," Jenia said, smiling as she gestured to the maids.
The maids dutifully complied and began serving the meal. After some time, everyone had finished eating.
"Aeuu, I have some good news for you!" Jenia announced, pulling out a certificate from her system storage.
Aeuu glanced over, tilting his head in puzzlement. He couldn't quite understand how a certificate could be related to the 'good news.'
"Hahaha! Don't give me that look. These are the birthright certificates for both of you," Jenia said with a light smile.
"Mommy, what does that mean?" Celestia asked, her curiosity piqued.
"This certificate is proof that both of you are now part of my family and the noble community," Jenia explained.
"Both of us?" Aeuu inquired, still feeling a bit bewildered.
"Yes, both of you!" Jenia said with a mysterious smile. She continued, "Although Celestia is seven years old this year, I still haven't registered her in the noble community as part of my family. It's because, aside me and my maids, no one in this world knows that I had a child"
"Huh!?" Celestia exclaimed in shock. "Mommy, is that why I was never allowed to step out of this mansion?" she asked with aggrieved eyes.
Aeuu was also stunned. He glanced at the maids curiously, and in return, the maids smiled in confirmation.
"*Cough* *cough*," Jenia coughed embarrassedly. She added with slight guilt. "I'm sorry, my sweetheart. I had my reasons."
Celestia simply pouted cutely in response.
"Aunt, what is a noble community?" Aeuu inquired.
As if anticipating this question, Jenia smiled and began a detailed explanation.
The Noble Community serves as a comprehensive database that catalogs all members of the nobility within dystopia.
This registry is crucial, as it defines an individual's status as either noble or royal. In this world, every child born into a noble family is required to register their identity by the age of five or ten.
This early registration not only solidifies their place within the hierarchy but also ensures that the lineage of nobility is meticulously documented and preserved. Failure to register can result in the loss of noble privileges and status, highlighting the importance of this system in maintaining the social order.
Most importantly, the identifications issued by the Noble Community serve as proof of identity wherever one may go, ensuring that noble rights are retained globally.
Jenia gestured into the air, conjuring two rectangular cards. "These are your identifications," she said as she handed them the cards.
"Aunt, then what about the birthright certificate? What is that for?" Aeuu asked curiously.
"This..." Jenia glanced at the certificate and smiled strangely,"it is prove of announcing your existence to the world. Typically, every noble family is expected to register a birthright certificate for their child at birth. It serves to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate offspring."
"Mommy, what does that mean?" Celestia inquired, tilting her head with innocently.
"It means whether a child is acknowledged by their noble parents as part of their noble or royal lineage," Jenia explained with a hint of irony.
"But, Aunt, how did you manage to get us a birthright certificate if it can only be registered at birth?" Aeuu pressed on.
"There's actually no time limit for registering a birthright," Jenia clarified. "After all, there are Noble parents who eventually choose to accept their illegitimate children later on, right? Besides, this certificate is merely a formal declaration of their existence to the outside world."
With a playful glint in her eye, she said, "Oh, Aeuu, didn't I ask you to call me 'Mother'? Do you know the lengths I had to go to in order to duplicate your blood sample as part of the Luminous bloodline? I did this just to register you as my legal child."
"Huh!?!" Aeuu gasped incredulously.
Jenia smirked, her pride evident as she continued, "Now, not only are you two true siblings, but you are also fraternal twins, a rarity in this world."
"What!!!" Both Celestia and Aeuu shouted in unison, their expressions mirroring shock as they exchanged glances.
"Aeuu, this isn't just about giving you an identity; it's also a crucial measure of protection to ensure that 'they' remain unaware of your existence," Jenia added, her tone turning solemn.
Aeuu nodded absentmindedly, lost in thought.
"Now then, I have business to attend to. I'll take my leave," Duchess Luminous declared with a mischievous smile before vanishing from the dining hall.
"Young miss, young master, we have work to do. If you will excuse us," the head maid announced, bowing gracefully as she exited with the other maids.
In the dining hall, only Celestia and Aeuu remained, both still grappling with the surprising turn of events.
After a moment of silence, Celestia broke the stillness. Her face lit up with a bright smile as she exclaimed, "Isn't that wonderful, right, Onii-chan?"
"Onii-chan?" Aeuu replied, looking at her with confusion. "What does that mean?"
Celestia fell silent, realizing that she didn't actually know the meaning of the term; it had slipped out subconsciously.
Sensing his strange gaze, Celestia glanced at Aeuu and attempted to formulate an explanation. However, the moment their eyes locked, they both froze.
Just like the first time they had made eye contact, Celestia and Aeuu unconsciously became lost in each other's gaze, dazed. Their presence resonated with one another, creating a moment that felt both magical and mysterious.
Only after a few minutes did Celestia and Aeuu broke free from the trance, they quickly averted their eyes, the atmosphere between them turning awkward.
Suddenly, Aeuu recalled his aunt's words from the previous night and pondered them.
With newfound determination, he stood up and walked over to Celestia, extending his hand as he softly asked, "Want to play?"
"Huh!?" Celestia was momentarily taken aback, struggling to comprehend But once she understood, her cyan eyes twinkled, and a beautiful smile graced her lovely face. "Yes!!!"
Witnessing her joyful reaction to such a simple gesture, he finally understood his aunt's concern. At the same time, as he stared dazedly at her beautiful smile, an unknown feeling rippled through his dead heart.