Rosalena hesitated at her brother's question.
Something in his tone felt sharp.
Like he was trying to figure her out.
She quickly shook her head. "No, it's not like that."
Before he could question her further, she changed the topic.
"Anyway, there's something important I need to tell you both."
Her father and brother turned their attention to her.
"It's about my power."
Her father's brows furrowed. "Your power?"
Rosalena nodded. "Yes… I can hear animals talk."
Silence.
Then, suddenly—
Her father smiled.
Not just any smile—a knowing smile.
Rosalena's brother, however, was confused.
He turned to their father, his eyes narrowing.
"Father… why are you smiling?"
Their father let out a small chuckle before looking at them with warmth in his eyes.
"Because this isn't a bad thing."
"What do you mean?" Rosalena asked.
Their father took a deep breath before answering.
"It's your mother's ability."
Both Rosalena and her brother froze.
"…What?"
Their father nodded. "You inherited it from her."
A soft silence filled the room as Rosalena and her brother listened carefully.
Their father's voice was filled with gentle nostalgia as he spoke.
"Your mother was an incredible woman."
His eyes softened.
"She could talk to animals, just like you. Those animals helped her in many situations, but she never told anyone about her ability—not even her own brother, the Emperor."
Rosalena's eyes widened. "Then… when did you find out?"
"After we married."** He smiled fondly.** "She trusted me enough to share her secret."
His gaze flickered to Rosalena's brother.
"Your mother always believed one of you would inherit her power."
His brother stiffened. "But my abilities awakened first."
"Yes," their father nodded. "And when Rosalena's powers didn't awaken, your mother assumed that she wasn't the one to inherit them."
His smile grew wistful.
"But she was wrong. Rosalena, you were the one."
Rosalena felt a strange warmth swelling in her chest.
A connection—to her mother.
Her eyes stung.
Rosalena felt something wet on her cheek.
A tear.
She hadn't even realized she was crying.
Her brother, too, let out a shaky breath as he quickly wiped his own tears away.
Neither of them had spoken.
Yet they both felt it.
The overwhelming weight of missing their mother.
After a long pause, they both quietly wiped their tears.
Then, without another word, Rosalena stood up and left for her room.
She needed time.
To think.
To understand.
And most of all…
To accept the legacy her mother had left behind.