Rorlan stepped out of the bath, her skin clean and glowing, her scent fresh like spring blossoms. Her hair, once tangled and wild, now flowed in soft caramel waves, still slightly damp, framing her refreshed face. The chaos from earlier, her messy appearance, the dirt, the stable filth was gone, as if it had never happened.
She wore one of her finer dresses, elegant yet comfortable. Tied her caramel hair into a loose messy bun, letting a few soft waves fall out from the sides. Some of her strands were sun-kissed gold, gently framing her smooth, wheat-colored skin.
Her eyes—those rare, captivating eyes—held a color between pure honey and molten gold. They were innocent, wide, and striking. No one could look into them without falling silent. they often left people speechless upon meeting her gaze. Her lashes were long and full, and with one look, she could pierce straight into someone's soul. From the tip of her fingers to the crown of her head, she looked like something carved from heaven itself, exactly as her brother Ash used to describe her.What added even more to her beauty was the joy shining in her eyes.
For the first time in two years, joy returned to the halls of the Azmelanidor estate.
Her brother's return meant the world to her. He wasn't just a sibling—he'd been a father, a mother, a guiding light after they'd both lost their parents far too young. He had raised her like his own daughter, never letting her feel the absence of love or care.
Though they were four siblings: Ash, the head of the Azmelanidor family, erina, Rorlan, and the youngest, Kai. Rorlan had always held a special place in Ash's heart. From the moment he held her in his arms the day she was born, something changed in him. He understood what family truly meant. He wanted one of his own built from love and legacy.
And so he married the love of his life, Feryal, and had three children: Yelva, Ezen, and Ivan.
She walked with light steps toward the door, ready to greet the people waiting downstairs.
Her footsteps echoed swiftly down the grand staircase, racing past the floor of her chambers and down to the lower level the one that led directly to the front gates. Beyond them lay the garden and the grand entrance to the estate. She walked quickly, eyes scanning ahead, searching... until finally, the sight she had longed for over the past two years came into view.
There he was. her brother holding little Ivan, his three-year-old son in one hand, while the other arm wrapped protectively around his wife's waist. Her head rested on his shoulder, her hands pressed to his chest. Just beside him stood Kai and ezen, clinging to his legs with bright eyes and wide grins, while he spoke to Yelva, the daughter he had left behind when she was only fourteen. Now, she stood before him grown, changed, and the spitting image of her mother, Freyal.
Rorlan's eyes welled with tears. Her breath caught at the sight. The painting before her was everything her heart had yearned for. As if sensing her presence, her brother lifted his gaze and spotted her. His eyes softened instantly at the sight of her teary-eyed form stepping out to meet them. Without a word, he handed the toddler to his wife and crossed the distance like a man chasing the wind, pulling Rorlan into his arms.
The tears she had fought so hard to hold back finally broke free, trailing down her cheeks as she buried her face into his chest.
"Don't ever leave us again," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
"Never," he replied softly, his own heart heavy with guilt. "Only death could ever take me from you again."
He pulled back gently, looking into her tear-streaked face. "Freyal told me you weren't well. You should rest."
She quickly wiped her eyes, offering a smile through the leftover tears. "Even if I were sick, seeing you would be enough to cure me."
He placed his hand beneath her chin, a tender smile on his lips. "Come on. Let's head inside. The night is falling fast, and I've missed telling all of you everything."
they all made their way back into the estate, the air around them filled with the warmth of reunion and the soft murmur of overlapping voices.
In the grand hall, golden evening sunlight streamed in through tall windows draped with flowing silk curtains white trimmed with gold perfectly complementing the ivory walls and high, ornate ceilings etched with golden patterns. Every corner of the room echoed the craftsmanship of the finest hands, from the gilded furniture to the vases overflowing with carefully arranged flowers that dazzled the eye. The room itself radiated wealth, elegance, and power.
The Azmelanidor family had gathered to admire the gifts brought by the Head of the House himself. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and marveling at the treasures he'd returned with, everyone except her.
Rorlan sat quietly, the only one whose mind wasn't in the present. Though she wore a calm expression and played her part flawlessly, her thoughts were a battlefield. A war raged inside her. From the moment she had chosen to live a double life, not as Rorlan Azmelanidor, but something… else. this was the moment she'd been dreading.
No matter how skilled she was with blade or bow, how sharp her instincts or clever her lies. if her brother found out, the game was over.
Now that he was back… what was she supposed to do? Keep going? Or abandon it all?
No. She couldn't. She wouldn't.
She hadn't spent two years building her secret life just to throw it away because of one man, even if that man was her brother. But that was the problem. He wasn't just any man he was the Head of House Azmelanidor. Chosen from among every branch of the family, raised to lead them all.
That meant her usual tricks, excuses that worked on Freyal, on the servants, wouldn't be enough anymore.
Because her brother… he could smell a lie from miles away. And now, he was right beside her.
"Rorlan, I noticed you didn't even glance at the gifts your brother brought. Are you still feeling unwell?" her sister-in-law's voice snapped her out of her deep thoughts.
Rorlan let out a soft chuckle, masking what needed to be hidden. "No, not sick. I was just thinking about what I should wear for the banquet the Emperor is holding in Ash's honor." She shifted her gaze from Freyal to Ash, keeping her voice light and her smile gentle. "We have to look our best. Show everyone how happy we are to have our dear Ash back."
Ash straightened in his seat slightly, as if preparing to deliver news that would excite everyone. "Actually, the banquet isn't the only thing you should be preparing for," he said, catching everyone's attention. Even those still preoccupied with the gifts turned their focus to him.
"There will be tournament held between the noble families," he continued. "The winners will receive their prizes directly from the Emperor himself."
Excitement lit up the room. Smiles bloomed across faces as the atmosphere instantly shifted into something more festive. Even Rorlan mirrored their expressions, her lips curved in joy—only hers was practiced, calculated. Inside, a storm raged.
It wasn't because she disliked such events. On the contrary, she had adored them ever since she was a child. But now… with Ash finally back, everything had changed. Participating would be difficult with him around. How could she disappear unnoticed when he was always near? How could she sneak out, act, and return to her second life without raising his suspicions?
This only confirmed what she already feared: her brother wasn't just back. he was a new obstacle standing squarely in the way of everything she had built these past two years.
She tried to brush those thoughts aside, telling herself, "I'll figure something out when the time comes."
In her mind, she added with quiet confidence, "My enemies couldn't get a thing out of me, they don't even know as much as the dirt under my fingernail. There's no way my brother will be harder to handle."
She turned toward him, subtly probing for information under the guise of small talk.
"You came back and brought with you something to shake off the boredom and change the atmosphere. But really, they're wasting their time. You're clearly going to win the competition."
She paused, waiting for his answer the kind that would ease her mind and give her some breathing room until the event arrived. And it came only seconds later.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to participate," Ash said with a shrug. "The Emperor organized all of this in my honor. He wants me by his side the entire time for discussion and observation."
Ah, the sweet wave of relief that washed over Rorlan as soon as he said those words. It was as if he'd cast a spell, melting the tension in her chest. She almost laughed at how easily fate had favored her. But her relief barely had time to take full shape before it shattered.
A young voice chimed in, clear and eager.
"Then let me take your place!" Kai, her youngest brother, jumped in with bright eyes. "Let me show you, and everyone what I've learned while you were away!"
Rorlan's head snapped toward him, her gaze locking on Kai's blazing excitement. In his eyes, she saw it clearly: the fire of ambition that could burn her whole plan to ashes if she let it grow unchecked. She had just dodged Ash… and now Kai was stepping right into the spotlight.
She bit the inside of her cheek, mind racing for a way to somehow block her brother's chance—not out of spite or resentment. She adored her family. Their joys were hers, and their pain wounded her just as deeply. But this time… this time it wasn't about anyone else. She wanted to compete too, not to prove something to the world, but to prove it to herself.
She was just about to speak, ready to argue her point, when her sister-in-law beat her to it.
"If only you knew how much Kai has been waiting for this moment to show you how far he's come," she said, smiling warmly. "All the trainers say he's on the path to becoming a true warrior, just like you. Even Master Orlan vouched for him."
She paused, winking playfully at Kai before turning her gaze back to Ash to finish her thought.
"He used to tell us stories about your training days and how quickly you learned, how you outpaced even grown men at such a young age. Well, looks like your little brother's following in your footsteps."
Kai looked at her, smiling with sincere gratitude. Freyal had always stood by his side, defended him, and encouraged him like a second mother. If Rorlan had Ash to rely on, then Kai had Freyal to lean on. an unwavering force always in his corner.
"Well, if Master Orlan himself praised your efforts, then there's nothing more I can say," Ash said, pride shining clearly in his voice. "Get ready. The tournament will be before the banquet."
He jumped up from his seat, bursting with excitement, unable to believe what he had just heard. To him, this was more than just a chance. It was the opportunity to prove himself to his brother. That he, too, was capable. That he could win, lead, and fight. That he could carve out his place among the legends of their bloodline just like their ancestors, who had fought and bled to shape the very foundations of the Wandal Empire.
In his eyes, this was the moment to show he was a true Azmelanidor.
But what he didn't know. What hadn't even crossed his mind, was that he wasn't the only one who had been preparing all these years. He wasn't the only one who had trained, driven by the same fire to stand tall under the weight of their legacy.
His sister had trained too relentlessly.
During the entire time their brother had been away, while Kai had been sharpening his skills under the guidance of renowned swordsmen and imperial instructors, Rorlan had been doing the same. The only difference
She had done it in secret.
And the only one who knew was her personal instructor, the one she had trusted above all others: Master Darith.
She gave up on trying to change her brother's mind. Everyone was already excited to see Kai compete. If she protested now, she'd only draw attention to herself, and soon people would start wondering why his own sister didn't want him to participate. Instead, she smiled and laughed with them, putting on the face of a supportive sister, as if nothing was bothering her.
After a while, she excused herself, claiming she was tired and needed rest. No one questioned it. She climbed the stairs, her body aching, but her mind more restless than ever. She tried to shove the tournament from her thoughts, at least until she figured out a way around it. Because right
now she had something far more important than all that—the night had come, and it had brought those who were waiting for her.