Olessia's eyes fluttered open slowly, her lashes trembling against her cheeks. The light stabbed at her pupils, making her squint as a dull ache throbbed in her temples.
For a moment, she just lay still, breathing shallowly, trying to piece together where she was. The ceiling above her swayed slightly in her blurry vision, and she groaned softly, pressing her palm to her forehead.
Her body felt heavy, weak, as though every bone inside her had turned to glass. Closing her eyes again, she whispered a shaky prayer beneath her breath.
"Please… let it be home. Let me wake in my village, not here." She clung to the faint hope that when she opened her eyes again, she'd see the familiar clay walls of her hut, the morning sun spilling across her her old mat.
Her eyes flew open again, but the sight before her crushed the hope she'd dared to hold. This wasn't her village, it was all too familiar. She was still in Aurethia, in the same room she had woken up in when she first slept in a better room.
A wave of disappointment hit her hard. She tried to sit up, wincing at the dull pain in her wrist, but before she could move further, a firm hand pressed gently against her shoulder, steadying her.
Olessia stiffened, her heart leaping as she turned her head to see who it was. A familiar face came into view... Randa, the young maid who had led her to the dining room earlier. Relief and confusion mingled in Olessia's chest.
"Miss Olessia, please don't strain yourself," Randa said softly, her voice trembling. Fear flickered in her eyes as she pointed toward Olessia's bandaged wrist.
"You hurt yourself… quite badly." Olessia followed her gaze, and the sight of the bloodstained cloth around her arm made her stomach twist. Everything came rushing back... the knife, the pendant, the wish that hadn't come true.
Olessia had truly believed her plan would work. The thought had struck her in a moment of desperation... when Kaive handed her the knife, something wild and reckless took over.
The same blood that had brought her here should be able to take her back. It made sense, at least in her frantic logic. Her blood and the pendant had been the bridge between her village and this kingdom.
Why shouldn't it work again? But now, lying weak and trembling, she realized how wrong she'd been. The cut had only brought her pain… and she was still trapped in Aurethia.
"Such a wrong idea," Olessia muttered under her breath, her voice barely a whisper.
"What idea?" Randa's soft tone startled her, and Olessia's heart lurched. She was sure she hadn't spoken loud enough for anyone to hear... just like before, when Kaive caught her whisper.
"How… how did you hear that?" Olessia asked, her voice shaking slightly. "I didn't even speak clearly." Randa tilted her head, a faint smile crossing her lips.
"We Navirs have sensitive hearing," she said calmly. "Even your heartbeat sounds loud to us."
Olessia's confusion deepened. "Then how much more can you do?" she wondered aloud.
"It is because we Navirs have the ability to hear even the faintest sound," Randa explained softly. "The strongest among us, those of the Upper Power, can hear voices and movements from miles away."
"Like Kaive?" Olessia asked, her tone curious yet cautious.
Randa nodded, her eyes glinting with quiet respect. "Yes, especially him. His hearing is unmatched."
Olessia leaned forward slightly. "So… what else can you do? Can you read minds?"
Randa quickly shook her head, strands of hair brushing her cheeks. "No, not at all. We don't read mind. We can move faster than the eye can follow," Randa said, her voice low but filled with pride.
"We're strong, and can hear even the faintest whisper. Except the Upper Rank... they can hear sounds from miles away. Like His Royalty, Kaive… and his brother."
That last word... brother, snapped Olessia's attention. Kaive had a brother? That meant he had family in this palace. Then why hadn't she seen any of them... no mother, no father, no sister? Only Lady Eirene, whose presence still confused her. Maybe Randa would know who the woman truly was.
"Who is Lady Eirene?" Olessia asked curiously.
Before Randa could reply, the door swung open. Dino marched in, his face set in stone.
"Randa, you shouldn't be here. Leave now." His tone was final. Randa bowed her head and slipped out quietly.
Moments later, Kaive entered, his presence filling the room. But he wasn't alone.
An man who looked quite older than him followed behind him, his eyes burning with open hatred.
The look he gave Olessia froze her blood cold. Even Kaive's intimidating stare felt nothing compared to the venom in this man's gaze.
"So you went against my orders, huh? And now this little girl thinks she can disrespect whoever she wants," the man said coldly, his voice laced with authority that made Olessia's heart pound like a drum.
His presence alone felt heavier than Kaive's, colder, darker. He turned his sharp gaze to her, and she felt herself shrink under the weight of it.
"I… I..." Kaive began, but his words were cut short.
"For what she did to Lady Eirene, I'll personally handle her punishment," the man declared, his tone final.
"Brother…" Kaive tried again, but his brother's hand shot up in warning, eyes burning with fury.
"You dare defy me, little brother?" he hissed, stepping closer. The air between them grew tense, electric. Olessia could feel the dominance rolling off him, and for the first time, she realized Kaive wasn't the most dangerous man in this palace. His brother was.