The banquet hall buzzed with chatter and laughter, the air thick with the scent of wine and roasted meat. I found myself standing with Aria near one of the quieter corners, away from the swirling dances and clinking glasses.
"Do you have any siblings, Lady Aria?" I asked, trying to keep the silence from stretching too long.
Her lips curved into a faint smile. "I do—an older sister. But when I was two, she left for the academy, and she's been there ever since. So it has been rather quiet. Lonely, sometimes."
I nodded. "I see. I have two—Jason, my elder brother, and Susan, my younger sister. Quiet is something I've never really experienced."
Aria's eyes flicked toward Jason, who was now surrounded by two girls, both laughing at something he'd said. She arched her brow. "Your brother seems to have no shortage of company."
"Smooth talker," I said flatly. "Sometimes I wonder if he's training to be a knight or a bard."
That drew a soft laugh from her, a genuine sound that eased the stiffness between us. She was still chuckling when a maid approached with a tray, bowing as she offered us tall glasses filled with orange juice.
"Thank you," Aria said politely, taking one. I accepted the other, raising it slightly before sipping.
"Something interesting might happen soon," I muttered, keeping my eyes on Jason's corner.
"What do you mean?" Aria asked, leaning slightly closer.
I tilted my chin toward him. Just then, Mina—the tutor—appeared, her steps a little unsteady, her cheeks flushed with wine. She moved straight into Jason's circle, slipping past the girls with a smile that looked far too forced. With surprising boldness, she took his arm and pulled him aside.
Jason let her, though his expression showed more confusion than protest. Mina leaned close, whispering something sharp, her voice lost under the music.
The two girls left behind whispered to each other, their laughter cutting short.
Aria blinked. "Wait—isn't that your brother's tutor?"
"Mm." I sipped my drink like it was obvious. "Jason's secret lover. Only I know."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
I smirked. "Well, maybe not that secret now. But still—between us, alright?"
She looked back at Jason and Mina, struggling not to laugh. "That explains… a lot. She doesn't look pleased."
"Jealousy, I guess." I said simply.
Aria stifled a chuckle behind her hand. "This party is more entertaining than I expected."
Before I could respond, Jason called a maid over. With practiced ease, the maid gently took Mina by the arm and led her away.
"That was something," Aria murmured.
I rolled my eyes. "You haven't seen a fraction of what they do."
She was still laughing when her hand jerked suddenly, her glass tipping forward. A splash of orange juice fell onto the pale fabric of her dress, staining the hem in a dark blotch.
Her eyes widened. "Oh no—"
"Don't worry," I said quickly, setting my glass aside. "Come on, I'll show you where the washroom is."
She hesitated, cheeks tinged with embarrassment, but finally nodded. "Thank you, Sir Lucian."
We slipped out of the banquet hall, our footsteps echoing in the quieter corridors of the mansion. The warm clamor of the party faded behind us, replaced by the hush of moonlight spilling through tall windows.
"This way," I whispered, guiding Aria toward the washroom.
But then—faint noises drifted through the silence. A soft shuffle. The click of metal against metal.
I froze. Aria nearly bumped into me, whispering sharply, "What is it?"
I pressed a finger to my lips, lowering my voice to the barest breath. "Shh."
Carefully, I leaned toward the corner and peeked.
Three figures in dark clothes crouched by Father's office door. Their faces were hidden behind scarves, their movements quick and practiced. One knelt low, hands working the lock with slim tools that clicked faintly in the stillness. Another stood nearby, while the third tightened his grip on a dagger glinting in the moonlight.
I pulled back quickly, heart thundering in my chest.
"Intruders," I whispered, the word barely audible. "They're already at Father's office… picking the lock."
Aria's hand flew to her mouth. Her voice trembled, barely a murmur. "W-what do we do?"
"Go back," I hissed softly. "Find Father. Or Jason. Anyone."
Her wide green eyes darted toward the corner, then back to me. "And you?" she whispered sharply.
"I'll keep watch. Just… don't argue. Go."
She leaned closer, almost pressing against me as though her words might be heard if spoken too loudly. "Are you mad? You're only five! You can't just sit here while they—"
"Shh!" I cut her off, glaring. "Do you want them to hear?"
Her lips pressed tight, but her voice returned, a hiss between clenched teeth. "This is foolish. You'll get caught."
"And if I leave with you, no one will be here to see where they go," I shot back, whispering so low I almost didn't hear myself.
Her brow furrowed, a flicker of frustration in her eyes.. "Promise me, Sir Lucian. Promise you won't try anything reckless."
"I'm not reckless," I muttered.
she whispered fiercely. "Wait until help comes."
Aria hesitated, then slowly—painfully slowly—began to step back, her slippers gliding against the floor without a sound. Only when she had put some distance between us, safely out of earshot of the intruders, did she gather her skirts and hurry away down the hall.
Left alone, I pressed my back to the wall, every breath shallow. The faint clicks of the lock carried down the corridor, each one sharp as thunder to my ears.
Three intruders. Already at the door.
And me, a child, crouched in the dark, listening.