Six months passed.
Kazhan was finally released from the cell, but she looked frail—her body thin, her eyes hollow. Despite Ninhu's efforts to sneak her food, he was caught often and flogged mercilessly. He bore the scars in silence.
During this time, Mira withdrew completely. Still mourning her mother's death, she stopped speaking, stopped visiting Ninhu, and no longer healed his wounds. She kept to herself, distant and cold. Ninhu understood. He saw her silence as strength, not betrayal.
Kazhan's release came a week before her sixteenth birthday—the age of adulthood in the kingdom. By law, no one under sixteen could leave home or travel between districts without parental approval. Violating this rule meant punishment by the royal council, and Sakone wanted to avoid that at all costs.
Kazhan began to recover. She was given food, rest, and new clothes—not out of kindness, but because Sakone had chosen a groom. He wanted her gone.
One evening, Kazhan sat beside Ninhu in the garden.
"Do you think I hate Father?" she asked quietly.
Ninhu didn't hesitate. "He's the worst human alive. He gives his own son two tiny meals a day—just enough to survive. Why? Because he wants me to suffer."
Kazhan looked down, tears welling in her eyes.
"I don't hate him," she said. "I can't feel anything anymore. When Mom left… when Dad changed… my whole life changed too. That's why I tried so hard to protect you. But I failed."
Ninhu reached for her hand. They both cried.
"No matter what," Kazhan whispered, "I love you, Ninhu. I'll be the mother and father you never had. I'll protect you however I can."
"Sis…" Ninhu said softly.
"I'm leaving next week," she continued. "To the house of the man Father arranged for me to marry."
Ninhu's eyes widened. "No… this can't happen. You don't even know him. You don't love him. Why is Father rushing this?"
Kazhan's voice cracked.
"That's easy. Because he wants to get rid of me. I'm a disgrace to him."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with pain.