Fainyx sat quietly in his bedroom, leaning back in his armchair with a heavy sigh.
'I guess I'll just stick to my original plan and go to the Adventurer's Guild tomorrow.'
Fainyx thought, deciding not to risk slipping out tonight.
'I need to practice anyway, Master Ruth gave me an excellent idea on how to reinforce Fain's mana strings so the golem can run and move more easily.'
Satisfied with his schedule, Fainyx picked up a thick book on advanced magical theory and began to read, completely unaware of the absolute chaos currently descending upon the west wing of the estate.
***
"Okay, the corridor is clear..." Hestia whispered, pressing her back against the mahogany wall while peeking around the corner.
"Understood," Alexander murmured, keeping a sharp watch in the opposite direction.
The two geniuses of the Royal Academy were currently utilizing all of their aristocratic training to sneak through their own family's mansion like a pair of common thieves.
"The servants might report us to Arthur if they see us," Alexander whispered, motioning for his sister to follow him as they ducked behind a marble pillar.
"I know," Hestia agreed, her blue crystal eyes narrowing with determination. "But we both know Brother is hiding something from us. We simply cannot let this go. Did you see his face down in the courtyard?"
Alexander nodded slowly. "Yes. I saw it too. When he looked at Adam and Liam, he actually showed genuine affection. It has been six years since he showed any emotion like that."
They had to know the truth. They absolutely refused to wait another few weeks to find their third nephew, and they certainly weren't going to leave for the Royal Banquet without seeing him.
They began their search, silently opening doors one after another. They cleared Adam and Liam's bedrooms, Arthur's private study, the east wing, and even the top of the observatory spire, the only place left was the secluded west wing, but after few minutes of running they didn't find anything.
" Haa... I'm tired should we give uo sister?"
" Not yet Brother... Hmm... Oh wait isn't there a hidden room in the east wing?"
"You mean... Sister Celestyne's room?"
"... Yeah I think it might be possible for that room"
Then they went running towards the east wing as they crept down the final hallway of the east wing, Alexander suddenly stopped and grabbed Hestia's arm, pulling her behind an empty guest room door.
Three maids were walking down the hall, carrying large woven baskets of fresh laundry.
"Did you see them?" one of the maids giggled, her voice hushed but excited.
"Young Master Alexander is so incredibly handsome! And Young Lady Hestia is so pretty! They all look so beautiful and elegant."
Another maid sighed dreamily. "Yes, they are. His Grace the Duke is also extremely handsome, and Young Masters Adam and Liam are adorable."
"No, you're both wrong," the third maid, spoke up proudly, shaking her head. "The most beautiful person in this family isn't any of them."
The two maids stopped walking, looking confused. "Who, then?"
"The hidden Young Master, of course," she whispered, looking around nervously.
"Even though none of you have ever seen him up close, I have actually . Hehe~ He is like a porcelain doll. He has pale skin like a porcelain doll and beautiful silver hair that fades into a vibrant green gradient at the tips. But it's his eyes... he has the most magnificent crystal purple eyes!"
"Purple?" the first maid gasped. "But what happened to him? Why is he hidden?"
The Maid's voice instantly turned incredibly sad. "I found him coughing up blood last year... I was far away but I've seen what happened" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
"Even though a Physician helped him, I still saw how frighteningly pale and weak he was. It breaks my heart... he is the most beautiful child I have ever seen, but he is suffering so much."
Hidden behind the door, the twins froze completely.
'Violet eyes?'
They had never seen or heard of that in their family's history.
The entire von Nocte bloodline possessed two absolute, unyielding traits.
Silver hair and blue crystal eyes, It was considered impossible for another color to manifest. Yet, according to the maid, their nephew had the same crystalline eyes, just a completely different hue.
And, more devastatingly, the maids had just confirmed that the darkest rumors were entirely true... the child was severely, painfully sick.
As the maids moved down the hall and disappeared into the laundry room, the twins stepped out from their hiding spot. They exchanged a heavy, resolute glance and continued down the hallway.
A few minutes later, they finally reached the very last door in the east wing.
Both of them was now nervous will they finally find the child they kept thinking for the past six years? Will they finally meet that child? Is he really alive? They both thought but for now they needed to find out where he is and this might be their last place to find.
Alexander knocked softly and for a few minutes there was no answer.
Hestia tried the handle, but it was firmly locked.
"... It's lock... Brother"
"Yeah I know. "
Alexander stepped forward, his eyes flashing with determination. He raised his hand, forming a complex, silent magic circle over the keyhole.
With a quiet click, the heavy locking mechanism disengaged.
Alexander slowly pushed the door open, and they both looked inside.
They were completely shocked.
The maid had been absolutely correct. Sitting in a plush armchair by the window, holding a thick book, was a small child.
He had shoulder-length silver hair that shifted into a striking, vibrant green gradient at the tips. His skin... was as pale and flawless as porcelain, but it was his eyes that stole their breath... it was stunning, emotionless violet crystal eyes staring directly at them.
For a brief, staggering second, the twins actually thought he was a literal doll placed in the chair.
But then, the child blinked.
He slowly, calmly closed his book, stood up...
walked directly toward a massive wooden closet on the other side of the room, stepped inside, and began pulling the door shut.
The twins snapped out of their shock.
"Wait! Don't! Please, don't close the door!"
Hestia yelped, lunging forward and grabbing the edge of the closet door just before it clicked shut.
"We are your Aunt and Uncle!"
Inside the dark closet, the boy just stared at them and kept pulling on the handle, desperately trying to shut them out.
***
'Damn it... Just how incredibly bad is my luck today?'
Fainyx thought, gripping the inside handle of the closet door.
He had just been minding his own business, reading a book, when he heard the knock. He had assumed it was Estrella coming early to check on him.
But when he felt foreign mana actively unlocking his door, he had panicked.
He had stared at the two Academy prodigies standing in his doorway, his mind racing.
' How did they know which room I was in!?
...They shouldn't have known unless they interrogated someone, or they literally checked every single door in the mansion! '
Deciding that complete avoidance was the best strategy, Fainyx had calmly walked over to his closet and stepped inside.
'Alright folks, I'm just going to hide in here until you leave.'
But before he could pull it shut, Hestia and Alexander had grabbed the door, pulling against him.
"We are your Aunt and Uncle! We aren't strangers!" Hestia pleaded.
'That is exactly why I want to close this closet! I don't want to meet you!'
Fainyx thought frantically, pulling as hard as he could. But because of his frail, six-year-old body, he simply couldn't exert enough physical strength to overcome a swordmaster prodigy.
The closet door remained cracked open.
Fainyx let go of the handle and sighed heavily in his mind.
'Man... curse this body for the physical debuff.'
He stood in the shadows of the closet, refusing to come out. He didn't want to deal with them, especially after seeing how terrifyingly clingy they were with Adam and Liam in the courtyard.
Outside the closet, the twins began whispering to each other.
Unfortunately for them, Fainyx could hear every single word.
"What shall we do, Brother?" Hestia whispered anxiously. "He's so shy and weak! How do we calm him down and get him to come out?"
"I don't know either, Sister..." Alexander murmured, sounding just as stressed. "Shall we call Brother Arthur?"
"No! Are you crazy!? If we call him, he might ban us from ever meeting this angel again!"
' Angel? ' Fainyx thought, his violet eyes flat. ' How in the world am I an angel? '
"He is indeed severely sick..." Hestia's voice dropped, filled with genuine sorrow. "Did you see his skin? He was so incredibly pale..."
"Yeah..." Alexander agreed, looking down at his hands. "And also, how weak he was when he tried to close the door against us..."
"Okay, let's just try to make him like us first," Hestia resolved.
"I completely agree..."
The twins crouched down in front of the cracked closet door, plastering massive, gentle smiles across their faces.
"Hello there!" Hestia cooed, trying to sound as unthreatening as possible. "What is your name, sweetie? How old are you? Do you like reading books?"
Fainyx stared at them through the crack. He didn't say a single word. He didn't even blink.
The twins maintained their strained smiles, but Fainyx began to panic internally.
'How am I even supposed to communicate with them? My notebook is all the way over on the desk!'
Realizing that hiding in the closet was only making the situation more awkward, Fainyx let out a quiet internal sigh. He pushed the closet door open and stepped out.
The twins watched in shock as the small child walked silently past them, went straight to the desk, and pulled out a small notebook and a pencil.
He scribbled quickly on the paper and turned around, holding it up for them to see.
It was written in impeccably neat, aristocratic handwriting.
[ I apologize, as I cannot speak. I am Fainyx von Nocte. As I have heard you are my Aunt and Uncle, I greet you both. ]
Fainyx offered them a flawless, polite and formal text and he bowed.
Alexander and Hestia froze completely.
' He... he's so CUTE!! ' both of them screamed in their minds at the exact same time.
'How can a single child be this incredibly cute!? '
Hestia thought, practically squealing internally as she stared at the polite, silent boy.
Beside her, Alexander was experiencing the exact same overwhelming wave of adoration for his youngest nephew.
Fainyx straightened up from his bow, looking at them blankly. The room had fallen dead silent.
'... Why are they silent is my greetings bad?' he thought as he is now suddenly worried about his etiquette, he never really greeted someone since he don't go outside for the past three years.
Suddenly, a blur of motion crossed the room. Hestia lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Fainyx in a crushing, suffocating hug.
"Aw~! You are so cute! So your name is Fainyx! It is so wonderful to finally meet you~! "
Hestia babbled happily, squeezing him tightly.
"I am Hestia, and this boring guy is my twin brother, Alexander! You can just call him Uncle Alex for short, and you can call me Aunty Tia! Kyaa~, you are just so adorable! How did your hair get that amazing gradient? And look at your purple eyes! They are beautiful~ it's like purple diamonds!"
Fainyx's face was shoved against her chest... He was genuinely suffocating. If she kept this up, his frail body was actually going to pass out.
"Sister, stop," Alexander said quickly, stepping forward and placing a hand on Hestia's shoulder. "You are hugging him too hard. You are suffocating him."
Hestia gasped, immediately letting go and backing away. "Oh my goodness, I am so sorry! I apologize!"
Fainyx let out a wheezing sigh, straightening his clothes. He then looked towards them then, he gestured politely toward the plush sofas across from him, offering them a seat.
The twins immediately sat down on the sofas the exact same sofas Adam and Liam usually occupied when they refused to leave Fainyx alone. He then sat infront of them in another seat
....
...
..
Silence descended upon the room.
Nobody spoke.
Fainyx sat in his chair, staring at them, completely unsure of what to do.
'I actually thought that if I just stayed in my room, I wouldn't have to meet them at all... But to think they literally broke into my room... I wonder what possessed them to seek me out.'
Fainyx looked at his Aunt Hestia. He blinked in surprise. He suddenly realized her face is all crumbled up her eyes are now suddenly red, like she was about to cry.
She was... crying?
Tears were silently streaming down Hestia's cheeks.
"Hic... I... I'm just so glad..." Hestia choked out, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I thought I would never get to see her again..."
Looking at Fainyx's face made her remember something, memories were violently rushing back to her. She remembered a beautiful lady with olive-green hair and bright violet eyes, laughing in the estate gardens...
She remembered the sweet homemade desserts... the gentle hugs... and the warmth that Celestyne had brought to their cold family.
Hestia couldn't hold it back. She stood up and gently wrapped her arms around Fainyx again, though this time, the hug was incredibly soft and loose.
Sitting on the sofa, Alexander was silently tearing up as well.
As they looked at Fainyx, they saw Celestyne... But what broke their hearts entirely was that Fainyx possessed none of the bright, warm emotion his mother had always carried. His violet eyes were entirely empty.
A profound, crushing sadness washed over the twins. To think their sister-in-law had died immediately after giving birth, leaving this child to grow up without ever knowing his mother's warmth. And to know that this small, beautiful boy was currently suffering from a terrifying, painful illness...
'How can a child have to suffer this much?'
They both thought, tears falling freely.
Hestia continued to softly hug the boy, weeping quietly into his hair.
Fainyx sat perfectly still in her embrace, staring blankly over her shoulder at the crying Alexander. He had absolutely no idea how to handle this highly emotional family drama.
'Well...' Fainyx sighed deeply in his mind, closing his eyes. 'This is going to give me a massive headache.'