Outside, the birds chirped with a sickening cheerfulness. To any observer, the Ruohan Residence was a sanctuary of grace and laughter, but inside his quarters, Zaliyah felt like he was rotting.
He kicked at his silk sheets, bolting upright as if a needle had pierced his skin. His morning face was sour a look one might wear when greeted by a foul stench. He dragged himself to the mirror, his breath hitching.
"Great," he muttered, tracing the dark, heavy circles beneath his eyes. "It's getting worse."
In the bronze mirror, a "hanged ghost" stared back at him. He tried to stretch his jaw into a smile, but the muscles felt foreign. "Shit, this is difficult" he said as he combed his disheveled white hair, frantically twisting it into a bun.
His fingers brushed his ears, and he recoiled. Since he'd turned fifteen, they had grown sharper, pointier a silent, physical confession of his taboo blood.
How can I trim my hair, Mother? he thought bitterly. It's the only thing shading these ears.
Zaliyah had known he was a curse since he was five years old. He remembered the market whispers Is it human? Why is it so pale? and the children who called him an "old man in a boy's body." Their mothers had pulled them away as if his "ghost" status was contagious.
"I really do have a knack for sadness," he sighed, his reflection blurring with resentment. "Thinking of such rot on a sunny day."
"Zaliyah. I missed you."
The voice was a soothing balm, low and steady. Zaliyah's lips curled upward before he could stop them. Even in death, he would know that voice.
Karas
A tall man leaned against the floral-patterned wall, his black hair tied back in a neat ponytail.
He walked with a quiet, predatory confidence, his piercing blue eyes shimmering with an empathy that felt almost painful to look at. Karas didn't wait for an invitation ,he crossed the room and took Zaliyah's hand
"I missed you," Karas repeated.
Zaliyah couldn't meet his gaze. He stared at the mirror as Karas stepped behind him, wrapping his arms around Zaliyah's waist and leaning his chin on his shoulder.
The movement caused Zaliyah's bun to unravel, his white hair cascading down his back.
"Now look what you've caused,"
Zaliyah snapped, though the roll of his eyes lacked any real venom.
Karas didn't apologize. He leaned in, inhaling the scent of Zaliyah's hair honey and lilies and ran a hand through the white silk.
"You've gotten paler," he whispered, his eyes lingering on the pulse in Zaliyah's neck. "How about a stroll?"
"Okay," Zaliyah muttered, his hand instinctively patting Karas's head a gesture of comfort he gave to very few.
The door burst open. Riru marched in, her footsteps echoing like a drumroll. She took one look at the two men Karas clinging to Zaliyah like a newborn to its mother and crossed her arms.
"I searched everywhere," she huffed, her doe eyes sparking with annoyance. "I should have known you'd be here, elder Brother Karas, clinging to Brother Zi like a cub."
Karas flashed a warm, unabashed smile. "Is that so? Am I troubling you, Ri?"
"You're troubling brother Zi!" she countered. "Look at you. You're a grown man."
Zaliyah let out a rare, genuine laugh.
"Riru is being generous calling you a cub. You're more of a kitten.
Riru's annoyance broke into a loud, careless laugh that could likely be heard at the estate gates.
"Take your age into consideration, elder brother! Brother Zi must be exhausted from carrying your weight all the time.
Karas let his head droop onto Zaliyah's shoulder in mock embarrassment, playing the part of a scolded puppy perfectly.
But when Zaliyah whispered, "It's okay, I missed you too," Karas's grip only tightened.
"The gifts," Karas reminded her softly.
Solar entered the room, leading a procession of maids carrying silk-wrapped bundles.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. The maids' faces were masks of shock and thinly veiled disgust at the sight of the two "brothers" in such an intimate embrace.
Riru noticed their judgment and leveled a piercing, icy glare at them until they shrank back, eyes glued to the floor.
Karas released Zaliyah and unveiled a gift a medieval fan of carved ivory and delicate silk, engraved with intricate floral patterns.
"A token of my affection," Karas said.
Zaliyah traced the ivory. "I'm happy."
"It looks like it cost an arm and a leg," Riru joked, though her eyes were narrowed at the sheer volume of gifts her brother brought for Zaliyah compared to her own single hairpin.
"Your room is going to become a warehouse soon, Brother Zi."
"I wouldn't mind a warehouse full of Karas's gifts," Zaliyah replied sarcastically, though the light in his eyes was real.
But the light died when Riru spoke again. "Oh, that reminds me. Mother said to be prepared. The annual family dinner is fast approaching."
Zaliyah's smile vanished. The family dinner, where his "otherness" would be under the microscope of the entire Ruohan clan. Karas immediately took his hand, squeezing it in a silent promise of protection.
The maids stood frozen, their faces pale as Riru turned to leave. "Hurry up. The maids are here to give him his bath."
"No need," Karas muttered, his blue eyes turning cool as he looked at the servants. "I'll do it myself."
The silence that followed was deafening. The maids looked as if they might faint the Young Lord bathing the Young Master? It was unheard of. Scandalous. Immoral.
"Whatever," Riru said, waving a hand as she marched out. "Do what you want. I'm leaving."
As the door clicked shut behind the retreating maids, Zaliyah looked at Karas.
The Gilded Cage was getting smaller, and the darkness outside was calling.