01 | The Cursed Child

The manor appeared to swallow Kieran in darkness. He could feel the dampness of the carpet beneath his shoes. Dark spots adorned the thick carpet lining the walls, and red stains marred the family portraits. The metallic scent of blood lingered in the air.

The creaking of the wood from the family room fireplace only reminded Kieran of how silent the manor was. He promptly ascended the stairs, trying not to dwell on why the banister felt rough and dusty in his hands.

Then he saw the family room door wide open. A small fire in the fireplace greeted him, along with his parents' clasped hands as they leaned back in their comfortable chairs.

Kieran breathed a sigh of relief. "Pa, Ma, I brought a souvenir from Grandma's..." He pulled out a box of cookies from the paper bag he held while briskly walking towards his parents' warm chairs. His words were interrupted as the connection of their clasped hands broke, and they slumped lifelessly. Kieran's gaze lifted, noting his mother's excessively pale face, in stark contrast to the dried bloodstains on her neck and nearly the entire surface of her white dress.

The box of cookies slipped from Kieran's hand. He jerked around to look at his father, only to find that his condition was no better than his mother's.

Kieran's lips quivered. He took a step back towards the fireplace to get a clearer view of his parents. "Pa." His throat tightened. Tears blurred his vision as the two figures remained motionless. "Ma."

Suddenly, his foot was touched by someone. Kieran stooped down and saw the face of the maid, her entire visage covered in blood.

"Y-young master Kieran... Run!"

***

Kieran brushed away the black hair falling on his forehead. The temperature in the city of Umbravale was exceptionally low, yet his body was covered in sweat, leaving him slightly disoriented. Faintly, he could hear the chirping of birds outside the window and the laughter of children in the dining hall of the Umbravale Orphanage. However, as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw Mother Superior Eliora sitting at the edge of his bed. Her warm hands gently touched Kieran's ankle.

"Kieran," the woman called again. "Freshen up quickly. The train will depart shortly. We can have breakfast on the train later!"

Half an hour later, the two of them were seated side by side in the economy class of the train departing from the city of Umbravale to the city of Valorus, the capital of the Valorthorn region. There was nothing particularly remarkable about the train, except for the fact that the train attendants wore uniforms of a different color than the previous year.

"It feels strange, doesn't it? Last year, this route included an international journey," Eliora whispered softly. The woman gently stroked the hair of her little daughter, who was sound asleep on her lap. Kieran noticed the small girl wearing a white gold necklace that formed a name. Lunabelle.

Many rumors circulate about Lunabelle's presence, with people unaware of who her father is. Yet, much like the undeniable fact of Umbravale city forcibly taken by Valorthorn from Varidianth, Kieran remains indifferent to the gossip surrounding others' domestic secrets. To him, Eliora and Lunabelle have become a mother and sister who have cared for him throughout the past year since that dark incident.

"Kieran?"

Kieran cleared the darkness from his expression before gazing at Eliora. "Yes, Eliora?"

The wind gently blew through Eliora's hair, akin to cotton candy. Her hand reached out, holding something wrapped in black satin and a dark blue ribbon. The object felt heavy as Eliora placed it in Kieran's palm. "Happy birthday, Kieran," Eliora whispered softly. "If your parents could see you now, at 17, they would surely be immensely proud."

As Eliora pulled the ribbon and unfolded the black satin, Kieran forgot to breathe. Something moved strangely in his chest, rising to his throat, making him feel choked up. The blade of the dagger, half wrapped in satin, gleamed amidst the dust and light in the carriage. The emblem of two crossed swords beautifully engraved on the hilt. An emblem that Kieran knew every corner and curve of. The Nyxshade family emblem.

"Eliora, this—"

"I was shopping at the market when I saw that dagger being sold in the weapon shop," Eliora explained. "I didn't know what blessings you would receive on your seventeenth birthday, Kieran, so it's too early to give you a dagger. But I'm sure you'd want to feel the presence of both your parents during the blessing ceremony later."

Kieran couldn't find the words he wanted to say, leaving Eliora gaping. "Oh, my. That's true. The dagger might not have belonged to your father. It could have been the guard who wore it," exclaimed the woman.

"No," Kieran gripped the hilt of the dagger tightly. "My mother was a blacksmith. She crafted all the weapons at home. Thank you, Eliora. I can't find words of gratitude worthy enough for how moved I am."

Eliora flashed a smile. "Whatever blessings you receive, and whatever path you choose in the future, you must know I'll always await your visits to the orphanage."

Kieran grinned wistfully. "Eliora, now I feel like I'm being kicked out."

***

"Because today coincides with the birthday of Princess Emmeline Purplesong, her blessing ceremony is being held at the Lotus Palace." Behind the luxurious invitation Eliora was reading, Kieran could imagine the woman furrowing her brow. "Every teenage attendee will receive a weapon gift corresponding to the blessing they receive. Well, you're quite fortunate to be born on the same date as Princess Emmeline, Kieran."

Kieran merely smiled faintly. He gazed out of the carriage window, observing the luxurious houses lining the road to the Lotus Palace. In his lifetime, he had only visited the palace once with his father, the Duke of Umbravale, who always maintained peace between the Varidianth and Valorthorn regions. However, the palace had originally been a gift from the Valorthorn kingdom to the Crown Princess, Silvanna. A year ago, rumors circulated that Silvanna disappeared after Umbravale was hit by an outbreak and invaded by the Valorthorn army. The peace between Varidianth and Valorthorn crumbled with the deaths of the Crown Princess and Kieran's father.

After Umbravale was seized by Valorthorn, along with all the assets owned by the Nyxshade family, Kieran's heart grew too cold to follow world politics. He cared little if Crown Prince Vikrant Nightcrown intended to marry a new girl just one year after the death of Princess Silvanna.

"I hope the kitchen prepares strawberry roll cakes," Eliora suddenly remarked.

Kieran raised his head. "Have you visited the Lotus Palace before?" In his mind, a perfect image of strawberry roll cake slices always served at the Lotus Palace emerged.

"Not yet," Eliora smiled cheerfully as she tucked the invitation into her handbag. "But Lunabelle likes strawberry roll cakes. She'd be delighted to have some strawberry roll cake when we return to the inn."

"I feel guilty leaving Lunabelle alone at the inn. Will she be okay?" Kieran sighed.

"Don't worry, she'll be just fine." A faint sad smile appeared on Eliora's face. "Though she can't see, she's a bright and lively girl. Just like her father."

Kieran wanted to inquire more about Eliora's family before she came to the orphanage, but suddenly, she peered out of the window and exclaimed, "Oh, we've arrived!"

Kieran quickly dismounted from the carriage, almost dizzy as he stepped onto the ivory-white marble that adorned the outer courtyard of the palace. The day was well into the afternoon, but Kieran felt no hunger at all. Instead, he was tense as Eliora pulled him towards a gatekeeper.

"This child will be blessed today," Eliora said, handing over the birth certificates, their identification cards, and the official invitation from the Purplesong family.

The gatekeeper wore the distinctive red and black official uniform of the Valorthorn kingdom. His sword, crafted from gleaming silver, reflected the sunlight and magic. A skilled magic sword wielder, Kieran thought. But his intuition soured as he observed the furrow on the gatekeeper's forehead while reading Kieran's birth certificate and their identification cards.

"Sorry, Madam," the gatekeeper said as he returned their documents. "Your identification cards are fake. And you're not the biological parent of this child. You're not allowed to enter."

"It's impossible. I am the headmother of Umbravale Orphanage, where this child was raised!" Eliora protested. "My identification card is not fake either!"

The gatekeeper stared at Eliora and Kieran. His expression indicated he was weary of the same situation. "Don't trouble us, Madam," he retorted. "You can be arrested on charges of trespassing into the palace and endangering the Crown Princess."

"What?" Eliora's voice rose in surprise. She stared at the gatekeeper in disbelief. "You can contact the government office. I am indeed the headmother of the orphanage."

The gatekeeper waved his hand. "Begone, Madam. And you, come inside, young one. The Crown Princess's entourage will be entering the gate shortly. Madam, I hope you can clear away from here."

"Hey, you can't be rough with a woman like that!" The words leaped out of Kieran's mouth. He stared at the gatekeeper coldly. "Isn't that breaking the rules set by Princess Silvanna?" He still remembered the figure of the Crown Princess, always concealed behind her simple flowing gown and a veil covering her hair and kind-hearted face. "Princess Silvanna would be disappointed to see her guard acting like this."

"Begone, young one." The gatekeeper gripped Kieran's arm and pushed him through the gate. "You're making my job difficult."

Kieran staggered and nearly fell flat when his body was caught by someone. He looked at the person from head to toe, realizing that it was a middle-aged official palace knight who helped him. No, it was the golden quiver slung over the man's shoulder that told Kieran the person was a General.

"What is happening?" the general barked. "Quick, have these two enter. The Purplesong family entourage will arrive shortly!"

"I cannot let this fraudulent woman enter the palace, General." The guard snatched back the documents from Eliora's hand and handed them to the General. "You can verify that this woman's identification card is fake."

"She is the headmother of the orphanage where I reside." Kieran stepped forward to the General. "Please allow her entry as my guardian."

The General didn't listen, merely reading the important documents in his hands carefully. His expression remained unreadable, but Kieran could see his pupils dilate. After finishing reading, the General approached Eliora with a stern and unfriendly gesture. His hand promptly returned the crucial documents.

"Enter, Mrs. Eliora. I will personally escort you to the sacred garden."

"General Griffin!" The gatekeeper objected.

"Be silent," the General retorted coldly. "Fake identities are often crafted by women who are divorced from their husbands. Everything seems normal to me."

General Griffin grasped Eliora's hand, his grip causing her to wince. "Thank you, General," Eliora whispered softly as the General led her through the gate. "But we can find our way to the garden on our own."

Instantly, General Griffin released his grip. "Is that so? As if you know this place so well, huh?"

Very cynical, thought Kieran silently. But he remained quiet, acknowledging that the man had helped both him and Eliora.

"We haven't been here before, General," Eliora rubbed her wrist. "But the invitation also included a map of where the Sacred Garden is located. We can find our way there, no problem."

For a magically suspended moment, the General stared at Eliora and Kieran interchangeably. Then he smiled at Kieran. "I hope you inherit the magical dagger talent like Mr. Xavian Nyxshade."

Kieran's eyes widened upon hearing a name he hadn't heard in a long time. "You know my father?" he asked, almost disbelieving.

The General smiled bitterly. "I even fell in love with your mother," he said, whether joking or serious. "Now, go to the Sacred Garden."

As the General walked away towards the gate, Eliora frowned. "Does that make sense? Your mother lived in Varidianth in her maiden years."

"Not true." Kieran rubbed the dagger hidden beneath his cloak as he walked toward the Sacred Garden. A smile formed on his lips. "My mother was born and raised in the city of Valorus before meeting my father."

"Wow," Eliora scratched her neck awkwardly, slowing her steps among the scattered white rose petals along the path leading to the Sacred Garden. "I didn't know your mother was born in this city, just like me."

Kieran chuckled. "Well, that news did catch me off guard."

They arrived at the Sacred Garden, a circular field surrounded by lush, colorful rose bushes. The garden was arranged with many chairs for the guests and a stage where the Highest Priest sat in his chair. In the old man's hands was a sacred book that was said to awaken the powers of those who had reached the age of 17. Behind the stage, there was a long table filled with various beautiful and shimmering weapons. Strangely, Kieran noticed a long dusty box placed at the end of the table. The box appeared contrasting amid all the clean and gleaming weapons.

"Kieran, come on!" Eliora pulled Kieran's hand. They quickly took their seats, the closest ones available.

Kieran observed his surroundings anxiously. Many families had already arrived with their children to be blessed today. They were all dressed in new and fashionable formal attire, a stark contrast to the worn-out robe Kieran was wearing.

"The arrival of Princess Emmeline Purplesong!" Someone announced the proclamation loudly. All the people immediately stood up from their seats, watching the small procession of knights and a general who had assisted Kieran walking along the pathway. A little girl wearing a red-gold gown walked in the midst of the knights, her corn-colored hair beautifully woven above her shoulders. Her gentle, kind eyes radiated warmth.

"Is she the replacement for Princess Silvanna?" someone behind Kieran remarked. "Isn't she too young and inexperienced compared to Princess Silvanna?"

"Yes, but only her family is on par with Princess Silvanna's family."

"Isn't it ridiculous to match such a young girl with Prince Vikrant?"

"Hush!"

Kieran remained silent. He observed the procession passing in front of him. However, suddenly, Princess Emmeline glanced at him, and Kieran was certain those lips smiled slyly at him. In a blink of an eye, the smile disappeared, replaced by the innocent and pure expression it had before.

"I must have been mistaken," thought Kieran. He sat back in his chair, his gaze following Princess Emmeline as she ascended the stage and faced the Highest Priest.

"Emmeline of the Purplesong family," Highest Priest pronounced her name with his soft and slightly trembling voice. Then his lips murmured quickly, reciting an incantation that made the pages of the holy book in his hands move wildly. When the movement of the book ceased on a particular page, Highest Priest read with delight, "Blessed with the talent of the magic wand!"

Emmeline covered her mouth with both hands and fell to her knees. "Thank you, Highest Priest!" she exclaimed. Applause filled the air as a knight presented a beautifully crafted wand made of clusters of diamonds to the girl.

The Highest Priest nodded solemnly. "With this, you are officially the Crown Princess of the Valorthorn realm, Princess Emmeline."

After Princess Emmeline descended from the stage and took her seat in the special row at the front, other children began to be blessed one by one. Finally, it was Kieran's turn, deliberately placed last due to his status as a citizen of Umbravale.

"Kieran Nyxshade," uttered the Highest Priest as Kieran stood before him. The old man began reciting an incantation, once again revealing the pages of the sacred book. When the movement halted on a dark page with a single word, the Highest Priest was taken aback. His eyes widened as he stared at Kieran.

"Your Holiness, is something wrong?" Eliora asked cautiously.

The Highest Priest continued to gaze at him for a long moment, and Kieran could sense the anger burning in those aged eyes. "Kieran Nyxshade. You are a cursed child!"