It was nine in the morning. The sound of his quick steps echoed through the corridor. The servants standing here and there bowed to him as he passed, and he gave them a brief nod before hurrying toward a room at the end of the hallway. Without a moment's hesitation, he pushed the door open with force, as if ready to pounce on whoever was inside. As soon as he entered, the sight of the gloomy and dark room irritated him. He moved swiftly to the window, pulled the curtains aside, and opened it with such force that it seemed he might break it. 

"Get out of my room and close that window. I have no desire to get up," a voice grumbled from within. 

He turned toward the speaker, shaking his head in frustration. "Get out from under the covers," he demanded. 

There was no response. The person under the blanket remained motionless, refusing to rise. Annoyed, he approached the bed and yanked the blanket away. 

"Kylos, leave me alone. Can't I sleep for just one more hour?" the man in the bed complained. 

"Evering, my brother, you are the ruler of Cassial. You must get up. What’s happening to you? Why are you like this? What is this situation?" 

Evering buried his head under the pillow, trying to return to sleep, mumbling softly, "What situation? I'm fine." 

"Kylos scoffed, "Fine? Brother, look at yourself. You’re pale. You’re always either sitting alone in your office or sleeping most of the time. Your wife and son… you don’t even speak to them enough. Your son is currently on a campaign. Some bandits sent by one of the kingdoms to the south of Cassial. He went with an army under his command to capture them. Did you even know that?" 

"Yes… yes, he told me yesterday before he left." 

Kylos rubbed his face with his hands, then snatched the pillow from his brother’s head and threw it to the floor. 

Evering opened his eyes with difficulty. His long blond hair and violet eyes, a face so gentle and beloved—this was his dear brother, but now he looked at him with a scowl. 

"Brother Kal, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you so angry?" Evering slowly got out of bed, standing to face his brother. 

Kylos looked at Evering's face, those violet eyes that symbolized the Cassial family, and his beautiful golden blond hair. He knew his brother was carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders. 

"Evran, I know this is hard for you, but it’s not your fault." 

They were used to shortening each other's names. 

"What do you mean? I don’t understand." 

"The disappearance of our brother, Demic, and our cousin, Alan, 35 years ago, and our father’s sudden passing, and then our other cousin, Kilian, fleeing—it’s all destined. It would have happened regardless. Brother, please, hold yourself together." 

Kylos stepped closer, gently taking his brother’s face in his hands. 

"Brother, you are the hope of Cassial. Under your reign, Cassial has experienced unprecedented prosperity, flourishing and advancing as never before. But you, in return, have withered away each day because of the loss of our siblings. I promise you, I’ve been searching for them for a long time. I feel I will find them soon. Now, brother, you will get up, go for a walk in the garden, and think of a way to make Yursina forgive you." 

"Is she angry? I don’t see why." 

Kylos stepped away, anger flashing in his eyes. "What? Brother, you must be joking. She’s your wife. When was the last time you talked to her about something other than work?… It’s become rare to even see you sleep here in your room. Do you know how many times I’ve carried you back here from that damn office while you were asleep?" 

"Kal, my dear, don’t you think you’re meddling in things that don’t concern you?" 

"Evran, if it weren’t for the loyal servants, rumors would have spread everywhere, and countless talks would’ve arisen about you neglecting your wife. Oh, poor Yursina. If she were anyone else, she would have either divorced you or at the very least cheated on you by now." 

"Dear… Brother, do you want me to strangle you?" 

"Haha, no. Now go change your clothes." 

"I haven’t neglected her; it’s just that we don’t talk much anymore." 

"Ha… yes, yes, that’s true. As if I don’t know you… You’re distancing yourself from all of us. Sometimes I feel like you’re hiding something from us." 

"Your Highnesses, may I come in?" a voice interrupted them. 

A man stood at the open door, his long platinum hair tied with a ribbon at the end, greenish-yellow eyes framed by round glasses that did nothing to hide the beauty of his face. It was Kritos, the Emperor’s personal aide, who occasionally served as the head steward for the royal family. 

"Kris, come in," Evering permitted. 

Kritos entered the room and bowed. "My respects, Your Highnesses. Your humble servant is at your service." 

"Rise, Kris. I’m glad you’re here. Would you help my brother get ready? Make sure he bathes and prepare him to leave this dreadful room. Once he’s out, have the servants clean it thoroughly, keep the windows open, and most importantly, no one enters this room today. That’s an order." 

Kritos placed a hand on his chest and nodded respectfully. "As you command, Your Highness Kairos." 

"I’m the ruler here, not Kal," Evering interjected. 

"Evry, follow the orders, or I’ll make you," Kairos said with a grin. 

"Fine, fine, just leave already. You’ve been annoying me since morning. Close the door behind you." 

Kylos left, and Kritos went to prepare the bath while Evering stood on the balcony in his nightclothes, breathing in some fresh air. He felt like he needed it. The sky was beautiful that day. Strange that he noticed it like this for the first time in so long. Why? 

"Why? Has the sky always been this beautiful?" 

His eyes fell on the palace garden, and there she was. Her long black hair and blue eyes reminded him of the sky's blueness on this beautiful day. Her blue dress was lovely and suited her eyes perfectly. Ah, Yursina… Ah, Yursina, how I loved you… but… 

His thoughts were interrupted by Kritos’ voice. "Your Highness, the bath is ready." 

Evering brushed off his thoughts and headed to the bath. After he finished, Kritos helped him dress. 

"Your Highness, please sit. I’ll comb your hair," Kritos offered. 

Evering smiled and didn’t refuse. He felt like it was a good day to accept some help. 

Kritos began combing his hair gently. "Your Highness, are you alright?" 

"Why does everyone ask the same thing?" Evering sighed. 

"Your Highness, I’m your humble servant. Your well-being matters to me more than anything." 

"Kris, my boy, you’re our child. You’ve grown up before my eyes and those of my brothers. After your father died, why do you still act so formally with us? Do you still not see us as your family?" 

"Your Highness, you are my only family. That’s why your health matters to me. None of us wants to lose you. You are the sun of Cassial. It’s my greatest honor to be your personal aide. My late father was the head steward in the palace, and I’m happy to continue his work. You were the one who raised this humble servant and made him your companion." 

Evering stood up from his chair and looked at Kritos. "My boy, please, stop this. Alright, I’ll go see my father now. Don’t follow me, agreed?" 

Kritos playfully tousled his own hair as he smiled and left the room. 

"Ah, Your Highness… there’s something you’re hiding from us," Kritos thought to himself. 

Evering walked out of the palace and strolled through the garden until he reached a large and beautiful building. He opened the door; the entire place was pristine white, and at the center lay a large glass coffin. He closed the door behind him and approached the tomb with heavy steps. He collapsed to his knees without even realizing it, staring at his father’s body, covered in white tulip flowers. His eyes were closed as if in a deep sleep. Looking at his father’s face was like looking in a mirror. Evering was the most similar to his father among his brothers. 

He wiped the glass of the tomb with his hand, as if he were trying to touch his father.

--- 

"Father... please, why did you leave me? I... I'm truly helpless, Father. I haven't found my brothers yet, and that fool Kilian... he escaped as well. Ever since his escape, Uncle Johann has fallen into a strange depression... Father, I couldn't be a good father like you, or even a good husband... Father, I'm dying. 

Yes, Father, I haven't told anyone. My heart is very weak; it's only a matter of time. The Cassials don't age, they don't grow old, they don't show signs of aging or gray hair... haha, would you believe it? I've found a few white hairs. I cover them with magic. If my brothers knew, they would be devastated. I've been avoiding my wife for a long time, afraid she might discover my condition. Or maybe... she'll not care if I die... hahaha, Father, I can hear you cursing me now. I know this is wrong, but I can't do anything about it. My stepmother—Demic's mother—before her execution, she cursed me with magic that struck my heart. It seems it never healed. That damned witch, Isolda—I wish I could kill her again..." 

His words were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.

He wiped the glass of the tomb with his hand, as if trying to touch his father. 

His words were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. 

"Brother..." 

"Elias, how are you?" 

Long, icy blue hair cascaded over his shoulders, his tall and broad frame draped in white clothing and a blue cloak. His eyes, silver like those of his mother, gazed softly at Evering. 

"I miss our father too... Cassius wasn't my biological father, but since he married our mother, he was the only father I ever knew. He held me in his arms when I was a child, stayed by my side when I was sick, and even when our mother Valeria was killed, he never abandoned me. Even your brothers treated me as one of their own." 

Evering smiled and extended his hand to help Elias up. 

Evering had this habit of ruffling his brothers' hair, and he did so now, running his fingers through Elias's hair. 

"Brother, you messed up my hair." 

"Hahaha, you look better this way, hahaha." 

"Wait, Ivi, do you hear that sound?" 

"It's the sound of Kylos. Why is he shouting like that?" 

"Evering... Evering...." 

Kylos burst through the door, the sky behind him darkened, indicating Evering had been there longer than he realized. Kylos was panting heavily. 

"Brother... I found them... they’re here..." 

"What... what? Repeat what you just said." 

"Demic and Alan... they’re in the palace... they’re safe. I found them... I mean, Kilian found them." 

"What? Kilian? Is he with you?" 

"No... no. He ran away again." 

Evering lost his balance, and Elias quickly caught him. 

"Brother, steady yourself, please." 

"Take me to them, quickly." 

The three of them rushed to the palace where their long-lost brothers lay unconscious. Questions swirled in Evering’s mind—how, where, why? He couldn't focus, he didn't even know how they got there. His hands trembled as he reached for the door handle, where the two brothers lay. 

Finally, he opened the door... 

To be continued.