Sister's love (1)

After lying on the floor for several hours, Raphael finally woke up. The headache returned, but this time it wasn't sharp like before; it was more of a dull ache, the kind you get after sleeping too long.

It felt like waking up after an overly long rest, when your head feels heavy, and the world around you is slightly blurry.

The boy glanced at the cut on his arm, which had already begun to heal, though it was still deep. Raphael yawned wearily.

— What a strange day... I wonder if anyone else has ever had a conversation with their alter ego? This must be what it feels like to be a patient in a mental hospital.

He lay there motionless for a few more minutes, pondering the dialogue—or was it a monologue?—with his dark self.

— I wonder what time it is?

The question wasn't random. When Raphael first woke up after his regression, it was bright outside, clearly morning. Now, the orange glow of the setting sun streamed through the luxurious window of his room.

— So, I must have slept for at least eight hours?

The boy slowly got up, feeling a slight dizziness, and walked over to the desk where the pocket watch lay. The watch gleamed in the evening light, reflecting the sunset's rays that filtered through the curtains.

The watch was typical for aristocrats of this era. The gold case, polished to a dazzling shine, was adorned with intricate engravings depicting elegant vine patterns.

The dial was protected by sturdy glass that bore no cracks or scratches. The hands, made of the finest silver, moved almost silently, indicating the precise time.

Attached to the watch was a heavy gold chain that draped smoothly across the desk. At the end of the chain hung a small medallion engraved with the Earhart family crest, carved against the background of a shield.

The crest was so detailed that even the smallest elements were visible, emphasizing the noble lineage of its owner.

This watch had been a gift from the patriarch on Raphael's fifth birthday, and it was one of the reasons why his brothers hated him.

The patriarch rarely paid attention to his children, let alone gave them such expensive gifts. But Raphael received this watch—entirely handcrafted, bearing the family crest.

The older brothers and sisters were outraged, seeing how a child who wasn't even a full member of the family received such attention.

— So many fond memories are tied to this watch, — Raphael thought, recalling the annoyed faces of his brothers, especially Theo.

After indulging in a bit of schadenfreude, Raphael finally looked at the dial to check the exact time. The watch showed 8:34 PM, meaning dinner was approaching, followed by bedtime.

— What am I supposed to do? I just woke up, — the boy muttered, slightly irritated.

— Well, in any case, I wanted to visit Alice. I guess I can do that after dinner.

Dinner in the Earhart family was always at exactly nine o'clock in the evening, giving Raphael another twenty-six minutes of free time. He pondered how best to spend it.

— Hmm, there's too little time for training, and if I get caught, it'll start unnecessary rumors. That'll only make my dear brothers more suspicious...

Since the family was away, the usual family dinner held in the castle's main hall couldn't take place, so the food was brought to the children's rooms. Raphael knew that if he were caught training in mana or aura control, the maids would immediately report it to their masters.

Dragon's Crest Castle was, at its core, a political arena where each faction supported one of the family members. Even the younger children had their supporters, forming factions of their own, so Raphael didn't want to show his diligence to anyone until he gained some power.

Though this system might seem harsh from a psychological standpoint, it hardened the Earhart children. It helped them deal with the political meetings and intrigues they would inevitably face in the future.

It's worth noting that the largest faction in the castle belonged to the patriarch, while the smallest was Raphael's. He was supported only by Kazimir and a few of his fellow servants, though, to be honest, they were more supportive of Kazimir than of the youngest lord himself.

— Alright, I'll take a walk then.

Raphael decided to walk around the castle, trying to recall this period from his previous life. His main advantage was the knowledge that his brothers didn't have. He knew it could help bridge the gap in skills, and he understood that this informational edge could be his strongest card.

Quickly dressing in casual clothes—a white hoodie with a drawstring, simple dark pants, and slippers—he wrapped his left arm in a bandage he found in the nightstand and left the room.

Raphael moved through the luxurious corridor of the castle, illuminated by gas lamps and adorned with precious fabrics and family crests made from valuable materials.

As Raphael walked through the castle, he examined the portraits of past patriarchs and Guardians. Each painting was framed in a handcrafted golden frame with patterns similar to those on his watch. Such attention to detail would impress anyone visiting the family castle for the first time.

Of course, Raphael wasn't one of those people.

— Uahhh, — Raphael yawned as he passed another painting. — How boring... Who's even interested in looking at portraits of dead people?

If the elders or even the servants had heard his words, within ten minutes, the guards would have rushed in, ready to press their swords to the boy's throat, waiting for orders.

The Earharts strictly adhered to tradition. Reverence for ancestors, especially the knights who brought prestige to the family, was mandatory for everyone living on the family's grounds. This was especially true for the Earhart children.

But since Raphael had been highly sensitive to his surroundings from a young age and knew that there wasn't a living soul within a hundred meters, he could afford to say such things.

After walking a bit further, Raphael stopped in front of one of the paintings.

It depicted ten people, including his older brother and sister—Adrian and Liliana, the current patriarch Alonzo, his wife Isabella, and Raphael's father—Theris Earhart.

This was a family portrait from the time when Liliana was the youngest child in the family. While other brothers and sisters of his father were also depicted in the painting, they interested Raphael the least.

This was the only painting in the entire castle that Raphael looked at for more than ten seconds.

— Old man, why did you even bring me into this world if you disappeared right away?

Raphael didn't feel hatred towards his missing father, as he had no reason to hate him. Although his father had vanished, Raphael had still been taken in by the family.

The boy was firmly convinced that the patriarch had taken him in not out of kindness, but because if anyone found out that a child from such a prominent family had been abandoned just because he lost his father, it would have caused too much public outrage.

Although the Earharts never cared much about public opinion, they still had to avoid sinking too low, or it could allow spies and traitors to infiltrate the family, giving a significant advantage to other states and families.

That's how Raphael reasoned, so to say he felt gratitude would be wrong.

«Not that my mother's any better. I don't even know what she looks like,» — Raphael thought with irony.

Since Raphael's mother came from a little-known family, there were no plans to depict her in any portraits. And considering that his father's status in the family had become unofficial, as a "traitor," even finding images of Raphael's father was difficult, let alone portraits of his mother.

— Hah, what a funny family I have, — Raphael muttered, turning around and continuing his walk through the castle.

***

Returning to his room at exactly nine o'clock, Raphael saw that the servants were already waiting for him with a tray of food and a pitcher filled with some liquid.

— Young lord, tonight's dinner includes moon carp steak, golden rice garnish, and a salad of fresh vegetables from our garden. The drink is uzvar, — one of the maids announced.

— WHAT?! — Raphael exclaimed in outrage.

— L-lord? — the maid froze in surprise.

— Why uzvar?! Give me tea or juice, for heaven's sake! I don't want to drink this cursed uzvar!

For a sweet tooth like Raphael, uzvar was something disgusting, reminiscent of water with sour fruits picked up from the ground.

— But, Lord, this meal was specially chosen for you by the cook, taking into account your body's needs based on today's examination by Sir Kazimir, — the maid explained politely.

— Oh, I see! So this is Kazimir's doing? Understood. You may leave; I'll call you when I'm done.

— ...Understood. Enjoy your meal.

As soon as the maids left the room, Raphael immediately opened the window, pushed the curtains aside, and poured the uzvar that Kazimir had recommended for him right out the window.

Honestly, Raphael was so irritated that it seemed even Theo's betrayal didn't anger him as much as this.

«So this is how you decided to get back at me for asking about my brothers?» — Raphael thought slyly. — «Let's see who wins this battle.»

With a mischievous grin, Raphael began to eat his dinner with incredible ferocity. He was truly annoyed.

***

After finishing his meal and calming down a bit, Raphael grabbed a couple of his favorite lollipops and other candies, then headed to his beloved little sister Alice's room.

«I'm a bit nervous,» — he thought.

As he approached Alice's door, Raphael stood there for a couple of minutes, feeling a slight unease. Just imagine, he was about to see one of the few people he considered close, people he never expected to see again.

Gathering his courage, Raphael knocked on the door. He heard soft footsteps, so light it seemed as if the person wasn't walking but barely touching the floor, as if floating above the ground.

The door quietly opened.

— Brother! You came! So Sir Kazimir didn't lie! — a joyful voice exclaimed as the girl appeared before him.

Standing before Raphael was Alice, a four-year-old girl with delicate features that seemed to emit a soft glow. Her long, silky hair, dark with silver strands, cascaded down to her back, shimmering in the light of the lamps. The silver threads in her hair sparkled like moonlight, giving her an ethereal grace.

Alice was dressed in a simple gray nightgown, but it was adorned with the family's golden patterns, intricately embroidered along the edges, adding an innocent elegance to her appearance.

Her blue eyes, reflecting all the dreams and joy of childhood, looked at Raphael with such boundless love and trust that his heart tightened. Looking into those eyes, he felt warmth fill his entire being.

Swallowing, trying to calm his emotions, Raphael smiled in return.

— Hello, little sister. I brought you some treats, — Raphael said tenderly, hugging Alice.