After the knights departed, I lingered at the scene in a daze. I wandered aimlessly for hours, lost in a fog I couldn’t shake.

By eight in the morning, I finally stood before my own front door. Lower-ranking members of the Divine Church lived in the Church District, while high-ranking officials resided in the adjacent Noble Quarter.

Unlike the bustling city center, the Noble Quarter was tranquil. Many nobles avoided living here—clerics nearby adhered to strict taboos. Though most kept their beliefs to themselves, the atmosphere remained stifling. Most preferred their estates or countryside villas instead.

At this hour, diligent nobles had already begun their duties. The idle ones, drained from last night’s debauched parties, likely still lay abed with their maids. Only servants swept gardens and streets, polishing the pristine facades befitting noble households.

The gardener spotted me as I approached.

"Young Master’s back! Out all night again? Your mother’s been worried sick!"

He waved his pruning shears, ushering me into the courtyard. Servants chirped greetings along the path, but I barely heard them. My mind churned over how to tell Mother and Weihui what happened today. I still felt utterly lost.

The courtyard wasn’t large. Soon, a silver-haired girl stood waiting by the door, bowing slightly.

"Welcome home, Brother Sir. Have you eaten breakfast?"

My sister, Weihui, was a girl who barely registered her presence. Her frame was slight, almost fragile—a strong breeze might topple her. Her face held little expression, her gaze perpetually distant. Even when looking at you, she seemed lost in thought. She wore a plain white dress of fine fabric and craftsmanship, yet utterly devoid of patterns or the trinkets noble girls favored. At any banquet, she’d linger alone in a corner, easily mistaken for an imposter commoner.

She was Father Sir’s daughter by a concubine—my half-sister. My mother had been his adventuring companion in youth; they married under the Breath of the Sun. But Father Sir took other concubines too, mostly political matches with nobles who backed his rise. Becoming Supreme Bishop young, he needed allies both within the Church and across the Empire. Many powerful figures saw promise in him. Marriages cemented trust.

Weihui’s mother came from a minor noble house’s obscure branch—powerless even at home. The status gap between her illegitimate daughter and me, the rightful heir, was vast. Thankfully, Father Sir had only two children. Had there been more, Weihui’s standing might barely surpass a servant’s.

For girls like her, changing fate was simple: become strong, prove your worth. But fate mocked Father Sir—both his children were talentless. Weihui’s frail body couldn’t even handle sword training.

Only two paths remained: marry for alliance, or stay as the heir’s aide. Her mother chose the latter. As the only concubine who bore a daughter, she’d gained a sliver of status. Father Sir’s attention had grown. If Weihui married out, that status would vanish. So she raised Weihui to be my shadow, my assistant. Under her "refined upbringing," Weihui clung to me constantly, helping with every task. More handmaiden than sister.

Truthfully, we’d always gotten along. I confided my worries to her—she never gossiped, and I suspected she forgot them instantly. But her mother saw no bond. She couldn’t fathom how her silent daughter pleased me. She drilled Weihui in rigid noble etiquette, enforcing strict hierarchy. Any slip—like failing to answer when I called—earned harsh punishment.

I’d plead for mercy, and she’d relent. But it repeated. At first, I didn’t understand why she kept testing this. Later, I realized: she played the victim. Her cruelty made me pity her, sparking my urge to protect. Each time I rescued Weihui, my sister’s dependence on me deepened.

To her, I was a savior. Now, seeing her felt like salvation. My panic eased. I longed to pour out everything—but no words came.

A lump rose in my throat. My legs buckled. Weihui rushed forward, catching me.

"Brother Sir! What’s wrong? What happened?"

Reading my face, she turned sharply to the servants.

"Help him to his room. Now."

In my chamber, she’d dismissed the servants. I collapsed onto my bed, trembling, tears streaming.

"Brother Sir, we’re alone. Tell me what happened. I’ll find a way to help."

"I... I... after drinking... I never meant to..."

I couldn’t form the words. Couldn’t describe the killing.

But Weihui didn’t need my words. She pulled out my communication disc, fingers tracing its magic circle.

"Saches? It’s Weihui. What happened after you left last night? Nothing unusual? Understood."

Saches hadn’t witnessed the aftermath. She contacted another friend. I’d gifted these discs to my circle—each held one.

This time, the full story spilled out. Hearing I’d killed someone, Weihui’s calm shattered. Her composure crumbled—a rare sight, as she seldom showed emotion. I was too broken to notice.

"Don’t... don’t panic. It’ll be alright! I’ll fetch the First Lady immediately. She’ll know what to do."

The First Lady—my birth mother. Unlike Weihui’s mother’s stepmother-like discipline, she treated Weihui kindly. Weihui adored her.

Now, only Mother could save me.