"So, we're hiding things now, Kai? From your own sister? I'm your big sister, you know." Her voice was soft, but the genuine pain in it was unmistakable. My clumsy grab for the diary had clearly hurt her.
My mind raced, trying to formulate a believable lie, one that would appeal to her too nice nature. The diary, still clutched in my hand.
"No, Evelina, it's not like that at all," I said, trying to form a sincere tone in my voice. I took a step closer, lowering the diary slightly. "It's just… this journal. I found it."
She asked. "Found it? Where?"
"In the arena," I explained, trying to sound a little somber. "After… after the last bout. It must have fallen from someone's pocket, or perhaps they dropped it in the chaos." I gestured vaguely towards the window, as if the arena were visible from here. "It's clearly a personal diary. And I… I just don't think it's right for us to look into someone else's private thoughts without their knowing. It feels… disrespectful."
I watched her face carefully. Her expression softened almost immediately. The hurt in her eyes receded, replaced by a thoughtful, almost apologetic look. "Oh, Kai," she murmured, her voice filled with regret. "You're right. Of course, you're right. How thoughtless of me. I was just… curious. I truly apologize for prying."
A wave of relief washed over me. She believed me. The lie, simple and appealing to a sense of moral decency, had worked. Her 'niceness' wasn't a facade in this instance; it was genuine. At least, that's what I desperately wanted to believe.
"It's quite alright," I said, forcing a small, forgiving smile. "No harm done." I carefully placed the diary back on the desk, making sure it was out of her immediate reach, but not appearing to hide it.
She smiled back, a genuine warmth returning to her eyes. "Thank you for understanding. You always were so considerate, Kai." She then gestured to the bed. "Come, sit. You've been through quite a lot today, haven't you? That arena was… dreadful."
I nodded, grateful for the change of topic. I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Evelina gracefully settled beside me, she was pretty close up, my cheeks blissful.
"It was," I agreed, my voice low. "I'm glad we left when we did."
"Me too," she sighed, leaning back against the plush pillows. "Father insists on attending these 'tutorials,' but Mother and I find them so… barbaric. Luminous, on the other hand, he's always fascinated by the knights and their flashy swords." She chuckled softly. "Remember that time he tried to fashion a wooden sword from a broomstick and accidentally knocked over Mother's favorite vase?"
A small, genuine smile touched my lips. "Oh, yes," I feigned, trying to conjure a memory that wasn't mine. "He was always so full of energy."
"He still is," she laughed. "He's probably off somewhere now, trying to convince one of the stable hands to let him 'train' with the horses." She paused, her gaze drifting to the window. "You know, Kai, you've always been the quieter one. While Luminous was off causing mischief, you were usually found with your nose in a book, or sketching in your little notebook."
"I suppose so," I replied, trying to match her nostalgic tone. "Someone had to balance out Luminous's… energy."
She turned to me. "Exactly! And you were always so good at it. Remember that time Luminous got lost in the West Wing during the Winter Festival? Mother and Father were frantic, but you were the one who calmly pointed out he'd probably followed the scent of the spiced cider to the kitchens."
I forced a chuckle. "He always did have a nose for sweets."
I saw the conversations as a chance. An opportunity to gather information, to make my own assessment of Evelina, to see if the too nice was a warning or just a description of her personality. I needed to know the people I was now living with.
"He did," she agreed, her smile soft. "And you, Kai. You were always the one I could talk to. About anything. My worries, my dreams… you always listened without judgment." Her hand briefly rested on my arm. It was a fleeting touch, innocent, yet it sent a strange shiver down my spine. It felt… possessive, in a way that was hard to define. Or maybe I was just overthinking everything because of the diary.
"your my brother, after all," she continued, her voice a little softer, her gaze on me. "And I've always felt like we understood each other, even without words."
I nodded, trying to maintain eye contact. She seemed genuinely fond of me, of Kai Lorne. Her memories of Olberic were clearly warm and affectionate. It was a stark contrast to the chilling words of the diary. It looked like Olberic was simply paranoid about Lord Sapphire, and Evelina was truly just a kind, loving sister Or maybe he was right, and her niceness a carefully constructed facade, designed to disarm and observe.
The more she spoke, the more conflicted I felt. Her stories of shared childhood, of Luminous's antics, of their quiet conversations, painted a picture of a normal, loving family. A family that had taken in an orphan and treated him as their own. It was hard to reconcile that image with the dark hints from the diary.
"I always appreciated that, Evelina," I said, trying to sound sincere. "You've always been… incredibly kind." I chose the word carefully, testing it.
She smiled, a sweet, a beautiful expression. "That's just how I am, Kai. I care about my family. And you're family." Her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than what seemed necessary, a depth in her pure eyes that was hard to decern. It wasn't menacing, not exactly, but it held an aura that made me feel… seen. Completely seen.
Just as I was trying to process this new, genuine impression of her, the familiar blue screen came into existence at the edge of my vision.
[ STORY DIVERGENCE INCREASED BY 0.2 PPT ]
Before I could fully process the implications of this new system notification, another message popped up, right below the first, it sounded like a stark warning of something. Something dreadful was coming.