Chapter 36
Empress Serena’s expression hardened.
Her brother’s smiling face as he so casually denied wrongdoing brought back shards of unpleasant memories she had long tried to bury.
“Why should I do that? He was the one who did wrong first.”
Rixion must have been about eight years old at the time.
One of the servants had tried to secretly take one of his toys, and for that, Rixion had used magic to blow off the servant’s arm.
She could still vividly remember the sight: the unconscious servant’s blood pooling on the floor, and her little brother standing in the middle of that crimson-stained room.
It was a cruel act, one too monstrous to believe a mere eight-year-old could commit — and the complete lack of remorse in his cold, emotionless eyes still made her shiver to recall it.
The servant had said he thought no one would notice if he took just one toy out of the countless Rixion owned. He’d wanted to give it to his own child.
On his knees, crying, he had begged for forgiveness, saying that his child had seen the toy in Rixion’s hands and couldn’t look away. He wanted to buy something similar but couldn’t afford it — and in a moment of desperation, he’d lost his reason.
Serena, along with the former Duke and Duchess of Luhanes, had felt pity for him. They wanted to forgive the servant — even to let his child keep the toy.
But Rixion didn’t agree.
He couldn’t understand why he should forgive the servant, why he should feel sympathy for that man, or why he should be forced to give up something that was his.
“I should have cut off his head, not just his arm.”
That was what he’d muttered at the end, reluctantly handing over the toy after hours of explanations and persuasion.
The memory resurfaced now, chilling Serena’s heart.
Her little brother’s inability to empathize with others — his need to do whatever pleased him, regardless of right or wrong — seemed to have reawakened.
She had believed he was improving as he grew older. But now, seeing him today, she was starting to doubt that.
“Rixion, you didn’t again—”
She drew in a deep breath, about to speak, when he cut her off.
“I’ll make sure to repay today’s debt. Thank you.”
His curt reply clearly signaled that he didn’t want to discuss the matter any further. Serena’s expression turned even colder.
Of course, Rixion knew exactly what his sister was worried and angry about.
He understood her concern for a brother who had caused so much trouble since childhood — but to be honest, he also found it a little annoying.
Still, he didn’t want to argue. Even he had to admit he might have gone a bit too far this time.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I should’ve considered Lady Christener’s position more carefully.”
He raised both hands slightly, admitting fault in a mild, polite tone.
But Serena, who had watched him for years, knew he wasn’t truly repentant.
His easygoing attitude irritated her. She could see it — that same old expression, pretending to apologize while inwardly convinced he had done nothing wrong.
Yet she didn’t feel like lecturing her grown brother as if he were still a boy.
This wasn’t just about him — another noble family’s daughter was involved, and her reputation could be affected. That was why she needed to press the issue firmly.
He did say he’d apologize to Lady Christener personally. Hopefully, that means he understood at least a little.
Serena sighed softly, her posture still elegant.
“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”
“Of course. I’ll offer my apologies to Lady Christener soon.”
Rixion replied smoothly, his tone respectful — a sign he knew her scolding was over.
But as she looked at his calm, smiling face, Serena narrowed her eyes. No, he hadn’t reflected at all.
Can I really allow someone like him near such a lovely young lady?
At first, she had simply been glad that her brother — who had once seemed incapable of feeling anything but anger and disdain — was showing interest in someone.
She had even hoped the two might grow close, marry, and bless her with an adorable niece or nephew someday.
But after meeting Elizabeth Christener in person, she couldn’t shake a faint sense of guilt.
Serena recalled the beautiful young woman she’d seen at the banquet — startled yet polite, smiling gracefully when approached. The image brought a gentle smile to Serena’s lips.
“About Lady Christener…”
As she spoke, Rixion lifted his gaze from the terrace railing to look at her.
“It was my first time really talking with her, and… I didn’t get a bad impression.”
It truly had been Serena’s first proper conversation with Elizabeth Christener.
She had known her only by name — as Michael Christener’s younger sister. She remembered glimpsing her at imperial banquets before, always standing beside her strikingly handsome brother.
Other than her beauty, which clearly ran in the family, Serena hadn’t found anything particularly remarkable about her and hadn’t paid much attention.
If Elizabeth hadn’t been chosen as Rixion’s match — if she hadn’t agreed to the blind date so readily, and if Rixion hadn’t shown interest — she probably would have remained just a name Serena happened to know.
“I’ll attend the blind date. Please let them know.”
When Rixion had said that — after years of rejecting every arranged meeting — Serena hadn’t dared to expect much.
Even learning that his match was Michael Christener’s beautiful sister hadn’t raised her hopes.
After all, her brother had never fit within the bounds of ordinary.
When he was very young, he had seemed curious about others. But at some point, that faded — replaced by eyes as hollow and cold as glass.
She knew why.
She knew why he built walls between himself and everyone else, why he lashed out the moment anyone tried to cross them. Why he surrounded himself only with people and things he found useful — and discarded them without hesitation once their value was gone.
She knew all of it — and that was why she worried, why she scolded him.
Because she knew she, too, bore guilt for standing by and letting her beloved brother slowly break.
“I’d like your help, Sister.”
So when Rixion had come to her asking for help, Serena had been surprised — and genuinely happy.
But knowing how sensitive he could be, she had hidden her delight.
Rumors had already spread through society that after his blind date with Lady Christener, the two were soon to be engaged.
She’d wanted to ask Rixion if the gossip about their warm atmosphere and obvious affection was true, but she’d restrained herself. She didn’t want to ruin his first relationship by meddling.
In truth, Serena was thoroughly enjoying watching her little brother’s first romance unfold.
Then came the incident with the children in the exclusion zone — and the rumors that followed, accusing Elizabeth Christener and her entire family.
When talk of the two of them suddenly vanished from the social circle, Serena found herself more anxious than she cared to admit.
She’d even had people investigate, and learned that Elizabeth had not been infected with the Red Rat disease as the rumors claimed. From then on, her only thought was how to clear the girl’s name as quickly as possible.
That was when Rixion himself had come to her with a request.
“Could you send her a personal invitation, Sister?”
He’d asked her to personally invite Elizabeth Christener to the Founding Anniversary Ball — with the imperial seal on the invitation.
Serena had immediately understood what he meant, and she knew they were thinking the same thing.
She had gladly agreed. And after putting in a little effort to meet Elizabeth Christener face-to-face…
She found the young lady even more charming than she had imagined.
