Layne’s Point of View

"House Brevont, the family name I bear, is considered as one of the four greatest households here in the Kingdom." I felt my hair rising as Mother continued her narrative. "We are the four greatest, but we are also stratified based on the King's favor. So, in order it is Theone, Tesaur, Brevont, and Kleeve."

"Why are we called the four greatest?" I asked.

"With the purest blood of nobility and purest magic ever existed; which is earth, water, air, and fire. Our Ancestors helped built this Kingdom. As you witnessed," she glanced at Uncle Miern "We can manipulate air."

"And you know, your father" just by hearing the word "father" makes my eyes shine in anticipation. This is how thirsty I am to know everything, "also belongs to the four households. He is from House Theone which fosters the fire element. So technically, you go by the name Layne Theone and not Miroff."

Layne Theone. It has a nice hint to it.

"And Father's full name is?"

"Archduke Elynos Theone" she bitterly replied.

Overwhelmed with the fact that he is alive, I can't help but yearn for his presence and so I asked once more, "Can I meet him?" I seriously begged as if my life is on the line.

"No! We are obviously not on good terms, Layne. If we were, I wouldn't have an away from that treacherous monster," she then caressed my shoulder "and raised you all alone." I can feel the pain in her eyes and so I held her hand to comfort her somehow.

Why is she calling my father a treacherous monster?

What happened to them 18 years ago?

"There is something I am more curious about. And it is not about my father" both Uncle and Mother looked at me.

"Do I have magic?" they stared at each other for a while before answering my question. "Yes, you possess magical abilities. But yours... it's special" she replied but I looked at her puzzled. "What do you mean?"

With my mother going speechless, Uncle explained, "Usually, an individual can only possess one element of magic even when having parents with different magical elements, powers, or whatever you call it. But you, young lady, as sister told me, possess two, which is rather peculiar." I am still confused because I haven't felt like I have powers. Something doesn't sit right.

"But why do I feel normal? Do I need to say a magic word to activate it? —"

Uncle bursted out laughing "My apologies, that's just so funny to me. Care enough to explain, sister?" he sarcastically added with a raise of an eyebrow. He made it seem like Mother had something to do with it.

Mother gave a deep sigh, "I concealed them." she said.

"How and why?!" I said in disbelief.

"Every day I put medicine in your meals. It's a special medicine that can suppress magic. But its effects don't last long so, I put it in your everyday meals." She paused for a while and took a deep breath.

"It's also the reason why you fainted and vomited blood when we arrived. What you experienced was a side effect. Your body was supposed to hold mana to unleash magical powers but since I intervened, your body is thirsty for it. When mana is depleted, a person needs to rest to replenish it, or they could absorb it back using magical stones. When we arrived, the Royal City was the perfect plug since those kinds of stones were scattered all over the city. Your incapability of navigating your own powers made you absorb a lot of mana which made you faint and vomit." That is a lot of information to take in. Everything is overwhelming me, this noble blood, magical abilities, and my father. Mother is right it is complicated.

"For now, we have stabilized your mana. So, if you feel anything unordinary, tell us right away." she added.

Mother then hugged me abruptly "I am so sorry Layne; I did that to protect you. Sorry for putting you in such a situation. From now on, no more secrets," with her grip being tighter, I hugged her as well.

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"Now that I seem to know more of who I am, what is our further purpose here in the Royal City? and why is my father looking for us?" I asked with a calm face.

"You dragged us here, care enough to explain, brother?" Mother sarcastically said.

As I looked in his direction, he was busy munching some pastries. "Oh? So, you're done with your mother-and-daughter moment?" What a sight, I thought he was a composed and sleek gentleman. My image of him is completely different now.

"First you're both here for protection and second, I want power, to bring back the greatness of House Brevont once again." He was speaking while still munching that puff pastry.

"Why are we a part of your greediness?" Mother questioned him while low-key giving an eye roll.

"This family is struggling and You, sister, was the reason why it is in shambles." Uncle said with a serious tone.

"It's your incapability that made it in shambles. Don't blame it to me brother." Mother strikingly uttered without blinking an eye.

"My great sister seemed to be forgetting something. You ran away remember? When you left, other noble families who were our allies, turned their backs on us, and you know their reason?" He said with a mocking face and mother clenched her jaws.

"They don't want to be affiliated with the House of Cowards!" Uncle's eyes were filled with emotion, "When they broke our alliance, they withdrew all their investments from our businesses," he grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket and emotionally said, "House Brevont was just surviving for the past decade. What they did took a toll on us."

I didn't understand anything about nobility and politics, but it made me sympathize with Uncle's situation. He must have endured a lot, both him and Mother.

"Those tears are fake." Mother said in a monotonous tone.

"You ruined a perfect moment! Even Layne was convinced." What? it was all an act? Are they really nobles? They are like children!

"My apologies, that was a stretch, but it was true that we were labeled as House of Cowards and this cunning title is still being used against us. But anyways, when sister left, the first two years were rough, but I still managed to find a solution with their petty trick, I looked for new allies. Allies that were not nobles but were rich; no influence of politics and all with open minds. Deals went through and the family which they think will fall still thrived." Uncle striked a dramatic stance, "Amazing, aren't I? This family will not fall, as long as I am here." Despite his weird personality, I admit he is admirable.

"Enough, House Brevont seemed to be doing fine. You don't need power. Now cut to the chase!" She seems pissed but Uncle seems to be enjoying the situation.

"Alright. So, has news about the Crown Prince being ill reached your ears?" His aura is now filled with seriousness, far different from his quirky attitude.

"Yes." Mother shortly replied. She is serious as well. I've heard this too, back in the village, when we delivered vegetables to Uncle Timbow.

"It's true weeks ago but now he is dead because of unknown causes. Tragic, he is an only son. Perks of being one of the great households, you get news early. But this will be out soon to the public, like a ticking time bomb." He looked at Mother straight in the eye "In relation to this matter, I attended a meeting with the King and the whole committee," Uncle paused for a moment.

"They will choose who will replace the Crown Prince. Funny enough, his majesty would like to choose from the four greatest households, and he prefers the heir from each family. Brevont is out of the equation because obviously, I am still a bachelor. Now, his majesty will choose from Tesaur, Kleeve, and Theone. The heir from the first two are apparent because they are making a noise in high society but with Theone..."

As uncle looked at me, the room was filled with silence. No words uttered but strong emotions lingered inside.

"Layne could be the next—." he said but was quickly interrupted

"We can't be a part of this brother. I've spent nearly two decades for her to live a normal life, away from all this! Let us live a normal life!" Mother said with an increasing tone of voice.

"The King and House Theone are curious, whether or not you bear an offspring! The Archduke is not the only one looking for you but so is His Majesty. If they are both curious of Layne, then you can't live a normal life! Don't you realize it? No matter how much you ran away, your nobility will still haunt and find you?! You can't erase who you are!"

"I am a mother Miern! This will put my daughter in danger, you know how vicious this society is!" She rebutted.

"Can't you have confidence in your own family? This House can protect both of you!"

"Silence! I don't want to hear that mouth of yours open." Silence filled the room once again.

The silence broke as mother called my name, "Layne" she warmly said, as if she was not in a heated discussion. "Yes Mother?"

"Can you head back to your room?" She said with a serious tone.

"But Mother? —"

"You are not needed anymore in this conversation anymore." Uncle even agreed with her as he asked the knights guarding from the outside to escort me back to my room. I didn't argue anymore and followed their orders.

Honestly, the truth that was revealed is enough, for now. It felt like yesterday when I was innocently toiling our fields and delivering eggs, now I could potentially be a Crown Princess.

Could a mere farmer like me be worthy of the throne?