At first, there were expectations. Then they turned into disgust, before finally blossoming into disgust and pity.

Creak

The huge door opened, revealing the silhouette of the figure long-awaited.

“Noel. Father’s looking for you.”

“Really?” The young man replied, having only expected the call to only be another usual short talk between his older brother and their father. For him to suddenly call him – what would be the reason behind it? After all, he would never be as important as the eldest who was almost surely the next successor to the family.

Answered with cold silence, he continued,

“I see. Well then, don’t forget to tell me what you were talking about.”

“Yeah.”

Once again, the door was closed shut. Just when the eldest was about to leave, a familiar voice called out.

“Uhm.”

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A boy who appeared to be in his 17s. A timid and dull figure with black hair and eyes with the color of red agate. He appeared to have been waiting by the second’s side while waiting for the the eldest. The most despised presence in this mansion.

Without hearing a word further, the eldest passed by the boy, leaving him by the night. That time, he should have known better than anyone else – his presence would never be missed. The pitiful youngest, surrounded only by hatred and misfortune. Who would expect him to be so cruelly abandoned by the goddess of fate?

It was a seemingly ordinary night. The youngest had never gone home late. Yet on that night, he had not arrived home. Still, no one suspected a thing – no. It was more as though no one bothered to care. In that house, his life was akin to a specter’s. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he had decided to leave the house on that day. But he didn’t.

In the middle of that dreary night, his silhouette entered the light. His appearance was torn out, perhaps a little frantic. His right hand desperately tried to hide away his other arm; red liquid oozing from it. With an afraid look, he turned away his gaze before hurriedly ran inside.

It was until a few days later that everyone in the house discovered his sudden disappearance, although it was not until a week had passed after his absence. Perhaps that was for the best, as he could never find happiness in that mansion.

A few days later, rumors spread that the youngest might not be a human. And out of fear of being found, he left the house. It was such a nonsensical rumor. Yet strangely, almost everyone believed in that nonsense, as though trying to deny his existence and insisting on the flawless nature of the family.