Prologue
“Tianna Aster, you are to remain in seclusion in the annex for two months.”
That was what Father declared to me.
“Father, I only—Ellie was the one who…”
I pleaded with him through the tears I could no longer hold back.
The annex stood apart from the main mansion, isolated and forgotten.
It was poorly maintained, a place where those who incurred the duke’s wrath were confined.
Tianna could not explain what had really happened—fear bound her voice.
Of course, the duke’s sharp, piercing gaze was upon her, leaving no room for excuses.
The duke’s name was Gion Aster.
With silver hair and ruby-red eyes that looked as if they were dyed in blood, his tall, commanding figure exuded a flawless presence.
In front of such a man, the young Tianna shrank away. Every time she was summoned, she failed to explain herself and was punished instead.
The duke only ever called Tianna when something had happened.
And that “something” almost always stemmed from her elder sister, Ellie.
Ellie Aster
Ellie was one year older than Tianna, the eldest daughter.
Her dazzling silver hair, eyes shining like amber filled with light, beautiful appearance, gentle nature, and wide knowledge made her an utterly lovable child.
The Aster Ducal House’s fourth and youngest child: Tianna Aster.
Tianna had no special talents and was constantly compared to Ellie.
Some even whispered in secret that she must be adopted.
Tianna was, in truth, nothing more than an ordinary girl.
Although she was a direct daughter of the house, she had no allies within it. Even the maids mistreated her.
The Aster Ducal Estate, Rios Empire.
Within the empire were three great ducal houses, guardians of the nation:
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The Clarisse Ducal House, wielders of vast magical power and unmatched skill in sorcery.
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The Agrion Ducal House, known as the “brains of the empire,” gifted with extraordinary knowledge and diplomacy.
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And finally, the Aster Ducal House: pledged in loyalty to the empire, celebrated on foreign battlefields, flawless in appearance, leadership, and swordsmanship—a house of perfection itself.
Compared to that brilliance, Tianna’s sister Ellie was the one deemed worthy of the Aster name.
Her two elder brothers were no less fitting, possessing superb skill in swordsmanship and leadership.
All three were flawless, the shining future of the family.
But when Tianna appeared in public, only words of scorn and malice awaited her.
Gradually, she was consumed by a sense of loss.
All she ever wished for was simple:
To be loved. Nothing more.
