After the kidnapping incident, especially after seeing her brother covered in blood, his breath ragged and his eyes burning with fury as he stood over the man he had just killed, sothing inside Mira changed.
It was the first ti she had felt fear not because her own life was in danger, but because the brother she loved looked so broken.
Riven always smiled in front of her. He always patted her head gently and told her everything was fine. That there was nothing to worry about.
But it was all a lie.
Mira didn't want to be soone who could only cry.
Not anymore.
Instead, she felt sothing she had never experienced this strongly before. A resolve. A drive to beco more than just the little sister who needed to be protected. She didn't want to keep standing behind him, watching him get hurt because of her. She didn't want Riven to carry the burden alone forever.
She wanted to change. She wanted to be strong. Strong enough so that one day, she could stand by her brother's side—not as a burden, but as a protector.
"This ti… I'll be the one to protect you, Riven," she whispered to herself, her fingers curling tightly at her sides.
She straightened her shoulders, swallowed the nervousness rising in her throat, and began to walk.
Her small footsteps echoed quietly along the stone corridor, accompanied only by the soft swish of her gown against the marble floor. A large oak door stood at the end, tall and imposing, adorned with elegant carvings.
Mira stopped in front of the door.
Her heart pounded. Her breath caught slightly. But she forced herself to remain standing tall.
Then, in a sweet, soft voice filled with determination, she said:
"Lord Axel… may Mira co in?"
Silence followed. Only the wind whispering through the window at the end of the hallway could be heard.
Then, from behind the door, a deep and steady voice replied—not harsh, but firm.
"Co in."
Mira reached for the cold brass handle, her palm trembling slightly, and gently pushed it open. The door creaked softly as it moved. A distinct scent of old wood, parchnt, and ink greeted her as she stepped inside.
Lord Axel Valderacht's study.
Soft light from the tall window behind the main desk bathed the room in a warm glow. Bookshelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling. A massive desk of dark wood was covered in docunts, rolled maps, and royal seals.
Behind the desk sat Axel Valderacht—a middle-aged man in a dark robe, his sharp eyes reminiscent of a hawk's. His build remained sturdy despite his age, and the weight of his presence seed to fill the room.
When he saw Mira enter, he raised his head, slightly surprised. He hadn't expected the little girl to co looking for him.
But what surprised him more wasn't her presence, it was the way she stood.
Mira stood tall in front of his desk, her small hands clenched at her sides. Her brown eyes looked forward without wavering, and though her fra was small, sothing was clearly different about her today.
Conviction.
Axel studied her face, seeing the weight of sothing held back, and spoke in a calm but firm tone.
"Didn't I already ask you… to just call Grandpa Axel?"
Mira hesitated. Her gaze wavered, as though unsure if she truly had the right to address soone as powerful as Axel Valderacht in such a way. But after a mont, she lowered her head slightly and answered in a faint voice.
"...Grandpa Axel."
A faint smile appeared on the man's face. He tapped the polished surface of his desk and said, "Co here. Sit in front of Grandpa."
Mira nodded and walked forward. She climbed onto a carved wooden chair that was far too big for her small fra, but she sat upright, hands folded in her lap, like a proper little noble ready to speak her mind.
Axel watched her for a long mont before softening his tone.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently, almost like a real grandfather concerned for his grandchild. "Just last night, you went through sothing terrible. At the ti, I wasn't at the estate… and I never imagined those people would be that bold and foolish."
His voice hardened slightly when he ntioned those people. His eyes narrowed, the disgust in his expression making it clear how he felt toward the ones who had kidnapped Mira and tortured Riven.
He sighed, deeply.
"You experienced sothing that should never have happened. I'm sorry. I failed to protect you… and your brother."
Mira shook her head slowly, her eyes falling to her knees. Her voice ca out in a whisper.
"It's not Grandpa's fault…"
But Axel didn't miss the hesitation in her voice. He could tell sothing was being held back, sothing she was struggling to say.
His brow furrowed. Then he asked gently, "So, Mira… why did you co see so early in the morning?"
Mira didn't respond right away. She bit her lower lip, her hands tightening in her lap. Her heart was beating quickly, but she knew—this was the mont.
After taking a deep breath, she finally spoke.
"Lord Axel… I'm sorry, but… I don't think I can call you that anymore."
Axel raised an eyebrow in surprise. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes watching her closely.
"Why?" he asked. His voice remained calm, though clearly curious.
Mira looked him straight in the eyes for the first ti. Her gaze was steadier than before, and her voice, though still soft, had beco more certain.
"I heard from my brother," she said. "He told … that Grandpa Axel wanted to adopt ."
Axel didn't speak for a mont. He was clearly surprised by the girl's honesty. Slowly, he tilted his head, studying her with quiet interest.
"Is that so?" he said at last. "So that's what your brother told you?"
Mira shook her head gently.
"No. He only said… that you cared about us. That you wanted us to have a safe place. But about the adoption… that's my decision alone."
Axel closed his eyes for a mont, then leaned back with a sigh. He rubbed the gray stubble on his chin.
"Mira, a decision like this… shouldn't be made so quickly," he said gently. "Think it over again after your brother wakes up. There's still ti."
Mira remained silent.
Axel continued, his voice still calm, though this ti laced with a careful persuasion.
"If you beco part of the Valderacht family, you'll receive the best training, a safe ho, the finest education. You won't have to worry about hunger or being lost in the outside world. Even Riven… surely he would want that for you."
He leaned slightly forward.
"I believe your brother only wants what's best for you."
But Mira shook her head again, slowly.
"I don't want to be separated from Riven," she whispered.
Axel let out a long breath, trying to stay composed.
"You could still see him as often as you like. Even if he leaves the estate soday, you could visit him whenever you want. He wouldn't be gone forever."
But Mira shook her head more firmly this ti. Her eyes were beginning to water. Her hands trembled slightly on her lap.
"That's not what I an," she whispered. "This is about my future. And I want… my future to be with my brother."
Her eyes shimred now. She looked down, but her voice was clear and strong.
"He's the only one who's cared for since I was a baby. He cooked for . He read bedti stories. He held when I was scared. I can't just leave him, Grandpa Axel. I won't."
Axel was speechless. Her words struck sothing deep in him. He almost opened his mouth to say that he could try to convince Riven to stay… but Ashtoria's face imdiately ca to mind.
The Queen had shown a strange interest in Riven, sothing beyond logic.
He closed his mouth again. No. It wasn't that simple.
Axel rubbed his temples, then spoke.
"Then… take a few more days to think it through. You don't need to decide right away."
But Mira shook her head one final ti.
"I've already decided," she said. "I don't want to be a Valderacht."
Silence returned to the room. Only the faint chirping of birds outside the window filled the air. Axel studied the little girl for a long ti. He knew he couldn't force her. Not after what had happened. He had failed to protect them in his own ho, and that failure was his to bear.
With a quiet but resigned voice, he exhaled deeply.
"Alright. If that's your decision… I will respect it."
Mira gave a small nod. Then, after another pause, she spoke again.
"But…" she said, her voice unsure. "Even if I'm not part of your family… can Grandpa Axel still be my teacher?"
Axel raised an eyebrow. His old eyes narrowed, then a slow smile appeared on his lips. This little girl… so determined and so gifted. If he couldn't make her family, then having her as a student would still be more than worthwhile.
"Alright," he said warmly. "But only if you truly call Grandpa Axel. Not Lord. Nothing else."
Mira's eyes sparkled instantly. Her smile was small but genuine. She bowed slightly, like a little noble receiving a blessing from a king.
"Thank you, Grandpa."
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