Soren was one of the few characters in the novel with the most painful life. Normally, the novel written by Neonidas's ex-girlfriend in his previous life didn't depict brutality or at least any horrific events, but there were a few exceptions, one of which included the Chapters where Soren learned what had happened to his sister after months.
In fact, Soren and his sister Solara were twins. Just because Soren was born a few minutes earlier, he treated Solara as his younger sister. Their childhood was generally miserable, though these parts were not deeply explored in the original novel.
It could only be said that they grew up in a poor family, and both had hair as bright and white as the purest silver. As the two grow, they spent their lives constantly running from slave traders. After all, people with white hair, especially a woman with white hair, were extrely fashionable among the imperial nobility, and white wigs were even the best-selling wig color among won.
That's why a slave with white hair and blue eyes would certainly bring a huge profit to the slave trader. And ultimately, there was no legal issue in them becoming slaves, as they were not citizens of the Empire. Of course, the novel's main character would later change this law.
Anyway, Soren had gone down to a southern city to buy a gift for his sister Solara, as she was about to turn eighteen. Though he tried to conceal his hair, he attracted the attention of a few people. Long story short, as Soren was returning to the forest where they were hiding after buying a gift for his sister's eighteenth birthday, a slave trader and his rcenaries were secretly following him.
In the end, Soren had indeed managed to give his sister a gift she would never forget—he had caused her to beco a slave.
Of course, with her extraordinary beauty and rare hair, Solara was quickly sold to a noble. The noble who bought Solara was from a viscounty within the lands of Duke Neonidas. In the original story, when Soren found his sister a few months later, she was on the verge of death, and he failed to save her.
Solara had beco the concubine of the viscount's son and had died within just a few months. When she died, Soren found his sister's body in a stable, covered in deep bruises all over, burns on her face, almost all of her limbs broken, and lastly, a dead baby in her womb.
This was one of the most horrific scenes in the novel and had shocked all readers. But right now, Solara was not yet a concubine, or at least that's how it should be, according to what Neonidas rembered. And now, in an open field, Neonidas was approaching the viscounty with his guards by his side. Of course, Soren, with trembling hands and worried eyes, was also with him.
Neonidas stood calmly with his eyes closed, saying to Soren, "We're going to where your sister is, but don't do anything foolish there." Soren, of course, was almost having a heart attack from the mixture of excitent and worry he felt.
Viscount Kalderon, Solara's current owner, had already been inford that Duke Neonidas would be visiting him. Now, in the distance, the viscount's mansion was visible.
As Neonidas and his guards advanced over the vast, desolate landscape, the majestic mansion of Viscount Kalderon appeared on the horizon. The towering stone walls and turrets of the mansion projected the power of a mighty noble who ruled these lands. A wide moat and thick iron bars surrounded the mansion with guards patrolling vigilantly, making it seem like an impenetrable fortress.
The sky was thick with gray clouds, carrying an ominous tension of approaching rain. The wind blew with the scent of dry leaves and earth; the silence broken only by the distant sound of horses' hooves. Soren's eyes were locked onto the mansion; his hands still trembled, filled with both fear and anger. As he imagined in his own mind what had happened to his sister, his breathing quickened and his heart began to pound in his chest.
As they neared Viscount Kalderon's lands, the guards' bitter expressions beca more pronounced. At the entrance of the mansion, soldiers greeted them in heavy armor. Each soldier seed to recognize Neonidas and his entourage, kneeling respectfully and inviting them inside. The mansion, adorned with the grandeur of a powerful noble, was dimly but impressively lit by tapestries hanging on thick stone walls, gold-embroidered details, and lamps protected by enchantnts.
Once inside, as the heavy doors closed behind them, Neonidas strode forward with confident steps. His calm deanor symbolized the authority of a strong leader who had earned the trust of those around him, but Soren's anxiety grew even more. Soren's steps slowed, and his hands clenched into fists. With every step, mories of his sister's suffering, the possibility of what might have been, and the painful image of the last ti he saw her and the slavers who had separated them, fueled his anger.
Noticing the tension on Soren's face, Neonidas glanced at him and, in a calm voice, said, "Control yourself," and continued walking forward.
As Soren looked at this man who had bought him, he felt a sense of security he had never experienced before. For a mont, Neonidas seed to him like a powerful knight, protecting him.
When they reached the mansion's large courtyard, Viscount Kalderon awaited them. The tall, lean yet strong viscount had a sharp presence, with a thin black beard and piercing gaze. He wore a dark, noble robe that emanated an aura of cold authority and intelligence.
Viscount Kalderon greeted Neonidas, saying, "Welco, Duke Neonidas. It's an honor to have you here. I assu there's a special reason for your visit."
Neonidas returned his greeting with a cool deanor, replying, "Yes, Viscount Kalderon. There is a reason for this visit, and I hope we can resolve it swiftly and properly. Though I've been quite unnecessarily calm lately, I am still myself. Do you understand?"
The viscount froze for a mont. He had seen Neonidas many tis before and knew exactly what kind of person he was, but right now, it felt as if Neonidas was not the sa Neonidas he rembered. He realized this only seconds after Neonidas had arrived.
"Y-yes. I understand, Your Excellency. Please, let us go inside."
Viscount Kalderon, trying to conceal his montary surprise, led Neonidas and his companions to the mansion's inner section. Inside, the atmosphere was even more unsettling than the gloomy weather outside. Along the stone walls of the corridors were swords and shields from past wars, shining as if preserving their ancient glory. Dark red velvet curtains stretching from floor to ceiling created a heavy, history-laden ambiance. Every detail symbolized Kalderon's power and ruthlessness.
As Soren stepped inside, the fear and anger within him grew stronger. The silence echoing around every corner seed to show his the possible suffering his sister might have experienced here. His heart raced as his eyes darted around, as if anticipating danger at any mont. Every thought about what his sister Solara had endured caused an indescribable pain in him.
Noticing the tension on Soren's face, Neonidas glanced at him, and with a slight nod, signaled him to stay calm. Soren tried to draw strength from his gaze and took a deep breath. Neonidas's presence offered a small comfort to his pain; it was as if the one who would solve everything was beside him, and this ti, he was not alone.
At the end of the corridor, large wooden doors opened, and they stepped into a spacious hall. In the center of the hall stood a large table, surrounded by elegant yet cold-looking chairs. Kalderon invited Neonidas to the head of the table, saying, "Your Excellency, it is an honor to host you here." His eyes were on Neonidas, but there seed to be a hint of unease in his gaze.
Neonidas, maintaining his characteristic composure, sat at the head of the table while the others took their seats. Of course, Neonidas only appeared calm on the outside; he was quite bored at the mont and was trying to control his language, as he had to be careful with nobles. The hall was silent for a mont. Neonidas leaned forward slightly, beginning to speak with a serious expression.
"I won't drag this out—I'm here to discuss Solara's fate," he said. Kalderon seed montarily affected by Neonidas's directness, but quickly composed himself.
"Solara?" he said, feigning surprise. "Ah, yes... I believe you're referring to the one my son recently chose to... accompany him. I thought it would be appropriate to keep her here." But as Kalderon looked at the man who resembled Solara so much, he finally put the pieces together.
"Good , good but I now find it appropriate to take her with ."
The viscount was stunned by these words but he quickly pulled himself together
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