Arthur Elton stood in front of his little sister, hesitantly reaching out to pat her soft golden hair.
She was far too small and thin for a five-year-old. She always sat quietly, lost in thought, never rowdy like other children, and rarely showed strong emotions.
When she hugged him, Arthur could clearly feel her slight trembling.
He crouched down and whispered, "Serena, did someone bully you? Or… did you have another nightmare?"
"No," the girl lifted her head and gently shook it. "It's just… seeing you still here makes me feel happy."
Arthur froze for a moment, then smiled warmly and patted her head. "Of course I'm still here. I'll always be with you."
Sunlight spilled over their golden hair, casting a soft, radiant glow. Arthur's eyes were a gentle forest green, while hers resembled the purest pink light of a sunset.
—They both took after their mother in appearance. But while Arthur's eyes held a sense of calm maturity, Serena's carried a depth that didn't belong to a child her age.
When the siblings entered the dining room, their mother, Velia Elton, was sitting by the window sipping tea. Dressed in a lake-blue gown, her demeanor was gentle and serene, the epitome of noble elegance.
"My little sunshine is finally awake." Velia smiled and opened her arms when she saw Serena.
Serena darted into her embrace, nuzzling like a kitten.
"Mommy smells so nice today."
"That's rose perfume." Velia kissed her forehead with a smile. "My lovely daughter, you're growing more and more like me when I was your age."
"Mhm. I want to be as beautiful as Mommy." Serena replied with a sweet smile, though a small worry flickered in her eyes.
Breakfast passed slowly and warmly. As usual, Arthur carefully peeled the hard crust off Serena's fried egg and spread jam evenly on her toast, silently tending to her every need.
Serena sat between her mother and brother, nibbling her muffin slowly and gently.
She was waiting—for the right moment, a chance to speak to her brother alone.
Finally, after breakfast, their mother was called away by the maids to receive visiting guests. Just as Arthur was about to leave, Serena softly called out:
"Brother… have you noticed that Father's been acting strange lately?"
Arthur stopped in his tracks and looked at her.
"Hm?" He frowned slightly. "Why do you ask that all of a sudden?"
"He's been coming home late and doesn't talk to Mom anymore. I heard the servants say he's started hiding some of the account books," Serena said in a low voice, her young face full of confusion and worry. "I'm a little scared."
Arthur's eyes grew serious. He didn't deny her words right away but knelt down to look her in the eyes.
"Serena, did someone tell you this?"
"No. I overheard it myself," she whispered. "I just… don't want anything bad to happen to our family."
Arthur was silent for a few seconds, then gently pulled her into a hug.
"It's okay. I'll protect you."
Serena leaned against his chest and slowly closed her eyes.
"I'll find out what's going on," he said softly. "Don't worry. I won't let anyone hurt our family. You just need to grow up safe and happy."
—No. She couldn't just "grow up safely."
She said so in her heart.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have sneaked into her father's study late at night to tamper with his contracts, creating flaws that would later trigger his downfall.
She was determined to stop the family's destruction and prevent them from being dragged into the noble world's political maelstrom.
And her brother… she would make sure he rose early to the position of heir, to gain the strength to protect everything.
It would all begin today.
—
"…The Count has returned."
The maid's soft announcement came as Serena was reading in the conservatory. The sunlight outside was warm, and pale pink roses bloomed quietly on the trellises.
Her fingers paused for a second before she slowly turned a page.
It was a fairytale about the founding of the Empire: in the chaotic ancient times, a primordial elf descended upon the world and granted humans power, helping them build an empire.
The elf used the Flame-Red Life Tree to bear the first red-haired, red-eyed prince—symbolizing divine imperial blood.
Thus, red became the color of the Empire, the emblem of royalty and glory.
Soon after, the main door of the estate was pushed open.
The footsteps were familiar yet unfamiliar—carrying a restlessness that didn't belong in this home.
"Serena, Arthur." Claude Elton stood at the door, dressed in a finely made but slightly wrinkled coat, wearing a polite but insincere smile. "You're coming with me to a banquet. Get dressed properly—you mustn't embarrass our Count's family."
Arthur clearly froze, then replied with a polite but restrained smile, "Father, I thought this banquet was for adults only."
"This one's different." Claude waved a hand dismissively. "Children of noble families should be seen as well—especially when they take after their beautiful mother."
He then looked at Arthur meaningfully.
"I'll get ready," Serena stood up, a perfectly sweet smile on her face.
She followed her father out of the conservatory, and as she turned behind the pillar, a cold smirk slowly appeared on her lips.
—The time had come.
She remembered it vividly: in her past life, she had been bedridden with a high fever, so only her brother had gone to the banquet. Later she heard that her father had gone around borrowing money at the event, even using Arthur's name to pave his own path.
This time, bringing her along was merely an extra bargaining chip.
"You've grown," her father looked at her. "Time to learn how to win people over."
"I'll try my best, Father," she replied, lowering her head respectfully.
But inwardly, she scoffed:
Try my best? My efforts aren't aimed in the same direction as yours.
The carriage was already waiting. A black lacquered, gold-trimmed four-wheeled carriage stood on the stone path, with servants loading dress boxes into it. Arthur boarded first and reached out a hand to help her up.
"I'll always be by your side," he whispered.
Serena looked up at him, warmth rising in her chest.
She nodded and sat down beside him.
The carriage slowly left the estate, the sound of wheels rolling over stone echoing inside.
Their father sat across from them, checking the invitations as he casually said, "If any elder at the banquet asks what you like, say something noble and proper. Don't talk about toys, cake, or puppies."
"Yes." Serena nodded obediently, though her eyes shimmered with frost.
She turned to look out the window. Sunlight filtered through the vines and shone into her pink-golden eyes.
—Father, your perfect plan is about to fall apart.
She knew exactly what would happen next: at the banquet, several nobles would subtly reject her father, rumors of his debts would spread, and he would grow increasingly agitated—until he abandoned the family and fled with whatever money he could carry.
Before he could sell off the last of the family estates, she needed to use debt, business failure, and social pressure to force him out—so that her mother could become acting Countess, paving the way for her brother's future.
This time, she would not let him succeed