Chapter 1

“SERIN!!” Kaien, her brother shouted from downstairs.

“WHAT?” She stomped down the stairs and saw her brother casually watching TV from the couch in the living room.

“Give me my sandwich” he ordered as he switched channels out of boredom.

“Seriously? I was in the middle of a call” she rolled her eyes.

Kaien’s curiosity piqued and he looked at her “with?” he asked.

As Serin took out a sandwich for him she replied “Me and my friends are going out” she hummed.

“Again?” Kaien’s face fell in disappointment “Is Lior coming?” he asked.

“Yup, He’ll be treating us for dinner tonight” Serin answered as she handed the sandwich to Kaien.

“Be careful, I still don’t trust that guy” Kaien took a bite from his sandwich.

Serin, ignoring him, went back to the kitchen looking for snacks, as she reached for a cupboard her chips fell on the floor and she noticed a card laying on the floor as she was about to pick her chips.

She stood up curiously looking at the card while carrying chips in her other hand. “Duskvale-” Before she could say more her brother rushed to her, snatching the card “What are you doing??” he snapped.

“What?” She got confused “It was lying on the ground, Jeez…you can’t even take care of your things” She scolded him.

“It’s none of your business, don’t touch my stuff” Kaien hid the card in his pockets.

“Is that your business card though?” Her curiosity rose. “No….It’s a partner’s company…” Kaien replied, hesitantly. “Anyways aren’t you going for your friend's hangout?” he glared at her

“Right…I’ll leave after I finish my journal” she opened the bag of chips and headed towards the stairs.

“Fine” He rolled his eyes and went back to the living room.

After a while Serin went out for the park and met her friends there.

“Took you long enough,” Lior said as he ruffled Serin’s hair. “Hey! Do you know what time it is??” Nari snapped.

“Sorry Sorry, I was just-” Before she said anything else Lior interrupted “writing your journal?” crossing his arms over his chest. “Yeah” Serin lowered her voice with embarrassment. “Alright Fine, Anyways she didn’t come yet” Nari mumbled as she glanced around the park.

Serin and Lior raised eyebrows “Who?” they asked.

“Oh! I made a new friend, she’s quite shy and new in this area so I thought about tagging her along. She’s pretty and fun to hang around with” Nari explained as she jumped in excitement “Her name is VELDA” Nari jumped once again. “Hey, no need to yell,” Lior rubbed his ear.

Nari ran to a girl who was coming towards them. “Velda! Nice to see you! What took you so long?” Nari asked in excitement

“I…was lost” Velda chuckled, embarrassingly.

“She yelled at me for coming late,” Serin pouted. “Relax, Nari always acts good with new friends,” Lior smirked.

Lior and Serin made their way to Nari who was asking continuous questions from Velda “Hello? I’m Serin” she introduced herself. “And I’m Lior,” He added.

“I’m Velda,” She introduced softly. “They’re my best friends, and you are too now” Nari smiled brightly. “Let me guess, you met her yesterday,” Lior mocked Nari.

“Nooo .... I met her this morning” Nari pouted in frustration. “Nice to meet you all” Velda said but her eyes never left Serin.

“So you’re new here-” Before Serin said anything else Nari interrupted “Let’s go for the amusement park before it gets crowded” Nari rushed out grabbing Velda’s hand.

“STOP INTERRUPTING MY WORDS!!” Serin snapped.

Lior chuckled and ruffled Serin’s hair “Come on, let’s catch up to them before Nari gets lost again” Lior walked grabbing Serin by her arm as she groaned in frustration “ugh fine”

Serin and her friends roamed around the amusement park, chatting and enjoying every ride. Though Velda’s eyes never left Serin alone.

After the tiring day they all were walked out of the amusement park and made their way on the footpath.

“It was an exciting day,” Velda said. “Of course, I told you it’ll be fun, didn't I?” Nari waved her lightstick.

“Wait a second? Where’s Serin?” Lior looked back, “What? What do you mean?” Velda asked hesitantly. “Oh Serin? She was still eating her burger” Nari casually said.

“WHAT???” Lior snapped “How can you be casual about it? She’s still inside the amusement park? What if she gets lost? It’s dangerous for her to be alone at this time!!!” Lior pinched Nari’s cheek meanwhile Velda rushed back but stopped as she saw Serin coming their way, her expression grumpy.

“Thankfully you’re fine, I was worried” Velda let out a relieved sigh.

“Worried? After leaving me behind like that!!??” Serin snapped.

“Sorry…” Velda apologized.

“It was your fault to order three burgers” Lior pinched Serin’s cheek.

“OWWW!” Serin exclaimed. “You had us worried,” Lior sighed.

Serin looked away, frustration visible on her face.

“How about we….uh….get some ice cream? My treat?” Velda hesitantly pats Serin’s shoulder. “Sounds great!” Nari beamed.

“Yeah, Let’s go,” Serin resigned. “You guys just ate a lot???” Lior said but he was left behind as those three already made their way to the nearby cafe.

Lior sighed but as he was about to follow them, he noticed how Velda tried to stay close to Serin, Although something felt off he pushed his thoughts away and followed them anyway. They took their seats and looked around the menu.

“Strawberry flavor for me” Nari said as she looked around the menu “and the mango, and a bit of vanilla” Nari continued.

“I’ll just take chocolate,” Serin confirmed. “Me too!” Nari said. “I’ll take a chocolate too …then” Velda nods.

“Chocolates? Fine. Velda is paying anyway, but Nari? Are you sure you want only chocolate?” Lior looked at Nari. “Yeah,” Nari confirmed.

“Which flavor do you want?” Serin asked Lior “Mango,” he replied.

A while later there was ice-cream on the table and they continued to eat. “Umm ... so… Serin? You live alone?” Velda asked.

“Nah, I live with my big brother,” Serin replied. “Aren’t you adopted, Serin?” Lior smirked. “Yeah? So? He’s still my big brother” Serin growled.

“Kaien?” Velda mumbled, Serin looked at her with surprise “You know my brother?” Nari asked curiously.

“Uh…yeah…Duskvale Syndicates ...I know about its members” Velda became more hesitant. “Duskvale?” Lior and Serin asked.

“You don’t know?” Velda asked confusingly. “Oh I know about Duskvale! It’s a great store” Nari nodded. “It’s not a store” Velda chuckled softly “It’s a company” Velda explained.

“Oh? There’s a store with that name too” Nari felt embarrassed.

“Your brother works at a company? I thought he was self-employed or something” Lior looked at Serin. “He never tells me about his work,” Serin shrugged but her words left a smirk on Velda’s face.

“I see,” Velda nodded.

“Is that why you were glaring- I mean staring at Serin?” Lior asked, his eyes narrowing. “Because of duskvale? I don’t think she’s connected” Velda replied softly, “so what’s this Duskvale about?” Lior leaned back in his chair.

Velda became hesitant and didn’t reply for a moment “My own brother….works there” Velda replied avoiding eye contact with Lior.

“That still doesn’t add up something” Lior narrowed his eyes making Velda hesitate further. “Oh Please! Cut it out!” Nari snapped.

“You’re making her uncomfortable!” Nari punched Lior’s arm.

“Fine” Lior sat up straight and finished his leftover ice-cream.

Serin just watched their interaction and then continued to eat her ice cream. Later she was separated by the group, everyone going home on their way but Velda was going in the same direction as Serin.

“So? You live around here” Serin asked awkwardly.

“Yeah,” Velda smiled. “I see…” Serin got quiet again.

They reached Serin’s apartment.

“So this is where you live?” Velda asked as she stepped in behind her.

“Yeah. Do you like it?” Serin replied casually.

Velda didn’t answer. Her eyes scanned the room—until they landed on Kaien, fast asleep on the couch.

Without hesitation, she walked toward him with a smirk.

“Uh… Velda?” Serin called out, confused.

Velda picked up a nearby glass half-filled with water—and dumped it straight on Kaien’s face.

He jolted awake in shock, sputtering. Serin froze, stunned.

“What the fuc—” Kaien cut himself off the moment he saw Velda.

“Velda?!”

“Kaien,” she grinned. “His Majesty has been looking all over for you.”

Her voice was no longer shy. The hesitant Velda was gone.

“What are you doing here?!” Kaien snapped, lunging toward her with a punch—

—but Velda dodged it effortlessly.

“What do you think?” she said, her grin widening as she pointed back at Serin, who still hadn’t moved.

Kaien’s eyes narrowed. “What about her?”

“His Majesty wants her.”

Velda stood tall, her posture crisp, her smile dangerous.

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