Part 5---He Was Never Meant to Know
The mansion was too quiet. Even the walls seemed to listen.
Caelum sat alone in his father’s study, surrounded by the ghosts of oil paintings and old cigars. The curtains were drawn, but the light of dusk cut through the edges, spilling across the dust-speckled air like blood.
His fingers were tight around the edge of the armchair.
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
He was born for this. He should’ve never been taken away……
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
(Then what about me?) *thinks back to the words her adopted mother said*
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
Anastas… He is the true heir of the Rosenthal family
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
….
Mariya’s voice had been soft.
She hadn’t known he was there, behind the door of the security room. He hadn’t meant to overhear. But once the words had landed in his chest, they refused to leave.
They twisted there, like thorns under skin.
He had stayed in that hallway long after she left, frozen in place, listening to the silence scream back at him.
Now he couldn’t breathe without hearing it.
Location: The Rosenthal family’s garden
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*he stood in the garden beneath the twisted iron gazebo. The roses around him were dry—burned out from the heatwave. Only the thorns remained, clinging to broken stems.*
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*he sliced through the air with a dagger at hand with his movements slow and deliberate*
Each breath: a prayer to control.
But Caelum’s voice still echoed in his mind from their last fight:
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
You think you can come back and take what I bled for?
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*the voice of Caelum circles in his head* ugh…that motherf**ker is in my head
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*He hadn’t asked for this. He’d come back because of a letter. Because of guilt. Because part of him still believed he belonged here.*
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
….
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
If we continue like this *scoffs and throws the dagger to the side*
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
The next time we spoke…something in us might just break *recalling how Caelum snapped while they were fighting*
Daria Volkov
*appears suddenly while Anastas was in thought* darlingggggg!
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
Ugh! Daria! Don’t scare me like that!
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
And secondly we are cousins, there’s nothing between us
Daria Volkov
Come on now~ you are just playing hard to get
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
I’m serious Daria!
Daria Volkov
*pouts* tch…
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
Get lost! There’s nothing in between us! *pushes her off and leaves*
Daria Volkov
Agh…. *lands on the ground*
Daria Volkov
(Oh don’t you worry Anastas~ you will be mine~ sooner or later)
The ancient Rosenthal council had reconvened.
Twelve old men, all shrouded in tobacco smoke, argued over borders, weapons shipments, and whispers from the Eastern docks
Mariya sat at the head of the table, still and regal, in a silk suit the color of dried wine. Her hands were folded on the table. Her face unreadable.
Lucien Delacroix (advisor)
Is Master Vik—
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
*shakes head*
Lucien Delacroix (advisor)
*nods*
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*he sat at the edge of the room. Not speaking. Just watching*
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*He noticed Mariya aka his mother seemed tense. Her fingers tapped against the armrest in a strange, silent rhythm*
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*also realise his father isn’t in the room*
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
(Guess that old man’s heart still isn’t stable…)
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*walks in slowly*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*with heavy steps*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*He wore his father’s coat, deep charcoal, the gold crest stitched over his heart. His hair was slicked back. Fresh bruises were visible just under his collar—some from Asya, some not.*
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*raise an eyebrow but does not speak up*
Elena Rosenthal
You disrespectful roach! How dare you wear father’s coat!
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*doesn’t talks back*
Elena Rosenthal
Answer me!
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
Elena…sit back down
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
Not another word
Elena Rosenthal
….yes mother…
Elena Rosenthal
*sits back down while sulks*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*walks forward and is face to face with Mariya*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
Tell them
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
Tell them what?
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
Don’t play games with me, Mother.
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*his words came out cold*
Lucien Delacroix (advisor)
*stiffened at the edge of the room.*
Renji Takahiro (guard)
(He never acted like this….)
Daria Volkov
(Wonder what happened to the cockroach)
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
Caelum—
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
Tell them who you chose…
Eyes shifted from son to mother. From heir to ghost.
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
What is he talking about? *stands up In confusion*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
She made her decision. You. You’re the heir again.
The atmosphere got colder
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
She never told you either, huh?
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*his throat dried*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
Wait what you knew?!
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
…
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
Caelum, you are misunderstanding—
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
Am I? *His voice cracked for the first time*. Because I heard you. You said it yourself. “He should never have been taken away. Anastas is my heir.” Your words.
No one in the room breathed.
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
* He stepped closer, slow and coiled like a storm.*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
You trained me. You praised me. You told me I could wear the name. That I could earn it. And now you hide behind whispers and secret choices?
Mariya Rosenthal (mother)
You weren’t supposed to hear all of that
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
But I heard it all
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
Admit it…I was just the replacement for him
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
….
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
(Replacement…?)
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*His hands were shaking. The truth had cost him something. Something he wasn’t sure he could get back.*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*turns to Anastas*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
You didn’t steal this from me. But you didn’t refuse it either.
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
….because i can’t
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
No…it’s because you won’t
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
*smirks bitterly*
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
I don’t need to it crown….but
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
I will burn down your throne
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
That throne still belongs to our father!
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
Father?! He is gonna die soon Anastas!
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*slaps him* you are being ungrateful!
The sky was navy blue and laced with stars.
Anastas sat on the rooftop ledge, a cigarette in one hand, his other clutching the silver rose-shaped lighter Caelum gave him years ago
Lucien Delacroix (advisor)
*approached quietly*
Lucien Delacroix (advisor)
Do you know why he is angry?
Renji Takahiro (guard)
*follows behind*
Renji Takahiro (guard)
Do you want to know why he is angry?
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
*sighs* enlighten me then
Renji Takahiro (guard)
Caelum isn’t angry because he lost the title
Lucien Delacroix (advisor)
He’s angry because she lied. Because she made him believe he was enough.
Anastas “Asya” Volkov Rosenthal
….
He just looked out over the estate—the “kingdom” he’d returned to.
The ‘kingdom’ he never asked to rule.
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
She lied to me…. *slams a glass bottle at the wall*
Daria Volkov
Of course she did…she never loved you~
Daria Volkov
*smirks* you were never good enough~
Caelum “Cae” Rosenthal
Guess you are right….
Vale (me)
That’s the end of now~ byeeee
Vale (me)
:D have a nice day!
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2025-07-26
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