Benedict''s voice trembled with rising frustration "And you, Father-you''re no different. I know you favor Sophie, but must your bias be this tant?"


    He red at Gabriel, the very man he once looked up to with reverence. Once, this had been the person he wanted to emte. Now, all he saw was a lie.


    Sophie''s identity was a lie. His father''s love for their mother-also a lie. And Benedict''s own image as the noble eldest son of Hasen City! That, too, was a lie. He wasn''t worthy of the title


    The more he thought about it, the more regret crushed him. He had failed-failed to stop his sister from bing a nun, failed to bring back the brother who walked away.


    Now, when rity had finally dawned, Eliza and Dn were already gone.


    He turned to his remaining brothers. Two men, faces full of indifference, who looked so much like the version of himself he now despised


    "Matthew, Anthony Benedict said solemnly, "take a good look at this family. If you two don''t wake up soon, there won''t be a family left to look at."


    But they didn''t understand. Of course they didn''t


    Matthew frowned, and Anthony crossed his arms. "Benedict, maybe you should be the one reflecting Anthony said coldly "None of this would''ve happened if Eliza hadn''t insisted on running off to be a nun.


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    Benedict looked at them for a long moment. Then he asked quietly. "Matthew, Anthony do either of you remember what kind of pastries Eliza liked best?"


    Matthew scowled. "What kind of question is that? What''s it got to do with anything?"


    "It does matter," Benedict said, his voice tight. "Just answer me. Do you remember or not?"


    He didn''t even know what he was hoping to hear-but his heart weighed heavier with every passing second


    "Who remembers that kind of thing?" Matthew muttered with a hint of annoyance. "She didn''t seem to like anything Roast duck, maybe?"


    Benedict said nothing


    Anthony thought for a second, then offered, "Lemon cake? Or pistachio? Isn''t that what Sophie likes too?"


    Benedict almostughed-bitter, hollow.


    At first, he felt a sick sort of relief that he wasn''t the only one who''d forgotten. But that relief was quickly swallowed by something worse.


    If none of them remembered... then just how devastated must Eliza have been all these years?


    They hadn''t just forgotten her favorite vors. They had forgotten her. Her grief, her loneliness, her pain. All they ever did


    was me her.


    Benedict walked out of the study, utterly hollow.


    "What the hell was that about?" Matthew muttered, rubbing his injured leg


    "Benedict''spletely lost it. Why bring up Eliza now? She''s not even part of this family anymore


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    11:48 Fri, 18 Apr


    The pain from his fall made him grimace, but it didn''t stop him from turning to Gabriel and saying. "Father, you never finished earlier was it really Eliza who reported Sophie? If we want to help her, what should we do?"


    Gabriel''s


    ''s gaze drifted from the window. He nced briefly at Matthew''s leg and said ndly. "We don''t know for sure, but it''s likely she was involved


    "I knew it. Matthew growled. "She''s always had it out for Sophie. First she uses her of stealing our mother''s body, now she''s turning the King against her. Sophie ended up locked in the pce because of her lies.


    Gabriel paused at the mention of the first usation... but in the end, he said nothing.


    "So what do we do? Go to Eliza again?" Anthony asked with a frown, clearly reluctant."


    "If you don''t want to go to her, then go find your Dn, Gabriel said simply. Anthony''s brows lifted, thinking it over.


    Matthew hesitated. "But will Dn even agree to help? Last time he left, he acted like he''d nevere back. Said b done with all of us.


    he was


    Gabriel replied coolly. This concerns Sophie''s safety. Just make it sound urgent- Dn may have a sharp tongue, but he''s always had a soft heart. He won''t just sit back and do nothing."


    That seemed to convince them.


    Matthew nodded. "You''re right. Dn used to be just as protective of Sophie as the rest of us. If we spin it right-make it sound pitiful enough-he won''t turn us down."


    Anthony agreed. "Let''s go tomorrow. We''ll talk to him face to face."


    With their injuries, their desperation-it would be perfect Dn would crack.


    What they didn''t know... was that Dn had already seen the truth with his own eyes.


    The next morning, at the base of Mount Westin, Dn was chopping firewood for a local vige. Shirtless, sun-darkened, and slick with sweat, he swung a heavy axe through the thick trunks. Suddenly, voices rang out from behind. "Dn!" "Dn! Finally! Took us forever to find you. What are you doing out here, chopping trees?!"


    Huffing and red-faced, Matthew and Anthony staggered into view.


    Dn didn''t stop chopping. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and replied calmly, "Working. Earning a wage. What che


    They both froze


    Right. Dn had left the Stonor estate-and Gabriel had cut him off from everyst coin. If he wanted to eat, he had to earn it himself


    They hadn''t expected this


    Matthew''s expression twisted slightly. He looked at Dn''s calloused hands, the sweat running down his face, the rough axe resting at his side.


    11:48 Fri, 18 Apr


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    This man used to be top of his ss, the star student in the capital''s finest academy. Next year, he might''ve made the honor


    roll


    And now... chopping wood for silver? A strange mix of guilt and confusion crept


    into Matthew''s voice. "Dn, aren''t you... don''t you regret it? If you''re willing toe home, Anthony and I can talk to Father. Maybe he''ll—"


    ?