Isabella tugged her gently, bringing her toward a velvet settee near the window, the light pouring in like gold. Just as they sat, Zio Marco's voice rang out smoothly.
"Alright, figli miei, you may all excuse yourselves now. The adults have matters to discuss."
His words were sugar-laced with command, and at once, the younger Lyssanders began to scatter.
Viviana strutted off in her usual dramatic way, heels tapping, her back straight and chin raised. Adrien, ever her rival, followed her with quiet menace. Their feud was legendary.
Matteo retreated into the family's grand library, his sanctuary of silence, while Evander disappeared into the manor's vast gardens.
Julian and Celestina—the duo snakes, as Mireyna had heard them whispered about—shared a look. Their smiles were too sweet, their minds too sharp. They moved in sync, quiet and sly, trailing behind Isabella and Mireyna without a word. Watching. Judging.
But not everyone left.
Alessandro, Zio Marco's pride and only son, remained exactly where he was—lounging on an elegant armchair near the terrace, a half-empty teacup balanced between his fingers, one leg crossed.
"They'll talk politics for hours," he murmured, almost bored. "No use pretending to care."
He didn't rise. He didn't even blink at the command. Alessandro Lyssander stayed when he pleased, left when he wanted. And everyone knew it.
His sharp gaze followed the movement of his cousins—lingering slightly longer on Mireyna and Isabella, though his face revealed nothing.
"Snakes in silk," he muttered, watching Julian and Celestina slip by. "They never change."
Then he leaned back again, utterly at ease, and closed his eyes as if the entire house wasn't wrapped in quiet war.
Meanwhile, Isabella led Mireyna into the garden beyond the arched French doors. The air changed instantly—floral, breezy, and warm. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a golden lace upon the stone pathway lined with roses, violets, and rare hybrid lilies. The sound of a trickling fountain echoed gently, and koi swam beneath the surface of a crystal-clear pond.
It was enchanting.
"This is my favorite place in the world," Isabella said, guiding Mireyna past the fountain to a stone bench carved with vines. "I come here when I feel like I can't breathe inside that house."
Mireyna followed, her heart still heavy—but the scent of fresh blooms and the cool breeze brushing her cheeks soothed her nerves.
Julian and Celestina lingered behind, far enough to seem innocent, close enough to hear.
But it was Evander who noticed first—sitting at the edge of the koi pond, his expression clouding as his solitary haven was intruded upon. He turned slowly, his eyes locking onto Mireyna.
Evander didn't seem to care about any of it. His attention was fully absorbed by the book in his hands, as if the world around him didn't exist. Meanwhile, Isabella gently tugged Mireyna's hand and led her to a dainty seating area set up for afternoon tea in the rose garden.
"You're really pretty, Mireyna," Isabella said suddenly, her voice soft and sincere. "Even Papa admits you're beautiful… I think Japanese people are really cute. What do they say in Japanese again?" She tilted her head, tapping a finger against her chin in thought. "Ah—kawaii! Yes, that's it. You're so kawaii!"
She giggled, the sound like wind chimes in the breeze, and Mireyna couldn't help but smile back.
But the moment warmed into something deeper when Mireyna turned to her and asked, "Why do you like me? I mean… why are you friends with me? No one else here does."
Isabella blinked, her bright blue eyes reflecting the sunlight like sapphires. Then she smiled, a calm and genuine smile. "Because I don't care about things like blood or titles. What matters is the heart. You're still a Lyssander, just like me. That makes you family. And honestly, I think kindness is far more important than lineage."
They sat there quietly for a moment, the floral scent of roses wrapping around them like a dream.
Then Isabella leaned in slightly, lowering her voice as if she was about to share a secret. "Little Nana… do you have a crush?"
Mireyna chuckled softly and shook her head. "No, not really. I don't think I do."
Isabella blushed. "Well, I do," she whispered, glancing around. "He's a senior at my academy. Same age as Viviana and the others. He's half-Japanese too, like you. He's so handsome… and he's amazing at skating, archery, and even horseback riding. He's smart too. I've… I've had a crush on him for a while."
Mireyna's gaze softened. "So, does he know? Did you tell him? What happened?"
Isabella looked down, her hands gently clutching the hem of her dress. "I think he already knows. But he's the type who only focuses on his studies. He doesn't really pay attention to girls. He loves art… always entering painting competitions at Valenté Academy. He's really serious about his future."
Her voice grew quieter. "But he's Japanese. And I know Papa would never approve."
Mireyna tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Isabella bit her lip before replying, "Ever since your mother married your Papa… he hasn't liked the Japanese. I don't know why, but… whenever Japanese people come up on the news, he changes the channel or frowns. If he found out I liked someone Japanese, I know he'd be furious."
She sighed. "I don't want to disappoint Papa. He already warned me once, 'Don't ever disappoint me the way Anne did.' That's what he said."
Mireyna's heart tensed at the mention of her mother. She nodded slowly. She understood—Zio Marco's resentment ran deep.
"So, you've just been keeping your feelings hidden?" she asked softly.
Isabella nodded. "I tried to tell Alessandro once… just to see what he thought. He got angry. Told me to forget about it. He said, 'Don't even think about telling Papa. If you know what's good for you, don't fall for someone Papa won't approve of.'"
Then, imitating her father's cold tone, she added, "If he says black, it's black. If he says white, it's white. Don't argue. Don't question. And never be like your aunt Anne. Or you'll regret it."
Mireyna looked at her cousin in silence, watching the weight of unspoken dreams cloud her bright blue eyes. Behind all the sweetness, Isabella was just another prisoner in this gilded family cage
Meanwhile, hidden just behind the veil of blooming rose bushes, two shadows lingered—the duo snakes, as Mireyna privately called them. Julian and Celestina. A pair cut from the same cloth—two beautiful faces hiding venomous thoughts behind their smiles.
Though Celestina shared the same enchanting features as her cousin Isabella—so much so that strangers often mistook them for twins—her soul was nothing like the sweet and radiant girl in the garden. Celestina's charm was a mask, a carefully woven illusion, just like Julian's. Two snakes, coiled and ready.
Their eyes met, and as if reading each other's thoughts, they exchanged a knowing smirk.
"Hey, Julian," Celestina whispered, her tone dipped in mockery. "I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but… have you noticed? The older she gets, the more Japanese she looks."
Julian's lips curled into a sly grin. "Really? She keeps growing into it, huh… She's starting to look like my type."
His eyes trailed toward the figure of Mireyna, watching her with the same hunger a predator shows its prey.
"Even if she hasn't grow big enough yet…"
Celestina raised a brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Julian looked away, feigning innocence. "Nothing. Just talking nonsense."
He turned back to her with a crooked smile. "But what do you think, Elia? Is she pretty to you?"
Everyone in the Lyssander family had their own little nickname—Celestina was called Elia, Viviana was Anna, Evander was Evan, Matteo went by Matt, and little Alessia was lovingly called Lili. Only Julian, Adrien and Alessandro insisted on their full names, holding their heads high as if shortening them would somehow diminish their pride.
Celestina gave a half-smile, tilting her head as if pondering the question.
"She's… decent," she said at last, her voice cool and dismissive. "Pretty enough… for the streets."
Julian's grin deepened, cold and cruel.