"Jayne, you’re finally awake." Elsie lazily blew on her polished nails, though her eyes were ice-cold.

"I nearly suffocated waiting for you to open those eyes."

My heart clenched. This woman had always found joy in tormenting me, her cruelty knowing no limits. And Garrett? He never once intervened.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a violent bang. Garrett stormed in, cold fury in his eyes. He didn’t spare me a glance—just grabbed the teacup and hurled it at my head.

Hot tea mixed with blood trickled down my cheek.

"When Madam speaks, you answer," he growled.

"Elsie’s delicate. It’s your job to keep her entertained."

Elsie immediately nestled into his arms, all softness and sugar. He held her like she was something precious, kissing her hair gently.

"Slaves like her deserve to suffer. Don’t go soft."

And with that, he turned and walked out, like I was less than nothing.

Elsie’s smile twisted. "Jayne... guess who I ran into recently?"

A servant rolled in a figure shrouded in black cloth. As it was peeled away, my entire body went cold.

"Brother!"

The elf standing before me—bloodied, wingless, bound in chains—was the brother I’d longed to see every day.

I collapsed to my knees, the impact echoing dully.

"Please, take me instead! Let him go!"

He looked at me with pained affection, offering a faint smile. "It’s okay, Jayne..."

But Elsie stepped forward and lifted his chin, inspecting him like he was a new toy. Her eyes shimmered with malice.

"Didn’t expect such a pretty little face on an elf like you."

"What are you trying to do?" I screamed.

Smiling sweetly, she unsheathed a dagger and traced its flat edge along his pale cheek.

"Tell me, little beauty... what’s it like to touch your sister? Want to find out? Don’t be shy—plenty of others already have."

"You monster!" I lunged forward, struggling wildly. "Torture me if you want, but leave him alone!"

But she just trailed her fingers across his lips—and in that moment, while he was frozen in shock, she forced a small blue pill into his mouth.

"No—!" My scream tore through the air.

His body jerked violently. Panic filled his wide eyes.

"What... what did you make me take?"

Elsie’s expression was almost tender as she caressed his flushed cheek.

"Something fun. Something that'll make the reunion... unforgettable."

She turned to the servants.

"Unchain him. Let them get reacquainted."

My breath stopped.

The chains hit the floor with a chilling clatter.

My brother collapsed, curling up like a wounded animal, skin burning with fever, his voice hoarse with pain.

"Brother!" I rushed to him, but the heat radiating off his body made me recoil in horror.

His eyes—once kind and warm—were now bloodshot, clouded with confusion and a frightening hunger.

I sprinted to the door, pounding with all my strength.

"Please! Open the door! I’ll do anything! I’ll obey—just save my brother!"

A servant’s mocking voice came from outside.

"Shut it. Madam’s having tea. Don’t ruin the mood."

Behind me, I heard the rustle of fabric.

I turned.

My brother was standing, trembling. Tears streamed silently down his crimson face as he reached for the dagger Elsie had left behind.

"Jayne..." His voice cracked like shattered glass.

"If you see Mother and Father... tell them I miss them."

“No!” I let out a heart-wrenching scream and lunged to stop him, grasping at the blade with bare hands.

But my brother only shook his head, resolute. Sweat and tears slid down his face, dripping onto the cold steel.

“I’d rather die than ever hurt you.”

Shlick.

The chilling sound of metal piercing flesh froze the blood in my veins.

He gave me one final, gentle smile before crumpling into my arms, his body growing limp as it sank into a spreading pool of crimson.

“Brother——!”

I clung to him, pressing my face to his cooling forehead. And in a trembling voice, I sang the lullaby of our people—the one he used to hum when we were young.

Time passed in a blur until distant fireworks shattered the silence, their echo a cruel contrast to the devastation in my arms.

A servant stormed in and yanked my hair with a snarl. “Useless wretch! Madam’s not feeling well—Master says you’re to serve!”

But I wouldn’t let go. Not even as they beat and kicked me. I held my brother’s body like he was the last warmth left in this world.

Then Garrett burst in, surrounded by guards.

“Jayne! Don’t make me come here myself, are you trying to defy me—”

He stopped mid-roar.

I looked up slowly. My arms were wrapped around a lifeless body. My eyes, empty. My soul, hollow.

He paused, his gaze shifting to Elsie’s maid. “What happened?”

The maid rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Madam kindly reunited her with her brother, but he went mad and killed himself.”

Garrett frowned, clearly uneasy. “Jayne…”

But I didn’t respond. I only hummed the lullaby softly, my tears falling like rain onto my brother’s still lashes.

Just then, the butler burst in breathlessly.

“Th-The young lady has returned!”

Garrett stiffened as if struck by lightning.

“I’m home!” A cheerful voice called out from outside, clear and familiar. Everyone froze.

My body began to feel light—weightless. I looked down. My fingertips were dissolving into glowing motes of light. My brother’s form shimmered too, and from our intertwined hands, thousands of crystal butterflies emerged.

“It’s the elves turning into butterflies!” a servant screamed.

Garrett spun around just as one butterfly brushed past his face and vanished into the sky.