𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐄 𝐄𝐇𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄

ＫＡＮＥ𓍯𓂃

The coronation ceremony was fast approaching-a day where I'd be named the heir to Italy's most powerful generational business, one steeped in the shadows of the mafia. Yet, I'd barely thought about it, and all I could cling to was the hope that maybe Noel, my brother, could help me convince our father to pass the business to him instead. Noel knew me inside and out. We shared countless memories, and he understood my desire for a simpler life-a life free from the suffocating legacy our father demanded I embrace. Someone like me, an artist who finds peace in the countryside's scenic beauty, has no place in this world of secrets and power.

*knock knock*

"Come in," I called out, setting my thoughts aside.

"Hey, bud, you alright? Got a minute?" Noel's familiar voice drifted into the room, easing some of the tension in my chest.

"Yes, what for?" I replied, attempting a casual tone.

"Tsk! You've seemed a bit on edge lately. How about we hang out for a while? Fresh air in the garden could help clear your mind. Besides, you've been spending a lot of time out there lately," he suggested with a grin.

"Oh? And what exactly are you up to, Noel?" I asked, arching a brow.

"Gianni mentioned how stressed you've been-more than usual, actually. And as your brother, I'm officially taking it upon myself to lift your spirits. Gianni's joining too; we're here to help, after all," Noel said, his tone playful but sincere.

I let out a long sigh and managed a faint smile. "Fine, why not?"

We made our way to the garden, the only place that granted me a sense of peace. As the chilly winter breeze brushed against my face, I watched children laughing and playing in the distance. They have no idea, I thought to myself. To them, the Ehrman name means wealth and status. They admire us, yet they have no inkling of the filth and secrecy lying beneath the surface. They're captivated by the book cover, blissfully unaware of the pages within.

"The garden's quite chilly today, isn't it?" Noel commented, pulling me back to the present.

"Winters," I replied flatly, and just then, Gianni jogged over, his usual grin plastered across his face. My best friend, my confidant. The one who's been there through every twist and turn, always offering his support without a second thought.

"Hey, Kane! Relax, buddy. Tell me what's on your mind... what've you decided so far?" Gianni asked, his tone light yet concerned.

"How sweet of you to ask when I'm already neck-deep in stress," I chuckled, trying to mask the storm inside.

And with that, we began strolling. Gianni and Noel fell into an easy conversation, and I drifted back into my thoughts, hands shoved in my pockets. Dad's out of town, and the ceremony is only weeks away. I have no solution, no way out. If I get crowned as heir, that means abandoning everything I love, everything I've worked toward as an artist. The very thought makes me sick. Noel, Gianni, and I were trained for this life since our teenage years, but when I turned 18, I convinced my parents to let me pursue art-a path so different from the one they'd carved for me. I couldn't have done it without my mother, but my father... he despises me, sees me as a liability. And now, by passing down this business, he'll consider me an asset. The irony is almost too much.

*Thud*

Suddenly, I collided with someone, jolting me out of my thoughts.

"What the actual f-... who do you think you are? Can't you jog without bumping into people? Was it absolutely necessary to collide?" I snapped, trying to control my simmering anger.

The girl, taken aback, stammered, "I... I'm sorry, I lost my track and didn't notice. I apologize for the inconvenience."

With that, she hurried away, leaving me staring after her, unsettled. Who was she? Didn't she know who I was? Did she not recognize an Ehrman? People usually lower their heads in apology... but she didn't. Did she even know of us?

"Kane, man, you alright? Pfft, just another attention-seeker, I bet," Gianni remarked, rolling his eyes.

*Pats*

"Oh, we're used to it by now, aren't we, Kane?" Noel said with a laugh.

"Kane, you're awfully quiet. What's on your mind?" Gianni asked, nudging me.

"Oh, nothing," I replied, my voice distant. "Just wondering what the future holds..."

I slowed my pace to fall in line with Noel and Gianni when I spotted the girl again, now finishing her laps. She seemed panicked, phone pressed to her ear as she whispered hurriedly before dashing out of the garden.

I reached into my pocket, fiddling with my car keys, trying to clear my mind from the relentless tide of thoughts. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we headed back home, calling it a day.

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A/N :

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