Chapter 1: Where everything began
It was a large manor in the middle of a dense forest, an estate belonging to the Angeras household. A powerful duchy of the Kingdom of Ikarus. The estate was given to the first wife of the current Duke’s wife from the former Duke as a gift. Although it was supposed to be a gift where they could come for vacation, instead it’s used as a house for the Lady and her son.
"Estefan." The lady spoke gently while caressing her son’s hair. "Eat slowly or else you could choke."
She looked at him, the young boy at the age of 10. His untidy long black hair being ruffled by his mother’s caressing while those eyes which shine like Ruby look at her. He was chewing down some fresh chocolate chip cookies.
"Mama." The boy chirped while holding a cookie. "Have some cookies mama, they’re delicious."
Hearing those words made Lady Jane giggle a bit, she looked at him. Her eyes were similar to the boy so was her hair, it was as if the boy was a perfect copy of his mother. "Hmmm." She began to think for a minute before answering. "Mama made a bigger cookie for myself, I will eat it later."
Her jesting sparked some curiosity in Estefan. "REALLY!" He exclaimed with a glimmering puppy eye. "But- mama, I also wanna eat a big cookie."
"Awww baby." She gently pulled his cheeks which were really soft. "You will eat after you become a strong adult like Mama."
"Why can’t I have one now?" He asked with a certain childish curiosity. "Because it’s too sweet. Only an adult who is strong like Mama can eat it." Lady Jane spoke while tapping her chest as if she was a warrior, seeing this made the boy laugh.
Although the manor and estate was big, the amount of caretakers, servants and guards for the place was low. It was like someone was intentionally making sure both of them will get less care and support in the manor. There were only 3 cleaners in the manor who would visit once every week, guards were stationed at the gate on the outskirts of the forest which is walled up and there was no one for cooking.
But Lady Jane took care of Estefan by herself, she would even make sure to clean the place and even hunt for food in the forest. Everyday the boy would wait at the door for his mother to come back from hunting, riding a horse and carrying a bow and arrows with a pair of spear and sword. She would sometimes return with a bunny and on lucky days a boar.
Lady Jane then prepares the dinner for her son where they eat outside the manor in front of a campfire. It was not great but for the two, that life was peaceful and calming at best.