Chapter 8. The First Companion
"Are you... really my young master Leonhardt Caulem?"
"Reo wasn't surprised by Liana's question, though he hadn't expected her to voice it so soon. It wasn't unreasonable—anyone would suspect a sudden, drastic change in someone they knew.
He sighed.
"I am Leonhardt Caulem," he said, his tone calm but steady. "Son of Duke Alaric Caulem and the late Duchess Seraphina Caulem. First heir to the Caulem Dukedom." His crimson eyes met hers directly.
Liana's lips pressed into a thin line, her expression a mixture of doubt and confusion. "Young master," she began slowly, her voice cautious, "you say that, but... people don't just change like this. Not overnight."
Reo raised an eyebrow, his gaze thoughtful. "Fair," he replied. "But tell me—what will it take for you to believe me?"
Liana hesitated, her mind racing for an answer. Then, an idea struck her, and she straightened slightly. "There was something you cherished as a child," she said, her words deliberate.
"A toy you lost years ago. If you truly are who you claim to be... you'll know what -."
"It wasn't a toy," he corrected.
"It was a wooden sword. My mother gave it to me."
Liana's eyes widened, her breath hitching. She stared at him in disbelief, her heart pounding.