Prologue
Four years ago
A starry sky hangs over a vast, empty prairie save for a lone stable in the distance. Three children lay among the thick, tall grass gazing up into the night sky. The chirping of crickets and other insects fills the air as they talk.
“Do you two always do things like this?” a girl with brown hair and eyes asks.
“Of course! Vincent is the one who thought of it. You can just relax and let your mind wander while looking at the stars,” a blond haired boy replies.
“Yeah, but it was Prince Winston’s idea to bring you out here though, Lady Lillian.”, Vincent says. He tilts his head up, straining a bit to look at her. “You’ve been looking down since you arrived,” he goes on. Winston doesn’t say anything. He did notice Lillian’s weird mood, but Vincent was the one who thought to bring her along. A look of regret appears on Lillian’s face as her eyes leave the sky.
“I suppose,” she says simply. Though he doesn’t see her face Vincent can tell she’s crestfallen.
“It only makes sense. I’m sorry that you’ve had to go through losing your family.”, Vincent tells her sympathetically, returning his eyes to the stars.
“At least you don’t have to go through it alone. Vincent doesn’t have his blooded family either.”, Winston says. His eyes widened suddenly. He turns to Vincent. “I-I didn’t mean it like that! I just meant…”
“It’s okay. I know what you meant.”, Vincent chuckles understanding. A relieved expression covers Winston’s face. “But unlike Lady Lillian I never got to know my family. My parents died when I was one years old.”, he shares with Lillian. She sits up and turns to Vincent to meet his gray eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she offers. Vincent nods simply.
“Anyway we’re family now. The three of us.”, Winston offers. Lillian’s eyes betray her shock while Vincent smiles.
“That’s right. We’re just the members each of us got to choose,” he says.
