Riven's footsteps echoed within the empty hallway. He walked at a brisk pace, trying to navigate the unknown territory that was now his home.
Every few minutes, he passed a maid tending to the house. He noticed their quick glances, the subtle scoffs, and the clicking of tongues.
Was he really that bad? Hated by everyone who saw him? Though he hadn't done anything to them, it still made his chest tighten with each encounter. The weight in his heart grew heavier, like storm clouds forming in his chest, until it was hard to breathe.
Finally, he reached the dining room. His legs felt like spaghetti as he approached the door. He didn't know what to expect, but the thought of all their eyes on him made his stomach churn.
He drew a deep breath, clenched his fists, and stepped inside.
Clack—his feet hit the polished floor.
Immediately, the room stilled. Every head at the table turned toward him.
Then, just as quickly, they turned away.
Riven felt a sharp sting in his chest. He hadn't expected it to be this bad. Their indifference froze him in place. He didn't take another step.
He looked at the table—the Grave family.
His three brothers sat on one side, arranged in descending order of age. He recalled the details from the story.
The eldest, Rudy, was eighteen—the heir to the family. It showed in the way he carried himself. His shiny coffee-brown hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and his eyes were focused on the meal before him, eating with perfect etiquette.
The second son, Andrew, was more free-spirited. His black hair still messy from sleep, but he didn't care. He dug into his food like a starved beast. At sixteen, he was already skilled in magic.
The third, Noel, was just a year older than Riven, yet more talented than all the others. He was the family's prodigy. Like Andrew, he shared their mother's beautiful black hair.
The Grave family had only one daughter—Amber. The joy of their home. She was three years younger than Riven, with delicate features and the same dark hair. She sat at the other side of the table, surrounded by a variety of dishes.
His father sat at the top of the table, his large frame covering the entire chair, his toned muscles pushing the fabric of his simple white shirt. His flowing dark brown hair matched with his neatly trimmed beard.
The last member was his mother, a delicate woman with features that would pull attention. Her smooth pale skin looked perfect, unblemished.
And then there was Riven, the outcast. Riven clenched his fists tighter. He despised the feeling, he didn't understand how Riven could survive with so much hate directed at him.
He wasn't going to have that, he wanted to be seen, not as a waste of space, but someone to be respected. That was the only way he would be able to go against the plot and screw the plans of Frozen Fish.
With all his resolve, he walked into the dining room, his footsteps carrying a false sense of confidence, when in reality, his legs wanted to buckle.
He made it to his mother's chair, but rather than walking past, he stopped and faced her. He bowed himself a full ninety degrees. "Good morning, Mother." He greeted. The dining table went quiet; they were stunned by what they had just witnessed.
Was this reality? The question lingered in their minds. But Riven didn't pay attention to their perplexed looks, he stood straight and walked to his father, he repeated the same greeting.
Riven walked to his seat beside his sister, he could still feel their gaze lingering on him, but he tried to act normal, despite the crippling weight in his chest.
He slowly dished himself some food and ate slowly, he chewed slowly, while observing the air around the table. Everyone still took glances at him at intervals.
And finally, after a while, his father spoke, "Riven, the maids have complained about you even more the past few days." His father said.
"My husband, I don't think this is the right place to talk about that." His mother said.
"We can't continue to shield the boy, his actions have grown too unruly." His father said, the atmosphere instantly became tense, and at the center was Riven.
"I'm sorry." Suddenly Riven's voice echoed inside the room, a deathly silence followed after that, so much that the sound of their breaths was the only thing that could be heard.
"I know that my actions in the past have been less than acceptable, and you all have accommodated my actions for so long.
I'm sorry for all of that, I hope you can forgive me. I promise I'll not cause any more issues for you." Riven said, he stood from his chair, the chair slid back slightly over the floor. He bowed to all of them and walked away.
The silence behind him was crippling, he picked up his pace, he could feel their gaze lingering on him. Immediately he walked out of the dining room and got out of their sight, his knees buckled.
He placed his hand on the wall to stop himself from falling. "Damn, that was nerve-wracking." Riven said, he took deep breaths to calm his racing heart.
"I have my foot in the door now, with that apology, everyone will be watching me to see if I really change, and what better way to get on their good sides aside from being in the spotlight?" Riven said. He straightened himself up and walked off.