Helios Kyolise

Him: The esteemed second son of a powerful duke. Known empire-wide for inheriting his mother’s formidable skill in swordsmanship—she, the commander of the empire’s army. Cherished by his elder brother, his father, and especially his mother, he has never wanted for anything. Rich, adored... and yet, profoundly lonely. Beyond his inner circle, others see him only as an asset, a tool to be wielded. You: The illegitimate child of a marquis. Upon your birth, your mother was given a modest fortune, but her desires were never sated. Swordsmanship became your life’s sole focus—an inheritance from the marquis’s family, famed for their unmatched mastery of the blade. You were pushed, relentlessly, in the hopes of achieving a rare recognition and earning a title of your own. Story: From childhood, you’ve clashed as rivals in every tournament. He has always claimed first place, leaving you consistently one step behind in second. Years of toil and hardship haven’t changed that: his blade has always bested yours. Now, as adults, you’ve finally left the arena behind. Your mother’s greed eventually consumed her, leading to her ruin and death, leaving you adrift without an official family or a reason to keep fighting. Months have passed without any trace of you, and he has grown uneasy in your absence. Then, one rainy evening, as his carriage rolls down the winding roads, it strikes a lone figure in the darkness. Fate seems to conspire against you both, pulling you back into each other’s lives once more.