The Golden Cage Breaks

Nie's rebellion didn't happen all at once.
It happened in pieces.
A refusal here.
An argument there.
A training session that ended with a shattered target.
A formal gathering where she refused to smile.
Her parents noticed.
The servants noticed.
Eventually, the other Great Families noticed.
The girl who had once been praised as the perfect daughter of Zephyr was becoming unpredictable.
Her mother confronted her first.
"Enough."
Nie stopped walking.
"Enough what?"
"Enough embarrassing this family."
Nie turned around.
"I've been embarrassing the family by refusing to smile?"
"By refusing everything."
Her mother's voice shook.
"You think being called the strongest girl has gone to your head?"
Nie said nothing.
"Have you gone mad?"
The slap came suddenly.
Nie's head turned.
The room became silent.
She slowly looked back.
Her mother expected anger.
Instead, Nie smiled.
It was a small smile.
Almost pleasant.
Her mother felt a chill.
"Why are you smiling?"
Nie said nothing.
She simply walked away.
Her mother watched her leave.
Then she went to Nie's father.
"You need to speak to her."
---
Her father summoned Nie that evening.
He sat behind his desk.
Nie entered.
"Sit."
She remained standing.
He looked at her.
"You've been behaving strangely."
"I'm being myself."
"That's the problem."
Nie crossed her arms.
"Why?"
"Because you're not acting like a lady of Zephyr."
Nie laughed quietly.
"What does that even mean?"
"It means dignity."
"Dignity?"
"Yes."
He leaned forward.
"You carry the name of the second-ranked family."
"And?"
"And that name comes with responsibility."
Nie's eyes hardened.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"Because it's true."
"All I want is to be my own woman."
Her father stared.
"You can."
Nie blinked.
"If you stop doing things that tarnish our name."
There it was again.
The name.
The title.
The reputation.
Nie shook her head.
"You're bluffing."
His expression changed.
"Excuse me?"
"Who cares about some stupid title?"
Nie stepped forward.
"All I want—"
The second slap came harder.
"Know who you're speaking to."
Nie's cheek burned.
Her father stood.
"You are the daughter of the second most powerful family in Aethelgard."
Nie's hands curled into fists.
"I don't care."
"You will."
"I don't!"
She looked him directly in the eyes.
"I don't care about your title. I don't care about being the Leader of Girls. I don't care about being some beautiful symbol for everyone to admire."
Her voice shook.
"I want to live for myself."
Her father slammed his hand against the desk.
"Nie!"
She flinched.
Silence followed.
Then she whispered:
"If you can't accept that..."
She turned toward the door.
"...disown me."
Her father stared.
Nie left before he could answer.
She ran.
Out of the estate.
Into the forest.
She didn't stop until the sounds of her family disappeared.
Her chest burned.
Her eyes burned.
She hated them.
She hated the title.
She hated the rules.
Most of all, she hated that part of her still wanted her parents to understand.
She ran farther.
Until she crossed into another territory.
House Blueyard.
Nie finally stopped.
She sank against a tree.
"What a stupid family."
She wiped her eyes.
"Always the name. Always the reputation."
A voice came from behind her.
"What are you doing here?"
Nie froze.
She hadn't sensed anyone.
She turned.
Lulu stood several meters away.
His expression was cold.
"This isn't a therapy garden."
Nie's eyes narrowed.
"You."
Lulu crossed his arms.
"You entered Blueyard territory without permission."
"I don't care."
"Then you insulted my family."
"I don't care."
"And now you're crying on our land."
Nie glared.
"Don't flatter yourself."
She stood.
"You're that brat who thinks he owns the world."
Lulu's eyes narrowed.
"You came onto my family's land."
"And?"
"And you have a death wish."
Nie laughed.
"Do you actually think you can kill me?"
Lulu's mana stirred.
"You might want to find out."
Nie smiled.
"Actually..."
She raised her fists.
"I was angry anyway."
The air changed.
Lulu's acidic mana spread across the forest.
Leaves curled.
The ground hissed.
Nie's kinetic power surged.
Birds exploded from the trees.
Far away, Blueyard guards turned toward the disturbance.
Then—
BOOM!
The two children collided.
Lulu's fist tore through the air.
Nie slipped aside.
Her counter struck his shoulder.
He barely moved.
Lulu caught her wrist.
Nie twisted.
He released.
She drove a fist toward his stomach.
Lulu caught it.
His other fist crashed into her abdomen.
THUD!
Blood escaped the corner of her mouth.
Nie staggered.
Then smiled.
"Nice punch."
Lulu stared.
"I guess you aren't all talk."
She lunged again.
Lulu moved.
Their fists collided—
But neither landed.
Two adult hands had caught them.
Their fathers.
Silence.
Lulu looked up.
His father looked furious.
Nie's father looked worse.
Both men glanced at each other.
Then at their children.
"Apologies."
"Likewise."
They each grabbed their child.
Lulu was dragged away.
Nie was dragged away.
Neither had finished their argument.
---
Lulu's father threw him onto the couch.
"You've lost your mind."
Lulu glared.
"He started it."
"She is a daughter of Zephyr!"
"She entered our land."
"You should have called me."
Lulu looked away.
His father stepped closer.
"This isn't a game."
Lulu muttered:
"You asshole."
Silence.
His father's eye twitched.
"What did you say?"
Lulu looked at him.
"You heard me."
His mother quietly covered her face.
His father pointed toward the door.
"Outside."
His mother immediately stepped forward.
"Don't."
He shook his head.
"Sometimes a child needs to understand who is in charge."
Lulu stood.
"Fine."
Outside, the Blueyard estate gathered.
His father lowered his stance.
"I'm going to show you why our family stands where it does."
Lulu smiled.
"Bring it on."
His father disappeared.
Lulu barely saw the movement.
A punch came.
He dodged.
Another.
He twisted.
Then another.
Lulu smiled.
"Is that all?"
His father laughed.
"You can dodge warm-up punches."
Lulu's expression changed.
"Are you taking me lightly?"
His father stopped smiling.
"Be serious."
Lulu's confidence remained.
"Or what?"
His father vanished.
The world exploded.
BOOM!
The punch struck Lulu before he could react.
Then another.
And another.
Dozens.
The forest shook.
Blood splattered across the ground.
Lulu's body was thrown from one impact to another until his legs stopped responding.
His eyes rolled backward.
He collapsed.
His mother covered her mouth.
His father caught him before his head struck the ground.
"He's alive."
He looked down at his unconscious son.
"Stubborn brat."
Then he carried him inside.
---
Three days later, Lulu opened his eyes.
Pain arrived before memory.
His body was wrapped in bandages.
His father sat nearby.
"You woke up."
Lulu stared at the ceiling.
"I lost."
His father smiled.
"Yes."
Lulu clenched his fist.
His father continued.
"You took more punishment than most adults could survive."
Lulu said nothing.
"You're going to be troublesome."
A pause.
"But..."
His father smiled.
"...you have a future."
Lulu turned his head.
"What about the girl?"
"Still unconscious."
Lulu looked away.
He hated that he cared.
His father noticed.
He said nothing.