To ease his nerves, Rafayel said, "I'm going to take a break in the backyard! Don't worry, I'll be back in time for the scheduled meeting!"
He stood up and made his way to the backyard.
In the backyard, Rafayel sat on a bench near the herb garden that his Mother had been tending to.
Sigh... why am I so nervous? Even though it was his sister who is engaged... Something feels off about all of this... he thought.
Just as he was lost in thought, a voice suddenly called from behind.
"Oi!"
Rafayel turned around to find a boy he didn't recognize.
He seems older than me, probably around 10 to 12 years old... Who is this?
"Are you from this family?" the boy asked.
"Yes, I am..." Rafayel replied.
"Then you know a woman named Thalia Delmare, right?" the boy continued.
Thalia?
"Yes, she's my sister," Rafayel answered.
The boy grinned. "I'm her fiancé's younger brother, Orinus Atkascha. So, tell me, what's your opinion of her? Do you think she's worthy of my precious older brother?"
