Solvane: Bound by Sin and Silence

Moscow 25 years ago.... A small boy watched silently from a distance. He was only 6 years old,when he saw the woman running away from the mansion carrying the baby through the snow-covered streets. He did not understand everything, only that fear and tension surrounded her like a storm he could not stop. Althea ran. Every alley, every turn, every shadow was mapped in her mind. She had memorized the streets of Moscow, learned every escape route, every abandoned building, every rooftop she could scale. And yet, she could hear the faint crunch of footsteps behind her, Solvane's men who would not hesitate to kill. She didn’t look back. She couldn’t. Earlier that evening, she had overheard a conversation that would haunt her for the rest of her life. "Устраните женщину. И ребёнка." (Eliminate the woman. And the child.) Her chest tightened. Her stomach, already aching from childbirth, twisted in fear. She had always known the Solvane empire thrived on fear, power, and ruthless obedience, but this… this was different. The order was clear: Althea and her child must die. This was a death sentence.  Althea had not arrived in Russia by chance. She was an ex-soldier from the Philippines, trained in combat, strategy, and survival. Her military background had honed her reflexes, sharpened her mind, and made her capable of navigating danger in ways ordinary people could not. When she was recruited by the Delythra empire, her skills made her the perfect candidate to serve as Lucien Victor Delythra right-hand strategist: handling sensitive intelligence, planning operations, and managing high-level family business. She's the first ever Filipino. Every secret, every plan, every weak point in the Delythra empire had passed through her hands. She was indispensable but now, indispensable meant dangerous. Her closeness to Lucien, the Solvane patriarch’s trusted inner circle, had brought them together. Their love had been forbidden yet undeniable. And now, that love had produced a child a threat to the empire.  "Тебе не следует быть здесь." (You shouldn’t be here.) A voice said, cutting through the swirling snow. Althea froze. Her eyes scanned the dim street, landing on the figure beneath a streetlamp. Lucien. He stood tall, coat straight despite the wind, eyes sharp and unreadable. “Lucien…” she whispered, tears threatening to fall. He took a step closer. His eyes lingered on the baby, bundled safely in Althea’s arms. "Она уже у тебя." He said quietly. (You already have her.) "Да."Althea whispered. (Yes.) "И поэтому я должен уйти. Они найдут нас… если мы останемся, они заберут её. Или хуже." (And that’s why I have to leave. They will find us… if we stay, they will take her. Or worse.) Lucien’s jaw tightened. He had anticipated the Solvane's anger, but the immediacy and cruelty of the order still cut deep. He was torn between duty to the family, loyalty to the Solvane's, and love for Althea. "Ты знаешь, им нужен не только ты." he said. (You know it’s not just you they want.) "Они придут за вами обоими. Если они поймают тебя, они не будут колебаться." (They will come for both of you. If they catch you, they won’t hesitate.) Althea’s heart lurched. “Then I have no choice. I must leave Russia. For her:” Snow swirled around them, covering the streets in a white haze. Althea’s mind raced, calculating escape routes, hiding spots, and timing. “You will go back to your country to the Philippines,” Lucien said finally, decisively. “Both of you are safe there. I will handle everything here.” Althea shook her head, tears streaming. “I can’t leave you.” "Нет."he said firmly. (No.) “You must. For her. For our child.” Her tears fell freely. “I don’t even know how to keep her safe,” she whispered. “You will,” he said softly. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, careful not to touch the baby. “Protect her, protect our daughter. Make sure she never knows this world. Make sure she grows up safe.” “I will,” Althea whispered, clutching the baby tighter. "Go now." He kiss hes baby forehead Althea moved through with iron and fear, and the Solvane's would see to it personally if she disobeyed. But she had no choice. She had to run. She had to survive for their daughter. “Mahal na mahak kita Lucien,” Althea whispered. Lucien’s expression softened, rare vulnerability breaking through his Stoic mask . "Я знаю."he murmured and kiss her. And then he let her go. (I know.) In the Delythra's mansion, the Lucien grandfather’s face was red with rage. His fist slammed against the heavy mahogany table, the impact reverberating through the room. Without warning, he seized Lucien by the collar and shoved him hard against the wall. "Как ты смеешь!" he thundered (How dare you!). "Как ты смеешь позволить этой чужой носить твоего ребёнка! Ты хоть понимаешь, что ты сделал? Ты опозорил эту семью!"(How dare you let that outsider carry your child! Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You’ve dishonored this family!) Lucien’s back hit the cold stone wall, the wind knocked out of him. His fists clenched at his sides, veins throbbing with rage, but he could not strike. The Slovane patriarch’s glare at him , the weight of the empire, and the rules that bound him held him in place. His eyes, however, turned to the Solvane patriarch’s daughter who stood smugly in the shadows. Her smirk was a dagger to his pride. She did this. She twisted his love into a weapon against him. She’s the reason his child’s life is now at risk. Lucien’s jaw tightened. Every muscle in his body screamed to retaliate, to teach her a lesson for endangering Althea and their daughter. But he only stood there, seething, trapped by duty and fear of the empire’s wrath. His anger burned silently, a storm behind his eyes. "Её никогда не должно было существовать." (She should never have existed.) the patriarch spat, voice quivering with fury. "Обоих… устранить!" (Both of them… eliminated!) Lucien gritted his teeth, his mind racing, but his hands stayed at his sides. He had tried to protect Althea and their child. But in the eyes of the empire, love was weakness. And somehow weakness could not exist. Snow fell relentlessly over the outskirts of Moscow, covering the streets in a cold white blanket. Althea Vancea stumbled through the deserted alleys, clutching her newborn daughter tightly. Lucien had already left, unaware that danger still shadowed her every step.  A sudden gunshot echoed through the night. Pain exploded through her side. Althea gasped, nearly collapsing as her knees buckled. The bullet struck her, not fatal—but enough to weaken her. Blood seeped through her coat, staining the snow beneath her feet. Behind her, footsteps thundered closer. “Не дай ей сбежать!” ( Don't let her escape) She forced herself to move. One step. Then another. The airport lights flickered in the distance. As she staggered closer to the entrance, she saw a couple walking toward the airport doors, dragging a small luggage behind them. Their features were familiar. Filipino. Hope surged within her. She stumbled toward them, almost collapsing in front of them. “Please…” her voice cracked. “Tulungan niyo ako…” Napahinto ang babae, gulat na gulat. “A-Are you Filipino?” Althea nodded weakly, her strength fading fast. “Yes… please… my baby…” Slowly, with trembling hands, she held out the infant. The baby stirred softly, unaware of the danger surrounding her. The couple exchanged uncertain glances until they noticed the blood. “Oh my God… she’s hurt,” the man whispered. “Please…” Althea begged, her voice barely audible. “Take her inside… get her somewhere safe… her name is Serenith…” Instinct took over. The woman stepped forward and carefully took the baby into her arms, holding her tightly against her chest. “What’s happening?” she asked, her voice shaking. But there was no time for explanations. Althea handed them the bag. “Everything is in here… her things… documents… please… take care of her…” “They’re coming…” Althea whispered urgently, fear filling her eyes. “Please… go inside… now…” The couple looked at each other then made their decision. “Come on, let’s go!” the man said, pulling his partner toward the airport entrance. The woman clutched the baby tightly as they hurried inside, disappearing beyond the doors. Althea remained outside, gasping for breath, her body trembling. Slowly… her chest felt lighter. Safe…Even if only for a moment. She stared at the airport doors where her daughter had disappeared. Her arms felt empty. Her heart shattered silently. “Be strong… my little Serenith…” she whispered, her voice trembling. A single tear fell down her cheek before she finally turned away.  Bang!