Shadowless Night

“She may be different from the past, but she’s still my sister.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m glad your sibling bond is quite thick. Anyway, imagine this. You hear something strange, open the door, and find your mother stabbing a knife into your sister’s heart.”

Even just imagining it was staggering. He wouldn’t dare to imagine such a thing happening.

“If you saw that, what would you do?”

“I… would probably… intervene.”

“And then?”

“And then?” Calyx couldn’t continue. What would he do? How would he handle it? Should he ask why she tried to kill her sister? Confront his mother and fight? What should he do, and how…?

In Calyx’s confusion, a gentle voice stabbed into his ear: “That’s how it was.”

That was it. Calyx understood what Macaron was trying to convey. It was a scenario that could never happen. Confusing and incomprehensible. What to do, what to say—everything would have been uncertain. Macaron was narrating that they had been placed in such a situation.

Later, Calyx highlighted another point. Macaron metaphorically referred to their situation with the three individuals—Rosaline, Edelweiss, and Calyx—as something other than them. This made him even more curious. What was Diech to Macaron?

Macaron hadn’t even known Diech’s identity as ‘It’; beings composed of magic. It seemed fitting to assume that there was some deep relationship and emotion shared among their species. He had a vague sense of where Macaron’s unconditional favor towards Rosaline might have originated.

‘Then why did the 5th Prince stab Sister?’

Perhaps a strong malevolence that crushed and twisted the instinct-like favor dormant deep within. However, Calyx didn’t think that malevolence was directed towards Rosaline directly, enough to make his blade pierce Rosaline’s heart.

There was no reason for it, and as per his sister’s words, if he had truly wanted to kill her, he had many opportunities. More than that, better opportunities. He kept delaying, postponing, putting it off until he was pushed to the edge. Calyx could read Diech’s hesitation in the series of events where he harmed Rosaline.

So why did he have to harm her? Why was it an absolute necessity? Perhaps because she was an obstruction.

Not Rosaline, with whom he had built years of friendship, but Rosaline Radwiell, the loyal knight of the 2nd Prince who would sacrifice her life for him at any moment. She must have been the one who stood in the way.

Diech’s unfathomable rage was likely directed at Ricardis. After all, Elpidio had made numerous assassination attempts in collaboration with the Black Moon to kill Ricardis. And considering Diech was behind Elpidio, he was the one who fervently wanted to kill Ricardis.

So again, why did Diech want to kill Ricardis? Where did that malice come from?

As far as Calyx knew, there was no major conflict between Ricardis and Diech. Therefore, it might be Diech’s current emotions rather than the ‘Diech’ from the past. Emotions that had been steadily accumulating over a deeper and longer period of time.

Upon reflection, he realized that Macaron was also humane with feelings and moods. Instead of enduring discomfort and venting out like a human, they occasionally spoke of jumping off a cliff and ending it all in eagle form. Calyx initially thought that it was an instinctive aversion that emerged toward something different, but perhaps Macaron also harbored emotions as profound as those of Diech. Calyx had assumed it was simply their peculiar temperament…

“What are you looking at, you little rascal…”

Like this.

Calyx sat with a frown. Something made his chest uneasy. Could he guarantee that that malice would not corrode Macaron? Could he assure that a blade would not pierce his sister’s heart, like what Diech had done? The fact that his worries for Rosaline weren’t baseless was tormenting.

“Macaron.” Macaron twitched their foot, indicating for Calyx to continue. “Is it possible for me not to raise the sword against you, Macaron?”

Macaron laughed heartily, shaking and convulsing with each interrupted chuckle, resembling someone slightly unhinged. “Oh, what an amusing fellow you are. If I tell you to raise it, will you listen? If I tell you not to, will you not?” Calyx didn’t respond. After a while, Macaron spoke again, “Earlier, I said I would help you understand.”

Calyx reconsidered Macaron’s words. Hearing something strange, he opened the door and found his mother stabbing Rosaline. What should he do then?

‘Ah…’

Calyx grasped what Macaron was trying to convey. Wasn’t he, Calyx, the one in that situation? He was too stunned to think, frozen in place, unsure of what to do.

“In such a situation, what will become of me?”

He would do anything to protect Rosaline.

“That’s right.”

It was true. Calyx slowly bowed his head, even though it wouldn’t be visible to Macaron.

“If you’re going to be thankful, it’s better to bow and show respect. It might feel especially satisfying to see your forehead from up above for a while.”

This person, really… their personality doesn’t match at all. Calyx laughed at the absurdity.

Then, a strange sound was heard. It came from beyond the window.

Click, click… Click…

A sharp, fingernail-like object was approaching, skimming against something hard. Calyx brushed the goosebumps off his arm and glanced toward the source of the sound. Macaron also turned and lay down, lifting their head slightly.

Click…

As a chilling sensation ran down Calyx’s neck, a hand emerged through the open window gap. Calyx almost let out a scream.

A pale and slender hand tightly gripped the window frame, and a dark figure shot up into Calyx’s view a few seconds later. With the dark night as the backdrop, and given the inhuman movement, Calyx was truly horrified. He kept his eyes wide open, a lesson from the family that one must face any fearsome blade head-on, no matter what.

The eyes of the disheveled Rosaline and Calyx met.

“… Sister?”

Rosaline, who had been subtly observing Calyx, discovered Macaron lying on the floor and grinned. “Macaron!”

Rosaline leaped over the window and rushed towards them. The gaze of the two men became stern upon noticing the loose-fitting shirt and trousers on her body. It definitely looked like men’s clothing.

“You, is this…”

“Sister, those clothes…”

Before the two could finish their words, Rosaline suddenly collapsed over Macaron and hugged them tightly, as if vowing not to let go. Macaron’s expression softened.

“Where were you?”

Rosaline’s cheek was pressed firmly against the man’s chest, causing one of her eyes to squint. Macaron glanced down at her and smiled bitterly.

‘Such an immature child…’

Macaron lightly brushed her head with a rough hand. “How’s your body?”

“Completely fine.”

“And how do you feel?”

“Really good.”

Rosaline giggled. Macaron frowned slightly and smiled.

“Rosaline.”

“Yeah?”

Macaron gently stroked her head, closing their eyes. “I’ll protect you.”

For some reason, Rosaline was on the verge of tears upon hearing those words.

***

Who is this?

“Welcome, Lahe.”

The owner of this affectionate, almost melting voice—who could it be?

“You did a great job last time. Thanks to you, Sir Rosaline has greatly improved.” Ricardis, smiling with twinkling eyes, exuded a refined beauty that no artist could capture.

‘Who on earth is… smiling so kindly?’

During the last visit…

[You rascal, what were you doing that made you this late!? When did I call you!? You didn’t do anything at the hunting competition; you just ate, snacked, and rolled around on the bed, did you not!? Tired, you say!? You lazy rascal!]

He was the human who, last time, greeted Laheansi with such a scolding! And now, he greeted him with kindness and a smile, alongside flattery like “You did a great job last time…” Laheansi sniffled and forced a stiff smile.

“Yeees, Brother… To hear you say that, this younger one is truly delighted… I, I apologize for the sudden visit without prior notice. There was an urgent matter…”

“When a distinguished guest comes, it would be impolite not to stand. Let’s sit down and talk at a leisurely pace. Would you like something to drink?”

Laheansi felt chills running down his arms at Ricardis’ words. Contrary to his thoughts that Ricardis would wonder where his brother had picked up such bad manners, Ricardis’ words were impeccably polite.

“Hehehe, yes, I would appreciate that!”

Laheansi nodded repeatedly as Ricardis graciously led him to the sofa and gestured for him to sit. The table was quickly set with refreshments. Ricardis closed his eyes and savored the aroma with a gentle expression. Bathed in the sparkling sunlight, he leaned back on the sofa, exuding a warmth more comforting than freshly baked bread.

If Ricardis was treating him kindly for treating Rosaline, Laheansi thought, he would have witnessed this chilling sight on that particular day.

Intuitively, he realized that the cold winter breeze that had been between Ricardis and Rosaline had passed. Laheansi was on the verge of tears. How could I intervene in someone else’s romance and witness such an awful scene…

“Lahe.”

“Yes, Brother!”

It was a voice filled with intense determination. Ricardis smiled, a look that said ‘this fellow, quite adorable.’

“You mentioned an urgent matter.”

“Oh, yes.” Laheansi finally remembered his original purpose. “There’s another incident happening near the temple, and it seemed like information hadn’t reached you, Brother.”

Clatter.

Ricardis set down the teacup, unfolded his crossed legs, and leaned forward on the sofa. The atmosphere changed drastically with just this movement.

“‘Another’ incident…”