Shadowless Night

<Part 2>

It has been some time since the ravagement of the border area, thanks to the active cooperation of Hiksala Adon, the king of Balta.

The soldiers were busy retrieving the bodies of the Knights of White Night. According to the testimonies of the returned knights, they had split into several groups. 38 of the 150 members of the group did not return. It could never be considered a minor loss.

However, seeing that the group that attacked the delegation was the Black Moon, this battle deserved a place in the history books as a great victory. It was because the Black Moon, a group that only grew bigger and bigger, was gaining more and more power with the poison called ‘Fragment’. It was short of a miracle to come back alive with the damage of only 38 lives.

The people of Illavenia said, “Isn’t this all due to the aid of Idelavhim?”

***

“By Idelavhim’s…”

“Uweekh!”

The deep forest of Balta: Prium. The soldiers could not stand the scene unfolding before them without getting nausea. Some looked up to the sky and prayed. They had also gone through numerous battles and wars. But even though they had experience with coming in contact with corpses to the point of getting tired of it, this was just terrible. They rejected the scene before them out of instinct. The dead bodies were demolished, torn, and crushed. The blood on the green leaves became dark and hardened as it clotted, creating a swampy atmosphere. Fragmented human corpses and the characteristic rotting smell further emphasized the wretchedness of the landscape. The only comforting thing was that all these corpses were raiders of the Black Moon.

“W- What the hell happened here…”

A new soldier stuttered with his eyes fixed to the scene. A corpse with only its upper body remaining reflected in his eyes. A drop of blood fell, and it took quite a while to fall to the ground. The corpse was at such a great height that it would take a long time to climb the tree.

‘What the hell happened?’

Even if he used his imagination, he still couldn’t guess how the battle had progressed here.

According to a report from Raymond Cimmaron, assistant deputy commander of the Knights Order of the 2nd Prince’s immediate escort, senior knight Rosaline Esther was the only one who fought the Black Moon in this place.

The name of the Knights of White Night received a higher evaluation than other Knight Orders, and when it came to senior knights, no one doubted their skills. Still, the knights who came here were not easily convinced. The number of corpses roughly identified alone exceeded more than twenty, not to mention that all of them were members of the infamous Black Moon. A single knight should not be strong enough to counter them.

They traced back from the battle’s location and recovered the delegation’s corpses, one by one. You could glimpse traces of the fierce fights here and there, but none of them made the knights forget the sight in Prium.

They completed their missions in three days. The soldiers climbed on their carriages and horses with dark expressions. The new soldier, who had kept his mouth shut until he left the forest of Balta, spoke up with hesitation.

“Is that really… something humans can do?”

It didn’t seem like he was expecting anyone to answer. As he stared blankly at the distant forest, a gentle wind blew.

***

“There is such a thing as a demon!”

“What are you talking about?”

“That guest in our castle!”

“Oh my, oh my! Really?”

The little maids talked secretly.

Things like: ‘The guest who hasn’t woken up in days like a sleeping princess? Oh my god! It’s the 2nd Prince’s knight under the protection of Idelavhim, the eldest daughter of Count Radwiell. What an interesting story this is!’

They shared information about the ‘guest’ that each of them knew. They said she had green hair, looked small and gentle, and had an owl. None of the information was correct. It was a good example of how rumors can become twisted.

Maybe it was because their conversation was a little loud. The woman going up the stairs stopped walking while listening to the maids below.

‘Hmm…’

It was a story the woman had been hearing from a few days ago. From men, women, adults, and children alike, she could memorize all the contents in the conversation regarding that topic. From mouth to mouth, there was only one thing in the rumors that aroused the woman’s interest: that Rosaline Radwiell is a demon.

The woman shook her head and started walking again. She heard the good news that her guest had woken up.

“Our sleeping princess has woken up. Long time no see, Sir Rosaline!”

From the words, ‘long time no see,’ one could assume that this was not their first meeting, but Rosaline did not know this woman. Even with droopy eyes, the woman gave the impression that she was far from weak or gentle. Rosaline couldn’t tell if it was because of the woman’s slanted eyebrows or red lips. Perhaps both.

Rosaline tried to recall whether this woman was in the memories of ‘Rosaline’ that she had. The woman who read Rosaline’s questioning eyes continued.

“Today is the first time we’ve officially met. I’ve seen you a few times one-sidedly as you laid in bed, so I feel like we’re already familiar with each other.”

The woman placed her hand on Rosaline’s forehead in a familiar manner. Rosaline also stared up at her.

“Let’s see… The fever’s gone, and the complexion is good. Does it hurt anywhere?”

“No, it doesn’t hurt.”

“Okay then. Shall we have a meal? You should eat well when you are sick.”

The woman made eye contact with the maid and made a gesture. Rosaline’s body shook at the word ‘meal’. The woman smiled as she looked at Rosaline, who couldn’t hide her excitement.

“You look much better with your eyes open. Ah, by the way, I haven’t even introduced myself yet. Cecil Drythorne. Would it be easier to understand if I introduce myself as the Count of Drythorne?”

‘Ah, sure enough.’

Only then did Rosaline understand the woman’s words that she had seen her as Rosaline laid in bed. It had happened once right after her disappearance at the hunting competition and once after the Balta mission. Coincidentally, she always stayed in her estate whenever she was unconscious. The reason for the intimacy seemed to be because of that. Rosaline nodded her head in greeting.

“I’ve always bothered you. I am Rosaline Radwiell.”

“What bother? Watching something happening is always fun.”

Macaron made a gurgling sound, expressing an uncomfortable feeling. Cecil listened to the disgruntled sound of the giant eagle and tried to reflect on her own words.

‘Ah, it certainly could have been interpreted differently.’

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s fun watching someone wander through the land of the dead.”

Macaron stopped the sound from its chest, making Cecil wonder, “Amazing. Does it understand everything I’m saying?”

Then, someone knocked on the door. Cecil gestured roughly without looking back. A middle-aged man stepped forward. His attire was similar to that of the Knights of Drythorne County, just fancier.

“My lady, Count Ironhoff wants to see the guest.”

“Look here, did I say that’s going to happen?”

Cecil skillfully crossed her legs even in a tight-fitting dress. She had a gloomy expression on her face that didn’t fit the word ‘fun’ because ‘something happened.’

“Tell him the guest has not yet regained consciousness. Seriously, how many times do I have to repeat it? Is he going senile? In any case, he’s a troublesome old man.”

Rosaline only blinked. The word ‘guest’ that came out of the knight’s mouth seemed to refer to her. Cecil smiled and nodded her head.

“There are a lot of people looking for Sir Rosaline right now. They say that you should be returned to the capital immediately or that you should be captured. There are a lot of people who talk nonsense. But, don’t worry about all that.”

As Cecil raised her hand, the servant opened the curtain covering a whole wall. Light poured in from the wide window. The sight of a row of jagged gray towers caught Rosaline’s eye. Installed at the top of the tower was a huge ballista [E/N: a gigantic crossbow], and a dense group of people stood guard everywhere. It felt like she was in the middle of the battlefield. Rather than a castle of a noble, this place is like…

“This is the Iron Fortress Vista of Drythorne County. No one can step in without my permission…”

‘Fortress… Right.’

That name was just right. This whole place was not decorated with trivial things, and it was focused only on attacking and blocking the enemy.

“…even if there are demons within my fence.”

Rosaline turned her gaze away from the window. The Countess had a soft smile on her lips.

“Shall we start our meal? I think we have a lot to talk about, right?”

The maids busily moved to fill the table. The conversation between the two was interrupted as the meal was being prepared. Rosaline smelled the food but didn’t react much. She seemed to be thinking deeply about something. As soon as the people left, Rosaline opened her mouth.

“Is His Highness Ricardis safe?”

Cecil raised an eyebrow at Rosaline’s question and smiled. Dimples appeared on her cheeks.

‘Are you saying that the 2nd Prince is more important than your own safety? There’s no way you wouldn’t know the meaning of the word ‘demon’ in the Holy Empire. Are you easygoing or just bold…?

‘Come to think of it, there is one other person who was more concerned about the safety of others than himself: 2nd Prince Ricardis, who entered the Drythorne Castle, holding the unconscious Rosaline. How bizarre he was.’

When someone said they would hold Rosaline in his stead, Cecil remembered how Ricardis stared at the other person fiercely with his sad blue eyes.