~Chapter 38~
“But… how exactly am I supposed to shout ‘Come out into the hallway’?”
The first time she had called out to Shade, she had yelled loudly without hesitation. She hadn’t really expected him to appear—it was more of a joke at the time.
Now, though, things were different. They weren’t strangers anymore, but they weren’t close either, which only made it feel more awkward.
While her ears listened to the believer in the next room, Floria’s mind was occupied with Caspar’s letters and behavior.
“Why is Caspar always so confident?”
He acted as if he never felt embarrassed about anything. Always bold. Always shameless.
At first, he’d seemed strange—crazy, even. But the more she saw him, the more she found herself envious of that confidence.
He was such a peculiar person.
“…I don’t know.”
She decided she’d just tell him later that she’d been too busy to reply.
For now, Floria ignored the letters tucked away in her desk drawer. She simply couldn’t bring herself to write back.
That evening, when she returned from dinner, there was once again a letter waiting in her door.
Her lips curved upward unconsciously the moment she saw it, though she didn’t realize it herself.
It was the usual: a stylish black envelope, sealed with a blue wax crest.
“It’s never turned red, not even once.”
For some reason, she had always imagined that Shade would ignore Caspar’s threats and open the letters whenever he wanted. But apparently not. That was surprising.
Floria ran her fingers lightly over the blue seal before breaking it.
“Tomorrow’s a rest day… maybe I should finally send a reply.”
After all, just accepting letter after letter from a duke without ever answering back felt rude.
Besides, hadn’t Caspar specifically asked her to reply?
If she thought of it as a duke’s order, she should have already been on her way to Duke Ponhas’s mansion, letter in hand.
“I’ll read this one first, then reply.”
Yes—that was safest.
She opened the envelope.
And inside…
— Help me, Floria.
“…!”
It was a short, urgent plea.
She had expected something trivial again—but her eyes went wide in shock as soon as she read it.
Her hands trembled so much that she could barely hold the letter.
It wasn’t his usual neat, orderly handwriting. The words were scribbled hastily, as though something terrible had happened.
“Caspar… why?”
He was always so calm, so confident. She had never once imagined he could be in real danger.
Her blood ran cold. For the first time, when it came to him, she felt panic.
She rushed into her room, didn’t even bother closing the door, and hastily scribbled a reply.
— What can I do to help you?
Then she stormed into the hallway and shouted with all her might:
“Come out!”
Her voice echoed, loud enough to reach anywhere.
Her awkwardness with Shade, her embarrassment about calling him—all of it had vanished.
What mattered now was Caspar.
Still… would Shade really come just because she called?
If the rumors about the “annex ghost” were true—that he only appeared between midnight and dawn—then surely he wouldn’t…
< I’m here. >
“Kyaaah!!”
He appeared. For real.
Just like before, he popped up silently from behind her.
Floria had half expected it, but seeing his face suddenly right in front of her still made her scream and shove him away.
Shade shook with laughter, shoulders trembling, clearly amused at how she’d yelled so confidently, only to panic the moment he showed up.
Floria didn’t even bother glaring at him. She just shoved her letter into his hand.
“Shade, please deliver this to the duke. It’s urgent.”
Shade stopped laughing instantly.
He stared at the letter in his hand, tilting his head.
“Hm… and what do I get out of this?”
Now?!
This wasn’t the time for games. Every second felt critical.
“I don’t know what you get, but if you don’t deliver it, the duke might die—and then you’ll be in trouble too.”
Her voice came out colder than she intended, despite being the one asking for a favor.
“….”
For a brief moment, fear flickered in Shade’s violet eyes.
Without another word, he snapped his fingers.
And vanished.
“…No wonder they call him a ghost,” Floria muttered.
It was about seven in the evening.
Later, she spent time with Rose after a priest escorted her back. They chatted and worked on Rose’s writing practice.
But even after everything was done… Shade still hadn’t returned.
Why isn’t he back yet?
She acted calm while speaking with Rose, but inside she was restless.
Maybe she should just put Rose to bed early and go find Caspar herself?
Time kept slipping away. She couldn’t stop glancing toward the door.
Two whole hours passed.
“Wait… something’s strange.”
Caspar had written such an urgent letter—“Help me”—and yet all she had done was send back a reply.
That didn’t feel right.
If it were truly serious, if he really needed her, wouldn’t he have come in person? Or at least told her through Shade?
“This doesn’t make sense.”
What could he possibly need her for, anyway? She wasn’t the real Saintess. She only had a meager bit of holy power.
Her only skill was blurting out blunt words in the confessional.
And now, even after two hours, no response.
At ten o’clock, Floria put a sleepy Rose to bed earlier than usual.
Even then, she couldn’t relax. Her nerves were frayed, and she chewed her nails while pacing around the room. She couldn’t focus enough to read reports.
Then—
Knock, knock.
Finally. Someone was at the door.
Floria rushed over and flung it open.
Standing there was Shade, arms crossed, looking sour rather than urgent.
“…Shade?”
She quickly glanced back to confirm Rose was asleep before stepping out and closing the door behind her.
Shade turned his head away, muttering irritably.
< What is all this? If you’re just going to trade letters like this, why not meet in person? Why make me… >
“So where’s the letter?” Floria cut in, not in the mood to entertain his complaints.
Shade pouted, glaring at her.
< If you really want to help, go to the annex entrance right now. >
“…!”
Caspar was there.
It was one of the many scenarios she had imagined while waiting.
Thankfully, she was already wearing a simple dress she could move around in.
Ignoring Shade’s grumbling above her, Floria hurried down the annex corridor—walking at first, then breaking into a run.
And then she saw him.
“Ha…haa… Your Grace.”
She recognized Caspar’s silhouette immediately and bent over, catching her breath with her hands on her knees.
But something was different.
He wasn’t in his usual crisp black uniform.
Instead, he was cloaked head to toe in a long, black robe. A large mask completely covered his face.
Even so, Floria knew it was him—by his tall, broad frame towering well over 180cm.
“What on earth happened, Your Grace?”
“Get in.”
Caspar sounded urgent. He gestured toward a carriage and held out his hand.
Bewildered, Floria let him escort her inside.
Clunk.
As she stepped up, the wooden step creaked under her foot—old and worn. Even the carriage itself shook slightly once she sat down.
She looked around. The cushion beneath her was soft enough, but everything else inside was shabby and run-down.
“This feels… really familiar somehow.”
She hesitated and reached for the door handle.
Creeeak—
But it was already too late.
Caspar had shut the door himself.
