Chapter 43
The room that Lord Aden had given to Louis was bright and sunny. Through the open window, a gentle breeze and sunlight flowed in. Alex was sitting upright right in front of it.
Wow, he’s been in the same posture the whole time.
Louis, lying on the bed and watching Alex, admired him. It was a posture that seemed to allow no slightest relaxation. Very noble, just like Lady Rene.
After watching Alex for a while, Louis rolled over and stretched out flat on his back. Then he tapped the sparkling light particles that were approaching him with his fingers. The light particles floated away briefly, then gathered again beside Louis.
“Hehe.”
At that moment, some of the light particles Louis was playing with suddenly slipped out through the window, as if drawn by something.
“Huh?!”
Louis felt a little sad as the light particles moved away unexpectedly.
Come to think of it, Louis first saw these light particles only after leaving Aden. The farther away from Aden, the more of these light particles appeared.
These light particles sometimes revealed the true feelings of the people Louis met, or helped him catch himself when he nearly fell. They also helped him quickly learn proper etiquette by assisting his movements. Even when choosing clothes, the light particles gave advice. It was also thanks to them that the naughty Cindy was scolded.
Even aside from that, Louis simply liked the light particles. Their sparkle kept him company so he wouldn’t feel lonely. The light particles now around Louis were friends who had followed him since the Duke’s mansion. But ever since arriving at Aden, one by one, the light particles were leaving Louis’s side.
“You must not go.”
The light particles still around Louis flickered. Ring, who was adjusting Louis’s clothes nearby, turned his head.
“Huh?”
“Nothing, just talking to myself.”
Louis smiled slightly and looked above Ring’s head.
Though not as many as around Louis, four or five light particles were gathered near Ring as well. Louis could feel the light particles around Ring were happy. They pretended to be the wind, messing with Ring’s hair, twirling around and landing on his shoulder.
Apparently, Ring couldn’t see them.
Not only Ring, it seemed others couldn’t see the light particles either. Louis didn’t know why only he could see them, but he liked the light particles.
Of course, the best of all was his sister.
The light particles that had been fluttering around Louis suddenly started to stir restlessly. The scattered movement of the light particles looked uneasy.
Louis tilted his head.
Is something wrong?
As Louis sat up on the bed, Ring immediately turned his head. Approaching quickly, Ring made eye contact and asked,
“Would you like some tea?”
He had adapted perfectly to maid life in just a few days. While on the way, he had acted cautiously, but since arriving at Aden Castle, he had been asking the maids about work and learning.
“No, more importantly—”
Louis couldn’t finish saying he felt something was going to happen. Because right then, a knock sounded, and a maid entered Aden Castle.
Alex, sitting upright by the window, stared sharply at the maid. The maid bowed slightly and spoke.
“I’m here on Lady Eluana’s errand. She’s looking for you, Louis.”
“Is sister here?”
“There was a small fire in the castle. She saw the smoke and must have gotten worried.”
“Is that so?”
As Louis tilted his head, Ring explained.
“There was a burnt smell on the way from the laundry room, so I guess that’s why.”
The maid responded to Ring’s words.
“Yes. There was a minor mistake at the bakery.”
“Where is sister now?”
Louis got up from the bed and asked.
“She’s in the back garden.”
About to follow the maid without suspicion, the light particles started buzzing loudly. Feeling somehow scared, Louis hesitated and shook his head.
“I don’t want to go.”
“…What?”
The maid turned her head, and suddenly there was a loud noise as a chair toppled over. Alex had rushed out and blocked Louis’s way.
Alex’s sword was aimed precisely at the maid.
“Why is your presence so faint?”
“What? Me? Sorry, I made a mistake.”
The maid trembled as she looked at the sword blade pressed to her neck. Despite her pitiful appearance, Alex did not lower his hand holding the sword. The blade pressed deeper into her flesh, and blood started to flow.
Pale as death, the maid begged,
“P-please spare me. I’m sorry. Just spare me once.”
“What did you do wrong?”
“I-I don’t know. But I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.”
Her trembling voice was filled with terror.
“Don’t try to trick me.”
Alex spoke coldly, and the expression vanished from the maid’s face. Blood dripped from her lips as she glared once at Louis.
“Huh?”
Surprised, Ring covered Louis’s eyes with his hand, and Alex checked the maid’s pulse.
Is she dead instantly?
If Louis hadn’t been there, Alex might have opened her mouth to check for poison, but more importantly—
“Let’s move. Ring! Hold Louis.”
Following Alex’s order, Ring immediately lifted Louis. As they turned away so Louis wouldn’t see the dead maid, they headed out of the room.
Suddenly, startled light particles hurried to gather and blocked Louis’s way. At that moment, someone flew in through the window. A shimmering blue aura appeared on Alex’s sword, and a familiar voice was heard.
“It’s me! It’s me!”
The person wildly waving their hands toward Alex, who looked ready to attack, was Sing.
“Sing? You almost got yourself killed.”
Alex sheathed his sword. The muscles tensed as if ready to attack relaxed.
“How do you think you’d cut me with your skills?”
Sticking out his tongue to tease, Sing passed by Alex with light steps. Glancing at the maid lying on the floor, Sing stood in front of Louis.
“Why are you here, Sing? Where’s sister?”
“There was an attack.”
The word “attack” shook Louis’s eyes with unease.
“It’s been handled, and Lady Eluana is with the soldiers. We came to escort you because something seems wrong with the castle.”
As soon as Sing finished speaking, four more knights rushed in through the window. Sing had arrived first because of his speed. Counting the knights who landed on the terrace after a running leap, Louis asked in a daze,
“Is everyone here?”
“It was Lady Eluana’s orders.”
It would have been fine if Louis’s sparkling friends were here. If only I had told sister about the light particles. I kept it a secret because they seemed to be warning me against it. But I could have told my sister.
Louis decided he would tell his secret friends about the light particles when he returned to the Duke’s mansion. The light particles would likely buzz angrily.
“That maid tried to lure you to the back garden.”
Alex briefly explained the situation while receiving Louis from Ring. Since Alex had to defend and attack alone earlier, he left Louis to Ring’s care, but now that more members had arrived, protecting Louis was the priority.
“We can check the back garden after joining Lady Eluana. Let’s go.”
Starting with Sing, the group hurried downstairs without waiting for anyone else. The servants were ready with horses as they had been told while going up. Sing took Ring in front and led the way, with Alex riding alongside Louis.
The five of them kept a diamond formation around Louis as they galloped toward the graveyard.
The fast speed caused Ring to scream for a long time. Meanwhile, Louis was stably held in Alex’s arms. The resistance of the air that might have been overwhelming was blocked by the light particles, which also supported his back to keep his posture steady.
Because it was a distance Louis could walk, the group quickly reached the graveyard. But no one was there. Not Lady Eluana, nor the soldiers. Only neatly piled corpses remained.
“What happened?”
Alex, after setting Louis down, looked around and asked. His heart sank as there was no sign of Eluana, who was supposed to be here.
Sing’s face twisted. She also realized something was wrong. The problem was that there was no sign of battle either.
Only footprints were left at the scene.
“Where’s sister?”
Louis asked anxiously, but Sing only stared at one spot.
“Over here.”
The group began running toward where the many footsteps led. After running for a while, signs of battle appeared with fallen soldiers.
“Where’s sister? Sister!”
Feeling a sense of foreboding, Louis shouted while searching for Eluana.
Sing pulled out her whip and cleared the bushes. Through the parted bushes, a man covered in green fluid was seen staggering toward them.
A foul smell blew with the wind. The light that had been fluttering around Louis scattered in all directions. Then it gathered again, swirling around Louis’s nose. Unlike Ring, who started to feel nauseous, Louis remained fine and watched the situation clearly.
“Who are you!”
Startled by Sing’s sharp voice, the man raised his head and shouted loudly.
“You’re the Spes Knights, right?”
“Uh? But…?”
“We took out Raplanzia. The other soldiers are deeper in the forest, and those lying down with us are our people, so take care of them.”
“Raplanzia? Why are monsters here?”
Sing struck the ground threateningly with her whip. Dust flew, but the man continued speaking without care.
“Assassins chased Prince Kazar and Lady Spes. There are at least twenty of them, probably high level. They must be hiding somewhere safe, so please rescue them.”
After saying this, the man, Line, collapsed as if he had done all he could.
Having drained all his aura to a tiny amount, he had no strength left to breathe. Still, he had caught Raplanzia alone and found the Spes Knights, so he felt his duty was fulfilled. Line closed his eyes, embracing the splendid night of mortality and the silence of the black sun.
Sing immediately ran to grab Line’s collar and shook him.
“Get up! Weed-head! Where’s the lady hiding?!”
But Line, already unconscious, gave no answer.
