Chapter 05…
The Lida estate was built facing south, where it could bask in plenty of sunlight. The view through its large glass windows was considered outstanding even among country manors.
Of course, such privileges were granted to Rone only rarely—if at all. But on the day of the countess’s birthday banquet, even she was given a chance.
“Do not come downstairs under any circumstances!”
Count Lida spoke while holding the countess’s hand. He feared that the distinguished guests might catch sight of Rone.
He turned his back and left before Rone could even answer, as if he could not bear being in the same space with her for another moment.
Thus the entire fourth floor, where Rone stayed, was emptied. Only the stairways were guarded closely by knights, while the corridors themselves became eerily pristine, save for the occasional servant passing by.
But for Rone, this felt like freedom.
That day, she stood by the wide window and drank in the panoramic view below.
“They say this view is famous even among other noble estates.”
Lynn knew well how to lift the young lady’s spirits.
Rone smiled softly. On that day, with the sunlight streaming down upon her, her face bloomed brightly.
Of course, she stood facing the opposite side from where the guests would arrive, careful not to be seen. The wrath of the count and countess could strike at any time.
“They say in the Western Continent there is an enormous forest, where the leaves stretch out like a sea. When you look down from a tall tower, it feels as if your chest opens wide and free.”
Lynn would sometimes tell stories about the Western Continent—though she herself had never been there. At her words, Nabel glanced at her, while Rone’s eyes widened in wonder.
“Leaves like a sea…”
She had never even seen the sea herself, being born inland. But she knew it was a vast expanse stretching farther than the eye could see.
So she tried to picture the endless trees spreading together into one vast forest. It wasn’t easy.
Just then—
“The master ordered you not to come out here.”
A maid appeared, carrying a bucket, her expression openly displeased. She hated being near someone said to be forsaken by God. Yet cleaning was her duty, so she had no choice.
She set the bucket down loudly in front of Rone. Unconsciously stepping back to avoid it, Rone realized too late that the railing was dangerously low.
“—!”
In an instant, her body tilted backward.
Her foot met empty air, and her breath caught in her throat as she plunged.
The bright sunlight cast her falling shadow below.
Twitch.
From the edge of the dark shadow, a pair of ears and an upright tail moved.
“—!”
“Sis!”
“My lady!”
Nabel reacted faster than Lynn. Reaching out quickly, he caught Rone’s arm.
In that moment, Rone saw something leap forth from behind him—from within her own shadow.
“Nabel!”
It was a small animal, no larger than could fit snugly in her arms, but its presence was anything but small.
Yip!
As she dangled from the railing, Rone caught sight of sharp black ears and a fluffy white tail swishing behind it.
The creature stood before them, as though shielding her and Nabel from the others.
“That’s…!”
“Grab on, sis.”
Nabel paid no attention to the strange newcomer. As Rone’s shoe slipped from her foot and plummeted toward the ground—
Thud.
It was a long moment before the sound reached them, the building being so high.
The maid screamed, dropping her mop.
“Kyaa!”
“What’s going on?”
The knights guarding the stairs immediately rushed over.
The maid pointed, wide-eyed, toward Rone.
But instead of focusing on her, their eyes turned to something else.
“That’s…!”
“A fox?”
“What’s a fox doing in the manor?”
Its black pointed ears stood sharply, front paws bent as if ready to spring forward. The soft orange fur bristled warily, and the fluffy white tail swished stiffly.
The fox was clearly on guard against the knights.
“—!”
Then its form flickered, turning faintly translucent before becoming solid again. At the same moment, Rone felt herself being lifted.
“Huh…?”
With surprising strength, Nabel pulled her up into his arms. It was hard to believe such strength came from a child.
“—Sis.”
Only when her bare feet touched the cold corridor floor did Nabel exhale the breath he’d been holding. The chill grounded Rone back into reality.
“Nabel…”
Though she had been struck many times by the countess’s holy magic—dangerous enough to kill anyone else—it had never affected her.
But this was the first time she had truly brushed against death. Her breath came out shallow.
Her gaze turned to the fox.
“That fox…?”
“It came out of your shadow,” Nabel said, pointing. Rone’s eyes widened.
“That devil has brought a wicked beast into the manor!”
One servant shouted, and the knights’ faces grew grim.
“Keep it from reaching the master!”
“Kill it!”
The knights, believers in God, wielded both sword and magic. Flames flared in their free hands.
“—!”
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, they launched their attack. Rone instinctively clutched Nabel tight.
Boom!
But for the first time, she did not feel the scorching heat. The fox, standing before her, had taken the fireball head-on.
“Th-that…!”
The knights were speechless.
“It’s that woman! She summoned the fox!”
Servants and knights cried together. Then the fox’s body flickered faintly again.
Whine…
It staggered. Alarmed, Rone reached toward it.
In that instant, the fox dove back into her shadow, leaving only the briefest trace of twitching ears and tail.
—She is a woman forsaken by God!
—Who knows what kind of demonic beast that fox is!
—It clearly sprang from her shadow!
The corridors were filled with uproar.
Rone was confined to her room. Even Lynn, her maid, was forbidden entry.
Instead, Lynn was accused of negligence, even complicity—what had she been doing while Rone supposedly lured a demon into the house?
“I hope Lynn is safe…”
Rone bowed her head, listening to the arguments outside. The room was dark, with no maid to light the lamps.
Click.
Nabel, taking Lynn’s place, lit the lamp for her. It took him some time, but he managed. Afterward, he brought her warm tea and sat by her side.
“What was that fox?”
Rone asked suddenly in the quiet. Nabel answered without hesitation.
“It’s not a demon.”
He spoke as if he knew. Rone looked at him.
“Do you know what it is?”
“That…”
Without hesitation, Nabel reached out. He normally hated exposing himself, but in front of Rone, he was different.
Though she knew touching him meant her thoughts could be read, she never hesitated to take his hand. To Nabel, she was strange, bewildering, yet irresistibly dear.
The first person he longed to reach.
The first person he wished to touch more deeply.
She was the first, in his short life, to make him want to reveal everything.
“…”
His hand brushed her shadow.
Tap, tap.
Like knocking, the sound echoed in the room. Rone stared wide-eyed.
Whine…
“Huh?”
It was the same cry from before, tinged with pain. Her shadow stirred.
And from it leapt the fox.
“Ah…!”
Plop.
It nestled straight into her arms, nuzzling her shoulder as though it had known her forever.
Meeting Nabel’s gaze, the fox whimpered softly, curling in her embrace.
Rone froze, unable to move.
It felt so familiar, like a creature she had raised all her life.
“This fox…”
She looked at Nabel, who seemed to know.
“You can see them… in the Western Continent.”
When had he ever been there, dragged away as a slave?
Instead of pity, curiosity welled up in her for the first time.
“Animals that protect people… In the West, they’re called Divine Beasts.”
Nabel had long suspected. Though no one in the East was known to have one, her shadow had stirred whenever she was in danger. And always, the fox appeared.
“A Divine Beast… the animal of God.”
Yet she was said to be forsaken, immune to holy magic. Rone stared at the fox, speechless.
Nabel nodded.
“Yes. A beast of God. And I think it’s thanks to this fox that magic never worked on you.”
Fools.
His hand clenched.
In the West, Divine Beasts were revered beyond compare—rare, sacred. He even knew someone once who had been greatly respected for it.
But here, they could not recognize it. Instead, they scorned its master as cursed.
“God has not abandoned you.”
On the contrary—He loved you too much. That was what people said. When divine love overflowed a human vessel, it manifested as a beast—the Divine Beast.
“Fools.”
This time, Nabel muttered aloud. Rone gazed at him quietly.
—We must send her to the temple at once!
—She must be purified upon the altar!
From the training yard outside, the knights’ shouts echoed. Nabel sneered, clenching his fist.
“…Don’t you want to leave this place?”
His low voice sounded almost sweet. In the dim light, with moonlight outlining his face, Rone could not see him clearly.
“…I do.”
But I can’t. She closed her eyes, swallowing back the tears.
Silently, Nabel placed his hand over hers. Her thoughts flowed into him, sparing her from having to say them aloud.
“If only I could leave…”
“If only we could both leave, unharmed.”
Nabel’s heart solidified. He opened his mouth.
“I once told you—I will repay my debt.”
It was the first thing he had said when they met. Rone opened her eyes. Through her misted vision, she saw him.
“I like you, sis.”
He whispered, his voice young but his words earnest.
“Even a year from now, even ten years from now—I want to live only looking at you.”
In his short life, his time with Rone was the most meaningful. He had never known happiness where he came from. But now, by her side, anywhere was bearable—even this house of fools.
As long as she was there.
He whispered low. She had once saved him, a small act of kindness.
Now it was his turn. He had made up his mind.
“I want to be with you forever.”
And so, for that forever, he decided—
he would leave her side, just for a while.
