~Chapter 114~
“This… how do I look…?”
Rubiana adjusted the red cloak hidden under her black robe and put on her hat.
“Merry and Margaret recommended it… so I wore it…”
With a cute red cloak, a dress with bright red and white colors like a fairy tale, and shoes with red ribbons, she looked exactly like Little Red Riding Hood from a storybook.
Damien didn’t say anything, so Rubiana fiddled with the ribbon, blushing, and looked down.
“They said Damien would like it, but… I’m not sure…”
Damien silently reached out his hand toward her.
“Hmm?”
Rubiana looked up at the hands on her shoulders.
“Really… you look so cute…”
His reaction made Rubiana’s face turn even redder.
“Uh, uh?”
“You’re even cuter than I imagined.”
“Oh… really?”
“Rubiana.”
Damien held her hand seriously.
“You can’t go outside dressed like this. Only inside the mansion, okay?”
“Uh… okay…”
“Good. Otherwise, someone might try to take or tempt you.”
“Eh…?”
Damien asked her, surprised.
“Did Merry and Margaret choose this outfit?”
“Yes,” Rubiana said, pointing to her dress.
“They also picked the costume. They tried to make it look as much like Little Red Riding Hood as possible.”
Damien nodded.
“Both Merry and Margaret deserve reward leave for this.”
He truly appreciated the two for completing Rubiana’s cute costume.
“I should have dressed as a wolf this year too.”
Damien smiled gently.
“No, you already did last year. And you had the fur covering your face anyway.”
“That’s true. It’s nicer to see each other’s faces.”
“Right?”
Rubiana held Damien’s hand.
“And Damien, you look really cool! So it’s a good choice, I think.”
Thump.
Rubiana’s bright smile made Damien clutch his chest.
“Hmm? Damien, are you okay?”
“Ah, I’m fine.”
He cleared his throat, calmed his heart, and led Rubiana to the large magic circle.
“Now, let’s bring in the butterflies.”
A huge magic circle was drawn in white chalk under the full moon.
“Ancestors, on this night when the boundary between life and death blurs, we invite you to the living’s banquet.”
Damien chanted the spell, and the circle glowed white.
“The 14th descendant, Damien, invites his wife Rubiana to a feast. Please visit and enjoy.”
The circle shone brightly, and the light transformed into butterflies.
White butterflies flapped around Rubiana, greeting her warmly.
“Long time no see.”
Even with so many butterflies fluttering around, Rubiana didn’t panic and politely greeted them.
The butterflies landed on her forehead and cheeks, giving gentle “kisses,” then flew back into the air.
“Shall we go?”
Rubiana nodded.
The white butterflies followed them.
The true banquet had begun.
The duke’s mansion was unusually lively.
Usually, it was quiet and eerie because of the large space and few people.
‘Ah, I love this.’
Even though it was crowded, the Halloween decorations were perfectly spooky.
Spider webs and skulls hung on the chandeliers, bats on the ceiling, and spider models placed around.
Cute skull, spider, and bat-shaped cookies, Frankenstein-like muffins, piles of chef Martin’s signature dishes, and eyeball marshmallows added to the atmosphere.
“Oh my, Madam, it suits you so well!”
Merry and Margaret, dressed as a witch and a rabbit, clapped as Rubiana entered the hall with the butterflies.
“Haha, thank you.”
She scratched her cheek awkwardly.
At first, she wanted a scary costume but also one that wouldn’t startle others. Merry and Margaret asked and helped her, giving her the full Little Red Riding Hood costume.
“You two also look great. So cute!”
“Ah, Madam looks much better than us! Right, Sir?”
“Madam looks so pretty! We said you must wear this!”
Damien nodded.
“I heard. Both of you will get reward leave next week.”
“Oh, really? Yay!”
They hugged and jumped with joy.
Rubiana was happy to have them rewarded, and Damien added extra thanks.
Chef Martin stood before the mountain of food.
Dressed as a vampire with pointed ears, fangs, and a cape, he bowed.
“Greetings, Madam, Sir. Here is a Halloween special: ‘Devil’s Eyeballs.’ Please try.”
It was marshmallows shaped like black eyes with yellow pupils and slit pupils, like devil or reptile eyes.
“Oh, wonderful.”
She bit one, tasting sweet grape jam.
“Delicious, Martin. Keep up the good work.”
Martin bowed.
“Of course, Madam. Thank you for the praise.”
After tasting Martin’s creations, the party lights dimmed, and the butler gathered everyone.
“The highlight of the banquet is the dance! Find partners and enjoy yourselves.”
As the announcement ended, Damien whispered in Rubiana’s ear:
“Let’s dance together.”
Who could refuse that gentle smile?
I let myself be led by him, dancing to the music.
Unlike other noble parties, this one was lively and free. People danced in all styles, and stepping on each other didn’t matter.
We laughed, spun, leaned on each other, and danced joyfully.
At one point, a ghost butterfly approached.
It flapped its wings as if wanting to dance, and touched my forehead.
At that moment:
‘Huh?’
The lively banquet vanished.
‘What is this?’
Was this the illusion Damien mentioned, shown by the ghost butterflies?
Looking around in confusion, the world appeared black and white.
“Please, don’t go…”
Damien held me in his arms, crying with a face that seemed to crumble.
