~Chapter 115~
For a moment, my whole body froze. No words came out.
“Please, don’t go. Without you, I—how could I…”
With a sharp ringing in my ears, Damien’s voice gradually faded away.
Everything in front of me seemed to move in slow motion, as if time itself had slowed down.
Damien’s face, crying out, was twisted with desperation more than ever before.
Even more than when his curse went out of control.
What in the world happened?
And who exactly was Damien shouting at?
When I looked down, I saw Damien’s arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me as if he would never let go.
“He’s shouting at me…?”
Startled, I lifted my head—and suddenly, unlike just a moment before, Damien’s calm voice reached me.
“Ruby?”
Looking around, I found myself not in a black-and-white world, but back in the ballroom.
The lively chatter of the crowd filled my ears, and unlike the slow-motion world from before, everything and everyone moved at their proper pace.
“Ruby? Are you alright?”
“Ah, yes.”
Only when I heard Damien’s voice did I come to my senses. I shook my head lightly and looked up at him.
The man who just moments before had been crying with such a twisted, desperate face was now, though still worried, watching me carefully with his usual expression.
“Did something happen?”
Ghost butterflies sometimes play pranks.
Sometimes, they even show people visions.
Maybe what I just saw was one of those tricks?
“Damien, actually, just now…”
“Yes?”
Damien bent down to listen closely to my story.
I cupped my hands around my mouth and whispered, just for his ears.
“A ghost butterfly showed me something. I think it was an illusion, but I’m not sure.”
He nodded seriously, so I added,
“Everything looked black and white, and you were holding me and crying.”
Damien’s eyes widened a little with surprise.
Still, he kept his composure and asked,
“Did I say anything in that illusion?”
I took a breath before answering.
“You told me not to go. You shouted something else, but after that, I couldn’t hear it.”
“Hm…”
Watching Damien fall into thought, I wondered if I shouldn’t have brought it up.
Would telling him about such a fleeting illusion only make him anxious?
But… what if it’s a clue to something important?
After all, the ghost butterflies summoned tonight weren’t just ordinary curses.
They were the ancestors of the Maledictus family, brought here as a gesture of goodwill to help the third rite succeed.
There must be a reason they showed me that vision.
But what were they trying to say?
Why did Damien cling to me like that?
I would never willingly leave Damien or the Maledictus mansion.
“Ruby.”
His voice shook me from my thoughts.
“It must feel unpleasant to see such an illusion, but don’t worry too much.”
Damien took both my hands, gently stroking my fingers with his thumb to comfort me.
“Maybe it means nothing at all. Besides, it’s not the first time I’ve clung to you.”
With a soft smile, Damien tried to reassure me.
“If it still bothers you, we can think about it together until the third rite. Just like we always have.”
I looked at him in silence for a moment, then nodded.
Just as he said, hadn’t we already overcome the “Devourer” problem, which once felt unsolvable?
“If we worry together, it’ll be okay. Don’t be too anxious.”
That phrase felt almost magical, easing all my worries.
“You’re right.”
I let out a carefree laugh and straightened my posture.
“When we’re together, there’s really nothing to be afraid of.”
As always, we’d get through things together.
“Right?”
Damien gave me a gentle smile.
“Yes. For now, let’s just enjoy the party.”
I glanced at the ghost butterflies still fluttering around me.
“Who knows? If we make the butterflies happy, maybe they’ll give us another hint.”
If that time came, I’d have to ask the ghost butterfly what that vision truly meant.
“For now—”
A passing servant handed me an empty glass.
I accepted the glass of wine the servant poured and turned to Damien.
“I’m going to enjoy the party with the living.”
Damien, also handed a glass of wine by the servant, replied,
“Good.”
Just then, the master of ceremonies raised his glass and announced the highlight of the party.
“To the health and happiness of House Maledictus—cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Amid bright laughter, I clinked my glass against Damien’s.
In the bustling, warm atmosphere, I felt a sense of belonging and security.
Unlike the old days, when I’d felt like an outsider at every ball.
This is the Halloween party I’ve always wanted.
And so, until 10 p.m., I enjoyed the party with the living—talking, dancing, and celebrating Halloween.
When 10 p.m. arrived, the party for the living ended.
Those who still wanted to drink stayed in the ballroom, enjoying more wine and conversation.
Those already drunk went off to their own rooms.
But for Damien and me, the party wasn’t over yet.
“Ancestors, how did you enjoy the party with the living?”
I spoke to the ghost butterflies, who had been swirling around me for hours and were now a familiar presence.
They fluttered their wings vigorously, as if to say they’d had fun.
“You can’t be satisfied yet. Part two is even more fun.”
With a mischievous smile, Damien turned the knob of a familiar door—the one decorated with a baby angel doll.
This door, usually the domain of the doll curses, now held all the mansion’s other curses as well.
[Lu-hi, Lu-hi!]
Luhi, dressed in a pumpkin costume I’d made for Halloween, came bouncing over.
[Ki-ki, kikikikiki?]
Kiki, apparently wanting to be a witch, wore a big, pointy hat and carried a broom.
[Emily, Rubiana’s here! Rubiana!]
[Rubiana, why are you so late? Hug me!]
All the doll curses, clustered together, ran to greet me at the entrance.
On closer inspection, I saw they had swapped outfits with each other.
Even the new clown doll, who’d joined a few days ago, was wearing a shepherd boy’s clothes instead of his usual tattered costume.
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be setting an example as the mansion’s rulers? Why are you all so late?”
“Oh, you know. It’s just a phase. Kids these days…”
The twin curses, who started snarking as soon as they arrived, each wore black cat ears on their heads.
“Hurry up! The second part is about to start!”
Alice urged us on.
Damien and I crossed the threshold, smiling, ready to start the second part of the Maledictus Halloween party—the party for the dead.
As the door closed behind us, the green glow from the candles filled the room, softly illuminating the curses.
Looking closer, I realized the light came from inside the belly of a lesser curse that had swallowed the candles.
“Hey, Master, Madam. It’s been a while.”
“Oh, John!”
John the newlywed curse came running over, horns on his head and a fake tail around his waist.
Next to him was Kate, the crawling maiden ghost from the west annex’s second floor.
Kate also wore horns and a fake tail.
“So the rumors were true—you two are dating?”
“Yes.”
John, blushing, held Kate’s hand and giggled.
“It’s all thanks to you, Madam and Master. I never thought I’d have a time like this in my life.”
Kate nodded enthusiastically beside him.
“That’s great. You two look good together. Did you plan your costumes together?”
This time, Kate answered.
“Yes, we dressed up as dragons.”
“It suits you. Have fun!”
“Yes!”
The two curses grinned brightly and dashed off to join the other doll curses.
Then Emily, the girl doll curse who sat on her throne, addressed everyone.
“Now, let the ‘real’ Maledictus Halloween party begin!”
My heart swelled with anticipation as I clapped along with the curses.
Just then—
[Child.]
Someone spoke directly into my mind.
