Cardistella Moon Night
The long, dark corridor was deathly silent, save for the echoing footsteps of those who walked it, as though they were traversing a deserted ruin.
It felt as cold as wandering through a cavern buried deep underground, and as damp as walking through an ancient tomb forgotten by all.
Yet the flickering candlelight revealed the opulent form of an ancient castle, proving this was no crude cave, and though it was a hall of the dead, not even the faintest stench of corpses lingered—only a subtle, pleasant fragrance filled the air, proving this was no shabby grave.
Instead, the long carpet that covered the floor entirely, along with the tapestries and moldings that adorned every inch of the walls and ceiling, exuded an unmistakable elegance that hinted at the noble stature of the castle's mistress.
The luxurious carpet and tapestries were dyed in crimson, embroidered with golden rose patterns.
And the artistic moldings bore raised reliefs of rose stems entwined with sharp thorns.
Even the Demon Lord Castle that had existed a thousand years ago had not possessed such lofty dignity.
“We have arrived at Shadow Waltz Hall. Please, step inside.”
The dim corridor ended before a massive door. Though not quite as grand as the castle's main gate, it was still enormous, and the light spilling through its seams was dazzlingly bright and radiant.
As they approached, two skeleton servants parted to either side of the corridor and bowed their heads. Neromeltia passed them without hesitation and stepped up to the door.
The hall doors swung open of their own accord, revealing the brilliantly lit interior.
“Welcome, Demon Lord. It has been a thousand years.”
“Indeed. Have you been well?”
At the center of the vast hall, ignition stones that would burn eternally once lit until nothing remained but ash glowed within wide metal basins scattered throughout the space.
The hall was immense, its ceiling so high that even an ordinary castle's watchtower could fit inside. Painted across that ceiling was a colossal mural depicting an army of the dead marching valiantly toward the gods.
The towering gargoyle statues supporting the hall's lofty pillars were works of art in themselves.
And standing at the heart of it all was a woman.
Her silver hair shimmered like the Milky Way scattered across a midnight sky, streaked with vivid crimson that evoked fresh blood. Her long, uniquely lustrous locks cascaded to her waist like an elegant curtain, while her blood-red eyes held an abyssal allure so powerful that none could meet her gaze without being struck by reverence.
Though nearly as tall as Neromeltia, her slender upper body gave her an unmistakably delicate appearance that only emphasized her fragility. Yet in stark contrast to her modest bust, her lower body boasted full, supple hips and plump, alluring thighs that radiated the soft, inviting charm of femininity.
The tight off-shoulder dress clung to her figure, its neckline plunging deeply and its sleeves nonexistent. Intricate web-like straps extended from the center of the neckline, wrapping around her prominent collarbones before meeting the choker at her throat and securing the dress over her bare, porcelain shoulders.
The long, tight black silk choker featured a brilliant crimson ruby at its center, adding a striking accent to her otherwise monochromatic attire. The right side of her long, form-fitting skirt was slit high to her hip, revealing the length of her smooth leg, though a delicate silver chain laced across the opening prevented it from parting further and exposing anything more intimate.
Rose-stem patterns embroidered in silver thread adorned the neckline, the hem of the skirt, and the edges of the slit, lending an air of timeless elegance.
She was the very image of an empress—noble, revered, and breathtakingly beautiful. To the undead who dwelled within Crimson Castle, she was both religion and faith incarnate.
The progenitor vampire who had risen from death by her own will, the supreme ruler who stood above all the dead of Terraris.
Cardistella moon Night.
“This is merely the lower hall used to receive guests. It is far beneath the Demon Lord's station. Let us ascend.”
With those brief words, Cardistella turned and began walking. Neromeltia and her companions followed her lead, crossing the hall under the bowed heads of the skeleton servants lining both sides. Their reverence was absolute, offered without the slightest hint of dissent, a display of unwavering loyalty to their sovereign. Lusteria found the contrast between Cardistella's imperious demeanor and her own master's far more striking than she had expected.
They passed through one of the doors at the rear of the hall and entered a small room at the end of the corridor. The chamber featured walls and floors adorned with ornate gold embellishments. Cardistella entered first, followed calmly by Neromeltia. Beatrice stepped inside without hesitation, taking her place behind her mistress, while Lusteria lingered uncertainly for a moment before finally entering.
Just as Lusteria began to wonder why they had entered such a small room—
—a low mechanical hum filled the air as magical circuits activated. The floor began to rise, and Lusteria let out a startled yelp at the sudden sensation of pressure.
The room they had entered was ascending rapidly toward the upper levels. Through the open doorway, the passing floors blurred by in quick succession.
Neromeltia regarded the mechanism with interest and turned to Cardistella, speaking in her usual gentle tone.
“This is impressive. What is it?”
“Impressive, isn't it? It's called a UAD. With this, stairs become unnecessary. Hehe. After being cooped up in the castle for a thousand years without going anywhere, I grew terribly bored. So I made a few modifications to pass the time.”
“How convenient. When we rebuild the Demon Lord Castle, could you install one there as well?”
“Of course! It's hardly difficult. And not only is it convenient—it's fast, too! Why bother climbing stairs one by one when you can reach the top in a single ride?”
Flattered by the praise for her invention, Cardistella puffed up with pride and launched into an enthusiastic explanation. Most of it consisted of self-praise and boasts about her creation, but its exceptional performance ultimately worked against her. They reached the top floor in mere moments, cutting her boasting short.
Stepping off the UAD with a hint of disappointment, Cardistella resolved to find another opportunity to show off her groundbreaking inventions.
The uppermost floor of Crimson Castle.
This was a place reserved solely for Cardistella. No one was permitted entry without her explicit permission. Even the servants who attended her were forbidden from coming and going freely, and few knew what the top floor truly looked like.
Though the castle itself was vast, the top floor was relatively modest in size—perfectly suited to serve as her personal chambers. She used it as her private room.
Large windows lined every wall, allowing bright sunlight to pour in and offering sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. A balcony extended outward as well. Crimson tapestries embroidered with golden rose patterns covered the walls in vibrant splendor. Tables, wardrobes, and a bed crafted from cherry wood exuded an air of refined luxury. The bed was dressed in pink silk sheets adorned with embroidered teddy bears.
One of the two chairs at the table was occupied by a mustachioed teddy bear dressed in a tuxedo. The walls were covered with framed paintings, every single one depicting Neromeltia and Cardistella together.
As Lusteria gazed around in stunned fascination at the unexpectedly whimsical tastes on display, her eyes drifted upward to the ceiling—and she let out an involuntary scream.
“Aaaah!!!”
“Hggk!! Ugh!! No!! Wait!!”
Lusteria pointed at the ceiling in horror while Cardistella erupted into a flurry of panicked, incoherent noises.
Painted across the entire ceiling was a single, mortifying image.
It showed Neromeltia lying nude upon a bed strewn with rose petals, her body completely bare. One hand modestly covered her breast while a raised thigh concealed her most intimate area. The painted Neromeltia wore a flushed expression, her remaining hand extended forward, lips slightly pursed in a way that suggested she was offering a kiss—creating an atmosphere of blatant, sensual invitation.
And the direction in which the painted Neromeltia reached was directly above Cardistella's actual bed.
“If one were to lie upon this bed, it would be possible to exchange glances with the mistress in the painting.”
“Aaaah!! That's not it!!”
Cardistella flailed about in panic, desperately searching for a way to handle the situation, only to lose all composure when Beatrice delivered what felt like a finishing blow. She collapsed to the floor, clutching her face with both hands and screaming as she tried to deny reality.
It was not a painting hung upon the wall or displayed in a cabinet—it was a mural covering the entire ceiling. There was no way to hide it.
“…You drew it out of boredom, as a joke?”
“…Y-Yes!! That's right!!! I was just doodling my friend's embarrassing portrait and giggling to myself!! See, I'm quite the prankster, aren't I!? I-It was just that a thousand years felt so long!!”
Cardistella latched onto Neromeltia's words and frantically tried to spin the situation as nothing more than a playful jest. Yet when she saw the skeptical look on Neromeltia's face, her resolve crumbled instantly.
“…It's over……. No one would ever believe that……”
“No, I believe you! I believe you, Cardis!”
“Haha…… Hahahaha……. I think I'd rather die from sunbathing……”
Despite living in a room filled with windows, Cardistella muttered the absurd desire to perish from sunlight. Her hollow laughter echoed through the top floor of Crimson Castle for a long while.