Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: Restless Night
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"..."
Clack. The man carefully set down the wooden box he'd picked up. Bringing it along had been a thoroughly impulsive decision.
The box had probably been clutched in the arms of that little kid who yanked his hair. One corner was slightly smashed from his attack.
What to do with it.
Truth be told, he'd carried it hoping he might fix it. The "devil" moniker didn't bother him in the slightest, but he had no desire to be the adult who'd smashed a child's toy.
Besides, hadn't that kid nearly died by his hand? If the prince hadn't immediately poured an elixir down his throat, it likely would have ended that way without any surprises.
He never imagined the prince would carry an elixir around...
Still, it gnawed at him that he hadn't sensed the kid's presence until it grabbed his hair.
Tap, tap, tap.
The man mindlessly drummed on the box before picking it up again.
Clunk, creeeak.
Forcing open the lid with its twisted hinges produced a loud racket.
"...Is it broken?"
He pried the lid open, but the music box didn't play. The spring wouldn't even wind.
The inside looked intact, though...
For some reason, a pang of regret hit him, and the man rubbed the box's surface.
Grk, grk.
"...?"
At some point, he realized he was gnawing and scratching at something. To check what was catching his fingertips, the man flipped the box over. Faintly engraved on the bottom were words.
-Dia, to my dear little one.
Clack, tap, rrrrollll...
♪♩♩♪♪♩
A fragment jammed in the music box mechanism fell free, and the spring whirred to life.
"...Es, Re...es."
His body felt as heavy as if it'd soaked up water. Unless he'd taken a fatal wound, his body had never ached like this before. What was going on?
"Requies!"
"...!"
Gasp. Requies sucked in a breath and opened his eyes. A man stood there. A familiar face—one he'd missed terribly.
Missed him? Why?
"...Dia."
"How long do you plan to sleep? Get up."
"..."
Requies let the rough yet gentle hands help him stagger upright. His head was foggy. But before he could fully gather his wits, someone yanked his hair. The now fully grown kid had brought a comb and started brushing it.
"Dia, there's no need to brush so diligently when it's short..."
"Still half-asleep?"
"...?"
The kid deliberately shoved the long white hair dragging across the floor right in his face.
"If this is short, then my head must be bald."
Requies sheepishly rubbed his mouth.
Right, of course. His hair was practically an extension of his body, so he never cut it carelessly. It had plenty of uses, too.
Why had he thought it was short?
Feeling a touch puzzled but brushing it off, Requies glanced sideways and spotted some utterly ordinary brown hair.
"It's gotten quite long. Shall I cut it for you?"
"It hasn't grown that much."
Requies chuckled at the sullen retort. As a child, the kid had clung to him demanding a trim at the slightest length, but now that his head was a bit bigger, he seemed to want to grow it out for style and resisted cutting it.
But it definitely seemed time for a trim...
Lost in such hazy thoughts, he heard a worried question.
"...Are you still thinking about that guy?"
"...?"
That guy? Requies pondered briefly, then shook his head at the lingering image that surfaced.
He must mean the kid who'd stabbed his heart recently. He'd forgotten for a moment.
"No, not at all. That kid's doing just fine, isn't he?"
That kid had accepted his "death" and returned to his proper place. But Dia didn't seem satisfied with that—or perhaps found it displeasing outright—as he furrowed his brows.
"Don't go giving your heart to trash like that ever again."
"..."
Even so, it wasn't something he could control. Feeling pointlessly sorry, Requies averted his gaze.
"...Don't you resent it?"
Resent? It was all because of his own greed.
...Hic, sob...
"...?"
Then he caught a faint sob. Nihil whipped his head around in surprise.
"Dia, are you crying?"
"What nonsense is that?"
But perhaps he'd misheard—there wasn't a single tear in his kid's eyes. The slight furrow between his brows even made him look a bit annoyed.
"...Nothing. Must've been my imagination."
The first animal Lianus ever raised was a small, round bluebird. He'd adored it dearly, but he couldn't remember its name.
One day, the bluebird vanished.
"Sir Evan, — is gone..."
"...Oh no, the cage must've been open."
Creeak—the unsecured door rattled the empty cage.
"I'm sorry. I should've checked properly."
"No..."
Lianus was heartbroken but had no intention of blaming Sir Evan. He'd failed to check properly too. He moped around for a while, until His Majesty gifted him a new bird—vibrant and colorful, one that could even speak.
Lianus made an effort to only say pretty words to the bird.
Hello, good morning, I love you, you're pretty, good night, thank you...
That night too, he said good night and securely latched the cage. It was just like any other day.
"Hello, —. Sleep well?"
But the next morning, his bright greeting got no reply.
It always chirped back "hello, hello" so cheerfully—was it sleeping in? Puzzled, Lianus slipped his fingers through the bars. But the bird didn't move.
Thud—his heart plummeted. Maybe it'd gotten angry from being cooped up. Lianus hurriedly carried the cage out to the terrace.
"Sorry, I won't keep you locked up anymore."
But even after opening the cage, the bird didn't budge. Lianus carefully reached in and lifted it out.
It was cold and stiff.
"You can fly away now. For real. I won't hold you back."
He tossed it into the air with force. The bird plummeted straight down. So did Lianus's spirits.
"...Sleep...!"
I, I took away its freedom..., that's why...
"Princ...e!"
I should've never closed the cage...
"Your Highness!"
"Gasp!"
A familiar face appeared. Without thinking, Lianus reached out to him.
"...Sir Evan..."
"Your Highness, are you all right?"
Evan scooped up the sweating, trembling little body. It shook uncontrollably.
"Because of me..., the bird died because of me."
"..."
Evan said nothing. No, he couldn't dare respond. He had no right. All he could do was hold the fragile form tightly—a wretched consolation.
"Put me down, Sir Evan."
Regaining his composure, Lianus immediately checked on Nihil. Thankfully, his dear friend was still warm and soft. His breathing was steady, heartbeat stable. His expression even looked peaceful.
Was he having a good dream?
Selfishly, Lianus hoped his friend was having a nightmare. That way, he might wake up sooner.
"Sob..., Nil, wake up soon..."
It was the second night since his friend had collapsed.
Yvon tossed and turned, unable to sleep, before finally sitting up. Sleep just wouldn't come.
"Y-Yvon, where are you going?"
A voice came from the opposite bed as he slipped on his slippers. It was Jane, his roommate ever since the other one got fired.
"Jane, wanna come?"
"Wh-where to?"
"A walk...?"
"In the m-middle of the night?"
Jane gestured toward the moonless window with wide eyes, but Yvon just shrugged lightly and turned the doorknob.
"Can't sleep. Be right back."
"I'll g-go too."
Unable to shake her worry, Jane got up as well. She couldn't sleep either. Every time she closed her eyes, images flooded back: the bloodied young master who'd returned and the tear-streaked prince. With the heavy atmosphere at the banquet hall, she hadn't dared ask what happened.
I need to clear my head...
But regret hit the moment her foot hit the corridor. Forget the eerie darkness—no moonlight penetrated at all, making it nearly pitch black.
Jane grabbed the hem of Yvon's clothes as he led the way.
"Y-Yvon, if you wanna walk, wh-why not j-just do m-marching in place in the room?"
"Haha, Jane, that was kinda funny just now."
No, she hadn't meant it as a joke.
Jane shot a mild glare at Yvon for breezing past her sincerity.
"Huh, why's this black cloth on the floor?"
Yvon bent down upon spotting something dark on the ground. But as he reached for it, the cloth slithered away.
"Hm...?"
Both boys looked up at once. Something was at the end of the cloth.
...What is that?
Jane squinted harder into the gloom, trying to make it out.
Then that "something" turned around.
"...!"
It's a person!
Too shocked to scream, Jane froze solid. At the cloth's end was a small child. What he'd mistaken for cloth was the kid's hair.
The child clutched something to his chest, his eyes covered by a black cloth for some reason, making him look utterly bizarre. Dressed in a black robe, he blended almost seamlessly into the dark hallway.
"Uh..., hello...?"
"..."
"...there?"
"..."
Even in the moment, Yvon managed a greeting, but no reply came. Jane gaped at her fearless friend's behavior before sneaking a peek at the kid. Better no answer than one—that would be scarier.
The little ghost turned back and shuffled away.
Before Yvon could spout more nonsense, Jane tugged his hem. They needed to pretend they hadn't seen and head back. Showing interest in a ghost might make them its plaything!
"Wh-what's wrong, Jane."
What's wrong?!
If not for her stutter, Jane would've yelled. It clearly wasn't human, and he was greeting it? She wanted to knock Yvon out, but as a fellow human, she had to try persuading him twice. Stammering, she opened her mouth.
"L-Let's go in. It's t-too dark."
"Hold on, looks like that kid's looking for a room."
Clunk, creak.
He was right. The kid was wandering, opening and closing doors repeatedly. The problem: whether by chance or intent, only empty rooms.
"Maybe came out for something and got lost."
No, Yvon, that's not it!
Jane shook her head frantically, but Yvon was already calling out to the kid and following.
"Hey, kid, who're you looking for? What's your parents' names?"
Please, Yvon!
Jane panicked inwardly, but Yvon pressed on doggedly.
"Kiddo?"
"..."
"Big bro..., or oppa...? Bro'll help you find the room."
"..."
Fortune or misfortune, the kid didn't reply. Jane couldn't bring herself to approach and just fidgeted from afar.
Then, an unexpected response came.
"Seeking..., repose."
Chills shot through Jane at the eerie voice. The words were horrifying too. Seeking repose—what else could it mean but admitting it was a ghost!
Should she help it pass on? How? Grant its wish or something?
As Jane flailed in confusion, Yvon added,
"Huh? It vanished."
"Aaaah!"
That night, Jane got an earful for the commotion. And strange rumors began circulating in Vernus Palace.