The Last Night That Might Be Morning
The morning light filtered through the window, even though it might be the last night we'd ever have.
"Ugh...! Your Highness, I have to go do the laundry again today."
Era was huffing and puffing as she clutched a massive pile of laundry. It looked like another huge stack had built up in just a few days. The bundle was bigger than her entire body, making her stagger unsteadily as she held it.
"...Again?"
"Yep! More work piled up!"
"......"
I glanced down at the clothes I'd made yesterday. That rag with mismatched sleeves. And around my wrist were the soot marks Era had wrapped with cloth.
"Want to come with me, Your Highness?"
Era was the one who suggested we go together this time.
"...Yeah. Let's go."
"Hehe. Then cover your face~"
She slipped her coat over my head like always. I didn't complain this time. I just pulled it down firmly.
...It's been days, but I still have to hide my face.
Do the people in this village really not know who I am yet?
Damil's calm expression flashed through my mind. The way he'd simply said, "I see."
...Or maybe Era did something to them.
Before I could follow that thought any further, Era bounced out the door with the laundry in her arms.
Era led the way with the laundry, and I followed behind, my face hidden under the coat.
"Era~ Is that the same man from last time walking next to you?"
"Yes!"
It was an ordinary village scene. But to me, it looked slightly different now.
...Do these people know that Era has Black Star Veins?
Or do they have no idea?
The villagers treated Era like normal. Not like they were dealing with someone who possessed Black Star Veins, but just like any other kid from the neighborhood.
...Maybe they really don't know.
Or maybe...
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard two women whispering near the laundry area.
"...Hey, did you hear? They say His Highness the Prince has disappeared~"
"...!"
My footsteps stopped dead.
"His Highness the Prince? Oh my."
"He vanished without a trace while inspecting the territory."
"Goodness. And then?"
"I heard the Maryeokche has been dispatched to search for him?"
"The Maryeokche? Those terrifying people?"
"Yes. There's even a rumor they're heading toward the border..."
"......"
I froze beneath the coat.
The Prince had disappeared. The Maryeokche had set out to find him. And they were coming to the border region soon.
This should have been...
...good news.
If the Maryeokche arrived, they'd rescue me. I could return to the Imperial Palace. This absurd kidnapping would finally end.
Just a few days ago, I had been waiting desperately for the Maryeokche.
But now, only one thought filled my mind.
...I'm fucked.
The Maryeokche were coming to find me. No matter where I was, they would track the Prince's location. They would come here without fail.
And there was one crucial difference between a few days ago and now.
...Era.
The fact that I now knew she had Black Star Veins.
In this world, Black Star Veins were the lowest of the low, executed the moment they were discovered. And simply having a Black Star Vein user near the imperial family...
...was a crime punishable by death. The sin of corrupting the royal bloodline.
The moment the Maryeokche stormed this house, Era—the Black Star Vein user standing beside the Prince—would...
...Era would definitely die.
No room for excuses. Right there on the spot.
I slowly looked to my side.
It seemed Era had heard the whispers too. She stood frozen just like before, still clutching the laundry bundle.
"......"
Era didn't say a word. She was staring at the whispering women with frightened eyes.
"..."
I watched her.
The Maryeokche. Black Star Veins. So this was what Era had been terrified of from the very beginning.
"......"
We returned home. We never properly did the laundry. Era's hands had been shaking too badly.
But once we got back, she tried to act like her usual self.
"Your Highness~ Shall I make you some porridge?"
"...Era."
"Yes!"
"...Are you okay?"
"...What do you mean?"
"...Earlier. The talk about the Maryeokche."
"......!"
"...It's nothing!"
"...Hehe. Would the Maryeokche really come all the way to our village? It's just a boring little place~"
She forced a smile. But it didn't sound like her usual laugh at all.
"You don't have to worry about anything, Your Highness!"
"...Era."
"If the Maryeokche come, I'll hide you really well!"
She wasn't worried about herself at all. Only about me. Seeing that...
...You idiot.
If they come, you're the one who's going to die.
But I couldn't bring myself to say it. Because I still hadn't told her that I knew she had Black Star Veins.
Instead, I quietly came to a decision deep inside.
...As I thought. I have to...
Night fell.
Like always, we lay together under a single blanket.
"...Era."
"Yeees."
"...Not sleeping?"
"I will."
Her voice trembled faintly.
I stared at the ceiling, organizing my thoughts.
The Maryeokche were chasing the Prince. They tracked his location. If I stayed here, they would come to this village.
And the Black Star Vein user next to the Prince—Era—would surely be killed.
But if I wasn't here...
The Maryeokche would follow me and leave the village. There would be no reason to search a village without the Prince.
Then Era would...
...It's simple.
This time, there was no hesitation.
It was true that I'd grown attached over the past few days. The half-piece of bread, the lap pillow, the clothes, that silly smile of hers. All of it had left an impression.
But...
...What does any of that matter?
If Era died, none of it would mean anything. I couldn't sacrifice her life just so I could stay here a few more days, laughing and chatting with her. Not for my own selfishness.
...That can't happen.
Putting Era in danger just because I'd grown fond of her—that wasn't love. That was greed.
...Yes. Tonight.
I made up my mind firmly.
I'm leaving Era.
A few days of affection meant nothing in the face of her life.
My decision was final. All that remained was deciding when and how to leave.
'......'
Once I'd resolved to go, the night felt different.
This might be the last time I ever slept beside her. Once I left, I'd never see her again.
'......'
I slowly turned my body toward her.
After hesitating for a moment, I gently reached out and pulled her into my arms.
"...!"
Era stiffened.
"...Y-Your Highness?"
Her voice shook.
"......"
I didn't say anything. I just held her quietly.
"...W-why...?"
"......"
"...Your Highness...?"
I slowly opened my mouth.
"...Just."
Softly.
"...Let's sleep like this tonight."
"......"
Era stayed still for a long time before slowly turning in my arms... until we were facing each other.
She nestled her face gently against my chest.
"...Hehe."
"......"
"...Your Highness. You're so warm."
Her voice no longer trembled.
I gently patted her back. The same back that had been shaking in fear of the Maryeokche.
"...Era."
"...Yes."
"...If you're scared of something."
"...?"
"Tell me honestly."
"......"
"...I'll take care of everything."
Era let out a small laugh against my chest.
"...You will, Your Highness?"
"...Yeah."
"...How?"
"...That's for me to figure out."
It was a farewell in disguise. Era didn't realize.
"...Hehe. That makes me feel safe."
She burrowed deeper into my arms.
"...As long as you're here, I'm not scared at all."
It's not that you're not scared because I'm here.
You can only survive if I'm not here.
But I couldn't say those words to her while she was nestled against me. Instead, I held her a little tighter.
As if trying to hold onto this night that might be our last.
I could hear His Highness's heartbeat.
Thump. Thump.
...This can't go on.
Era already knew.
That the Maryeokche were coming. That she had Black Star Veins. That if she stayed by His Highness's side, he would be in danger too. That if they were discovered, he wouldn't be safe either.
...I have to protect His Highness.
Era wasn't worried about herself. After all, she was a Black Star Vein user. This fate had been waiting for her from the beginning.
But His Highness...
...His Highness can't be allowed to suffer.
Era burrowed deeper into his embrace.
...Even if the Maryeokche come.
No matter what happens.
...I will protect Your Highness at all costs.
She made the quiet vow inside his arms.
At the same time.
North of the village, across the endless plains.
Clop. Clop. Clop.
The sound of horse hooves sliced through the predawn air.
A group in black cloaks was galloping across the plains.
Zork Hamen, at the front, raised one hand.
"......!"
The horses stopped in unison. Their breaths came in heavy gasps. Both riders and mounts were exhausted after days of riding without rest.
Zork pulled a black crystal orb from his coat. The detection sphere was vibrating faintly, as if pointing in a direction.
"...We're close."
Zork muttered quietly.
His adjutant approached.
"...Chief. The reaction is growing stronger."
"Indeed."
"At this rate..."
Zork put the detection sphere away.
"Half a day. No, even less than that."
The adjutant's eyes widened.
"...That close?"
"When the sphere trembles this much, it means the target is right in front of us."
Zork lifted his head and stared ahead. Beyond the bluish darkness, the faint outline of a small village crouched in the distance.
"I see a village."
"......It's Esh."
"I see."
Zork was about to spur his horse forward when...
"......?"
The horse suddenly stopped. Something was blocking its path.
"..."
It was barbed wire. Rusted, old barbed wire stretched endlessly across the plains.
No matter which way you looked—left, right, all the way to the horizon—it was nothing but barbed wire.
"......"
Zork narrowed his eyes.
"...Strange."
The adjutant asked with a puzzled expression.
"...What is, sir?"
"There is no reason for barbed wire to be in the middle of a plain like this."
"......"
"Moreover."
Zork slowly guided his horse closer to the wire. Even though it was still before dawn, a haze shimmered around the barbed wire. The air itself seemed distorted in that exact spot.
Zork's expression grew icy cold.
"...This is the work of a Black Star Vein."
"......!"
"It's an illusion. And an enormous one, covering the entire plain."
"...A single Black Star Vein user could create something on this scale?"
"Yes."
Zork slowly dismounted.
"It means this is no ordinary opponent."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small leather pouch. When he loosened the string, dark powder spilled out. It looked like ash, or perhaps crushed ore. Black dust.
"...Chief, that is—"
"It's Star Dust."
Zork took a handful.
"Ground from shattered star fragments. It disrupts the flow of all Star Energy."
"......"
"Whether it's an illusion or a barrier..."
Zork raised his hand.
"Any falsehood created by man cannot withstand this."
He opened his palm.
Whoosh—
The black powder scattered into the predawn air.
In that instant...
Shhhshhhshhh—
The barbed wire began to ripple. Starting from where the powder touched, the wires melted away like ink dissolving in water.
Shhh—
The barbed wire vanished in a chain reaction. As if it had never existed. Not a trace remained.
Where the powder had settled, only empty plains stretched out.
Zork slowly scanned the vacant plain.
"......"
"...Chief."
The adjutant swallowed dryly.
"To dispel an illusion of this magnitude, we had to use that much Star Dust."
"Yes."
"Among all the Black Star Vein users I've known, none have ever possessed power on this scale—"
"None indeed."
Zork brushed the remaining powder from his hand. It scattered into the dawn wind.
He mounted his horse once more.
"This Black Star Vein is capable of creating remarkably powerful illusions."
Zork's eyes sharpened like blades.
"With power like this, it's entirely possible the entire village has been enthralled."
"......"
"Do not trust the testimony of the villagers. Whatever they see or hear could all be within the palm of that Black Star Vein user."
The adjutant bowed his head.
"...I will keep that in mind."
Zork turned his horse toward the village. The first rays of sunlight dyed his black cloak a deep red.
"His Highness the Prince's safety is our top priority."
"......Understood."
Zork spoke his final words.
"The moment we locate the Black Star Vein..."
"......"
"Swiftly. Efficiently."
He dug his spurs into the horse's flank.
"We eliminate it."
Clop—!
The group in black cloaks surged forward across the plains, racing toward the village. Across the wide-open fields where the false barbed wire had vanished without a trace.