The Witch's Ring and the Duke's Shadow
The ball had ended. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Eat it. You’ve already done it once, so the second time should be much easier, right?”
Luna replied in a light tone, inspecting her nails.
Devouring the Magic Book and eating a person were worlds apart.
Suddenly, the scene from last night flashed through my mind.
The duke eating a heart.
Me, doing that too?
“How do I… eat a person?”
I muttered lowly, shaking off the nauseating image, and Luna clicked her tongue in disbelief.
“Who said to eat the person? Eat the connection link still left inside him. To put it simply, the remnant?”
“Ah, that’s what you meant? You should’ve said so earlier.”
Of course I’d assumed she meant devour the duke whole.
Given the utter lack of empathy she’d shown so far, I figured it was right up her alley.
Fortunately, she wasn’t that twisted.
“You just had a super gross thought, didn’t you? Even I wouldn’t tell you to eat your own kind. What the hell do you take me for?”
Her glare stung.
I rolled my eyes to dodge her gaze, cleared my throat, and got back on track.
“So, how do I pull out and eat that energy?”
“…Not shying away from the ‘eating’ part suits you.”
Luna smirked.
If it solves the problem, I’d eat a truckload.
Tastes good, too.
“How’d you eat the Magic Book?”
“It had a physical form.”
“Similar enough, no? Humans suck in smoke all the time. Never tried it myself, so I wouldn’t know.”
“What the—”
Don’t make extracting energy sound as casual as lighting up a cigarette.
Luna propped her chin on her hand and twirled a finger.
“Hmm~ Alright. It’s been ages since I got a fun toy, so I’ll lend a hand.”
What flew toward my face from her fingertip was a ring.
What, a proposal?
“Press that hard on your duke guy. The energy’ll pop right out. Easy peasy?”
“If there’s a magic tool that handy, why eat it at all? Couldn’t I just trap it in this jar?”
I pointed to the glass bottle, smoke still swirling inside.
Luna glanced over and snorted.
“You think you could seal it if I handed that over? Tougher than it looks—only someone like me can pull it off.”
“Just teach me, then.”
“You couldn’t.”
Luna closed her eyes and shook her head slowly.
Not just laziness, that.
Even if she could teach me, no way she’d do it for free.
I stayed silent, so she cracked one eye open and continued like she was doing me a huge favor.
“Don’t sweat it—you scarfed one down already. What’s another? You won’t die… probably?”
“Sounds iffy.”
But true, no other options.
I pocketed the ring, sufficiently convinced.
“After I eat the remnant, then what? The Magic Book’s energy stuck around inside me just like this.”
“Oh.”
Luna blinked in genuine surprise at my question.
“Obviously, it’ll linger like last time. Drag your ass back here and I’ll yank it out. Make it quick this round.”
“No trial, and I’ll be speedy.”
“Deal. I’ll skip you past the next one.”
Luna grinned slyly.
She looked almost… disappointed.
Something about that expression rubbed me wrong, so I turned back from the door for one last question.
“What if I hadn’t asked that just now—what then?”
“Duh, you’d crawl in here writhing in agony somehow, and I’d fix it… for a price. Too bad. Kinda wanted to see if you’d stay this cocky.”
Luna flashed her brightest smile of the day.
This woman’s a menace.
Definitely not on team humanity.
She let it slide this time ’cause it amused her, but no guarantees going forward.
I gave her a slight nod and hurried out.
“Oh, right. Don’t go blabbing outside about what went down here.”
“Why?”
“Rules. Break ’em and things get messy. Even sweet little me might snap a bit.”
Nice people must all be dead.
I grumbled inwardly but figured asking would just get more cryptic snark.
I nodded quietly and opened the door.
The west annex corridor stretched before me.
Just a normal hallway, same as after passing the trial—no anomalies in sight.
I peeked back inside: plain room, no trace of Luna.
Not a hallucination.
I fingered the ring and brooch in my pocket, replaying the encounter.
Sunset light already stretched long through the windows.
The sun was setting.
Took longer than I thought.
Wonder how the ballroom’s doing.
Did the duke behave?
Too many loose ends.
No time for nostalgia.
Time to hustle.
At the ballroom entrance, nobles streamed out one after another.
From their faces, no major incidents.
I slipped past the cheerfully chatting crowd and entered.
Three silhouettes stood in the center.
Kairon, Ariel, and even Scarlett.
Greeting the departing nobles.
Today’s stars, apparently.
Even from afar, Scarlett’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
Things hadn’t gone her way.
Without me by her side to smooth things over, she must’ve struggled.
As I approached slowly, Ariel turned and spotted me at the entrance.
She nodded to the duke and lady, then glided over lightly.
“Butler.”
She leaned in close and whispered.
Why me?
“Yes, Lady Rosenheim.”
“Could we talk later?”
“You and me?”
“Yes. Something important to discuss.”
The original novel’s heroine.
To me, fresh off weird events the romance fantasy never covered, her sudden interest felt like an unwelcome wildcard.
“If required, certainly.”
But I’m a butler.
Attending to a noble’s needs is our creed.
Ariel seemed pleased, flashing a cryptic smile before turning gracefully and exiting the hall.
I steadied my unease watching her retreating figure.
Unclear motives.
Not outright hostile, though—observe for now.
To stick to the original plot, her help is crucial anyway.
More run-ins will clarify things.
Lost in thought, a familiar voice pierced my ear.
“Sebas! Where the heck have you been—showing up now!”
I turned to see Scarlett storming over, dress hem swirling, face full of piss and vinegar.
“You have no idea what I went through today!”
“My apologies, Lady. An urgent matter arose.”
I bowed deeply and politely, but she huffed and jutted her lips in a pout.
“Hmph, fine. I told you to rest anyway. But you’re listening to my rant before bed tonight.”
“Naturally. I’ll stay up all night if need be.”
“Duh! C’mon!”
Scarlett whipped around and marched ahead.
Her words said one thing, but she couldn’t hide the relief at seeing me again.
Cute.
Before following, I glanced at the duke, still rooted in the ballroom’s center.
He stared our way, face blank.
Honestly unnerving.
I’d tidied his room, but…
He’d notice the Magic Book missing soon enough.
What if anxiety makes him lash out?
Might need to handle it fast.
“Sebas! What gives!”
I turned at her urging and left the ballroom.
First things first: soothe the lady.
“Sebas, you listening?”
“Of course, Lady.”
The ball must’ve worn her out bad.
Scarlett sprawled face-down on the bed, whining into her pillow.
“That bitch Ariel. Way foxier than I thought. Sneaking peeks at everyone’s moods, steering the whole vibe—every bit calculated.”
“I see.”
“All while playing the saint. Infuriating. It was obvious, but everyone else was clueless. If I’d called her out, I’d just look petty!”
“A splendid choice to uphold your dignity.”
“Duh! I’m Scarlett de Carmine. I know better than that.”
She beamed at the praise, kicking her feet and thrashing the blankets.
“Anyway, the duke. Blander than expected. Not icy at all. Kinda… hollow?”
“That’s surprising.”
Didn’t realize she saw through him that sharply.
She’s a duke’s daughter—and the original lead.
No underestimating those eyes behind the cuteness.
“Right? And after that romantic encounter yesterday, those two barely glanced at each other.”
“Nothing special with Lady Rosenheim?”
“Nah, why?”
Hm. Then what? No reason for her to suddenly fixate on me.
That cryptic smile from the ballroom nagged at me.
As I went quiet, Scarlett flipped over and glared.
“You into that woman or something?”
“Pardon?”
“You two were whispering at the ball.”
Sharp as ever.
Jealousy meant for Ariel, now aimed squarely at me.
Easier to manage this way—silver lining.
I shrugged with a shameless grin.
“Perish the thought. Likely just dazzled by my refined features.”
“You’ve lost it.”
The dumb joke landed; she smacked my arm with a dumbfounded look.
“Anyway, watch out. She’s a viper, that one. Who knows what she’s scheming.”
Tone held zero doubt of any wandering eyes.
That trust warmed me straight through.
“Worry not. You’re all I see, Lady.”
“Hmph, as it should be. Lights out.”
Her voice grew sleepy.
She’d chattered nonstop till the wee hours, spilling everything, before flopping back and waving me off.
I doused the lights, and soon her soft snores filled the room.
Another day safely in the books.
Just settle the duke, and the ball’s threats are done.
I slipped out quietly.
Cool dawn air slapped my cheeks in the corridor.
The ring weighed heavy in my pocket.
Late as hell, but perfect timing.
Needed to see how Kairon reacted to the missing Magic Book.
Late night—hope he’s fruitlessly hunting the culprit and crashes out.
Easy win then.
I hurried toward his corridor.
Frontal assault still suicide.
Good thing I knew the secret passage.
Reached the wall at the corridor’s end again.
Carefully probing for the seam to open it—
Thud.
Footsteps.
Breath caught.
Slowly turned.
A man’s silhouette emerged from the shadows at the far end.
“So it was you.”
A voice cold as steel, devoid of any feeling.
From the darkness.
Kairon stepped into view.