Chapter 108
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: The Feast of the Sun and Moon (2)
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‘Ah...’
I instinctively realized I was dreaming.
It was that place again.
A pure white space, empty of everything.
I harbored no resentment toward dreams themselves, but thinking back on what had happened after this one left a sour taste.
‘...I need to wake up quick.’
I already knew how to pull myself out.
‘Dark light.’
I had to find that paradoxical thing.
Maybe because I'd been through it once before, unlike that time when I was a full spirit with no form, I could faintly sense my hands and feet now.
‘...That way, I think.’
Tracing my hazy memories, I flew for what felt like ages until the ‘dark light’ appeared, just like before.
‘Found it.’
As I edged closer to the ‘dark light’ with caution, it surprisingly spoke to me.
“■■■!”
It was a bizarre sensation.
I could tell something was being said, but no sound reached me.
‘A little closer...’
I swung my arm and drew nearer, revealing something hidden beneath the ‘dark light.’
—Rustle
The blood-soaked form of a woman, wings impaled on skewers, her entire body shackled in chains.
‘...!’
I recoiled in horror at the gruesome sight, and only then did I glimpse what the ‘dark light’ had concealed.
At first glance, there were four.
No.
Not four.
How could I have miscounted something like that?
Hundreds, thousands—jammed to the horizon’s edge.
My nonexistent body shuddered.
I’d been wrong.
That wasn’t ‘dark light.’
It was just ‘light,’ made dark solely from holding back the ‘darkness.’
‘...!’
The instant I realized it, I sensed the ‘darkness’ staring right at me.
No eyes, no face—not even sure what it was—but it sure as hell wasn’t pleasant.
“■■■■go!”
And once more, the ‘light’ cried out.
Gravity hit like a hammer, multiplied several times over, yanking my body downward.
“Haa... haa...!”
My breath came in ragged gasps, like my airways had unclogged in a rush.
“...Master?”
“...Lu...cia.”
Words stuck in my throat like thorns.
Suddenly, tears streamed down Lucia’s face.
“...Hic... sob... thank goodness... thank goodness. If something happened to you, Master... I... I...”
I pulled the startled, hiccupping Lucia into my arms and patted her back.
“...I’m fine. Don’t cry. Nothing happened.”
She sobbed in my embrace for ages before finally calming, but I kept stroking her as I asked,
“...So why the waterworks?”
“...Sniff... You... you just... wouldn’t wake up.”
A snort of laughter escaped me at her answer.
Guess that weird dream made me sleep in longer than usual.
“No need to cry over a deep sleep.”
“...B-but... for days... you didn’t wake...”
Her words hit like a brick to the head.
“...Days? Lucia. How long was I out?”
“...A full week.”
“...What?”
I yelped in shock.
‘...A week?’
That was one hell of a nap.
But aside from some stiffness, I actually felt better than normal.
‘Did my body need time to adjust after that rapid growth?’
As I mulled over why I’d conked out so hard, Lucia snuggled back into my arms.
“...Master... you’re really okay, right? If you hadn’t woken by the meeting spot, I was gonna cancel everything and take you straight to the Ursula estate.”
I let out a quiet breath of relief.
‘...Dodged a bullet waking up in time.’
I couldn’t imagine weathering the fallout from ditching the princess’s invite.
“I’m really fine. Not a scratch.”
“Really... really truly okay?”
“Told you, I’m good.”
“Hehe... then... glad...”
Lucia giggled softly, then swayed and slumped into me.
“...Lucia?”
Memories of midterms flooded back unbidden—lips parched, heart searing.
“...”
“Lucia! Wake up!”
I shook her shoulders. Nothing.
‘...No way.’
Did she go see the same thing?
Chills racked me at the thought of her in that sinister place.
“Lucia! Lucia!”
No response. I hammered the carriage wall.
—Bang! —Bang!
“Stop the carriage! Something’s wrong with Lucia! Stop!”
The carriage braked hard. A girl in a white suit leaped inside.
“Young master, you’re awake.”
“Yeah—Lucia! Something’s wrong with her!”
She checked Lucia over.
Minutes dragged like eons.
She finished with a short sigh.
“...Fuu.”
“What’s wrong with her?! Sick?!”
“You two are spitting images. She was like this when I checked you... Don’t worry. Just exhaustion. A quick nap and she’ll be up.”
“Exhaustion? Bull! You check right? No way fatigue knocks her out this deep...!”
I yelled, still freaking. She put a hand on my shoulder to soothe me.
“Young master. Quiet down. While you slept that week, Lady Lucia never closed her eyes.”
“...”
One all-nighter wrecked me. A week? Fainting made sense.
“...Haa... Sorry for yelling. Uh...”
“Marjan.”
“Right. Thanks, Marjan.”
“No trouble. We’re nearly at the spot—mind her till then?”
Marjan flashed a grin and hopped out.
Alone, I gazed at Lucia and muttered,
“...Idiot.”
Not sick—just tired, I said. Yet she stayed up a full week. Dumbest thing ever.
...But it didn’t feel bad.
“Sleep tight.”
I smirked faintly and tugged her cheek.
Lucia stirred awake right as we neared the meeting spot.
“...Hiiing... I brought tons of stuff to use in the carriage...”
She fished a box from under the seat, eyeing it wistfully.
“...”
Harsh to say, but glad she’d slept.
‘The hell were those for in a carriage?’
I’d cleared countless adult games, but even I couldn’t guess half the box’s contents.
I ignored it and stepped out.
“...See you at the palace, Lucia.”
“...Yeah. I’ll head ahead and wait.”
She bolted off, waving from the window till I vanished from sight.
“Young love, eh? Lord Edad and Lady Kiara had their moments too.”
Alfredo chuckled at the sight.
“Dad and Mom?”
“Yup. Positions reversed, though.”
Carriage got stuffy, so I hopped up beside him.
“Young master. Still chilly. Thin clothes—back inside?”
“Cold doesn’t bother me.”
‘Glacier Essence’ absorption jacked my frost resistance sky-high.
High-tier ice spells might chill me a bit.
“Tell me more about Mom.”
“...Very well. Lady Kiara was... un-noble-like, in the best way. Treated mixed-bloods like us without bias.”
Alfredo smiled warmly, tales flowing.
First, how she took in the mixed-bloods.
Then beating Uncle Gordon one-on-one till he submitted.
Running from Dad’s battlefield confession.
Ditching the Pavolrie name to become his concubine.
And...
How she died.
“...She loved you that much, young master.”
Documents on Pavolrie Kiara felt worlds apart from Alfredo’s stories.
“...”
As I tucked away tangled feelings, a soldier yelled from the walls.
“Halt!”
Alfredo reined in, laughing.
“Lost track of time yapping—already here. You’re fine, but palace entry’s a hassle for me. I’ll turn back.”
“You’re beat. Rest first?”
“Nah. Work piling up. Gotta hustle.”
A twinge of guilt hit me.
“...Didn’t have to be you driving.”
“Hoho, no sweat. My choice. Work can wait—serving you comes first. Honor for this old-timer.”
He beamed kindly.
“...Take care, then. Young master.”
I nodded and walked to the gate. Soldier approached.
“State your identity and purpose.”
High-end clothes and carriage kept him polite.
Palace guards would know the crest anyway.
‘...Really here.’
I glanced up.
White walls stole my breath.
At least a week ahead...
I had to survive this palace.
Shaking my head, I sighed and spoke.
“...Third son of Calliope. Eugene Calliope. Here by invitation of Her Highness the Princess.”