Chapter 53: With Closed Eyes Under the Shining White Shadow
Kill Sue Byron and leave the mansion.
He reiterated the only agreement he had made with Leo. And the face he didn’t want to remember appeared in his mind like a painting.
Lifeless skin, thin, blood-red hair, crimson eyes that always looked away.
The vicious viscount’s daughter, who called him ‘friend’ in her clear, composed voice.
That wicked girl would die today. By Leo’s hand, and by Raines Noel’s doing.
‘…Yes, this is karma. The consequences of her sins.’
Raines bit his lip, not wanting to think about it any longer.
The inspection ceremony was about to start. He was about to leave the mansion when…
“Master Raines, wait…!”
“…Hannah…?”
Hannah, his longtime nanny, came running from the entrance hall, her face frantic. She was panting, her legs wobbling, as if she had run all the way here.
“What’s wrong, Hannah?”
Raines asked. It had been a while since he had last seen her. He wondered how many servants were even left in this mansion. He swallowed his loneliness and waited for Hannah to catch her breath.
“It’s…”
Hannah hesitated, as if she didn’t know how to say it, then spoke heavily.
“Master Leo is… not feeling well.”
“…That man?”
Raines frowned at the mention of the name he didn’t even want to utter.
“Not feeling well? What do you mean? Is he sick?”
“Um… I think so.”
Hannah tilted her head, unsure.
What do you mean, “you think so”?
‘And on a day like this… Is he faking it?’
Then what about the promise to end it? What about my life, and Sue Byron?
“…Hah.”
Raines scoffed, incredulous.
He’s probably just trying to mess with me again.
He had been out and about just yesterday. Raines couldn’t think of any other explanation.
A bad feeling gnawed at him, and he turned around and went back into the mansion. Leo’s room was located in the right corner of the basement. The dusty basement, filled with a cold, unpleasant draft, felt strangely comfortable only around Leo’s room.
“What’s going on?”
Raines banged on Leo’s metal door without holding back. But there was no answer. He shouted again,
“Answer me! We agreed to end it today!”
“……….”
Leo remained silent, no matter how much he banged on the door. Raines massaged his forehead, frustrated, and said in a low voice,
“I’m coming in.”
“Don’t come in!”
“…!”
Raines froze, startled by the earsplitting scream. He cautiously tried the doorknob, but it was locked.
“Did something happen?”
Again, there was no answer. He knocked and called out several times, but the metal door remained firmly shut.
“…Damn it.”
He felt like his chest was going to explode with frustration. He finally drew his sword, ready to break down the door.
“…I’m calling off today’s plan.”
Leo’s voice, strained and deep, came from beyond the door the moment his silver blade flashed in the air. It was a short, curt statement.
“…What?”
Raines stared at the faded metal door, bewildered. Leo’s voice came again,
“It can’t be helped. I suddenly… don’t feel well.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Anyway, today’s… off! It’s off!”
His voice sounded strained, as if he was suppressing something. But Raines didn’t feel the need to be concerned about his well-being.
Raines Noel imagined Leo’s smug face, lying comfortably in his room beyond the metal door. He felt a surge of anger. Consumed by rage, he raised his leg and kicked the metal door with all his might.
“You damn bastard! Come out here! We agreed to end it today! Because of you, my mother and father…! So quickly, Sue By…!”
He suddenly stopped himself. His mouth wouldn’t move, as if someone had cast a spell on him. He had to say it. He had to shout and drag Leo out of the room, but for some reason, her name wouldn’t come out.
“…Shut up. Get out of here. Raines Noel Delpheman.”
A sly, mocking voice came from inside the room. Raines bit his lip.
Why do I have to be toyed with by this man? Why did things turn out this way? Why does Noel, who’s done nothing wrong, have to suffer like this?
A sudden urge surged through him. He raised his sword, his reason consumed by anger.
Let’s just break down this door. Break it down and kill that disgusting man who calls himself Leo Noel. And I’ll save everyone. Mother, Father. And…
“…If you try to kill me and open that door, I’ll blow up everything in this mansion, including your neck.”
“……”
Raines stood frozen for a long time, feeling Leo’s killing intent emanating from beyond the metal door. Then, he lowered his sword, his face filled with despair. He disappeared from the silent basement.
“Master, are you alright?”
“…Yes.”
As Raines emerged into the garden, his nanny, Hannah, who had been waiting for him, followed him worriedly. She could guess what had happened in the basement, so she couldn’t bring herself to ask him what was wrong.
“Hannah, how’s Mother?”
Raines asked weakly.
“Madam is… still asleep. She took her medicine last night and hasn’t woken up.”
“I see…”
Raines thought about his mother. His respected mother, who had always been elegantly dressed and active in social circles. His mother, who was now reduced to a skeleton, confined to her bed, barely able to sleep.
Raines gritted his teeth again. His blue eyes, filled with frustration, glared at the mansion.
Everything had changed since that man had arrived. Everything. Raines buried his face in his hands.
Leo Noel.
‘…No.’
He trembled. And he uttered the name, which no longer held any meaning, his voice filled with hatred.
“Damon Keron. You changed everything.”
***
The last week of September. Today was finally the day of the National Founding Festival. The gates of the capital were open during the festival, so the main street was unimaginably crowded. Sue sat on a bench in the square, unable to take even a single step into the festivities.
‘He must have something urgent to attend to.’
She frowned. Leo hadn’t shown up, even though it had been hours past their meeting time.
Sue rested her chin on her hand and watched the happy crowds with envy. Multicolored autumn leaves were falling like snow in the square. It was a beautiful sight, but she wanted to see more.
Finally, Sue got up from the bench before sunset. It seemed pointless to wait for Leo any longer. She couldn’t just sit here and wait for him forever.
The sun would be setting soon. The Libra Light Fairy Ritual would begin at Lake Libra after dark. It was a parade that summoned fairies, held only on the first day of the National Founding Festival, and it was a very popular spectacle. Sue really wanted to see it. So she was planning to explore the main street while she had time and then go to Lake Libra.
‘I’ll ask Noel about Sir Leo later.’
He must have had something come up.
A cool breeze, carrying the characteristic chill of Löhn, blew, refreshing her from head to toe.
Sue wandered around the main street, her heart light. Unlike when she met with Leo, she was wearing simple, light blue casual clothes that were easy to move around in. She also wanted to hide her identity, considering there were many people from the provinces in the city.
White, glowing flowers and jewels decorated the streets, making her feel like she was walking on clouds. Large flags, embroidered with the emblem of the Atlantis Imperial Family, fluttered from poles erected at regular intervals. Festival stalls lined the streets where there were no shops.
Sue received cotton candy from a stall and watched the falling autumn leaves turn into dust in her hand.
“…Haha.”
Her heart swelled with excitement. Unable to contain her happiness, she explored as much as she could before sunset. She listened to the sweet songs of street musicians and admired the crafts being sold for the National Founding Festival. The water mages’ parade on the canal was a sight to behold.
As the red sky turned indigo, Sue reluctantly headed towards Lake Libra.
‘I’ll explore everything tomorrow.’
She felt a pang of regret for not being able to see more, as there wasn’t much time left before the Libra Light Fairy Ritual began.
‘But should I wait for Sir Leo again tomorrow?’
They had only planned to watch the festival together on the first day. But since they hadn’t met today, there was a chance that he might show up tomorrow.
As she was pondering this, she stopped in her tracks in front of the path leading to the square.
“Byron, what a coincidence to meet you here.”