At that ti, soone knocked on the door. Kairo replied, rubbing his forearm.
Co in.
Its my room! Co on in, Rosaline responded sharply, pushing Kairo away. Kairo smirked and flexed his muscles.
Its shift change ti.
The one who entered was Senior Knight Nestor Sihorge. He held a trendously colorful bouquet, a fruit basket, a cake, and a sandwich basket. Rosaline smiled brightly while Kairo frowned.
Sir Nestor, werent you not exempt from guard duty? I heard His Highness was strongly opposed to it to an unusual extent.
Oh, Sir Pardict sent . Im the substitute for the third shift! Nestor grinned at Rosaline. Rosaline smiled brightly and began taking the food baskets hanging from his arm.
Its not Raymonds doing, is it?
Over there, the door was wide open, practically beckoning with a celebratory shower of flower petals if you passed by. It couldnt get any more festive. Kairo looked at it uncomfortably. Do you know what guard duty ans, sir? he asked.
Nestor responded, Haha, surely you must be joking.
Well, he wasnt. After instructing him to block anyone from going in or out, he grabbed a cake from the food basket and hastily left. Rosaline chased after him in a frenzy. When she returned, there was cream all over her mouth and hands; a pitiful sight of the victor. Please tell the commander or His Highness to fire Sir Kairo. Hes really weird! she shouted.
Kairo had teased her because he found her reactions amusing, but to Nestor, she just seed adorable. He made a sympathetic expression and handed her a handkerchief, comnting, It seems like you two get along well
We dont!
What cald her anger was the food Nestor brought. She grumbled occasionally as she ate, but soon found peace. The pudding lted in her mouth, and the bitter caral slid down her throat, soothing her anger.
Hows your body feeling?
Its gotten much better! I think I can go out now! Rosaline replied courageously. She hoped that by saying she was all better, they would stop this confinent. But when their eyes t, Nestor blushed, unable to give her the answer she wanted. Rosalines expression turned cold, anticipating that she wouldnt get the response she wanted from his shyness. This man is clueless. His rating plumted even more.
Arent you tired, Sir Nestor?
No, Im not tired at all! I took short naps here and there, so I could stay energetic until morning! Dont worry if you cant sleep; Ill be right here beside you!
Extrely clueless! Rosaline was furious. Ill just brush him off completely!
Im leaving.
Huh?
I said, Im leaving. Taken aback, Nestor blocked her way to the window. Rosaline swiftly lifted him and threw him onto the bed. Nestors eyes widened. Ill be back in a mont. Itll be fine if nobody finds out. n arent very perceptive. Annoying, really.
S-Sir Rosaline!
Grumbling, Rosaline leaped out the window. She heard Nestors short scream, but she didnt care. She scaled the wall, and leaped down, descending quickly from a high point.
Just as the ssy-looking Kairo was leaving work, he witnessed Rosaline swiftly descending the wall. I knew it would co to this. He shook his head and continued on his way.
***
People danced on the beautiful marble floor under a chandelier scattering light. The music flowed smoothly at tis and sticky at others, adding to the excitent of the party.
Ricardis leaned against the railing of the terrace, shrouded in darkness that contrasted with the bright party hall. He raised his champagne glass to eye level. Through the light yellow champagne, he could see people moving about.
Through the fizzing bubbles, a figure approached. The wavering silhouette grew closer as if subrged in water. Breaking through the music, as the footsteps drew near, Ricardis downed his champagne in one gulp.
Beyond the empty glass, Diech was grinning. Bathed in the sparkling light, he stepped onto the terrace.
Brother.
Diech.
Its been too long since I saw you, even though we both lived in the palace.
It was the first ti since the brief greeting at the hunting competition a day ago, so saying its been too long didnt quite fit. For palace residents, not seeing each other for a month or two was routine. It was rather unusual for them to et day by day, filtered through various events.
Ricardis hadnt left Moonstone Castle for a single day since the hunting competition. Today was the first ti he attended the party. As Diech approached as soon as he revealed himself, Ricardis sensed from Diechs words that he had been waiting for him for a longer period than expected.
Oh, the chief musician of the injured orchestra returned today. Did you know, Brother? Perhaps thats why its Diech pretended to listen to the music, then burst into laughter. To be honest, I really dont understand. It all sounds the sa to . Theyre all equally good. Count Ironhoff says that listening to music without the chief musician is like injuring ones soul. I played along, but thats about it. Ive never been good with music since I was a child.
Ricardis observed him expressionlessly. While he wanted to express all his anger, he couldnt figure out the intention of this person who spoke to him amiably as if nothing had changed. Even though he probably knew Ricardis had discovered his true identity, there was no trace of change in his deanor.
Diech simply humd along slightly out of sync with the music flowing from within, lost in thought. As a passing tray passed by, he picked up two champagne glasses and offered one to Ricardis. Ricardis received the glass and took a gulp.
Speaking of which, what about Sir Rosaline? Havent seen her lately. Havent seen her since the hunting competition Did sothing happen?
It was a stab to the heart. A strike that required imnse control not to react imdiately. The calmness was unbelievable, coming from the person who had directly committed the act. There was no sign of guilt for the sin he had committed, no trace of nervousness that his secret might be exposed.
Could he hide this anxiety so well? Shouldnt sothing just pop out, making it evident that sothing was amiss? Yet, he acted as if everything had never happened, as if everything was normal. In the present, knowing everything, his smile appeared twisted and eerie.
Its a ti when many foreign dignitaries are roaming around.
Many eyes had been watching Rosaline for quite a while; so it made sense that Ricardis was deliberately confining her within Moonstone Castle. For anyone unaware of the fact that she had suffered a critical injury, it was an entirely plausible story. However, Diech knew that this was a lie. Nonetheless, Ricardis just nodded in agreent.
I see. I briefly t her during the hunting competition, but we still have many things left to discuss. I plan to et her soon. Emptying his champagne glass, Diech, with a raised brow, placed the glass on the terrace railing. Their eyes t, and he grinned. Please give her my regards, Brother.
Diech turned and walked out to the party hall. Pausing for a mont, he looked in a different direction. Although it was impossible to see his face as he turned away, a chilling anticipation lingered. Soon, his montarily paused foot started moving again, and he lted into the dancing crowd.
The knights positioned on the inside, outside, and below the terrace also released their vigil and relaxed.
Ricardis briefly stepped out of the terrace into a brighter area. He saw the Emperor laughing and chatting with Elpidio, the direction Diech had montarily gazed at.
Ricardis had thought that Diechs purpose was simply to occupy the Emperors position when he viewed him as a re Diech.
But overnight, he had beco an unpredictable entity, detached from Diech. What was his purpose? Conspiring with the Black Moon, attempting to kill him, and lurking within the palacewhat was the reason?
With no knowledge of his thoughts, the purpose beca obscure. Ricardis left the party hall.
***
Alright, Ricardis. Its annoying, but Ill tell you just once, so listen carefully. One, Im not feeling good right now. Two, Im not sure what ti it is, but how could a gentleman be looking for a lady at this hour? Finally, three. I dont know whats been happening recently, but guests have been coming too often, and its tiring, the blind woman complained while lying on a dirty blanket. Ricardis was amazed. He hadnt even ntioned his presence, so how did she know? It happened every ti, but he was always fascinated.
So, in summary, youre telling to leave?
Exactly.
In the depths of the underground prison, particularly the innermost part, was a cell. Katelyn, who had once been a Black Moon executive, waved her hand as if shooing away Ricardis, treating him like a common peddler. Upon closer inspection, she was missing a few fingers. From the bloodstains visible on the bandages, it seed recent. Likely the work of one of the guests who had visited her.
Where did you sell your fingers to end up like that?
Speaking with such pretense. Your brother stole my fingers. Quite the bandit.
I apologize in my worthless brothers stead.
Katelyn nodded and turned her head. Ricardis leaned against the bars. The purpose of his visit was unclear. There was unimaginable force unknown to him; a force that was the final cog driving a massive flow.
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