The corridor was especially chilly. All the corridor windows were meticulously covered with thick curtains to block the incoming wind. That made it even gloomier and darker. Anyone visiting Tildyen Rock for the first time would surely think it was an abandoned castle.
What if people criticized the mistress for not properly managing the castle? Anya sighed and quietly knocked.
Knock knock.
There was no answer. The small feet paced up and down the quiet corridor for a long time. Hands covered with various scratches knocked on the thick wooden door again. Wondering if perhaps he hadn’t heard, Anya pressed an ear against the door. Inside was quiet. Did that mean it was okay to enter?
The doorknob was the same as that of his bedroom. A heavy, cold metal could be felt beneath his hand. Creeeeak. Anya cautiously stepped inside.
“……”
The room was dark and cold. The fireplace had lost its original function, filled only with pale ash, and the lamps on the wall were empty. Because his hair was still damp, Anya shivered slightly as he groped along the wall and moved forward.
Evernight was sitting in a chair under the bedroom window with his eyes closed. Anya almost cried out. He quickly covered his mouth with both hands. Fortunately, there was no movement from him. Gleaming pale under the full moon, the man looked as splendid as a god in a decorative painting at the imperial palace, but also as cold as a dead person. Anya approached Evernight, using the moonlight as a guide.
“……”
The man was sweating coldly with his brow furrowed. His bangs were damp like Anya’s. Evernight looked tormented, even though this was his world.
Anya reached out toward the man. He thought it would be quite satisfying to see the man who had cruelly killed Rips Mohan having a nightmare in the middle of the night, but it wasn’t. He just felt curious.
“P-perhaps… do you f-feel guilt too?”
His head felt hot. The alcohol seemed to be gradually taking effect.
“I j-just realized that I s-still don’t know your n-name…”
Anya’s voice was as small and faint as a dimly twinkling star in the night sky. The moment his hand touched the wet, blackened hair, Evernight’s eyes flew open. His cold blue eyes were tinged with madness, like an exploding divine light. Before Anya could withdraw his hand in surprise, his collar was grabbed, and his body was slammed to the floor. The loud thud and the tremendous pain that followed nearly made him faint.
“L-L-Lord Evernight…!”
Anya trembled, face turning pale at the sharp dagger pressed against his neck.
“…What are you doing?”
His pupils gradually narrowed as they focused. Thankfully, Evernight seemed to have come to his senses. One wrong move, and his throat would have been pierced, spraying blood everywhere. The man was surprisingly fast and surprisingly agile. He had stopped his movement just in time before piercing Anya’s throat.
With a man twice his size pressing down on him with his weight, Anya couldn’t breathe properly. He repeatedly tapped the floor, signaling distress.
“Damn it.”
Evernight ran his hand through his wet hair and got up. Anya, still lying on the floor, coughed dryly. Each time, it felt as if the muscles in his abdomen were screaming in pain.
“Get up quickly and get out.”
He didn’t look well somehow. When Anya had seen his face up close earlier, there were dark circles under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept. Judging by how much he was sweating, he might be sick somewhere. Evernight seemed more irritable and sensitive than usual. He didn’t look at all like the ruthless commander who had cruelly killed Rips Mohan.
“My body… my body won’t move.”
Anya wanted to leave quickly as Evernight had commanded, not wanting to upset him further, but embarrassingly, he couldn’t muster any strength. His fingertips trembled slightly.
“Ugh!”
Evernight grabbed Anya’s collar and lifted him up. It felt like he was being strangled. Anya straightened his body stiffly, dragged by the man’s hand like a doll.
“T-today… th-thank you.”
His heart, which had felt momentarily stopped from shock, began to beat fiercely again. Anya mumbled in a shrinking voice before Evernight, like a child being scolded. He felt like he was going to lose his soul.
“Get out.”
It was undoubtedly a clear order to leave. Despite appearing extremely upset, he didn’t raise his voice. He simply issued the command like a cold commander.
“Are you s-sick some-“
“Are you hard of hearing? Getting cocky because you won. Get out.”
Anya, who had been standing with his head bowed low, slightly raised his gaze, but quickly lowered it again upon meeting Evernight’s cold, heartless stare.
Of all times, the strong smell of alcohol was emanating from him. Anya wanted to protest with an aggrieved heart, but doing so would only worsen their relationship. That had been the case with every relationship Anya had experienced so far. Perhaps it was best to just stay quiet.
Anya fled from Evernight’s bedroom.
“The master dislikes people entering his room without permission.”
Gregos was standing in the darkness of the corridor, having been waiting there since who knows when. Anya swallowed a scream and barely managed to answer.
“I d-did knock.”
“Even if you knock, you should wait for a response.”
Gregos’s wrinkled eyes seemed to momentarily stare at something beyond the thick curtains.
“Especially… on nights when the full moon rises.”
Once again, Anya hadn’t been able to ask the man’s name.
* * *
Anya was plagued by nightmares all night. Rips Mohan’s corpse, with a dagger in his nape, lunged at him, crying out in resentment. The scene changed, and the blue-eyed man pressed down on him as if to suffocate him. With his tunic completely soaked in cold sweat, Anya greeted the late morning. With a face still showing signs of fatigue, Anya meticulously applied the ointment prescribed by the healer to his body.
Having been tormented all night, he was hungry. But because he had woken up late, he had missed breakfast. He could go to the kitchen and ask the cook, but Anya still felt uncomfortable around the people of Tildyen. He had to go see Sabelli anyway.
‘Dragcals.’
He had heard the flame’s name during the honor duel. Sabelli would surely know who the flame was. If he got really hungry, he could eat at the wooden dining hall near the training ground. After all, Bella from the wooden dining hall was somehow kind to Anya.
Anya, still moving somewhat awkwardly, wrapped his robe tightly and went down the stairs. Just as he was about to quickly pass through the main hall, he heard a familiar voice from inside. It was Sabelli. Anya walked toward it as if entranced.
“I heard you’re going to the Wall soon.”
“Now that the magical device is complete, we should go and finish the installation quickly.”
In the dining room, the senior knights and Sabelli were having a late breakfast. Evernight sat at the head, with senior knights and Sabelli Nox seated on either side. Anya, who had half-entered, hurriedly turned his back. Before he could escape, someone spotted him.
“Join us, boy.”
* * *
The men’s gazes turned to Anya. Sisou, who had been devouring food with his nose buried in his plate like a dog, waved with a bright smile. The rest maintained the typical stoic faces of knights. They nodded slightly toward Anya. Anya’s hazelnut eyes were rigidly fixed only on Sabelli Nox. The boy seemed to regard his presence here as if committing a great offense.
“H-hello.”
Greeting them briefly, Anya gradually backed away.
“If you haven’t eaten, join us.”
Sabelli Nox smiled, pointing to an empty seat. Anya stood frozen, unable to decide. Looking at Evernight as if seeking permission, Anya noticed he appeared neat and well, unlike yesterday. After yesterday’s incident, Anya had decided never to approach his husband unnecessarily again.
“I-I’ve already e-eaten…”
“Mistress, here you are. I was just about to bring the meal tray up to you.”
Behind Gregos, a maid was standing with a familiar wooden tray. The lie he had carefully crafted was so easily exposed! His face turned red, and even his neck flushed crimson. Anya visibly floundered, not daring to look at the knights’ faces.
‘What if they think they’re being disrespected? They might think I’m being rude.’
“Will you join us?”
Sabelli asked again. For the first time, Anya found the old man mischievous.
“Y-yes…”
Anya reluctantly had to sit at the same table as them. It was obvious they would think him a rude and arrogant mistress if he refused now. Gregos pulled out an empty chair. Anya walked with impossibly heavy steps and sat on the velvet cushion. Soon, tableware was quickly set on the table.
“……”
The knights, who had been talking somewhat loudly until just now, all fell silent as if they had planned it together. Only the occasional clattering sounds made by Sisou could be heard, with no meaningful conversation. Anya clasped his hands together under the tablecloth.
“Who’s going to the Wall?”
Fortunately, there was one tactless person here. Sisou gulped down wine and made a “keu” sound, clearing his throat.
“Me, Karen, and the Commander.”
Riario answered while methodically cutting meat with his knife. The conversation resumed.
“Can’t I go too?”
Sisou mumbled, still with food in his mouth. Only beside him were empty plates stacked like a mountain. It was amazing how he maintained such a slender physique while eating that much.
“You can’t because you whine about the cold. It slows down the work. We need to finish everything before the snowstorm arrives.”
Karen responded firmly, raising his glasses on the bridge of his nose with his finger. Sisou immediately pouted his lips.
