Shadowless Night

“Does that matter if Rosaline dies in that short time she’s out of my sight?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to underestimate us? While the extent of their abilities is unknown, it’s also true that Sir Rosaline is strong. For those few minutes after you detect the use of magic until your arrival, Sir Rosaline can handle it…”

“You’re so sure?”

“Yes.”

Rosaline listened to the conversation between Macaron and Ricardis, holding her breath. Time passed by.

“What do you want from me? What do you want me to do when I meet them? Drive them away? Capture them and bring them before you? Or…” Do you want me to kill them?

It was a question veiled with blurred edges but sharp with hostility. Beyond mere negative feelings toward the enemy, Ricardis was puzzled by Macaron’s underlying motive.

Did Macaron know the identity of the other party? Why did they have such a reaction? It seemed as if they were acquainted with them.

“I wish for Rosaline’s safety. Just as you do.”

Ricardis didn’t imply they need to harm someone. Any insinuation wasn’t intentional, simply because such measures weren’t crucial. Regardless of what happens to that someone, as long as Rosaline remains unharmed, that would be sufficient. The piercing gaze of the eagle softened. Macaron fluttered their wings on the branch above with a wingspan large enough to cover the sky. As Macaron moved, the wind blew.

“I will lend you a hand.”

“You have my gratitude.”

“You have no reason to thank me. We are merely walking the same path.”

“I am grateful for this shared path.”

“Your gratefulness will only be clear once the journey is over.”

Macaron flapped their wings vigorously and soared high into the air. The wind blew fiercely, causing Ricardis to close his eyes tightly. When he looked around a few seconds later, Macaron had vanished. There was a noticeable absence where their massive wings had been. Ricardis briefly took in the sky with drifting clouds, then turned his head to look at Rosaline.

Rosaline felt a tightness at the back of her neck. She was confused; she couldn’t discern the thoughts behind Ricardis’ piercing gaze as he kept his lips tightly sealed. Even if Rosaline couldn’t delve into profound deductions, Ricardis had spoken in a way she could understand clearly.

[The opponent is someone who once killed the previous Rosaline.]

He knew that Rosaline Radwiell was dead! It meant he knew she was not the perfect Rosaline she was in the past. The various facts about Macaron applied to her as well. The fact that she could use magic, undergo transformations, anything! He caught her! She was exposed!

It’s impossible. Rosaline prided herself on acting with great cunning. There was no way he could have known. How? Since when? Her head was spinning with confusion.

Rosaline took a step back. It was more instinctual than a deliberate action. Her feet subtly moved as if she had to escape from this place— as if she wanted to leave. Ricardis also noticed her suspicious behavior. His eyes quickly scanned for her escape route, but something was off. Ricardis extended both hands forward, trying to impede her path.

“Wait a minute, Sir Rosaline. Rosaline, let’s talk.”

He forced a smile and softened his voice, but Rosaline maintained a trapped mouse-like expression and continued to move her foot cautiously backward.

“Rosaline!”

In reality, since no one could stop her if she set her mind to it, Ricardis could do nothing but lose sight of her. After Rosaline retreated three steps, she watched her surroundings and suddenly turned around and fled with a burst of energy. The forest was thick with twisted branches. But even if there wasn’t much room to move, she quickly sprinted away, already quite far from him. With determination, Ricardis chased after her.

Look at them at this age, playing tag with all their might!

Ricardis had always lived with the threat of assassination, so he routinely received training that placed him at the level of a senior knight. With his stamina, agility, and physical prowess, he could relentlessly pursue Rosaline without losing sight of her as she did her best to escape.

However, facing an opponent whose stamina, agility, and physical abilities far surpassed the standards of an average human, he began to reach his limits. Rosaline, running through the rugged forest, resembled a wild animal. It seemed impossible to engage her in conversation, and even uttering a single word felt challenging.

Just as Ricardis had predicted, in the blink of an eye, her presence faded into the depths of the forest, making her impossible to find. After running for a while, Ricardis came to a stop.

Well… I knew she wasn’t an easy woman…

Of course, such difficulties would be a challenge, but he didn’t expect them to require a physical demand.

Ricardis blinked rapidly. Rosaline. Rosaline Esther. Where would she possibly go? She couldn’t have gone far from my immediate surroundings. She should still be within range to hear my breathing!

“Ugh!”

Ricardis suddenly groaned as if struck by a blow and leaned against a tree, propping his arm on it for support. He gasped for breath, wheezing and coughing. Then, with a pained expression, he slowly sank to the ground, appearing as someone who couldn’t take another step due to heartache. To make matters worse, beads of sweat trickled down his pale face, accentuating his distress.

The effect was immediate. Just as Rosaline had disappeared quickly, she reappeared even faster.

“Your Highness!”

Rosaline appeared in a flash from a tree, gracefully catching a branch and spinning before landing on the ground. It was a sight to behold, breathtaking enough to warrant applause. However, Ricardis continued kneeling on the forest floor as he panted heavily. Rosaline rushed over and grasped his shoulder.

“Th-the priests!”

For a brief moment, it seemed like Rosaline had forgotten that Ricardis had the most potent holy power in Illavenia. Ricardis squeezed her hand, which was on his shoulder. I got you.

He murmured, “…Did you have a good walk, Sir Rosaline?”

Rosaline trembled at his sharp and cold tone.

“Did you deceive me?!”

With an innocent face resembling that of a baby kitten!? Betrayal spread across Rosaline’s face.

“Deceive? Who’s deceiving whom? I’m just trying to suppress the pain so you wouldn’t worry, Sir.”

Ricardis spoke half-heartedly with a somber expression.

Although it may have been a lie, it was enough to erase any hint of suspicion from Rosaline’s gaze, and she firmly held Ricardis’ face in her hands.

“Where does it hurt!?”

Their faces were close. Due to the height difference, Ricardis had always looked down at her, but now Rosaline was looking down at him kneeling on the ground. Concern flickered in her furrowed eyebrows. Ricardis’ expression was so grave she couldn’t possibly accuse him of lying.

“…My heart?”

Despite the apparent bullshit, Rosaline nodded solemnly.

“I’ll check.”

How? How can you confirm it’s my heart that’s hurting?

She soon answered Ricardis’ question. Rosaline knelt, lowering herself, and then pressed her ear against the left side of his chest. Ricardis looked down at her with a subtle expression.

“May I ask what you’re checking?”

“I’m checking your heart rate. The time I count is probably only 0.5 seconds off the clock. So please, don’t speak and stay still.”

It was quite a talent indeed. In any case, Rosaline was remarkable in many ways. Typically, one would place their fingers on the person’s wrist to check, but maybe she hadn’t learned that method. Ricardis complied quietly.

With her face pressed tightly against his chest, Rosaline closed her eyes, fully concentrating. Her black eyelashes were long. Ricardis moved his hand, intending to wrap it around her shoulder.

“There’s something wrong with your heart, Your Highness! It’s beating too fast!”

Rosaline snapped her eyes open, glaring at him. Startled, Ricardis quickly withdrew his hand about to encircle her shoulder and nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

“Yes, of course. It must be beating fast because I was running.”

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“It feels like I’m dying, but don’t worry I won’t die. I’m fragile; I need careful attention, concern, and much love. When I’m lonely, I cry quietly without anyone knowing. So why did you run away today on a day like this? A knight leaves their charge and runs away? If I were to collapse in the forest, alone and without help, you wouldn’t know, would you?”

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”

Rosaline looked at him with an uncomfortable expression as if pricked by something sharp. It looked like she was trying to figure out why she had run away.

“Well… Your Highness…” Rosaline hesitated, losing her words as she pressed her lips together. Ricardis calmly waited for her to continue.

“If you already know everything… then you must also know that I am Rosaline, but not Rosaline-”

“I know.”

His firm response took Rosaline aback. She remembered the reactions she had encountered from humans when she’d wandered through deep and lonely forests. They saw her as a monster, a ghost! They would scream and run away in fear. They feared her more than the imminent danger of death itself. Rosaline knew that her existence could be a source of dread for people.

Rosaline lifted her gaze from his lips, which had uttered the words ‘I know,’ and cautiously observed Ricardis.

His expression, calmly composed and with a touch of coolness, had a chilling effect compared to his usual demeanor. His eyes fixed unwaveringly on Rosaline, yet it only made her more fearful.