Shadowless Night

“Sir Rosaline, to see you up close like this… Oh my, what beautiful skin.”

Ganje gently touched her face. Rosaline’s actions may have been rude and caused her to stumble, but Ganje didn’t seem to have any intention of criticizing her. Achieving the goal of greeting whoever she kissed seemed enough for her.

Ricardis stood unsteadily and looked at the two women who were still close together. He couldn’t grasp what was happening.

“I haven’t had a chance to talk with you, but I find you very friendly, Sir Rosaline. Could it be because my brother talks about you with more breath than he has available?”

Behind Ganje, her escort covered his eyes and silently simmered with anger. He must be going through a lot.

“By the way, I heard you’re participating in the hunting competition this time.”

“Yes.”

“I hope you achieve good results. Take care of yourself.”

“All the dangerous animals have been taken care of, so I’ve been told. But thank you for your concern.”

“Oh, how beautifully you speak. Your voice can even tempt my brother…”

“Ehem!” Ganje’s escort hastily cleared his throat, “Your brother, Prince Haqab, must have a reason to desire Sir Rosaline…”

However, Ganje didn’t pay him any attention at all. She even emphasized it by repeating herself once more. The escort’s complexion turned pale, and he glanced at the Knights of the White Night, noticing their cold and sharp expressions.

Ganje smiled and tightly embraced Rosaline. Rosaline also wrapped her arms around her unsteadily. The sound of their breaths nestled warmly in their ears.

“What you need to be cautious of… is not only dangerous animals, Sir.”

Rosaline and Ganje met each other’s eyes within the distance of a breath. Ganje’s eyes shone. Separated from Rosaline soon after, she complained to Ricardis.

“Your Highness, the tent assigned to me… Well, it’s right next to the place where troops gather! I’m dying from the noise!”

In response to the sudden change in the situation, Ricardis awkwardly laughed. “I’ll ask if they can move the tent for you.”

“Oh my, you are truly kind-hearted.”

Ganje clasped her hands together and smiled brightly. Ricardis looked at Rosaline one last time. Rosaline nodded as if she had read the concern in his eyes. It meant she had taken his words into full consideration. Ricardis finally felt relieved and turned away.

As Ricardis conversed casually with Ganje, they walked toward the tents. The attention of the people gathered for the hunting competition focused on them. More precisely, toward Ganje and her escort warriors. The pale skin, black hair, and peculiarly shaped weapons undeniably threatened the Illavenians.

The tents started bustling with activity. Knights who stood previously idle now had a different look in their eyes as they inspected all possible escape routes. After capturing Laheansi from his hide-and-seek game in the forest, they intended to keep him in his assigned tent. Laheansi himself stopped laughing and started frowning. Ganje smiled as she observed the scene.

Ricardis sighed deeply, wondering why Ganje appeared in a place where Haqab was absent.

Ganje presented herself and the Baltans in the hunting competition venue, reminding people of the day the Black Moon’s assassination squad invaded Illavenia’s territory.

Therefore, this was nothing short of a warning. I am here, and my brother Haqab, too, is in the heart of Illavenia. The Black Moon is closer than you think. Be vigilant, be cautious.

While it could simply be that Ganje enjoyed seeing people flustered, Ricardis somehow felt she had come to stir the pot in Illavenia.

Ricardis glanced back slightly. The gaze of the senior knights had become sharper. He chuckled. What a remarkable show.

In the still quiet that took over after the foolish laughter disappeared, Ricardis smiled widely and spoke.

“It’s been a while since we last met. It’s truly wonderful to see you.”

Ganje’s eyes widened, and she burst into an almost breathless laugh.

***

Bwooo! Horns echoed through the air, signaling the start of the hunting competition. Dozens of horses instantly rushed forward while Rosaline’s figure disappeared into the forest’s depths. When her black hair completely disappeared, Ricardis finally returned to the tents.

The hunting competition lasted a total of six hours. Until the knights returned, he had to continue laughing and enjoying himself outside as if nothing had happened. More than one or two corners required attention, so he couldn’t afford the luxury of laughing like a fool.

“Hahaha!”

“Ohoho!”

As Ganje, strolling around leisurely outside, entered the main tent, joyful laughter again filled the air. Of course, no one let their guard down, but they didn’t want to show that her sole presence unsettled them. The fake laughter clearly seemed to be a play for Ganje’s amusement.

Nevertheless, she was still a guest in her own way. Ricardis had considered setting aside time and resources to take Ganje to the party. However, Ganje smiled and shook her head.

[I’ll rest for now. I have something to attend to later.]

Indeed, every word she spoke held significant meaning. Listening to the conversation, Starz stationed guards around the tent without delay.

Ricardis closed his eyes and lay down. The makeshift bed, aptly named the Hunting Ground, was covered with animal fur. It emitted a pleasant scent of wood and grass rather than the stench of the beast. Rosaline came to his mind.

While lying there, lost in his thoughts, the music suddenly stopped.

“Ahh!”

The knights—Lewon, Deputy Commander Nathan, Raymond, Senior Knight Kairo, and Pardict—entered the tent as a scream resounded.

They surrounded Ricardis, drawing their swords and assuming a defensive stance in all directions. Ricardis sat up on the bed.

“What’s happening?”

Ricardis’ demeanor didn’t seem overly anxious compared to his sharp gaze. Was he not treating it as a dangerous situation?

“A medium-sized demonic beast has invaded. The guard will handle it shortly, but just in case, we’ll guard inside,” Deputy Commander Nathan responded.

“Any casualties?”

“Fortunately, there have been no casualties thus far, thanks to the protection forces surrounding the tents and the party venue. They’ve been diligent, especially due to Princess Ganje’s presence.”

Growl…

The threatening sound of the beast reached their tent. Clang, clang. The sound of clashes of weapons echoed. Ricardis visualized the scenery outside in his mind.

Even with numerous people holding swords before it, he couldn’t hear any sounds of fear or agony as the creature came under attack and became torn apart. All he heard was its desire to sink its teeth into the throats of humans until the very end as if someone had stripped away the primal instinct to preserve its own life.

He sat on the bed, waiting for that sound that would stop the chilling sensation through his chest.

Ricardis emerged from his tent after the commotion died down. Noblewomen were comforting their startled hearts in their husbands’ arms. Ricardis pushed through the crowd. The spectacle that had caught people’s attention was a decapitated wolf.

“A wolf?”

Although he had heard it was a beast, the wolf lying around with red blood splattered everywhere looked like an ordinary wolf one would encounter in the mountains.

A demonic beast exceeded the size of a typical animal. There were often noticeable deformities, such as one eye, a large mouth, an elongated snout, or a twisted limb. However, he could see none of these abnormalities in the wolf-like beast before him.

“It’s a demonic beast,” Starz replied, deciphering the unspoken question from Ricardis. “It has crimson-stained white fur, an unusually aggressive nature, and possesses strength capable of crushing armor.”

“Hmm.” Ricardis crossed his arms and looked down at the carcass. “Isserion.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do you remember what Professor Damian from the Satur Academy said?”

Despite the sudden question, Isserion responded immediately, “Are you referring to the scholar who argued that demonic beasts are the result of animal evolution?”

“Then, would humans be mages if they evolved?” Ricardis mumbled, recalling the scholar expelled from the academy for making such claims. “Oddly enough, his arguments come to mind. Quite… strange.”

…Looking like an ordinary animal. Ricardis rubbed his chin.

However, if it were an ordinary animal, it wouldn’t have entered this heavily armed place alone, nor would it possess the strength to destroy armor. This grotesque beast was nothing more than a mutant with a distorted sense of purpose, determined to destroy everything before it until its death.

Starz covered the carcass with his cloak. Those who had averted their eyes from the horrifying spectacle, even those who had been laughing and chatting as if it were a show, realized that the brief incident had ended and left their positions.

Ricardis lingered a little longer. A carriage carried away the beast’s carcass. The dripping blood stained its wheels red. He turned around and headed towards his tent.

Raymond, who had been guarding the tent, announced the arrival of a guest. Even without hearing who it was, Ricardis could guess. Amidst the commotion, the person would likely calmly sit as if it were their own house. Despite his predictions, seeing Princess Ganje sitting comfortably like his tent was her mansion still bewildered him.