Shadowless Night

… I wouldn’t even do that for an eight-year-old girl.

Under Laheansi’s astonished gaze, Calyx approached the bed.

“Oh my! Those rabbits’ courageous appearance, as if it could run across vast meadows, resembles Sister so much.”

Laheansi turned his head sharply towards Calyx. Is this person trulyCalyx Radwiell, the successor of Radwiell County?

Laheansi had the same expression as when he ate a spoiled cake hidden under the bed a year ago. What on earth was this? What was this atmosphere that had formed, him excluded?

Despite the two men’s coaxing and nonsensical strange play, Rosaline, as the person involved, couldn’t shake off her gloomy demeanor. It didn’t seem like she was even paying attention to their words from the beginning. Rosaline glanced weakly at Laheansi and nodded. Laheansi had heard she was injured, but it didn’t seem like an ordinary injury. Was her spirit wholly drained?

“Let’s see, where is it? Can you show me? Where you’re hurt?”

Rosaline slumped weakly and sat down, indicating that her back or somewhere around there was injured. Calyx pointed out the specific location. Laheansi placed his hand on her back and infused her with holy power.

Huh?

Something was off. The energy was supposed to seep in but instead felt like it was dissipating into empty air. Laheansi tried again, thinking his perceptions were off, but the result didn’t change. As Laheansi tilted his head, Calyx’s observing gaze became fierce. He reacted as if he had been waiting for this.

“Are you having any issues, Your Excellency?”

He said in a tone that threatened to make any problems disappear. Laheansi could feel his unspoken, ‘If you die, you won’t be able to have issues, right?’and trembled.

“Oh, no. It’s just… I think holy power is not… working properly?”

“It is natural since she’s a mage, right?”

“Well… It just seemed a bit strange…”

“Have you tried healing a mage before?”

“That…”

“It seems impulsive and rude for someone who has never treated a mage to hastily judge and make the patient extremely anxious about her condition. Aren’t you here for the sake of the patient’s health? As someone in a high position with corresponding abilities and responsibilities, you should carefully consider each word you say.”

Laheansi was devastated by the harsh reprimand. The heir of a renowned family, known for their towering height and intimidating demeanor, had an expression that sent shivers down one’s spine. Raymond, who had been listening quietly, suddenly interjected.

“If it’s not working properly, then you should put more effort into it, Your Excellency. What are you doing standing there?”

“Huh? No, it’s not that. It’s just that something seemed strange, so I was momentarily…”

“Look at her! Her face is half its normal size due to lack of nutrition! She’s in so much pain that she’s almost dying, and you, Your Excellency, are turning away from the patient due to your mere curiosity! Your Excellency, are you really the embodiment of Idelavhim, who cares for His young subjects?”

It was like being surrounded by fierce and loyal dogs. Laheansi shed a few tears and exerted more energy. If they make me return here again, I will burn down this castle! Laheansi vowed before he realized he had already cast off his last name.

Even in the midst of treatment, the two men didn’t stop hounding Rosaline.

‘Are you cold? Are you hot? Does it hurt? Does it not hurt? Try eating this. Why do you have no appetite? Will you eat if we bring different food?’

It was complete chaos. Laheansi observed this situation with a bewildered expression. He couldn’t grasp why this situation had arisen in the first place, no matter how much he thought about what his brother had done.

After using every last drop of energy and being half-carried out by Verum, Ricardis once again summoned Laheansi. Do you want me to die? Am I going to die? Just leave me alone for a moment! This crazy place! Powerless to resist, he could only let Verum drag him along.

“You’ve finished?”

Ricardis sat in a chair, crossing his legs and supporting his body on the armrests while gripping his forehead. The surge of anger seemed to have subsided compared to before, but it still felt terrifying, like the calm before the storm.

“Her wound doesn’t look too bad. It seems like Brother has made some effort. It’s almost healed after using all my power. Maybe mages have good restorative properties? Even so, she should still avoid any major movements for now.”

“How does she seem to be feeling?”

“Um… a little… not good.”

Ricardis moved his hand away from his forehead and met Laheansi’s gaze.

“How is she doing, and where does it hurt?”

“Well… it’s like… she seems a bit down, doesn’t respond when Sir Calyx and Sir Raymond try to cheer her up, and has no appetite…”

Ricardis frowned.

“Laheansi, are you implying that as the high priest of Idelavhim, all you need to do is use your energy and leave when there’s someone in pain? Are you saying that the only means to heal humans is holy power? What about providing comfort and nourishment? She’s so withered even her face is half its normal size!”

Was “face is half its normal size” a common saying in Moonstone Castle?

This damn castle…

Laheansi nodded with a faint smile on his face. First, he had to deal with those fierce and loyal dogs, now a mad dog. It was the worst. It took him another twenty minutes of scolding before he could finally leave Moonstone Castle. Inside the returning carriage, he sadly shed a few tears.

“For a while, I won’t even spit toward the direction of Moonstone Castle.”

“Even after a while, you shouldn’t spit in any direction, not just toward the Moonstone Castle. As the High Priest, you should maintain proper behavior.”

Laheansi trembled as if he were going crazy. Verum, who observed the sunset scenery, asked the slumped Laheansi in the carriage seat a question.

“Did Sir Rosaline’s treatment go well?”

Though he had been waiting outside the room, Verum overheard the conversation between Isserion and Laheansi, so he was aware that Rosaline was the one receiving treatment.

“Well, yeah, who do you think I am?”

“Is there anything special about healing mages? I’ve never used holy power on mages before.”

“Well, normally, priests don’t treat mages,” Laheansi chuckled, finding something amusing, and propped his arm on a pillow as he looked at Verum. “I’ve treated a few in the past. Aren’t mages also living beings under the light of Idelavhim? We’re all the same.”

“Oh, really?”

Verum nodded but gave Laheansi a skeptical look. He hadn’t seen this human leave the castle, so when did he heal mages? Reading the expression in Verum’s eyes, Laheansi threw his hat out the window. Verum, infuriated, stopped the carriage and went to pick it up.

***

Ricardis eventually surrendered to the man’s persistent gaze and turned his head to look at him. The green eyes, identical to his sister’s, stared intensely at him.

“How would you interpret this act of breaking into someone else’s office and staring at the owner for thirty minutes, Sir Calyx?”

“Well, you could say that person has fallen for the owner.”

“Protesting because of Sir Rosaline will be tolerated for exactly twenty minutes. I’ll deduct anything more from your protesting time tomorrow. Now, leave. I can’t concentrate with your fervent gaze!”

“Oh, I wonder what happened with you and my sister. So what’s the matter?”

Ricardis’ insides boiled with agitation.

“It’s just a minor issue… that’s all.”

“Just a minor issue? It must be a significant problem, seeing that she’s excluded from escort duty even after she’s well! Please be frank with me. I am now Your Highness’s loyal knight, and it’s truly disheartening to see you hiding things like this.”

“Hmm, I didn’t realize you were such a smooth talker.”

“People tend to find ways to achieve anything when driven by a strong will.”

The corner of Ricardis’s mouth twitched. If it were anyone else, he would have shown his temper and driven them away, but this person, who resembled Rosaline and was her beloved sibling, made it difficult. Ricardis sighed, touched his forehead with his hand, closed his eyes momentarily, and long after after the tea had cooled down, he spoke again.

“Sulking.”

Calyx looked at him with a dubious expression.

“… You mean my sister is sulking?”

“No, I am.”

“It’s only natural. But was it the fault of the person who stabbed or the fault of the person who got stabbed? Understand that Rosaline is just a victim. My words aren’t absolute divine will, and it’s fine if you don’t listen. It’s fine to ignore them, but there’s no such thing as perfection in this world. She, too, is bound to have flaws. Her vulnerability is also not something incomprehensible. It’s just…”

The one who stabbed was a scoundrel, and the one who got stabbed was a person.

“It’s upsetting that she always gets hurt. I am a pitiful excuse for a human being, so this feeling of frustration manifests in such petty and wretched ways. Is it normal for a person to hold onto the injured and cry while getting angry? There’s no one crazier than me.”

It was a remarkable self-introspection, so Calyx stared at Ricardis as he self-destructed like a fool.