Shadowless Night

The luxurious restaurant was packed with people as if boasting about its fame. But inside, the sound of people chatting, tableware clashing, and footsteps of busy waiters that should be heard in any restaurant could not be heard.

One might wonder if the Great Temple was this quiet during the prayer time. The people who were seated were hardened like stone statues. Only their eyes were busily moving. All eyes inside the restaurant were focused on the three people who had just passed through the entrance.

Black hair, green eyes. Large physique with scary impression! People couldn’t help but recognize them. They were the faithful dogs of the imperial family, the figures of Count Radwiell Fertan Radwiell, Calyx Radwiell, and even that Rosaline Radwiell!

And for some unknown reason, a rare breed of cat in Illavenia was following them. Needless to say, the restaurant did not allow animals to enter, but the employees were unable to speak out, as everyone else.

Usually, a nobleman with great power would like to enjoy a meal quietly or reserve a whole floor to show off his wealth, but Count Radwiell was a man without such delicacy. ‘Eating is about eating. A restaurant is a place to eat. So all I have to do at the restaurant is eating. What else would I need?’

However, those who did not know the details were still confused. ‘Why don’t you go to the other floor? The corner is a place for people who don’t have money, so why are you guys there? Is this a warning? Are you telling us to get lost because you’re going to eat here from now one? By the way, doesn’t the restaurant restrict animals?’

Only Calyx, who read the question from people’s eyes, suffered. ‘We just… sit here because it’s the only seats left… The cat… I’m sorry… it’s not listening to me…’

Calyx slowly scanned the scene unfolding in front of him. Fertan in front, Rosaline on the right, and Mimi the cat on the long table.

‘My dear Idelavhim…’

It was two days ago when Calyx was introduced to the beginning of this dreadful situation. It started with Rosaline bragging to him that she would go out to eat delicious food with Father.

‘Eating together? You don’t have a good relationship, there’s no reason to eat together.’ Thinking that there must be some kind of conspiracy behind that promise, Calyx had no choice but to follow.

As a child, he knew well that his father was infinitely far from words such as intrigue and meanness. However, there was an unexpected character, Rosaline, and it would not be surprising if something happened in the unexpected situation of ‘the father is sharing a meal with the presence of his dead daughter’.

So he dragged his feet all the way here…

There must have been other problems.

He’d thought thoroughly of the effect his father’s actions would have on his sister, but he hadn’t thought about the external impact the two would have on outsiders.

As Calyx was moving to his seat, he met a man’s eyes. The man dropped the knife in surprise.

“…”

He’d thought only his father and sister were the problem. He hadn’t expected that he would double the pressure by adding his own existence.

From the moment they’d stepped into the restaurant, the air inside had completely been changed. The band had stopped playing, mouths had stopped eating, and it was as if the air itself had stopped. Calyx was the only one who cared about the people who were holding their breath without cutting their food even as it cooled down.

Fertan stayed still watching Rosaline for ten minutes as she was thinking hard about the menu. When Rosaline nodded while looking at the menu with a grim look on her face, Fertan finally said his first words.

“Have you decided?”

“Yes.”

“Have you decided, Calyx?”

“… Yes.”

Calyx thought that whatever he ate would be the same in the current situation. He was going to get indigestion no matter what.

Aside from having a big fight with his father last time and going down to Vista, the situation itself was just too awkward. ‘A combination of father and sister? Plus Macaron?’ Calyx squeezed his eyes shut. He was going crazy.

When Fertan raised his hand, the waiter rushed to the floor in a hurry as if he was rolling. Judging from his age and attire, he was no ordinary employee. Maybe the owner of this restaurant or the general manager. It was pitiful to see cold sweat dripping down his forehead.

Rosaline opened the menu and pointed to the menu at the top.

“Would you like the lamb rib steak and pumpkin soup set?”

“From here.”

Her first word was unusual. The old man opened his eyes wide. ‘F-From here?’

Rosaline ran her finger to the bottom part of the menu.

“To here.”

The waiter hiccuped. Rosaline blinked contentedly and grinned.

As Rosaline tried to cover the menu, Macaron pressed the back of her hand with its cottony forefoot. Then it pointed at the lamb rib steak.

“Ah, one more lamb rib steak.”

The look on the face of the man who took the order became strange. Calyx quickly stroked the Macaron’s head and smiled awkwardly, trying to make it look as harmless as possible.

“Our Mimi… is… very smart…”

The very smart Mimi scratched Calyx’s hand. The wound was painful. ‘Do you think I said that because I wanted to…?’

Soon the food was served. Thanks to Rosaline’s order “from here to here”, two tables had to be put together, and to everyone’s surprise, the two tables were completely filled with plates. While everyone else’s food had cooled and lost all of its shine, the food that filled the two tables was steaming and dripping with luster. Even Calyx, who had no appetite, was salivating.

Fertan picked up the spoon first.

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes! Thanks for the meal.”

“Thanks… for the… food…”

Calyx facepalmed. He choked and wanted to run away. The three of them focused on the food without any conversation. Only the occasional rattling of dishes echoed in the quiet restaurant.

As Calyx nibbled the food, Rosaline cut the steak into dice and put it into Calyx’s mouth.

“Why aren’t you eating? Go ahead. Ahh—”

“… Sister. You see, I-”

“Ah.”

As Calyx groaned helplessly and opened his mouth, Rosaline put a large piece of steak into his mouth.

“This, too!”

Then she quickly put the roasted asparagus into Calyx’s mouth. He munched and glanced at her, but Rosaline slowly turned her head to avoid her brother’s gaze.

‘As expected, she put it in with meat because she didn’t want to eat vegetables…’

‘Should I say she’s getting smarter?’

People quietly stirred up every time Rosaline moved. ‘Sir Rosaline… ordered a lot of food! Sir Rosaline… fed her brother the steak!’ They reacted greatly to each of Rosaline’s action, and sooner or later it seemed like they’d marvel at her breathing. But Calyx thought it was more interesting to see a carp dipping steak in sauce than that.

“You seem to get along well.”

Fertan suddenly spoke up. Calyx swallowed the piece of meat without chewing it all. Calyx felt it was a reprimand for getting along with someone who was not his daughter, but Rosaline seemed to take it differently.

“Yes. We get along very well.”

Fertan nodded in response to her dignified answer. Then he concentrated on eating again.

Rosaline, Macaron, and Fertan ate all the food like gourmets. Calyx also emptied a plate. As Rosaline was slowly melting while eating the pudding for dessert, Fertan spoke again.

“Did you eat well?”

“Yes. It was delicious.”

“That’s good.”

‘What happened!?’ Calyx hadn’t even been asked. Calyx had thought his father had called her for some reason. Perhaps asking what she wanted, or admonishing her on what to do in the future, or trying to get rid of her.

But, without doing anything, he said things like ‘Have you decide?’, ‘You seem to get along well’, and ‘I hope you ate well’, as if this was the purpose.

“I’m going back to the frontier again tomorrow.”

“The foundation day is coming soon. Won’t you stay until it passes?”

“I have a bad feeling.”

‘Balta is in full swing, and today’s borders are much edgier than they have been in years. It’s a situation where others could feel insecure enough even if their senses are not better than Father’s. The emperor would’ve definitely told him to remain in the imperial city until the founding day, but Father is a harsh person. Because he’s a Radwiell.’

“… Take care.”

Calyx said, scratching his lips and looking elsewhere. Rosaline followed Calyx and said, “Take care.” Fertan rose from his seat, looking at his son once and Rosaline once.

“Calyx.”

“Yes.”

“I told your mother.”

“… Yes.”

He must’ve meant the things about Rosaline. Rumours spread across the continent that her daughter was a mage, and Edelweiss couldn’t have not known about it. Would she be able to accept the details of Rosaline’s death and that something in her daughter’s mask is acting as if it were her daughter? Calyx was worried that his mother might have fainted.

“She’s a descendant of Gala-Zertaye. Your mother is a stronger person than you think, so don’t worry about it and send a letter.”

“… Then why don’t you go back before leaving? At least to see her.”

Even though Calyx groaned and counterattacked, Fertan didn’t seem to have been hit at all. He even snorted. He put on his cloak and looked at Rosaline for the last time. Rosaline and Fertan looked into each other’s eyes for a long time.