Chapter 1.1

No no!

A scream that didnt belong to her came out of her mouth. No, it was not a scream. She frantically reached out and ran to block everything in front of her.

The blood-soaked man was brandishing a sword. His great sword cut down the servants who were blocking his way to her brother and mother.

No!

She almost fell down the stairs and ran down them. She didnt even feel the pain of a bumped knee or the palm of her hand when she fell. She just wanted to stop him from killing her family the same way he killed the servants.

The movement of the mans sword seemed very slow but her were even slower.

No!

As if foreboding something, her mothers screams burst out. And no long after, the mans sword pierced her brothers chest.

No!

Even after falling down the last flight of stairs, she looked at her older brother and screamed. The mans eyes seemed to glow darkly. Her brothers Olivers face contorted in front of him.

Oliver!

Oliver!

The screams of her mother and hers burst out at the same time. Oliver slumped in her mothers arms.

No, no, no. This is a dream, this is a lie.

Her mind went blank at the unbelievable sight. Why did that happen? Why was that man attacking her family?

Countless thoughts passed through her head, but she couldnt catch a single one. Because the man pulled the sword out of Olivers body.

She closed her eyes tightly at that brutal scene. But she saw the man shake off his brothers blood with one swing of his sword, and she saw Olivers body collapse into her mothers arms.

Oliver!

Her mother screamed and hugged her brother. In front of them, the man turned towards her mother.

No.

Reflexively, she jumped up and run to the man. That bastard, the killer, she couldnt let him hurt her mother.

Stop!

She hugged him by the waist and pulled him. She tried to keep away the man from her brother and her mother.

Lady Biscon.

The mans voice was dark and heavy. He was even slightly polite. Calling her by her correct title in that situation felt like a bad joke.

No, a bad joke was better. She felt goosebumps all over her body at the mans behavior and the way he spoke. Even so, she didnt let go of waist.

Even if he cut off her arm, she couldnt let go.

Let go.

The man spoke calmly. He was still using a gentle and polite way of speaking.

Why are you doing this?

Tears came out, but she tried hard not to cry out loud.

Oh, Mother!

Her voice came out strangely because of her crying. She sobbed and called her mother.

You have to run away.

All around her mother was devastated. The bodies of the dead servants and the moans of those wounded by the mans sword were terrifying.

Mom, come on!

She shouted as she pulled the man. But even though she was hanging on and pulling with her whole body, the man was moving as if he was not constrained at all.

Mother!

She couldnt possibly do it. Holding on to the curtain with one arm and holding the mans waist with the other, she turned her head to see if her mother had run away.

Her mother was still sitting in front of the man. She saw that her brothers body, limped in her arms, was stained red like the mans. The difference is that the blood that dyed the mans body was the blood of the people he killed, but the blood that stained his brothers body was the blood from the his wounds.

This beast!

Her mother shouted as she hugged her brother. Her eyes were staring at the man. She stared at Oliver in her mothers arms and prayed that he would not die.

Please stay alive. Please, please stay alive.

Maybe someone who ran away will call for help. If enough people come, she might be able to save her brother.

In the corner of her head praying earnestly, there was another strangely rational her. And that rational being already knew that her brother was dead.

Kill me too!

Tears flowed again at her mothers cry.

No, no, mother. I tried my best to stop the man. Please, please anyone, please help me.

The man said nothing. He just took one step towards her mother. With that alone, she missed him and, unable to overcome the recoil, bounced against the wall and fell.

The next moment, the man looked back at her. Oddly enough, the attitude seemed concerned about her. A light crossed his eyes.

As she hit the wall and let out a moan and moved her body, the mans eyes flashed with relief.

But she, who bounced off, did not see. As soon as she corrected her posture, she came to her senses and looked at her mother.

Mother!

Mother is still there. Why hasnt she run away?

Perhaps she was distraught over her brothers death.

No, no. Oliver is not dead. Hell still be alive. If only someone comes if a doctor comes.

She made up my mind and jumped at the man again and shouted.

Mother!

She hoped her mother would come to her senses and run away. Still, a corner of her head thought it couldnt be: his son died in his arms and her daughter was throwing her body at the killer.

Could her mother run away from such a situation?

But its already too late. The man picked her up and put her on his shoulder.

Leave me! This beast!

A few curses came out of her mouth. In normal circumstances that would be an abusive language that would make her mother widen her eyes and scold her. And Oliver, her brother, would have laughed.

Tears came out of her eyes and she couldnt breathe.

Its a dream. It cant be real

While thinking so, she scratched and slapped the man on the back.

Mother! Mother! Run away!

She was on the mans shoulders, so she could only see his back. However, she knew her mother was hugging her brother in front of the man.

Her mothers head moved at her shouting. The light returned at her mothers eyes, which had been glaring at the man as if she couldnt see anything else but him.

She screamed as she saw her struggling on the mans shoulder as she cradled her sons corpse.

Eugenie?

Run away!

At her scream-like shout, her mother hesitated and tried to get up. But as Olivers body tumbled out of her arms, her mother sat down again, hugging her sons body.

She was seeing something that couldnt be seen. Her heart was already torn to shreds as it hung on the mans shoulder like a piece of luggage, but at the same time her heart crumbled at the sight of her mother.

Eugenie! Eugenie!

Her mothers screams made her struggle harder. But the man didnt care and moved towards her mother. Then he moved the sword from his right hand to his left hand.

Thats because of me.

As she watched the mans appearance, she realized that fact. He switched his sword to his left hand because his was carrying her on his right shoulder.

His left hand raised the sword. A scream escaped from the mouth of her mother who was still holding Olivers body.

No!

Clinging to the mans shoulder, she hesitated. She tried to turn her around to see her mother, but it was almost impossible. And the next moment, the mans sword plunged into her mothers chest.

Everything became strangely stillness and ominous movement. Her heart stopped and started beating fast as if it were about to explode. She screamed as she struggled to get away from the man.

No!

Just like that, she jumped out of the bed. She saw the dimly lit interior of her room in front of her. For a second, she looked around frantically, unable to comprehend the situation.

It was dawn. It was quiet as if everyone was asleep, but after a while, she heard someone running into her room.

My lady, whats going on?

Ann came in without knocking on the door and examined her. Soon after, Shirley followed her and turned on the light. Then, the room quickly brightened.

its my room. Only then did she realize that she had been dreaming and lay down on the bed.

Sorry. I must have had another nightmare.

Again?

It was the same dream as last time. Its so awful.

As she thought about it again, tears began to flow.

Oh my god, that was so horrible. A dream in which a man Ive never seen before suddenly enters my house and starts killing my mother and brother.

It was a terrible dream to even mention, so she just said she had a dream in which the house was robbed.

Dont worry, my lady, because this is Seymaria Street, the safest place in Current.

Right, my lady. Do you know that even robbers get their necks like this when they rob in this town?

As Shirley said that, she pretended to slit her throat.

She knew. Seymaria Street, where nobles lived, would be the second safest area in Current, the capital of Balcian. Where was the first one? It must be the Royal Street where the palace was located.

Still, she was sad and scared. In her dream, she knew the man and the man knew her name, so he must know her too.

But he was a man she didnt know. He was a man she had never seen before, until she saw him in a dream a few days ago. Still, the mans face appeared clearly in her mind. He had jet-black hair and blue eyes. He was very tall and of a sturdy build.

Can I bring you some warm milk, my lady?

Ann asked kindly as she was still crying. Its a bit embarrassing to ask for warm milk for having a nightmare at this age. But Anne and her were alike, shes grown up with her and was like her big sister so she didnt have to pretend, thats why she sniffed and nodded at her.

As Anne looked at her, she nodded at Shirley that went out and while the dor closed, Anne astride the bed and stroked her hair.

Thats why I told you not to read such scary books, my lady.

She seems to think she was having those dreams because of a novel she read a few days ago. She didnt think it was because of the novel because it was a completely different dream, but she didnt say anything.

After a while, Shirley brought warm milk, and she said as Anne handed it to me.

Go to sleep again, my lady. You have to go to the palace this afternoon.