* * *
Grey ran with a heart full of excitement. His steps felt unbearably light, as if he possessed the entire world in this joyous moment.
‘I finally found the Grand Duke.’
Ever since Grand Duke Lennox disappeared on his way to the capital to break his curse, Grey and the knights had desperately searched for their master. Like lost dogs wailing for their owner, they had howled themselves hoarse searching for Lennox.
The knights possessed a special ability to track him, but it did not narrow down the location, forcing them to scour the vast forest inch by inch. Time burned away, consumed by anxiety.
‘I have to inform the rest of Lux quickly.’
Fortunately, his legs were uninjured, so his pace was swift. Though not quite at Lennox’s level, Grey was an outstanding knight, using his honed senses to move several times faster than an ordinary man. At this speed, it wouldn’t take long to reach his comrades.
‘I need to get there before they do…!’
Despite his happiness, Grey couldn’t help feeling anxious. His order was not the only one in this forest. The Crown Prince’s knights were also here. Though Lennox’s disappearance had been kept top secret, the Crown Prince somehow learned of it and had eagerly dispatched his elite order.
But the knights who had been ambushed on their way to meet the Crown Prince had no reason to trust the Imperial Knights.
Grey’s face hardened as he bit his lip, pushing off the ground with renewed determination.
* * *
“He has left.”
Meanwhile, a group was secretly tailing Grey.
Grey, the elite knight of Lux, possessed such acute senses that following him directly was impossible; instead, they watched from a distance. Even then, they used specially enchanted tools to avoid detection.
A man turned to his commander. Like the others, the commander wore a black cloak, his gaze shifting slightly. A red medal on his chest caught the light, gleaming ominously. An embossed dragon roared within the medal’s design.
“Judging by his expression, he’s found the target.”
“Of course. Stupid dogs don’t know how to hide their emotions.”
The commander’s lips twisted into a smile as he recalled the Crown Prince’s order. If Lennox was alive, he was to be killed on sight. Anyone who interfered could also be slaughtered—likely including the Grand Duke’s precious knights.
The commander’s wicked grin widened as he stroked his chin.
“Ah, but…”
“What is it?”
Hesitating, the subordinate spoke slowly.
“According to a man named Hans, who gave us the information, there’s a civilian house deep in the forest.”
“A civilian house?”
“Yes. A woman lives there. Hans asked us to spare her, saying she’s innocent and begged us to leave her out of this.”
Normally, such a request would never be delivered.
“‘She’s like a daughter to me. Please, knight, I beg you.’”
Hans, the merchant who had provided detailed information about the Night Forest, had refused any payment in exchange for that single plea. Reluctantly, the subordinate passed it along. But after hearing the full explanation, the commander spoke firmly.
“Nonsense.”
“Then what shall we do?”
The red medals on their chests swayed in the wind. Their numbers far exceeded those of the Grand Duke’s knights currently in the forest.
“Proceed as planned.”
“Yes, sir!”
At that command, the knights hidden in the darkness moved in perfect unison.
“Kill them all.”
4. Escape
After Grey left, the house grew quiet.
A fragrant aroma of cooking filled the kitchen, steam rising gently from the pot. Today, my sister had decided to leave later than usual, and she sat at the table, gazing at me intently.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Hm?”
I didn’t need to look to know. We had lived together for years; I could tell. Her unwavering stare had followed me the entire time I cooked, and I finally turned my head.
“You’ve been staring nonstop. Do you think I don’t know you, sister?”
My sister tilted her head and smiled brightly.
“My little sister is just too pretty.”
“Pfft, only to you. Only to you, sister.”
“No. You’re absolutely adorable.”
She leaned forward, then rushed over, placing her hands on me.
“See? Your eyes are pretty, your nose is cute. Goodness, even your nostrils are adorable!”
“…Nostrils are too much.”
Her bright hair swayed as she laughed. The fingers tracing my eyes, nose, and mouth tickled.
“So what is it you want to say, taking so long to get to the point?”
“Hm?”
“You’re looking at me like you’re Nox or something. Anyone can tell.”
She paused, staring at me for a moment before grinning mischievously.
“Is it that obvious?”
My sister was beautiful. Not just because she was my sister—objectively, she was stunning. Her kind face sparkled like sunlight reflected in glass. Her tied-up hair gave her a pure, gentle aura that no one would associate with a swordswoman, and she exuded a serene elegance that felt untouchable.
From the moment I realized this was a novel’s world, I knew men would fall for her at first sight.
“If you won’t say it, can I?”
She smiled faintly and nodded.
“I’ve always been curious—why did you bring Nox home?”
I took a quiet breath before continuing.
“After our parents died, you never trusted men, especially adult men. That’s why you used to go to the village alone, leaving me here.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“So I thought that once you saw Nox transform into his adult self at night, you’d throw him out immediately.”
“Oh, really. How could I be so coldhearted?”
My sister was a good person. She embodied every trait associated with a “kindhearted heroine” from books and plays. Because she was so kind and gentle, she sympathized easily and became attached quickly.
Sometimes she was even a little foolish. Like those who love babies and animals, my sister couldn’t be bad. Even though she wasn’t the actual heroine, I understood why she was the male lead’s first love in the novel.
“Well… I don’t know.”
Though she hadn’t known Nox’s circumstances at first, she had let him stay far too easily compared to how she dealt with intruders before. I had always wondered why.
“His eyes looked kind.”
Where? Thinking back to Nox’s sharp, dangerous gaze the first time they met, I shook my head. I couldn’t trust my sister’s sense of judgment.
Watching her, I wondered if this unique way of seeing people was why she became the first love. Wasn’t it strange she could remain calm before that face?
“Hm? Don’t you think so too? Nox’s eyes are the same, day or night!”
“…You really like Nox, don’t you, sister?”
Maybe her eyes only saw the boy during the day and filtered out the man at night. There was a word for that—“fangirl lenses,” wasn’t it?
She pouted.
“What? You’re acting like you don’t feel the same!”
“…Mm.”
It wasn’t exactly an answer. Half-groaning, I rolled my eyes as she shook my shoulders.
“You do, right? Huh? You do, don’t you?”
What answer could I even give? My silence was apparently enough for her, and she took it as agreement.
“You really should just be honest at times like this. Why hide your feelings? Didn’t I tell you to be an honest girl?”
“That was about me hiding onions because I hate eating them.”
“Whatever.”
After a round of nagging about honesty, she grew quiet and stared at me seriously.
“Well, I admit I was a little surprised when I first saw his night form.”
She confessed readily.
“But you said it was fine, so how could I turn him away after that? Besides, I feel like I can trust Nox.”
“…”
“You’ve never been able to meet anyone besides me… I always feel sorry about that.”
“What are you talking about? That’s not your fault.”
“Isn’t it? Well, maybe. Still…”
Her fingers fidgeted before taking my hand. She patted my head with a faintly bitter smile, the same look she’d given me since we were children when she thought I was being adorable.
“I’m just glad you met someone good. Or rather… a good boy?”
To her, Nox must have been a “good person.”
I sat there, momentarily overwhelmed, as my sister gently patted my head. It struck me again how strange it was—unlike in the book, these two were not destined to be the male lead and his first love, yet a new relationship had formed between them. And just like in the original story, my sister still believed Nox was a good person. It was curious, almost fascinating.
We ate breakfast together, and afterward, my sister left to gather herbs, later than usual. Honestly, I wanted to tell her to rest today, but we were short on ingredients because she had been busy bringing Grey home yesterday. She understood that well and insisted on going out, promising to be quick.
“I’ll be back early today.”
“Okay. Be careful, as always, alright?”
“Honestly, you worry too much. Of course, I’m always careful. Nox, I’ll be back soon!”
“Mm.”
The boy, who was rarely affectionate, waved slightly, making my sister beam with delight.
“So cute! So cute! Nox, can you do that just one more time? Please?”
“Sister, aren’t you leaving?”
“Is that really what matters right now?”
“…Sister, Nox doesn’t like it.”
As always, she laughed, declaring, “So cute, so adorable! Maybe I just shouldn’t leave at all,” and patted my shoulder before finally heading into the forest. Only after some time passed did I rub my sore shoulder.
Honestly, she never listened when I told her to hold back.
“Shall we go inside?”
Nox nodded.
I held his small hand, and together we went back into the house.
The rest of the day passed normally. The sun rose high overhead, and afternoon came quickly.
“Amy, Amy.”
“Hm?”
Nox, unusually proactive today, showed me a page from the book he had been reading.
“This is a mansion, right?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. A mansion. My sister and I will probably never live in a place like that. It’s very, very expensive.”
“Expensive…”
He nodded obediently, then hesitated, glancing at me before pointing his small finger at the illustration. His face looked troubled, almost sad.
“If I live in a place like that… can I live there with you, Amy?”
“…What?”
“….”
I froze.
“Nox, did you… remember something?”
“Can’t I live with you, Amy?”
If I had been mistaken before, this time his reaction made it clear—this was different.
What should I do? What did he remember? The Grand Duke’s residence? His adult self?
I tried to smile as naturally as possible, planning to deflect as usual. But before I could, Nox grabbed my hand tightly, as if sensing everything.
“If I remember… does that mean I can’t live with you anymore?”
His clear, honest eyes couldn’t lie. Maybe he didn’t know how to, or maybe he simply wouldn’t. But right now, those eyes were so sincere they reminded me of his night self.
I swallowed nervously, glancing at the window. The sun was already beginning its slow descent; sunset wasn’t far.
After staring at him for a long moment, I finally opened my mouth.
“Nox, do you want to live with me?”
He nodded.
“I see.”
He blinked once, then again, waiting. There was no escape from this conversation, and I felt like there was nowhere left to hide.
“Are you going to run away from this?”
“…No.”
I forced a smile.
Why did it feel like I was stealing a home from a little puppy? Maybe because of those earnest eyes, unwavering and focused solely on me.
“Don’t leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t know… but it feels like you will. Like you’ll leave, Amy.”
I flinched. The boy’s tearful face, his desperate grip—he seemed different from usual. Children were said to be more sensitive to the atmosphere than adults. Had he sensed my hesitation all along?
His gaze was the same—day or night.
I had the strange feeling that, like at night, he wouldn’t let go of my hand until I gave him the answer he wanted. Lowering my head slightly, I gave a faint, bitter smile and took his small hand in mine.
“Alright. I’ll answer you.”
“….”
I moistened my lips before speaking.
“Then… let’s do this. I can’t say for sure, but… you’re about seven now, and I’m sixteen, right? When you’re as old as I am—or older—you’ll probably fall in love with someone.”
“Fall in love…?”
“Yes. And maybe by then you’ll change your mind.”
“…What if I still like you then, Amy?”
“Then… we’ll think about it. People change easily, you know.”
Maybe I was just hoping for that.
I asked myself—wasn’t I happy with Nox here? I tried to lie to myself, but the truth was, I enjoyed having him around. No matter how hard I tried to restrain my heart, I had grown attached.
Honestly, how could I resist? A boy this beautiful—almost breathtakingly handsome—following me around so eagerly? Even when I tried to joke it off, the answer remained the same.
Thinking of his age in the novel, I continued slowly.
“Hmm… Then let’s say this. If, by the time you turn twenty-three, you still don’t have anyone you love… we’ll keep living like this. You, me, and my sister…”
But could I even stay until then? Could I break his curse? No—I couldn’t give the male lead anything. That’s why this couldn’t happen.
“…Really?”
“You can keep living with me. If you still want to when you’re twenty-three.”
Twenty-three—that was the age when, in the original story, he would fall in love with the heroine and break his curse. By then, I might never see him again.
Ironically, my indecisive heart tilted to one side the moment I made that impossible promise. It solidified my resolve. I had to leave. That had been decided from the start, and nothing would change it.
The answer would be the same, no matter what he said.
I squinted slightly, waiting for his response—but then I quickly turned my head.
“Nox, did you hear that?”
Thud.
I hadn’t misheard. The ground really did shake. My body stiffened at the unfamiliar sound, and I instinctively pulled Nox closer to me.
What was that? Possibilities flashed rapidly through my mind. Whatever danger was outside, Nox was vulnerable in his current state.
How much longer until evening?
The sky wasn’t yet painted by sunset. Even if we waited, it would take at least another hour before he returned to his adult form.
Scooping Nox into my arms, I froze at the window.
…What is that?
Outside, men dressed entirely in black were approaching, their faces hidden by hoods. A chill ran down my spine when I spotted a red medal gleaming on one of them.
A red medal—the Crown Prince’s insignia.
Instinctively, I tightened my grip around Nox. It could only mean one thing: the Crown Prince’s knights were here. And there was only one reason they would come this deep into the forest. My palms were slick with cold sweat.
There was no time to think. We had to move before they broke into the house.
“Nox, listen. We’re going to hide somewhere inside the house now. It’ll be cramped, but you can handle it, right?”
“…Amy?”
“There’s no time!”
I quickly grabbed the longsword my sister usually kept in the living room and held Nox’s hand tightly. The safest place was through the back door, which led to the cellar. If they were at the front, the back should be clear. We just had to get out quickly…
But I soon realized I was completely wrong.
Creeeak.
As soon as I opened the door, a man stood there, staring down at me with cold eyes.
“Found them!”