BTCATL 25

25.

A sweet scent drifted into her nose.

Her eyelids fluttered at the tickling fragrance.

She blinked.

A vast plain stretched out before her, filled with beautiful, blooming flowers. The sky was painted in soft pink hues as the sun began to set.

It was a truly breathtaking sight.
Where am I?

Her mind felt foggy, as though covered in mist.

What was I doing?

[Asilla!]

Suddenly, a faint voice seemed to call her name. She turned around—but saw nothing.

No, was there something?

Faint, dust-like particles hovered in the air around her. Strangely, their shape remained elusive.

She reached out, but by then, it had vanished.

“Madam.”

She turned her head.

Golden hair swayed in the wind. Cold, deep blue eyes, slightly curved at the corners, stared solely at her.

“You’re awake, Asilla?”

Ah, right.

Realizing what she had been doing through the presence of the two men beside her, she smiled.

They had come to Rose Hill, said to be the most beautiful spot in the North, to meet her brother who had arrived for a visit.

She must have dozed off at some point. No wonder her mind felt hazy.

“Kar…l.”

“Yes, Madam. You must have been tired.”

“…Ah, yes.”

That was true, but something felt off, and she answered Karl a beat too late.

Karl…?

Why does his name feel so unfamiliar?

“You’re not fully awake yet, Asilla.”

Her brother—the crown prince of this empire—spoke gently, and she simply smiled.

He must be right. She probably wasn’t fully awake.

Finding Karl unfamiliar? How ridiculous.

They had already been married for four years. Awkwardness? Impossible.

Letting his warm hand lift her, she allowed herself to be guided by Karl as they began walking slowly through the flower field.

“Where are we going?”

Her brother let out a low chuckle.

“His Majesty has arrived.”

Her eyes widened.

“Father?”

“Yes. The Empress came as well. He was adamant about not letting you come to the North, you know. But still, you never even showed your face at the palace. He was terribly disappointed.”

“…What?”

A jarring sensation passed through her.

He was adamant about not letting me come North? Father?
But I was ordered to marry Karl by him…

“Madam, is something wrong?”

[Asilla!]

Again, a voice called her name—this time, clearer.

She turned around, but again, saw nothing.

Only the sweet-smelling flowers swaying in the breeze.

“We’re here. Let’s go, Asilla.”

She looked up and saw a middle-aged couple in regal uniforms and elegant dresses standing before her.

“Asilla, do you know how much I missed you? Newlyweds or not, how could you never visit?”

The Empress dabbed tears from her eyes with a handkerchief, looking overjoyed.

“Asilla, come to your father’s arms.”

The Emperor, wearing a deeply benevolent smile, opened his arms to her.

“Come, Asilla.”

Her brother and Karl stepped forward between the two, reaching out to her.

Her head whispered to take their hands—reach out and accept.

Her chest swelled.

But at the same time, her mind cooled down, like plunging into cold water.

Something about all this felt wrong.

Four loving gazes locked onto her—people she called family and saw every day—yet why did it feel so off?

“Madam?”

Blue eyes looked down at her, reflected against her beautiful dress.

Those eyes.

— You tried to kill the child because you couldn’t handle your inferiority to Sarsha?!

A cold voice echoed in her ears, and her breath caught.

This was wrong—very wrong.

Those eyes had never once looked at her with affection.

Not once had they held love when directed at her.

That soft gaze… it had only ever been reserved for Sarsha.

She took a step back.

…Sarsha?

Fury swelled in her chest. Why?

Among those with blue eyes, only one had ever been truly kind to her.

Rudin.

Who’s that?

Rudin… Rudin…

She murmured the name that slipped out unconsciously. In the fog of her mind, a vague silhouette flickered—then faded.

Silver hair…?

Her mind, hazy until now, slowly began to clear as if waking from a deep sleep.

She lifted her head.

The man she thought was her brother had no face. Nor did the Emperor and Empress.

Like ruined paintings, their faces were blacked out.

Of course they had no faces. Though she shared their blood, she couldn’t even remember what they looked like.

— Marry Grand Duke Ludwig.

A cold voice rang through her mind. That single command had pushed her into her second hell.

The fog clouding her thoughts shattered. Rationality returned.

She let out a hollow laugh.

What on earth… was that?

Her memories returned all at once.

She’d collapsed in the mist—and had been caught in an illusion.

That she was in love with the Duke. That the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince were her warm, loving family.

Once, perhaps, she had dreamed of such a scene.

Now, it only made her feel sick.

“Aaaah, Siiiiiil, Raaaaa!!!”

The shapes of the Duke, Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince twisted grotesquely and began to melt into a black mass.

From four, they merged into one horrifying form, screeching in a metallic voice as grotesque tentacles reached toward her.

She stepped back—but she couldn’t just be afraid.

[Asilla!!]

[Finally!!!]

Unlike before, the butterflies were now clearly visible. They shot toward the monstrous shape like arrows.

A brilliant crimson light exploded, shattering the space around them.

“……!!”

And then, finally, she saw the real world.

Cold sweat dripped down her back.

One step.

Just one more step forward, and she would have died.

Before her was a sheer cliff with no end in sight.

And at the bottom of that cliff—
A massive beast, mouth wide open.

Fall, and you’d go straight into that gaping maw.

The once-sweet scent vanished, replaced by a horrific stench.

[Disgusting.]

[Truly disgusting.]

[Asilla, we want to get rid of it.]

The butterflies, glowing red-black, whispered to her.

Her mouth felt dry.

Despite the expectation it would move any second, the beast didn’t budge. Its single large eye at the center remained tightly shut.

“Hans…”

Then, a voice came from behind.

A woman was slowly waving her hand through the air, walking toward the cliff with a dazed smile.

She looked euphoric, but her eyes were unfocused. Just a few more steps and she’d fall straight into the monster’s jaws.

Without thinking, Asilla stepped in front of her.

Was this what had happened to all the missing people?

The woman didn’t even seem to see her. She pressed forward with surprising strength, and Asilla began to be pushed toward the cliff.

She bit her lip, glancing at the forest behind.

Still no sign of Rudin or Kalios.
Please don’t tell me they fell down there…

The woman’s mind was clearly still trapped in an illusion, yet her strength was terrifying.

This monster was intelligent—and horrifying.

It lured people into illusions from within the mist.

Then, led them right to the cliff edge masked by that illusion.

And when they fell—it devoured them.

The solution was clear.

She had to kill the monster.

But she wasn’t yet confident in her own power—her control was still lacking.

All she could do now was sense the mana throughout her body.

Rudin had said even that was an achievement. But Asilla knew her limits better than anyone.

Still—

She looked at the woman, her dress torn and eyes vacant.

She couldn’t just stand by and let someone die.

“…Nyx.”

[Yes, Asilla.]

[Just say the word.]

The crimson-black butterflies fluttered eagerly, landing on her body.

The monster’s domain seemed limited to mist and illusion, and the butterflies multiplied freely.

She could feel mana rapidly draining from her.

But this time, she wasn’t being consumed by their emotions—she was using her own will to command them.

[We’ll erase it.]

[We hate it too.]

[Let’s kill it now.]

[Yes, right now.]

[Asilla, you won’t stop us this time, right?]

[It’s okay now, right?]

She slowly nodded.

“Do as you wish. Kill the monster.”

The moment she gave the command, the butterflies surged toward the beast.

Swarming in countless numbers, they wrapped around it.

— Whoosh.

The monster moved for the first time.

Simultaneously, a tiny pebble fell down the cliff, making a chilling sound.

Still pushing forward, the woman forced Asilla right to the edge.

One more step and she’d fall.

She swallowed hard.

She looked down at the monster, its surface completely covered in writhing butterflies glowing crimson-black.

— Flutter.

A final butterfly gently landed.

And then—

“SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!”

With a death cry, the beast exploded in a brilliant red light.

Its blood gushed like a fountain.
And deep within it, a purple core shattered with a sharp crack.

[It’s over.]

[We did well, right Asilla?]

As she stared blankly at the disintegrating remains, the butterflies fluttered around her like they wanted praise.

She gave a faint smile and nodded.

The swarm began to shrink.

“What… what is this…?!”

Suddenly regaining awareness, the woman flailed. The jolt pushed Asilla once more—

—Stumble.

Her left foot found only air, and her body tilted forward.

She flailed, but there was nothing to grab.

“…!!”

[Asill—!]

“Asilla!!”

Just as she was about to fall off the cliff, the woman was yanked back.

At the same time, a familiar voice rang out, and a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

Long silver hair brushed her cheek.

Not the cold, hateful blue eyes of the Duke from the illusion—
But two warm, sky-like blue eyes stared at her, wide with concern.

Ah, yes. Those eyes.

Even trapped in a nightmare, she had longed for them.

“…Rudin.”

Over his shoulder, she saw Kalios running toward her as well.

They were safe. Thank goodness.

Though she knew they were strong enough not to fall victim to a monster like this, her anxiety had only now truly lifted.

Cradled in Rudin’s arms, Asilla smiled faintly.