"Loshia… do you have a guest in your room?"
The moment Gacha heard a man's voice coming from inside Loshia's chambers, his expression changed violently.
Shock exploded in his chest.
He had never imagined that Loshia already had someone in her heart—let alone that she would bring a man into her private room in the dead of night.
Didn't that mean the eldest son of Marquis Eugene was already out of the running?
And more than that… why did that man's voice sound vaguely familiar?
"Th-This…"
Loshia's delicate brows knit together. A flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes. How was she supposed to explain why there was a man inside her room at this hour?
Before she could respond, Loserine's voice rang out at precisely the right moment.
"Gacha, the three of us are handling something important right now. Could you come back tomorrow?"
"C-Cousin!?"
Gacha's shock only deepened when he recognized Loserine's voice.
He could hardly believe it.
Not only was there a strange man inside Loshia's room late at night—but even his cousin, Loshia's aunt, Loserine, was involved?
Wait.
Didn't that man just say they were about to rest?
A strange, indescribable horror welled up inside him.
Surely… he must have misheard.
No… that couldn't be…
His thoughts surged like a tidal wave crashing against his mind.
What exactly was going on between those two?
How could an aunt and niece possibly… serve the same man together?
Gacha staggered back a step, sweat beading across his forehead. His breathing grew unsteady as imagination spiraled out of control.
But after forcing himself to calm down, he reconsidered.
He frequented brothels himself—had even sought out twin sisters on occasion.
So was it really that strange?
"Ahem."
He coughed dryly, forcing his tone to steady.
"In that case… I won't disturb you. Please, continue."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and hurried off, not daring to linger another second.
—
Inside the room, Loshia tilted her head slightly, confusion flickering across her face. She looked toward Kurose Akira.
"Uncle Gacha… did he misunderstand something?"
At the same time, Loserine's gaze shifted toward him as well. The aunt and niece stared in unison, identical curiosity in their eyes.
Faced with their synchronized expressions, Akira rubbed the bridge of his nose.
The resemblance between them was uncanny.
Not just in temperament—but in figure as well.
If one didn't know better, they could easily be mistaken for twin sisters.
He gave a light shrug.
"What could he possibly misunderstand?"
"?"
Loshia blinked, momentarily stunned by his calm deflection. After a beat, she decided not to press further.
"So… why did you come to see me?"
"We'd like to borrow a device from the Yerman family's training grounds," Akira replied. Truthfully, he only had the vague mission description from the system—no detailed knowledge of the apparatus itself.
Loshia looked surprised.
"You're here for the Knight's Oath?"
Akira nodded. "That should be it."
"In that case, please wait a moment. I need to change."
She stepped into the dressing room and began removing her nightclothes.
Akira and Loserine remained seated, waiting quietly in her chambers.
After a brief silence, Loserine spoke in a low voice.
"Loshia's situation is quite similar to mine. Once you reach a certain age, the elders begin urging marriage."
Akira glanced at her.
"And how did you make them stop?"
"I ignored them."
Her tone was flat and matter-of-fact.
"…"
Akira fell briefly silent. It was an answer perfectly aligned with her personality—calm, detached, utterly unmoved by pressure.
"But Loshia's circumstances are different," Loserine continued, faint concern threading her voice. "She carries the burden of the entire family. Every decision she makes must consider the family's rise and fall. Even if she isn't forced to sacrifice her marriage, she must still ensure the Yerman family survives the coming war."
"You're not wrong," Akira agreed with a nod. "But you don't need to worry too much. Sunset City is far from the royal capital. It's unlikely to become the primary battlefield."
"Perhaps," Loserine said evenly. "But Sunset City serves as the sanctuary of the White Rose Rite. It's one of the seven most important cities in the Kingdom of Astraea. Its existence has always attracted the ambitions of various factions. Remaining uninvolved is nearly impossible."
She paused.
"Unless… the city possesses a guardian powerful enough to make all enemies hesitate."
"A figure strong enough to command universal fear…"
Akira's thoughts began turning.
Images surfaced in his mind—existences capable of shaking the continent.
The Elf Queen. Idess.
But neither would ever remain stationed in Sunset City long-term.
He thought it through from every angle.
No suitable candidate.
His gaze drifted toward Loserine beside him.
If her strength could rise high enough to rival one of Astraea's top five Star Knights… then every surrounding power would think twice.
But to reach that tier, she would need to surpass Level 75 at minimum.
And right now… she wasn't there yet.
Akira drew a slow breath.
"Princess Vivian has already assured Loshia she won't move against Sunset City. I'll also make sure Idess stays away from here. That leaves only Prince Laps and Prince Thales as potential threats—but their territories are the farthest from Sunset City. It wouldn't be easy for them to project real force this far."
"Mm… that's true," Loserine conceded with a nod.
Just then, the dressing room door opened.
"I'm ready. What were you two discussing?"
Loshia stepped out, now clad in her armor.
Even dressed for battle, her cheeks still retained a faint warmth.
"Your engagement," Loserine answered softly.
"E-Engagement!?"
Color surged into Loshia's face instantly. She lowered her head, voice trembling slightly.
"Isn't that… too soon? I just came of age…"
"Yes, you're still young," Loserine agreed calmly. "So if any elder attempts to pressure you with that topic, tell them your marriage will be decided by me."
She held Loshia's gaze.
"That way, none of them will dare push you further."
"Really? Thank you, Aunt!"
Relief bloomed across Loshia's face like a flower opening in sunlight.
As a former Oathbound Knight, the younger sister of the previous Yerman family head—and the aunt of the current one—Loserine held unquestionable authority in such matters. Her word carried more weight than any other elder.
"I'll take you to the training grounds."
"Alright."
—
The three soon arrived at the Yerman family's training grounds.
The so-called Knight's Oath was, in truth, a stone monument carved with intricate and ancient runes. It was said to have been forged personally by the first Star Knight ever born into the Yerman family.
The device awakened the deepest fears hidden within a person's heart—manifesting them into illusory shadows to serve as training opponents.
To confront one's fear directly—and defeat it—would temper a knight's spirit, refining it into something purer.
But very few succeeded.
Over ninety percent of knights failed the trial.
"Go ahead, Loserine," Akira said quietly. "I'll stand guard."
"Mm."
She answered softly and stepped forward with steady resolve.
Her hand pressed lightly against the surface of the stone monument.
In that instant—
A deep, pitch-black magic surged into existence above the monument, coalescing like ink swallowing the sky.
The aura was suffocating.
It felt as though it had emerged from endless night itself.
Then—
A figure began to take shape within the darkness.
Akira's pupils contracted sharply.
A strange familiarity struck him.
The silhouette hovered in midair, wrapped in thick black mist as if she were the embodiment of midnight itself. The fog obscured most of her body and face—but her eyes…
Those eyes.
Golden.
Brilliant.
And suffused with something wicked and abyssal.
A chill crawled up his spine.
Akira stared at the incarnation of Loserine's deepest fear, his throat tightening as he whispered—
"The Witch of the Black Night…"
…
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