Tag In The Darkness

“Um… I don’t know. It’s just that Lord Daniel was killed by the demons…”

“Is that so? I thought for sure he must have been killed somewhere in this mansion. Betrayed by someone he trusted.”

“…!?”

Jonah’s onyx eyes reflected the moon peeking through the window and gleamed eerily as he said that.

“R-really!? That Lord Daniel was betrayed and killed by someone in this mansion… no way…”

Petra turned as pale as anyone could see and panicked.

“I was just guessing, so I don’t actually know if it’s true. So Petra, please calm down a little.”

“Ah… y-yes. But isn’t that a bit of a cruel joke?”

Petra knitted her brows slightly at Jonah’s somewhat playful demeanor.

If what Jonah said were true, it would be a grave matter for the Lanberg family. That might be why Petra, despite Jonah being the Duke’s favorite, allowed her displeasure to show.

“Um… I’m sorry.”

“N-no, I should be the one apologizing for saying something like that. I’m sorry.”

When Jonah made an apologetic gesture, Petra also bowed deeply as if relieved.

“Oh, by the way, changing the subject, Lord Lanberg said she’d leave half her troops here. So this time it won’t be like when Lord Daniel was killed, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. All the remaining soldiers are stationed outside Gratz, ready to repel any remnants of the Demon King’s army at a moment’s notice.”

“I see… that’s a relief then.”

Saying that, Jonah smiled innocently.

Seeing him, Petra was struck by the impression of an innocent child and was reminded again that he was different from Daniel.

Daniel had been far less vulnerable.

Then.

“Huh…? Isn’t the mansion unusually quiet tonight?”

Jonah tilted his head and asked Petra.

Indeed, despite the Lanberg household having many servants, they hadn’t seen a single one so far.

“That’s only natural. Half the troops marched with Lord Lanberg to the border fortress, and the other half are defending outside Gratz.”

“But the servants aren’t soldiers, are they? Even if it’s late at night, I’d expect them to be doing their usual work inside the mansion.”

“…You’re right.”

Petra answered Jonah’s question briefly.

Her face, lit by the dim lamp, seemed to hold a smile, but it was like a mask plastered over a lack of emotion.

“Well, whatever. But aren’t we moving away from Lord Daniel’s room? I thought it was in the other direction according to my memory.”

“……………………”

Petra did not answer Jonah’s question.

The smiling mask remained stuck to her face.

At that moment.

“It doesn’t seem like it, so I’ll go check.”

“…!?”

With a twirl, Jonah took off running.

Petra was surprised by his sudden action but—

“W-wait! It’s dangerous to run in the dark!”

Petra hurriedly chased after Jonah, lamp in hand.

And yet her expression remained smiling.

In the empty mansion, Jonah ran down the dark corridor with a smile while Petra followed, smiling as well.

If anyone saw that sight, they might be terrified by how strange it was.

And then.

“Phew… you started running all of a sudden, I was worried.”

Jonah stopped at the courtyard and turned back with a smile. Petra exhaled, breathed a sigh of relief, stepped toward him, and reached out her right hand.

As if to say, “I won’t let you go again.”

Just as Petra’s hand was about to touch Jonah—

“Ahaha!”

Jonah raised both hands toward the night sky and laughed.