Day 17.
During the day, Professor Vanitas remained by her side and guided her through her studies. On days when she lacked the motivation to study, he would take her out for excursions, allowing her to sightsee and breathe outside the confines of the house.
On certain nights, he would leave and return late. But if he came back early, he always brought dinner with him. If not, Astrid would dine alone.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Her pen tapped rhythmically against her notebook as her thoughts wandered.
She had been deliberately trying not to think too deeply about it all. While the entire scenario may have affected her grades slightly, she no longer cared much about academic rankings.
What truly mattered were her credentials and a degree. Astrid was confident she could graduate without much difficulty. And if this arrangement was what it took to significantly cleanse the corruption festering within Aetherion, then she was willing to endure it.
But the isolation, this seclusion behind these spacious walls, was beginning to weigh on her.
This large and quiet mansion felt too vast and empty. For Astrid, who had always suffered that claustrophobic feeling, the peace was slowly becoming suffocating.
Despite its grandeur, the house began to feel more like a prison. The silence pressed in from all sides, and with the passing days, she found herself sinking deeper into her own thoughts, questioning her life, her choices, and the path that lay ahead.
“….Mother.”
In the midst of the suffocating silence, her thoughts drifted to the only parent who had ever truly been present in her life. The only one who had made a house feel like a home for a little girl no older than four.
Up until she was eight, Astrid had been a regular visitor at her mother’s workplace. An Imperial-affiliated research facility.
But everything changed when the facility was abruptly shut down. Not long after, her mother had fallen ill with Mana Core Degeneration Syndrome. From that point on, Astrid was left in the care of the palace maids.
“….”
Setting her studies aside, Astrid rose from her desk and made her way out of her room, stepping into the expansive living room. Though lavishly furnished and adorned with decor, it felt empty. Just like everything else in this house.
“….”
It was a familiar feeling. The same hollow atmosphere she had often experienced back at the Imperial Palace, during those long hours when she wasn’t allowed to visit her mother.
With a sigh, Astrid extended her hand and recited a chant. In a flash of light, her metallic bird familiar, Becky, materialized from the magic circle.
Chirp~
The small bird flapped its wings and perched gently on her shoulder, emitting a soft chirp that brought a smile to her lips.
“Hehe~”
Becky had always been a source of comfort to Astrid. Perhaps, a reflection of her affection for birds, something passed down from her second guardian and late personal maid, Alexia.
A moment of silence settled in the room, broken only by Becky’s quiet fluttering.
Then, click.
“….!”
The sound of the front door unlocking jolted Astrid. Flustered, she quickly dismissed Becky with a wave of her hand and stood up, briskly making her way to the entrance.
“Vanitas!”
Her voice held a rare hint of excitement. Whenever he returned, the heavy feeling in her chest eased, and the silence that surrounded her seemed to lift just a little.
He was the only one in this house who could keep her company, and someone who made this suffocating isolation slightly more bearable.
Day 20.
Each day passed in the same mundane routine. And with each passing day, her boredom slowly twisted into anxiety. The vast halls that once felt empty now seemed to close in on her, and her claustrophobia crept ever closer.
“Brother… when can we go home?” Astrid asked, walking beside Vanitas as they strolled through the marketplace.
They were currently in disguise as the Millan siblings—Noah Millan and Raeliana Millan.
“A little more time, Raeliana,” Vanitas replied. “The procession to indict the Duke and Marquess family should begin soon. Everything we’ve done so far would be meaningless if we returned prematurely.”
“…Okay,” she murmured, her fingers curling slightly over her coat sleeve.
The scent of fresh bread and roasted spices filled the air, as merchants shouted their wares while children ran past them with laughter.
But to Astrid, the colors of the marketplace felt muted. No matter how lively the surroundings were, there was a suffocating feeling in her heart that just wouldn’t lift.
She wasn’t sure what she was feeling exactly. Was it anxiety? Unease? Claustrophobia?
But she had kept silent about it all this time, reminding herself that she had accepted this favor willingly. No one had forced her.
She turned to Vanitas again, watching the way he observed their surroundings.
“Have you reached out to my sister yet?” she asked.
Vanitas, placing a parcel of meat into the bag and handing payment to the vendor, turned to her. “Not yet. It’s not the right time.”
“….Okay,” Astrid replied softly, lowering her gaze.
When they returned to the mansion, that same oppressive feeling settled in her chest once more.
Just as she was about to settle down, she heard the rustle of a coat being picked up.
She turned. “Are you going out again?”
Vanitas adjusted the buttons on his coat. “Yes. I need to meet with my contacts and gather intel on what’s currently happening in Aetherion.”
The truth was, Vanitas had maintained contact with at least two Chasers affiliated with the Gambino Family to ensure a steady stream of information. And in fact, Vincenzo Gambino was fully aware that he was still alive.
“…I see.”
“I won’t be long.”
Astrid nodded without looking at him. “Take care, then.”
He gave a brief nod before stepping out, closing the door behind him.
“….”
Left alone once more in the suffocating silence, Astrid sank slowly into the couch. The ticking clock on the wall reached her ears as each second stretched endlessly.
She hugged a pillow close to her chest.
“I want to go home….”
Day 26.
Vanitas had never once failed to cater to her needs, whether it was guiding her studies, giving her his time and attention, or taking her outside whenever he was able.
Under his personal tutelage, Astrid had made remarkable progress. At her current pace, had she been in her second year, she could easily breeze through the first semester without difficulty.
He had never failed her. Not even once.
But the moment he left… her heart grew unbearably heavy. The silence in the house made her anxiety worse, and she found herself spiraling into her own thoughts.
She couldn’t help but feel homesick.
No matter how strong she tried to be, she couldn’t stop the sorrow from rising whenever memories of her late mother surfaced.
And even if she had never truly received the parental love she longed for from her father, she still wanted to see him. She wanted to see her brother, even if they weren’t close.
And her sister, who was always absent and practically lived in the Theocracy… Astrid was in the Theocracy too, yet her sister was in Aetherion.
“….”
….She just wanted to see her family.
“Are you going to leave again?” she asked, watching as Vanitas adjusted his winter coat by the door.
He paused, fastening the last button before turning to her. “Yes. There’s something I need to confirm.”
Astrid lowered her gaze, arms still wrapped tightly around the pillow in her lap. But just as his hand touched the doorknob, something in her snapped.
“….”
She stood up abruptly and rushed toward him. Before he could step out, she pressed her forehead gently against his back, her hands gripping the fabric of his coat.
“Don’t go…” she whispered, her voice quivering. “Please…”
“….”
Vanitas froze. Slowly, he turned to face her, his amethyst eyes meeting her golden gaze.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Astrid’s lips parted, but for a moment, nothing came out. Then finally, she spoke.
“You said you would grant me a wish,” she said. “This is it. My wish… Please, don’t leave me alone.”
“….”
Vanitas let out a quiet sigh and reached out, placing a gentle hand on her head.
“Don’t waste your wish on something so trivial,” he murmured. “If something’s troubling you, then speak to me clearly. Don’t just ask me to stay, tell me what’s wrong.”
Astrid’s fingers curled slightly, clutching the edge of his coat again.
“I don’t know what’s wrong,” she said. “Everything just feels heavy. Every time you leave, I feel like I’m trapped… like I can’t breathe. I don’t know why…”
Vanitas remained silent for a moment, watching her carefully. Then, without a word, he turned fully to her, and Astrid gently pressed her forehead against his chest.
The steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath the fabric was reassuring in a way she hadn’t expected.
“I’m sorry for being selfish,” she whispered. “I won’t ask this again.”
Vanitas exhaled slowly, resting a hand on the back of her head. He couldn’t fully grasp the depth of what she was feeling.
He had done everything in his power to ensure her comfort, met her needs, guided her studies, even brought her into the world outside when he could. And yet, it hadn’t been enough.
He knew she held a certain fondness for him, perhaps even something more intimate, but he wasn’t sure where those feelings truly began or where they ended.
No, in truth, he was fully aware.
Just as he was with Margaret… and the fumbling Roselyn, both of whom likely harbored similar emotions toward him.
None of his actions had ever been intended to stir such sentiments. They had merely been deeds to achieve his goals. Yet, somewhere along the way, those carefully laid intentions had unintentionally given rise to something else entirely.
Something he never meant to bloom.
“My wish… I want to use it now,” she whispered, her head still pressed against his chest.
“I told you,” Vanitas said. “There’s no need to use it for something so trivial—”
“Please, tell me, Vanitas,” she interrupted, her voice trembling. “Are you… Zen?”
* * *
Karina ascended the staircase, her gaze downcast as she walked the familiar hallway toward her apartment.
“….”
She came to a halt, surprised to see someone sitting against her door.
“Roselyn…?”
It was none other than her friend, Roselyn. Slowly, Karina approached her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Finally,” Roselyn breathed, standing up. “I finally got to see you.”
“Yes… Sorry for ghosting you all this time. I was just… lost.”
“I understand. It’s about the professor, isn’t it?”
“N-No…” Karina hesitated, then sighed. “Well… yes. In a way.”
At that, Roselyn stepped aside as Karina unlocked the door and stepped inside. She turned back and gestured. “I didn’t get the chance to clean, but… if you’d like, come in.”
Roselyn offered a small smile and entered.
“I don’t have any refreshments to offer, sorry,” Karina said as she moved toward the kitchen.
“It’s fine,” Roselyn replied, settling on the couch and glancing around. The apartment was a mess. Papers were scattered across the floor, books were piled haphazardly, and half-folded laundry were strewn across a chair.
“….You’ve really been out of it,” she said without judging.
Karina followed her gaze and gave a tired chuckle. “Yeah… it’s been like this for a while. I kept telling myself I’d clean it… but I never quite got around to it.”
Roselyn chuckled, then leaned back against the couch.
“How are you these days, Karina?” she asked.
Karina paused. “I don’t really know. Some days, I wake up and feel like everything’s manageable. Other days… even getting out of bed feels like a task.”
Roselyn listened silently, then gently patted the space beside her on the couch. “Come here.”
Karina hesitated for a moment before moving over and settling next to her.
“The professor… he’s gone,” Karina whispered, her voice barely holding together. “Just when I finally wanted answers, he just disappeared. Just like that. And this ache in my chest… I don’t even know what to feel. Should I hate him? Should I grieve? I don’t even know the truth.”
Roselyn’s eyes softened, watching Karina struggle to articulate her words properly. She had assumed Karina’s pain was from loss, both her father’s and the professor’s.
But now it was clear it was something else entirely.
“….”
Roselyn moved closer and gently pulled Karina toward her, guiding her head to rest on her lap.
“Then talk to me about it,” Roselyn said, stroking Karina’s hair softly. “Even if it doesn’t make sense. Even if it hurts. Just let it out.”
“I think… the professor is connected to my father’s death.”
“What?” Roselyn almost choked on her own saliva, caught completely off guard. “What do you mean?”
Karina’s gaze remained fixated on the ceiling. “It’s what I wanted to ask him before he died. Did he know my father? Why did he recommend me to the University Tower? Was it just coincidence… or did he know me long before I ever knew him?”
Roselyn’s brows furrowed. “But… is there any proof of that?”
“No,” Karina admitted. “That’s the problem. It’s all just suspicion. It never crossed my mind then, but now that I think about it, the way he looked at me sometimes, there was that look in his eyes as if he was guilty. And the more I dug into my father’s past, the more everything started feeling too connected to be a coincidence.”
She drew in a shaky breath.
“I’m scared, Roselyn. Because part of me doesn’t want to know. What if he really was involved somehow? What if… I trusted the wrong person all this time?”
“….”
Roselyn swallowed a lump in her throat, recalling something in the back of her mind.
“Karina,” she began. “Do you remember the date your father was found when he fell into a coma?”
“Yes,” Karina replied. “I remember it clearly. I was walking home from the university when I got the call from the hospital. It was November 12, 2018. Just a day after the Imperial Queen’s death.”
Roselyn’s eyes darkened slightly.
Now that she thought about it, on the same day the Imperial Queen was pronounced dead, the newly employed Professor, Vanitas Astrea, had been absent from the university.
He hadn’t shown up for his lectures, and he didn’t return until nearly a week later.
At the time, it had seemed rather insignificant, claiming a sick leave. But she still recalled the complaints from first-year students then.
Perhaps… it was just a coincidence.
“….”
Roselyn shook her head, pushing away the sinister thoughts that had begun to creep into her mind. Now that she knew the professor personally, she knew he wasn’t that kind of person.
It had to be a coincidence. Nothing more.
“….”
She said nothing as Karina continued to vent her grief, her voice cracking. Roselyn simply sat beside her, gently stroking her hair while Karina silently choked back her sobs, until finally….
Drip.
The tears came.
* * *
Simon Ainsley paced idly around the room, panic tightening his chest as if the very walls around him were closing in.
Several of his men were dead, and to make matters worse, Dante Esmeralda had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a will that declared his eldest son would now act as the head of the Duchy.
“….”
The House of Justice had opened its doors, and even Emperor Decadien had made a rare appearance. Of course, he would. His daughter had died in the aftermath, after all.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Simon muttered under his breath, raking a trembling hand through his hair.
If he didn’t play his cards right, if he couldn’t somehow reduce the already accumulating charges, the Ainsley Marquess Family’s legacy would be over.
“Father….” Silas spoke from across the room.
“Shut it!” Simon snapped, rage overtaking him as he hurled a heavy book across the room. “We’re done for, you get it?! We’re finished!”
Silas remained silent, swallowing hard. But beneath the surface of his expression, a sly smirk threatened to cross his lips.
He had never seen his father so unhinged before.
Just days ago, he had received a single letter from an anonymous source.
‘You’re safe. Don’t worry.’
— V.
There was only one person who could’ve sent that letter. Only one person who would know how to ease Silas’s fear at a time like this.
Vanitas Astrea was alive.
Deep down, Silas had hoped, perhaps even believed, that he was. Because if Vanitas had truly died… then what would’ve become of Arwen?
But now, seeing how everything had unfolded, how every event, every consequence, every reaction played out, it was as if everything, and everyone, had been dancing in the palm of Vanitas Astrea’s hand.
As though they were nothing more than marionettes.