The Shadows and the Shifting Heart

Only after the Duke’s presence disappeared from the mansion did Aile sit up from the bed.

She looked at the marks carved on the wall. Today was Friday.

Every Friday, the Duke’s presence would vanish from the manor.

With Chris also gone, at these times, only Eliza remained within the entire estate.

Closing her eyes, the door gently creaked open the very next second, just as she had anticipated.

A faint sliver of light filtered in from beyond the doorway, and Eliza softly approached her.

Eliza had come to check if she was asleep.

These past few days, Aile had cultivated the habit of feigning sleep.

She had successfully deceived Eliza, waiting until the young woman departed before slowly opening her eyes.

How could she possibly indulge in restful sleep, pretending as if nothing were amiss?

She meticulously reviewed the day’s lessons, integrating the scorching fire and the pliant water into her mind once more.

That day, while the Duke read to her from a book, she discovered many peculiar spells within the dark element.

‘Concealment’

‘Sacrifice’

These spells not only hid one’s physical body but even obscured their true level.

She had subtly fabricated her own level, using it to lull the Duke into a false sense of security.

Her endurance, however, would not last much longer.

Based on her observations, the Duke himself possessed no noteworthy strength; the real problem lay with Chris and Eliza.

Both were formidable practitioners at level 99, making it nearly impossible to bypass them and assassinate the Duke.

Chris appeared to be an Archmage exceptionally skilled in light magic, while Eliza’s capabilities remained unknown.

To turn them against the Duke was an even more fantastical notion.

Although the young woman named Chris had a venomous tongue, her loyalty to the Duke was absolute.

Aile had no doubt that if the Duke commanded Chris to die, she would not even blink.

As for Eliza, despite her intellectual demeanor, she would transform instantly whenever the Duke was concerned; both of them were utterly consumed by their devotion.

Moreover, Chris was an accomplice in the murder of her own brother.

That day, her brother’s blood had soaked Aile’s clothes, and she could barely recall how she had been taken away.

She had been forced by overwhelming power, and her attempts to resist had left her bruised and battered.

‘I will kill them all…’

‘No, I will torture them to death, ensuring their souls never find peace for all eternity…’

The young woman curled up in the dim servant’s quarters, where she secretly stole food from the kitchen each night to hunt mice.

Mice could serve as conduits for dark magic, and now, if it meant growing stronger, she no longer cared about good or evil.

Her brother was dead, and she no longer had the heart to distinguish between right and wrong.

‘Squeak squeak’

‘Squeak squeak’

Two mice appeared, only to be seized and instantly transmuted by her.

The blood flowed into the center of the magic circle, but the magical energy derived from these lives was woefully inferior.

Nevertheless, her strength undeniably increased.

This meager magic would pass through her purification, becoming a part of her total magical reserves.

She had a premonition that the higher her level climbed, the slower her progress would become; however, this particular method seemed to effectively accelerate her advancement.

Aile smiled faintly, clutching the necklace her teacher had given her.

Only by pressing the necklace tightly against her body, feeling her teacher’s essence with her entire being, could she finally enjoy a good night’s sleep.

****

[The department you command is named Shadow, fearfully referred to by the Empire’s populace as The Shadows.]

[As a Duke, you bear the responsibility of leading a spy organization; you should not have to act personally.]

[However, if you were to entrust matters directly to Chris, she would undoubtedly execute your orders with unwavering loyalty.]

[During the seven years of your absence, it was she and Eliza who managed Shadow with impeccable order.]

[The central power structures of the Empire are Shadow, under your control, and the Knights’ Order—Solaris—commanded by Noyu.]

[As their names imply,]

[Where there is a sun, there will inevitably be shadows.]

As he walked through the cold, winding alleys, Mingqian felt a peculiar sense of déjà vu, as if he had traveled back in time to seven years ago.

It was in this very place, seven years prior, that he had found Aile, being pursued by others.

Seven years later, revisiting the old haunts, he found himself in the same position as before.

He had gained nothing, and left nothing behind.

Chris did not walk beside her master but instead remained hidden in the shadows behind Mingqian.

To her, as a shadow, Mingqian was her light, her sun, her everything.

This was precisely why she was so proficient in light magic; she believed it to be a grace bestowed upon her by her master.

He turned through one alley after another, finally stopping before a dead-end choked with refuse.

At first glance, the place seemed no different from any ordinary garbage heap.

Yet, Mingqian knew that such desolate places were often the last refuge for those with nowhere left to turn.

The report of a witch had originated from this very vicinity.

He slowly stepped into the mound of trash, and the next second, a young woman shrieked and lunged at him.

She was disheveled and filthy, just as Aile had once been.

*Thud*.

Chris prevented her from touching Mingqian, lifting her effortlessly as one might a small kitten.

In the past, Chris had only one way of dealing with witches: killing them.

“Chris, knock her unconscious and throw her outside the city.”

“But…”

Chris hesitated, her eyes filled with confusion.

She remembered the Mingqian of old, a man who was always decisive and ruthless in his actions.

But now…

“She won’t be grateful for your kindness.”

“Even if you save her, she will only resent you, just like… just like Aile.”

“…”

“Have you grown soft, Master? It’s quite alright; I don’t mind carrying out the deed for you.”

“Stop, Chris. Send her away.”

“…One day, a woman will stab you to death with a kitchen cleaver.”

“So, my great and benevolent Master, what do you think of that?”

Chris turned her face away, deliberately avoiding his gaze.

She tightened her grip on her sword; her master was indeed changing, little by little, yet the person instigating that change was not her.

This left her feeling somewhat… no, profoundly displeased.

Catching the underlying meaning in Chris’s words, Mingqian could only offer a wry smile.

“If only such a day would truly come.”

****

Noyu gazed at the stack of books before her, lost in thought.

These novels were stories she had compelled a renowned novelist to write several years ago, featuring herself and Mingqian as the protagonists.

Judging by the pristine condition of the books, Mingqian had likely never even bothered to open them.

This morning, a servant had announced that Eliza had delivered something, and Noyu had been overjoyed, assuming it was a gift Mingqian had bought for her.

Instead, it had turned out to be this.

She stretched languidly; night had long fallen, yet she felt no trace of sleepiness.

That day, she had visited the Duke’s mansion, only to unexpectedly find Mingqian learning magic with the newly arrived maid.

Unwilling to interrupt them, she had waited in his bedroom for an entire day.

Yet, they had not returned, even by evening.

That day, she had returned to her own estate, her spirits completely dampened.

She had initially thought Mingqian would send her something as an apology for the incident, but to her surprise…

‘He’s not being obedient…’

She had told Mingqian countless times:

‘You are not allowed to return my gifts, not allowed to stray far without my permission, and not allowed to interact with other women.’

‘You are not allowed to ignore me.’

He had verbally agreed, yet his actions were far from compliant.

If it were merely playing master-servant games with the maids, she might have tolerated it.

As for Chris, she couldn’t make demands of that girl, especially since Chris had once saved her life.

However, that new young woman was monopolizing far too much of Mingqian’s attention.

‘That woman has crossed a line!’

She could sense Mingqian’s special treatment of the new maid; it was no longer merely special, but verging on obsession.

A soft click startled her, making her realize she had unconsciously walked over to her dressing mirror.

A servant stepped forward, whispering something into her ear.

–Just now, Duke Mingqian released a witch.–

With that, the servant withdrew from the room.

Noyu’s gaze turned chilling as she looked into the mirror, at her own reflection, which even she had to admit was gracefully slender.

It was a countenance that would inspire affection in anyone who beheld it.

Her fair skin glowed with a healthy radiance, her large, round almond eyes framed by long lashes that cast a small, endearing shadow when lowered.

Her nose was delicately sculpted and upturned, her lips full and naturally rose-colored, with corners that subtly curved upwards even without a smile, lending her an inherent air of innocent charm.

She tilted her head slightly, and the figure in the mirror mirrored her movement.

Her smooth, long blue hair cascaded over her shoulders like a moonlit stream, with a few playful strands clinging to her cheeks, adding to her delicate appearance.

‘You… when did you become so gentle?’

‘If leaving loose ends leads to trouble, it’s better to kill them. Wasn’t that what you taught me?’

Noyu bit her lip tightly; ever since Mingqian’s return, she had distinctly felt something within him had changed.

He had become softer, more gentle.

While this was a positive development, Noyu was terrified by this inexplicable transformation.

‘I specifically grew my hair long for you, yet you don’t even compliment me.’

Noyu angrily tossed her hair, then puffed out her chest and pouted.

This series of adorable gestures had been practiced countless times.

All for the sole purpose of making Mingqian happy.

‘This body was born for you, yet you never actively desire me.’

‘No, no…’

If he didn’t come, then…

Noyu took a deep breath, her fingers digging in so hard they nearly drew blood.

‘Right, I can’t get angry all at once. Three times. I’ll give you three chances…’

Noyu lifted her head, her eyes filled with a terrifyingly doting expression.

The maiden in love had completely descended into a frightful pattern of thought.