Episode 131. Every Full Moon Night
Rose muttered to herself, then chuckled and gave a faint smile. It wasn’t a displeased laugh.
It was just that the three people who seemed unlikely to get along were gathered together and sharing the same laugh.
“I really can’t live without it.”
The smile that escaped her lips was warm and comforting.
“Well... It’s not like I’m completely indifferent.”
Rose fiddled with the vase, trailing off. A shy smile blossomed like a spring flower.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum wasn’t a bad marriage partner.
He didn’t enjoy drinking, smoking, or partying, and he didn’t have any friends.
“I don’t mean to belittle him, but having too many friends is a problem.”
While his outgoing and socializing might seem appealing before marriage, it could sometimes become a disadvantage afterward.
There were times when he didn’t stay home and only went out, and he prioritized his friends over his wife. The saying that a husband is someone else's friend wasn't justified. She welcomed a marriage with a man she only knew.
And he's handsome, and in good shape. Even at night...
Rose trailed off. Her mind was filled with all sorts of intense moments.
Rose's face flushed in an instant at the thought. She wiggled her fingers, thinking of the Grand Duke.
"Ahem, what are you thinking?"
Rose tapped her cheek and shook her head. The memory was so vivid that a tingling sensation rose up from her toes.
"It tickles for no reason."
Rose muttered, curling her toes tightly. However, even after coming to her senses, the strange sensation in her feet didn't go away. It wasn't just ticklish, it was also damp.
Slurp-
"Ouch."
Something wet licked Rose's foot. Rose flinched for a moment and pulled her foot back.
Rose looked at the study door. If it had been even slightly open, Finn could have squeezed in through the gap.
“Oh, the door is closed.”
The study door was firmly shut.
This was the second floor, so they couldn’t have come in through the open window.
Slurp— slurp—.
Something unknown was still licking Rose’s foot beneath her feet.
A chill ran down her spine. If it wasn’t Finn... What on earth was licking her foot?
Just then, a howling wind blew from outside the window. The white curtains fluttered in the wind.
It was a warm spring breeze, but at this moment, it felt ominous.
“What is it...?”
The distinct sensation on her toes sent goosebumps up her body.
Something had definitely entered through the open window.
Her heart pounded. The Grand Duke's words from a while ago came back to her mind.
“Cedric suddenly disappeared.”
Rose lowered her head and made eye contact with the unknown creature that had been licking her feet.
“...Huh?”
She was flustered.
The thing under the desk was something she seen before.
It was a young monster that only knew how to flick its tongue.
It froze in place, its tongue sticking out, as if it didn’t know Rose would see it. The large young monster’s eyes shook with bewilderment. It wasn’t the only one flustered. Rose’s eyes fluttered as well.
“Isn’t that the monster I saw back then?”
The tension melted away as she realized that the thing licking her foot was a small, cute young monster.
The Grand Duke and Neruan had said it before. There was no way Cedric would send this monster with no attack power.
“Haa... Surprise.”
Rose calmed her pounding heart and looked at the frozen thing. She could see its chubby cheeks trembling.
Was it because of the memory of being chased away by Neruan? The creature watched Rose's expression as if it had a hunch it would be kicked out again.
"Ugh, so cute."
Those bright eyes pounded into Rose's heart.
"The Grand Duke told me to stay away from monsters, but..."
This one won't be okay, will it?
Rose pondered, looking at the creature that could do her no harm.
"I should just let it go, right? But... It's so cute!"
The busy, clattering sound of a fountain pen could be heard.
Even though it was dusk, Rose was still working. Her hands moved swiftly over the stacks of paperwork. Her knuckles were tingling from holding the pen for so long.
Unable to hold on any longer, Rose put the fountain pen down with a snap. Then, she clasped her hands together and gently relaxed them.
Fidgeting with her hands, Rose suddenly gazed at the vase on the table.
It was a spring flower that Rivera had prepared for her the last time she visited Count Serviat's residence. The bright vase alone transformed Rose's once drab desk.
As she gazed at the flowers, the laughter of the three people talking about marriage came back to her mind. The sound of their cheerful laughter echoed in Rose's mind.
“Ah, why is everyone so eager to jump to conclusions?”
Even though it was dusk, Rose was still working. Her hands moved swiftly over the stacks of paperwork. Her knuckles were tingling from holding the pen for so long.
Unable to hold on any longer, Rose put the fountain pen down with a snap. Then, she clasped her hands together and gently relaxed them.
Fidgeting with her hands, Rose suddenly gazed at the vase on the table.
It was a spring flower that Rivera had prepared for her the last time she visited Count Serviat's residence. The bright vase alone transformed Rose's once drab desk.
As she gazed at the flowers, the laughter of the three people talking about marriage came back to her mind. The sound of their cheerful laughter echoed in Rose's mind.
“Ah, why is everyone so eager to jump to conclusions?”
Rose muttered to herself, then chuckled and gave a faint smile. It wasn’t a displeased laugh.
It was just that the three people who seemed unlikely to get along were gathered together and sharing the same laugh.
“I really can’t live without it.”
The smile that escaped her lips was warm and comforting.
“Well... It’s not like I’m completely indifferent.”
Rose fiddled with the vase, trailing off. A shy smile blossomed like a spring flower.
The Grand Duke of Artaeum wasn’t a bad marriage partner.
He didn’t enjoy drinking, smoking, or partying, and he didn’t have any friends.
“I don’t mean to belittle him, but having too many friends is a problem.”
While his outgoing and socializing might seem appealing before marriage, it could sometimes become a disadvantage afterward.
There were times when he didn’t stay home and only went out, and he prioritized his friends over his wife. The saying that a husband is someone else's friend wasn't justified. She welcomed a marriage with a man she only knew.
And he's handsome, and in good shape. Even at night...
Rose trailed off. Her mind was filled with all sorts of intense moments.
Rose's face flushed in an instant at the thought. She wiggled her fingers, thinking of the Grand Duke.
"Ahem, what are you thinking?"
Rose tapped her cheek and shook her head. The memory was so vivid that a tingling sensation rose up from her toes.
"It tickles for no reason."
Rose muttered, curling her toes tightly. However, even after coming to her senses, the strange sensation in her feet didn't go away. It wasn't just ticklish, it was also damp.
Slurp-
"Ouch."
Something wet licked Rose's foot. Rose flinched for a moment and pulled her foot back.
“Could it be that Finn has come in?”
“Oh, the door is closed.”
The study door was firmly shut.
This was the second floor, so they couldn’t have come in through the open window.
Slurp— slurp—.
Something unknown was still licking Rose’s foot beneath her feet.
A chill ran down her spine. If it wasn’t Finn... What on earth was licking her foot?
Just then, a howling wind blew from outside the window. The white curtains fluttered in the wind.
It was a warm spring breeze, but at this moment, it felt ominous.
“What is it...?”
The distinct sensation on her toes sent goosebumps up her body.
Something had definitely entered through the open window.
Her heart pounded. The Grand Duke's words from a while ago came back to her mind.
“Cedric suddenly disappeared.”
"Don't go out of the mansion for a while, I don't know what he'll do."
Rose's face drained of color. Her pale face was stiff enough to be pitiful.
What if Cedric had sent that thing at her feet?
Poison... It could have been it.
Cedric was good at using poison.
Rose felt like the part that the unknown creature had licked wouldn't move. Rose's back became damp from the tension. In a short moment, countless thoughts tangled together.
If her hypothesis was true, she had to get rid of the thing licking her feet quickly.
Rose closed her eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and bent down. Then she looked under the desk.
Flinch.
Rose's face drained of color. Her pale face was stiff enough to be pitiful.
What if Cedric had sent that thing at her feet?
Poison... It could have been it.
Cedric was good at using poison.
Rose felt like the part that the unknown creature had licked wouldn't move. Rose's back became damp from the tension. In a short moment, countless thoughts tangled together.
If her hypothesis was true, she had to get rid of the thing licking her feet quickly.
Rose closed her eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and bent down. Then she looked under the desk.
Flinch.
Rose lowered her head and made eye contact with the unknown creature that had been licking her feet.
“...Huh?”
She was flustered.
The thing under the desk was something she seen before.
It was a young monster that only knew how to flick its tongue.
It froze in place, its tongue sticking out, as if it didn’t know Rose would see it. The large young monster’s eyes shook with bewilderment. It wasn’t the only one flustered. Rose’s eyes fluttered as well.
“Isn’t that the monster I saw back then?”
The tension melted away as she realized that the thing licking her foot was a small, cute young monster.
The Grand Duke and Neruan had said it before. There was no way Cedric would send this monster with no attack power.
“Haa... Surprise.”
Rose calmed her pounding heart and looked at the frozen thing. She could see its chubby cheeks trembling.
Was it because of the memory of being chased away by Neruan? The creature watched Rose's expression as if it had a hunch it would be kicked out again.
"Ugh, so cute."
Those bright eyes pounded into Rose's heart.
"The Grand Duke told me to stay away from monsters, but..."
This one won't be okay, will it?
Rose pondered, looking at the creature that could do her no harm.
"I should just let it go, right? But... It's so cute!"
If only she could touch its soft fur just once.
Rose covered her mouth with one hand and reached out to the baby monster.
"Come here."
Would it really come to her if she called it? She called it, half-doubting. Her worries were in vain, as the creature climbed onto Rose's finger.
With its plump body and short legs, it jumped low and landed on Rose's lap.
Rose, watching this, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
How cute was the way its butt wiggled and moved?
As Rose grinned and gurgled, the baby monster, who had been looking bewildered, smiled along with her.
“Oh, so cute. How can you be so cute?”
The baby monster licked her hand affectionately, as if she were its owner. It then nuzzled its head against Rose’s arm, acting cute.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
Rose gently stroked its body repeatedly. The baby monster seemed pleased by Rose’s touch, repeatedly letting out a pleasant meow.
“Are you lost again?”
Rose covered her mouth with one hand and reached out to the baby monster.
"Come here."
Would it really come to her if she called it? She called it, half-doubting. Her worries were in vain, as the creature climbed onto Rose's finger.
With its plump body and short legs, it jumped low and landed on Rose's lap.
Rose, watching this, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
How cute was the way its butt wiggled and moved?
As Rose grinned and gurgled, the baby monster, who had been looking bewildered, smiled along with her.
“Oh, so cute. How can you be so cute?”
The baby monster licked her hand affectionately, as if she were its owner. It then nuzzled its head against Rose’s arm, acting cute.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
Rose gently stroked its body repeatedly. The baby monster seemed pleased by Rose’s touch, repeatedly letting out a pleasant meow.
“Are you lost again?”
Rose lifted the baby monster with both hands. Contrary to its appearance, it was quite heavy, and her arms shook. Rose groaned and held the monster. Strange noises began to emanate from behind her.
Growling, whining, and the sounds of unknown animals could be heard eerily.
Was the sudden, eerie feeling behind her an illusion?
Rose stiffly turned around, still placing the baby monster on her lap. And then,
“W-what is this?”
The moment she looked out the window, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
The monsters, who clearly hadn’t been there just a moment ago, were watching her.
All of their gazes were fixed on Rose.
Rose, speechless at the bewilderment, stared out the window.
The windowsill was filled with cute creatures like the baby monster on her lap.
It could have been scary, but strangely, she wasn’t.
They seemed to be waiting for permission. They kept sending bright, sparkling glances at her, yet they didn’t enter the room. It was as if they were guarding a line.
Rose stared at them blankly and then cautiously extended her hand.
“...Would you like to come here too?”
Did they understand her? Suddenly, the creatures barged in, their eyes sparkling. They leaped in, then rushed straight at Rose.
“Ugh!”
They all dove into Rose's embrace. Rose was surrounded by fluffy balls of fur, struggling.
Their individual cries blended together pleasantly. However, this peace didn't last long.
- Waaf!! Woof woof!!
Finn's bark, so loud it echoed throughout the mansion, was enough to incite fear in the pups.
Finn's cries could be heard beyond the firmly shut door. The pup had already reached the door, clawing at Rose's door with its claws.
Crunch- crunch!
It sounded like something out of a horror movie. Finn had definitely smelled the pups. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been this excited.
Finn and the pups were separated by a door. Rose felt she had to send the pups back quickly.
“Get out. It’s okay. Finn won’t be able to open the door anyway.”
Rose calmed them down as if she were a child, then pointed to the window. But,
Bang!
“Rose!”
The door opened with the appearance of the Grand Duke. Finn was baring his fierce teeth, unlike usual, and thin drool was dripping— drip— drip.
Finn’s body hair stood on end with a fiercely distorted expression. He was panting irregularly, as if very excited. When the door that served as a shield opened, the young monsters panicked. The quick ones had already left the mansion, but there were more who weren’t.
- Keuuuung! Woof!!
Finn, his body puffed up enormously, lunged with sharp claws. Finn, who had charged with a terrifying force as if threatening to suffocate, stopped as if by magic at Rose’s single word,
“Finn, no!”
Growling, whining, and the sounds of unknown animals could be heard eerily.
Was the sudden, eerie feeling behind her an illusion?
Rose stiffly turned around, still placing the baby monster on her lap. And then,
“W-what is this?”
The moment she looked out the window, she couldn’t believe her eyes.
The monsters, who clearly hadn’t been there just a moment ago, were watching her.
All of their gazes were fixed on Rose.
Rose, speechless at the bewilderment, stared out the window.
The windowsill was filled with cute creatures like the baby monster on her lap.
It could have been scary, but strangely, she wasn’t.
They seemed to be waiting for permission. They kept sending bright, sparkling glances at her, yet they didn’t enter the room. It was as if they were guarding a line.
Rose stared at them blankly and then cautiously extended her hand.
“...Would you like to come here too?”
Did they understand her? Suddenly, the creatures barged in, their eyes sparkling. They leaped in, then rushed straight at Rose.
“Ugh!”
They all dove into Rose's embrace. Rose was surrounded by fluffy balls of fur, struggling.
Their individual cries blended together pleasantly. However, this peace didn't last long.
- Waaf!! Woof woof!!
Finn's bark, so loud it echoed throughout the mansion, was enough to incite fear in the pups.
Finn's cries could be heard beyond the firmly shut door. The pup had already reached the door, clawing at Rose's door with its claws.
Crunch- crunch!
It sounded like something out of a horror movie. Finn had definitely smelled the pups. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been this excited.
Finn and the pups were separated by a door. Rose felt she had to send the pups back quickly.
“Get out. It’s okay. Finn won’t be able to open the door anyway.”
Rose calmed them down as if she were a child, then pointed to the window. But,
Bang!
“Rose!”
The door opened with the appearance of the Grand Duke. Finn was baring his fierce teeth, unlike usual, and thin drool was dripping— drip— drip.
Finn’s body hair stood on end with a fiercely distorted expression. He was panting irregularly, as if very excited. When the door that served as a shield opened, the young monsters panicked. The quick ones had already left the mansion, but there were more who weren’t.
- Keuuuung! Woof!!
Finn, his body puffed up enormously, lunged with sharp claws. Finn, who had charged with a terrifying force as if threatening to suffocate, stopped as if by magic at Rose’s single word,
“Finn, no!”
“Stop growling. Sit down!”
They even obediently followed Rose’s orders. And then, as if he'd never been excited, his expression softened, and he became calm. Grand Duke Artaeum, watching this, narrowed his eyes.
"It's not an illusion. Rose... controlled Finn."
Even he couldn't completely control Finn without using magic. But Rose wasn't like that. She had perfect control of Finn. She had controlled him with incredible ease, even though he was not easily tamed and had the blood of a monster mixed in. It was something no ordinary person could do. However, it wasn't impossible.
Luna's Tears. With just that necklace, all kinds of monsters could be brought to their knees. Monsters could not defy the command of the one who possessed Luna's Tears. That was the hidden power of Luna's Tears.
"Yes. There were more than a few strange things from the beginning."
After Rose began living in this mansion, monsters suddenly appeared. Rose didn't know it, but the Grand Duke had driven them out more than once. Every night when the full moon rose, monsters would flock to the mansion without a second thought. And today, too, was the night of the full moon.
The Grand Duke gazed intently at the full moon shining brightly over Rose's shoulder. A brief silence filled the room.
"Rose."
The Grand Duke called out in a low voice. He trailed off and stared at Rose. Then, slowly, he opened his mouth again.
"Be honest. Luna's tears, which Cedric clearly obtained... why do you have them?"
The Grand Duke's confident voice resonated quietly.
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