Chapter 28
Gasp.
Ebony woke up with a sharp breath. Her heavy eyelids lifted as she scanned her surroundings.
Beyond the lingering darkness, she could faintly see the interior of her room.
“It was just a dream.”
Relieved to find herself in bed, Ebony let out a sigh. Her heart was still pounding from the dream.
She sat up and drank some water to calm herself.
Wondering what time it was, she pulled back the curtains. The sky was still dim, the soft light of dawn peeking through.
She had woken up much earlier than usual.
Ebony closed the curtains and lay back down, hoping to get a little more rest. But just as she pulled the blanket over herself, a familiar light appeared.
Cutting through the darkness, “it” moved closer to her.
“Hello, Ebony…?”
A girl with white hair stood before her. She looked exactly like Lucia, the girl from Ebony’s dream.
“…Who are you?”
“I-I’m Lucia, the spirit of light.”
Lucia’s blue eyes flickered nervously as she watched Ebony’s reaction.
Ebony sat up, resting against the headboard. She reached out a finger, and the tiny spirit quickly ran over and perched on it.
“…Can I stay by your side?”
“By my side?”
“Yes… You woke me from a deep sleep, Ebony.”
Lucia blinked, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
“If you want to stay, you can.”
“Really? Really?”
“Of course.”
As Ebony nodded, Lucia’s glow became noticeably brighter.
The little spirit clung to her finger, beaming with joy.
“Ugh, are you still that timid?”
A new voice interrupted them. Wade, another spirit, suddenly appeared next to Ebony, shaking his head in exasperation.
“N-no, I’m not that timid…!”
“Yeah, sure.”
“I-I mean it…”
Lucia’s face crumpled in distress, unsure of how to respond.
“That’s enough,” Ebony intervened.
She knew Wade wasn’t trying to be mean, but Lucia looked like she was about to cry.
“You’re Lucia, right? I’m Ebony. As you know, I’m the daughter of Violet, the former spirit master.”
“Mhm…”
“If you’re going to stay with me, would you be willing to lend me your power?”
A spirit master’s abilities grow stronger with more spirits at their side. Ebony hoped Lucia would choose to support her.
But Lucia hesitated, her expression conflicted. Had she asked for too much? Ebony was about to take back her request when Lucia tilted her head and whispered:
“Did you… just ask for my help?”
“Told you, she’s just like Violet,” Wade scoffed.
Lucia nodded as if she agreed.
“So far, only you and Violet have ever asked us for help.
Other spirit masters just give commands. Asking for help? That’s a first.”
Wade spoke as if he found it amusing, but a warm smile lingered on his face.
“I-I don’t know how much help I’ll be… but if you need me, I’ll always come to your side.”
“Thank you, Lucia.”
Ebony placed a light kiss on Lucia’s forehead. The tiny spirit’s glow turned a deep shade of pink, flickering in intensity as if responding to her emotions.
“Ebony is so kind… just like Violet. V-Violet was beautiful and gentle too…”
Lucia’s glow gradually shifted from red to blue, and tears welled up in her eyes. Droplets of water fell, crystallizing into tiny gemstones.
Soon, Ebony’s palm was filled with a pile of glimmering jewels.
No matter how much Ebony tried to comfort her, Lucia kept crying.
“Just let her be,” Wade muttered. “She loved Violet.”
“Of course I did. Unlike others, Violet didn’t enjoy seeing me cry… She always comforted me instead…”
Ebony finally realized—that these gemstones were Lucia’s crystallized tears.
Judging by Lucia’s overwhelming reaction, most spirit masters had likely exploited her abilities rather than appreciating her.
Her timid nature suddenly made sense.
“You don’t have to cry in front of me, Lucia,” Ebony reassured her.
“D-do you not like my jewels…?”
“That’s not it. I just don’t want to see you sad. No more tears, okay?”
“N-no more…?”
Lucia sniffled, finally calming down.
Ebony gently stroked her cheek with her finger, smiling at the little spirit.
Suddenly, drowsiness washed over her.
“If you’re sleepy, go ahead and rest,” Wade suggested.
Lucia, concerned, quickly helped Ebony lie back down.
As Wade began to sing a soft lullaby, a soothing sound filled her ears—like gentle waves lapping against a boat.
Listening to the peaceful melody, Ebony drifted into sleep, holding the tiny spirits close.
The next morning, Ebony received unexpected news from Amy.
“…Is His Grace not busy?”
Diego Magnus had come to visit.
The man sat lazily, one leg crossed over the other, resting his chin on his hand.
“That’s what the gate is for.”
“You said it wasn’t a waste before, but now it seems even more justified.”
“I plan to visit more often. To put your mind at ease.”
“And what excuse did you use this time?”
“I told them I was here to discuss business with you.”
Now that Ebony’s status as a spirit master was public, it wasn’t unreasonable for them to work together in a business sense.
“That’s a pretty good excuse.
But what happens later? Are you going to say our plans fell through due to different goals?”
“No, we’ll proceed with it.”
“You thought it through?” Ebony was surprised. “What kind of business?”
“A romance business.”
Ebony froze.
…Wait. What?
“Are you serious?”
“Half serious.”
Diego stood up and walked toward her, a sly smile on his face. He extended his hand.
Ebony hesitated, staring at his white-gloved fingers.
“Time to work, Princess.”
She took his hand and stood up, not knowing what he had planned.
They ended up in a carriage.
Even after getting inside, she still had no clue what was happening.
Was he pretending to be her business partner?
She glanced at the window, catching a glimpse of Diego’s chiseled face. His cold expression remained as he looked outside—until he suddenly turned to her.
Caught staring, Ebony blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Where exactly are we going?”
“A nearby village.”
“Why?”
Diego finally turned fully to face her.
“To go on a date.”
“…A date?”
“Yeah. The kind lovers usually go on.”
His voice carried an unusual roughness, as if annoyed.
“Since I don’t understand love, I need practice.”
Ebony was speechless.
“We’re in a deep, committed relationship now. Soon to be married. A very… intense connection.”
“Ah…”
She didn’t fully understand, but she couldn’t refuse his cooperation.
So, she just nodded.
When they arrived at their destination, Diego stepped out first, looking at the ground.
With a frown, he tapped his expensive shoe against the dirt, as if displeased.
Then, he turned around—just as Ebony was about to step out.
“…?”
She expected him to offer his hand.
Instead, Diego bent down, slid his arms under her, and lifted her.
“Y-Your Grace…?”
Ebony’s voice wavered as she clung to his shoulders.
Diego, however, didn’t respond. He simply carried her down the steps and onto the grass.
She tried lightly tapping his shoulder, even reasoning with him, but nothing worked.
Realizing he wasn’t going to let her go, she gave up and just wrapped her arms around his neck, waiting for it to be over.
Finally, he set her down.
Ebony stared at him in disbelief.
“What… was that?”
“A lover’s gesture.”
“A… lover’s gesture?”
Diego looked quite proud of himself.
Ebony, however, was at a complete loss.
…Where did he even learn this?
