Chapter 36: Beneath the Moonlit Sky
The Everhart estate had long since settled into silence. The grand halls, once filled with nobles and their idle chatter, now lay empty, save for the occasional flicker of torchlight casting elongated shadows across the marble floors. The night stretched on in quiet serenity, a stark contrast to the day's bustling festivities.
But for Leonhardt Valerian Everhart, the night was far from over.
Beneath the cover of darkness, he moved swiftly, his steps silent as he slipped past the guards stationed around his palace. It was almost too easy to avoid detection—after all, this was not the first time he had done this.
For years now, he had perfected this routine.
By day, he played the role of a noble heir—learning, training, entertaining guests. But by night, he shed that façade and pursued the power he truly sought.
Tonight was no different.
As he emerged into the moonlit courtyard, the crisp night air greeted him. His gaze instinctively lifted to the sky, where the full moon shone in all its brilliance, bathing the world in its pale glow.
His heart tightened at the sight.
You always loved the night, he thought, an unfamiliar ache settling in his chest.
She had once ruled under the moon's embrace—his Empress, his Queen. The one who stood beside him, against the world.
And then, she was gone.
Sealed away.
A silent rage burned beneath his skin, but he pushed it down, channeling the emotion into his training.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the clearing, drawing his sword in one fluid motion.
Then, he moved.
His blade cut through the air, precise and unyielding, his body flowing like a shadow under the moon's watchful gaze. Every strike was sharp, every movement refined to perfection. His mana pulsed, ancient and overwhelming, crackling through his veins as he pushed himself further.
Faster.
Stronger.
His control over magic and swordsmanship had already reached a terrifying level for a mere child—but he was no ordinary child.
The weight of his past self and his sealed power still lingered, teasing him with what he could not yet grasp. The seal was a cage, one he had to break.
He exhaled sharply, lowering his blade. His breath came out in controlled exhales, steam forming in the cold night air.
Even now, even with all his training, it was not enough.
Not yet.
He clenched his fists, his red eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Where are you?
That question haunted him. He did not even know where to begin searching for her. The seal had stripped them apart, leaving no trace of her presence in this world.
But he knew she was out there.
She had to be.
And no force in this world—god or mortal—would stop him from finding her.
A Shadowed Figure
As Leonhardt stood beneath the vast sky, lost in thought, an unseen presence watched from afar.
In the darkness beyond the Everhart estate, a figure cloaked in shadows observed the young heir's relentless pursuit of power. The winds carried whispers of old, stirring unseen forces across the land.
A soft chuckle echoed through the night.
"So, the King still longs for his Queen."
Then, just as silently as it had come, the presence vanished.
Unseen.
Unknown.
But watching.