In the darkness, he lit a candle and lifted the candlestick. Standing before an elegantly decorated mirror was a man with a gloomy expression, his eyes—once vibrant like summer foliage—now slit vertically like a reptile’s.
“…”
Edwin stared at his unfamiliar pupils for a long time. His emerald-green eyes, so often praised, were now veiled in a murky blue. He rolled up his sleeve with uncharacteristic urgency, causing the candle flame to flicker. The exposed white wrist was smooth and soft, just like any other person’s.
He examined his arm intently, as if searching for something, then stripped off his clothes and stood before the mirror. The candle’s bright light illuminated his back as he turned to inspect his shoulder. His skin looked as though someone had clumsily glued dragonfly wings onto it—the edges of some outer layer were frayed and peeling. It was the same kind of thing that had gotten caught under Leira’s nails not long ago.
Slowly, he pinched the loose edge and tugged. With a faint ssrik, it peeled away. Edwin detached it as if it were someone else’s flesh, then held it up.
The black, translucent skin glistened damply in the candlelight, yet felt brittle to the touch. He studied it for a moment before holding it to the flame. As it burned, the scent of charred flesh filled the air, and the skin on his palm blistered—but he showed no sign of pain.
When the brittle skin had burned to ash, he blew out the flickering candle. In the last glow of the flame, the burned skin on his palm writhed, healing at an impossible speed.
He knew what this was.
It was a snake’s shed skin.
***
The next morning, Edwin prepared to go out, claiming an urgent issue had arisen with the merchant guild he dealt with. He added offhandedly that he didn’t know when he’d return and told Leira not to worry. His face was as pale and flawless as ever, but there was an unnatural bluish tint beneath his skin.
The summer rain poured down unseasonably hard.
“It’s raining so much. Stay inside.”
Despite being the one leaving, Edwin’s overprotective tone made Leira grumble as he saw him off at the mansion’s gates for the first time in a while. The moment the heavy doors opened, the downpour rushed in.
“I’ll be back, then.”
Perhaps because of the servants watching, Edwin only gave him a light hug before heading to the carriage. Leira watched his retreating figure, but Edwin suddenly turned back. “Go inside,” he mouthed.
Leira scratched his cheek awkwardly and turned away. The massive gates closed with a thud, and the rain continued to pour.
***
“Emma.”
“Leira, there’s still no word from Edwin.”
Before he could even finish asking, the head butler Emma answered firmly. Leira had been pestering her for days, demanding updates.
“Mmn…”
Leira slumped onto the sofa in the hall, his usually radiant golden hair looking oddly limp.
Why did I always push him away when he was around? Emma sighed inwardly, knowing full well the unspoken relationship between the two young nobles.
“Why not go see him? The rain’s letting up.”
“See him? Where?”
“His merchant guild, of course. While you’re out, you could get fitted for seasonal clothes. The tailor could come here, but visiting the shop yourself wouldn’t hurt.”
She wanted to scold him—If you’re so worried, go find him yourself!—but knew Leira would only spiral if she did. So she gave him an excuse, and sure enough, his eyes lit up as he sprang to his feet.
“You’re right! I should prepare for autumn.”
“Exactly.”
Emma ignored the fact that Edwin had already gifted him an entire wardrobe for the season.
“Right, Emma’s right. Ready the carriage.”
As Leira turned to change into his outdoor clothes, he suddenly paused, frowning.
“Emma… did Edwin seem… off to you?”
“Off?” Emma thought. Edwin was always pale—unnaturally so, with his snow-white skin and raven hair—but he had the stamina of an ox. If he seemed weak, something was wrong.
“You’d know better than I would.”
Leira didn’t look convinced as he returned to his room. Emma had the carriage prepared. The rain, which had briefly lightened, now poured harder than ever. She suggested waiting until tomorrow, but Leira was already in the carriage, heading for Nenton.
***
Rowan, buried under his usual mountain of work, nearly sprinted to greet Leira as if the visit were a royal pardon. A rare escape from his duties.
“Leira! What brings you here?”
Leira handed him his umbrella at the entrance of the merchant guild’s marble building.
“Just stopping by to get fitted for autumn clothes.”
“Ah? But Edwin already had your autumn wardrobe—”
“Never mind that. Where’s Edwin?”
Cutting Rowan off, Leira craned his neck, searching. The man in question was nowhere in sight.
“Edwin… you mean?”
“Yeah. Didn’t he say there was an urgent matter?”
“Oh, that. It wasn’t that serious, but he actually came in for once, so I thought he’d finally gotten his act together.”
“I see… So where is he?”
Leira resisted the urge to shake Rowan by the collar. Instead, he asked politely—but Rowan just stared at him oddly.
“He left ages ago.”
“Left? He never came back—”
“Not to the duke’s estate. He went to the earl’s estate. Said he had something to check on.”
Rowan tilted his head. His tone wasn’t accusatory—just genuinely confused. “Needle and thread, those two. How could they not know each other’s whereabouts?”
Leira’s pride stung. He mumbled something about heading to the earl’s estate and turned away, his steps heavy.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing…”
As Rowan moved to see him off, he hesitated at the carriage door.
“Come to think of it, he did seem unwell that day.”
“Unwell?”
“Yeah. He spilled his tea. You know he never makes mistakes like that. And he kept opening the window in the rain, complaining it was stuffy—ended up hitting his forehead on the glass. Normally, he’d never lose focus like that. Now that I think about it, maybe he was sick.”
“WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SO SOONER, IDIOT!”
“Idiot?! Me?! I graduated early from the Royal Academy—top of my class!”
Rowan’s indignant protests faded as the carriage sped off toward the earl’s estate.
***
The rain grew heavier. Leira’s legs trembled with unease. Something’s wrong. Edwin had been listless—unlike him. The worry he’d been holding back surged up.
The moment the carriage stopped at the earl’s estate, Leira dismissed the driver and rushed inside. The butler, surprised by the unexpected visit, hurried to greet him at the entrance.
“Emily, long time no see. Where are the earl and his wife? I hope I’m not intruding… But where’s Edwin?”
The questions tumbled out in one breath.
“The earl and his wife are at the royal research lab. Edwin is in his room… But Leira, what brings you—”
“Just passing by.”
He lied smoothly, though his feet were already carrying him toward Edwin’s room.
“Leira? Where are you going?”
“Edwin’s room. Is that a problem?”
“Not at all, but he said not to let anyone in.”
“Am I anyone?”
Leira’s wide blue eyes wavered with hurt. His unnaturally beautiful face twisted into a pout, and Emily unwittingly frowned. It was odd. Edwin spent every summer at the duke’s estate, yet now he was back at his family’s home, claiming he’d visit later. And he’d forbidden visitors?
Emily studied the fairy-like blond boy. Did they fight? Edwin was reckless when it came to Leira—maybe he’d stormed off in a huff.
She weighed her options: obey Edwin’s orders or let Leira in.
“Of course you’re not anyone, Leira.”
If she turned him away, she’d never hear the end of his venomous complaints.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
