Chapter 30: A Midnight Confession

The evening breeze swept through, and outside, the occasional caw of a crow pierced the silence.

Low-slung houses stretched in a continuous line; under the dim moonlight, the dark silhouette of the distant Sunshadow Mountains was faintly discernible.

Yalin leaned against the railing of the second-floor balcony, his gaze fixed on the deep, somber night, in his hand idly turning a slightly aged necklace.

The crack he had inadvertently caused earlier had since been mended, and the dark red crystal within emitted a faint, ethereal glow.

Several times, he had contemplated whether to pry open its outer casing and uncover what secrets lay hidden within.

Yet, recalling Nabel’s utterly terrified expression, Yalin ultimately dismissed the notion.

Although he could vaguely sense that the object concealed within posed no direct threat to him.

Should it, however, escape his control, the consequences could prove exceedingly troublesome.

“Yalin, what are you doing out here all by yourself?”

The door behind him creaked open softly, and Carol, peeking cautiously, revealed half her head.

“Just enjoying the evening breeze.

It’s quite cool out here right now; would you like to try it?”

Yalin, without a flicker of emotion, tucked away the necklace and offered her a smile.

“Really? Then I’ll try it too!”

Carol, too, broke into a smile, skipping like a little rabbit, she bounced over to Yalin’s side.

She was clad in a cream-colored nightgown adorned with a delicate floral pattern, a thin knit cardigan draped over her shoulders, giving her an air of warmth and charm.

Her freshly washed, raven-black hair still clung with tiny droplets of water, which, with every gust of wind, would press against her face, though she seemed utterly unconcerned.

“The wind is so strong, it’s really cool!”

Carol, like a child utterly new to the world, raised her arms high and comfortably narrowed her eyes; a faint scent of violets perfumed the air around them.

“Oh, you’re wearing that outfit?”

Yalin’s gaze fell upon the nightgown Carol was wearing; he had bought it for her just a few days prior, while out in the city.

“How is it? Does it fit well?”

“It fits perfectly!”

Carol twirled half a circle, delicately pinching the hem of her skirt, then, with a shy glance, she asked, “How do I look? Is it pretty?”

“Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Everything looks good on Carol.”

Yalin praised her, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Mmm-hmm…”

Carol lifted her head, a hint of grievance flickered in her crimson eyes, and she pouted her lips in clear dissatisfaction.

“There you go again.

Have you been brushing me off lately?”

“How could I?

I’m simply not very eloquent.

But everything I say to Carol comes straight from my heart, you know?”

“Really?…

I always feel like Yalin’s tone is exactly like a gigolo (TL Note: A derogatory term for a man who lives off wealthy women) trying to deceive women outside…”

“No, wait, where did you even learn such a thing?”

Yalin was utterly speechless.

‘Just a moment of inattention recently, and how did my little sister at home become so corrupted? To think she even knows a term like gigolo.’

‘Though, in a way, she wasn’t entirely wrong…’

“I heard it from the aunties at the wet market, you know Uncle Hancock?”

“No, I don’t…”

“You know, the uncle who lives on the next street over, the one who sells wood carvings; didn’t we buy a little cat ornament from him before?”

“Oh, right, I remember now.” Yalin’s memory stirred.

“What happened to him?”

“His wife killed him!

It happened just a few days ago; everyone’s talking about it!”

Carol lowered her voice, appearing a little frightened, yet a hint of excitement laced her tone.

“I heard a noblewoman was quite fond of him, often inviting him to her home for tea.

Before long, they started having an affair.”

“But his wife found out, and in a fit of rage, she stabbed him with a cleaver, piercing him right through the kidneys!”

Swish!

As she recounted this, Carol even mimed the act of raising a knife.

“Is… is that so…”

A sudden chill ran down Yalin’s spine.

He cleared his throat, then spoke.

“Well, Carol, I understand your desire to hear gossip, but it’s best not to repeat such stories outside.

After all, you’re still young and a girl; it’s better to be mindful of your image.”

“I know, I know!

You always treat me like a child!

I only ever talk about these things with you, Yalin!”

Yalin gave a wry smile and ruffled her hair.

“Alright, I’m heading to bed now.

You should go inside quickly once your hair dries.

Too much evening breeze isn’t good for your health.”

“What do you mean…

I just got here, and you’re already leaving?”

Carol puffed out her cheeks like a fugu fish, appearing even angrier than before.

‘Stupid Yalin, he’s been leaving early and coming home late every day, never spending time with me.’

‘Doesn’t he know how lonely that makes me?’

“Hmph!”

She suddenly wrapped her arms around Yalin’s waist, burying her head against him.

Her soft body pressed tightly against his back, bringing with it a sense of dampness and the unique, sweet scent of a young girl.

A sense of déjà vu left Yalin momentarily dazed.

The night was silent, as if time itself had come to a standstill.

They remained in that quiet embrace, neither speaking a word.

Several minutes later, Carol finally released her hold and stepped back.

“Hehe, that’s your punishment for underestimating me earlier!”

The warmth of her embrace still lingered on his chest.

Yalin watched her lips curl into a smile and shook his head with a helpless sigh.

“Alright, alright, you’re not a child, you’re a big girl, happy now?

Since you’re a big girl, don’t act so spoiled anymore.”

“Hmph, as if I’d listen to you!”

Carol stuck out her tongue, made a playful face at Yalin, and her smile became even sweeter.

“Since I’m a big girl now, this spot is mine; you can give it to me.

Now hurry back to your room and sleep!”

Yalin chuckled at her antics, offered a few more admonishments, before finally retreating to his own room.

His footsteps faded into the distance.

Thick clouds obscured the moon, and the night grew increasingly profound.

As the darkness deepened, so too did the focus in Carol’s eyes seem to dim.

Carol remained rooted to the spot, the smile on her lips slowly fading away.

She lowered her head, pulled up the hem of her nightgown, and brought it close to her nose, inhaling deeply.

Yalin’s scent still clung to the fabric, causing her heart to pound uncontrollably.

Carol closed her eyes, immersing herself in that familiar aroma, breathing it in greedily.

“Ah… Yalin, I’m truly in such agony…”

“How much longer… until I can truly claim you as my own?”

“Still… I am very patient.

I will wait, slowly but surely.”

“Because, I love you… More than anyone else in this entire world…”

Suddenly, Carol seemed to perceive something; her small frame stiffened.

“The same scent…”

“The same scent as me…”

Her hazy eyes sharpened into focus.

Carol gently stroked a corner of her nightgown; a morbid gleam flickered in her crimson pupils.

But swiftly, she let her shoulders drop and began to laugh, a trembling, eerie sound.

“So that’s it, that’s really it…

Indeed, we were destined to be together, meant to stay together forever.”

“This is wonderful, truly wonderful, Yalin.”

“Now, no one can stop us.”

Under the pallid moonlight, Carol’s figure was stretched into an eerie, elongated shadow.

Her sinister laughter faded silently into the vast expanse of the night.