Chapter 1

Part 1

It was a pitch-black night without even the moon in the sky.

Agnes suddenly woke from her sleep.

Half-asleep, she reached toward the space beside her—but it was empty.

Where did she go?

Her five-year-old youngest sister, who had been sleeping beside her, was nowhere to be seen.

Amy was the precious little sister they had cherished ever since she had been born at the cost of their mother’s life.

Whenever she wanted to use the bathroom, she would always shake Agnes awake because she was too frightened to go alone in the dark…

A terrible feeling settled in Agnes’s chest.

“Amy! Amy!”

She leaped out of bed and rushed outside.

The mansion was unnaturally silent.

Downstairs, the front door on the first floor stood slightly open, and a crimson glow seeped in from outside.

It was strange.

There was no moon tonight.

Where could that red light be coming from?

Without even taking a breath, Agnes sprinted down the stairs, flung the door open, and dashed across the garden.

Beyond the modest garden, the crimson light flickered.

The moment she saw what it was, her mind went completely blank.

A scarlet crack.

A crimson darkness, like the gaping mouth of some gigantic monster.

Grotesque tentacles writhed as they emerged from within it.

Amy was dangling helplessly from one of them.

Their eyes met.

Amy’s pale blue eyes were wide with terror.

“Amy!”

Still in her nightgown and slippers, Agnes forgot everything and ran.

Just as she was about to reach her—

“I’ll bring her back!”

Someone seized her wrist and yanked her backward.

“It’s too dangerous! Stay here!”

“Rupert!”

Without even answering, he was already running across the garden.

Rupert was the butler’s son.

They had grown up together like brother and sister, and after Agnes’s mother passed away, he had helped her raise Amy as well.

Though small in stature, he had always been someone she could rely on.

Watching his back with desperate hope, Agnes chased after him.

But Rupert was much faster.

Even in the face of such a surreal phenomenon, he fearlessly leaped forward.

Amy stretched out her tiny hand toward him.

Her eyes were filled with absolute trust.

Like a child reaching toward a parent, she seemed completely certain Rupert would save her.

At last, Rupert grabbed Amy’s hand and pulled her into his arms.

Rumble—! Craaack!

The torn space slowly began to close.

“Amy! Rupert…!”

Agnes arrived only moments too late, screaming until her voice broke.

“No!”

Where the crimson Rift had been moments before…

Only a patch of darkness-covered bushes remained.

As though nothing had ever happened.

What Agnes had witnessed that day became known as a Rift.

Throughout the continent, scarlet tears in space appeared without warning.

Sometimes they swallowed people whole.

Other times, unknown monsters emerged and slaughtered anyone nearby.

As time passed, the Rifts naturally disappeared, though they continued to appear from time to time.

Fortunately, they were limited to the northern territories inhabited by monsters and protected by the Five Mage Towers.

Before long, most people returned to their ordinary lives.

Except for those who had lost someone precious.

***

From the moment she woke that morning, her body felt heavy.

It was because of the nightmare.

Amy… Rupert…

Suppressing the dull ache weighing down her entire body, Agnes slowly got out of bed and folded her blanket.

She lived in a bleak little room inside the Valdemar Count’s estate in the southern part of the continent.

There, Agnes worked as the private tutor for the Count’s two children.

A little later—

She was making her way through the forest, searching for someone.

“Leonard! Cedric!”

The distant sound of children’s laughter echoed through the trees.

Agnes narrowed her eyes toward the sound.

Count Valdemar ruled the vast southern plains of the Empire.

His estate was just as magnificent as his status suggested.

The small forest behind the mansion had even been personally designed by the Count for the twin sons he had been blessed with later in life.

The twins were infamous troublemakers.

Before Agnes arrived, they had driven away ten tutors in only three months.

Yet she had already endured for two years.

It wasn’t because she possessed any special secret.

Nor were the children particularly well-behaved around her.

I’m only still here because I desperately need the money.

Just like today.

The twins had run away into the woods because they didn’t want to study.

Most tutors would simply wait for them to return and scold them afterward.

Agnes always went after them herself.

If I don’t force them, they’ll never listen.

She followed the direction of their laughter.

Fresh spring sprouts had been trampled flat through the undergrowth.

Beyond the bushes, strands of silky golden hair peeked out.

They’re fast.

I’ll only get one chance.

If she approached carelessly, they would bolt again.

Holding her breath, Agnes crept closer.

Then she lunged over the bushes.

“Got you!”

“Ahhh! Agnes!”

“You should call me ‘Teacher!'”

The identical little troublemakers flailed wildly while trapped in her arms.

Now that they were nine years old, catching them had become much harder.

Grinding her teeth, Agnes tightened her grip.

“Let us go!”

“We don’t want to study!”

“No. It’s study time.”

“You’re so stubborn, Agnes!”

“You’re so uncivilized, Agnes!”

No matter what they yelled, Agnes remained firm.

Just as she turned to drag the twins back toward the mansion—

Leonard suddenly slipped free.

“Leonard!”

Of all places, he dashed straight into the shallow stream.

Splash.

Splash.

He gleefully hopped across the stones until—

His foot slipped.

Sparkling droplets flew into the air, seeming to drift in slow motion.

“Ah…”

Agnes sighed.

By the time she caught him again, all three of them were soaking wet.

“Look at this! Now I’m wet too!”

“So what? That was fun!”

Watching the boys grin so carelessly, something she had kept buried deep inside finally exploded.

“When are you two ever going to grow up?! You’re already nine years old! It’s time you started acting your age!”

The twins only grinned wider.

“What does it matter to you?”

“If we grew up, you wouldn’t have a job!”

“We heard your mother died!”

“And your father is a gambler!”

“Your little sister died too, didn’t she?”

“Your family’s going bankrupt.”

“You’re only making money because of us. Isn’t that right?”

It felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head.

She knew they were only trying to hurt her.

They were merely repeating the cruel gossip they had overheard from the maids.

Stay calm, Agnes.

This isn’t anything new.

Yet today…

Their words cut far deeper than usual.

Her eyes burned.

Normally, she would have scolded them sharply for such rudeness.

Instead, Agnes silently closed her mouth.

The twins exchanged uneasy glances.

“What?”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“We’re not apologizing!”

“W-We didn’t even say anything wrong!”

Without another word, Agnes led them back toward the mansion.

Perhaps even they realized they had gone too far.

For the rest of the walk, they followed without resisting.

As soon as they entered the estate, several maids rushed over in alarm.

“Oh my! Young Masters! You ran away again today?”

“You’ll need to change clothes immediately!”

Agnes quietly raised a hand to stop them.

If the maids took over now, the twins would simply hide somewhere inside the mansion.

“Just bring us some towels.”

“Surely you’re not planning to continue today’s lesson?”

“I am.”

“Very well.”

Holding both boys firmly, she headed toward their study.

Behind her, she heard the maids whispering.

“Lady Agnes is twenty this year, isn’t she?”

“Isn’t she going to get married? Oh… right. Her family’s fallen apart.”

“What good is being a noblewoman? She’s worse off than we are.”

“All we have to do is serve the household.”

“But that young lady…”

The source of all the twins’ cruel words.

The maids of House Valdemar had been gossiping like that for over two years.

Agnes sighed out of habit.

They’re not exactly wrong.

A noble lady who doesn’t attend social functions and instead works as a tutor…

But so what?

Today, more than ever, she struggled to keep herself from breaking apart.

Five years ago…

Everything had begun when her mother died giving birth to Amy.

Heartbroken, her father drowned himself in alcohol and gambling, piling up enormous debts.

At the time, Agnes had been only fifteen.

She still had three younger siblings to care for, including a newborn baby.

There were no relatives from either side of the family.

No one else remained to manage the estate or govern their territory.

The taxes from their lands couldn’t even cover the interest on their debts.

Even after selling nearly everything in the mansion, it still wasn’t enough.

Then House Valdemar offered her a position as a tutor.

They said they wished to help because their families had long been acquainted with House Laberose.

Agnes had no reason to refuse.

Leaving behind her youngest sister, who clung to her in tears and begged her not to go, Agnes departed for the Count’s estate.

She believed she only had to endure until her younger siblings were old enough to stand on their own.

Then one day—

Rifts appeared all across the continent.

With thunderous roars, the earth split apart, and unknown darkness erupted like molten lava.

Amy…!

That day happened to be one of Agnes’s rare holidays, when she had returned to the Laberose estate.

She watched helplessly as Amy and Rupert disappeared into the horrifying Rift.

There was nothing she could do.

After finishing the day’s lessons, Agnes returned to her room and leaned weakly against the wall.

“Haa… haa…”

Now that she was alone, all the emotions she had been suppressing burst forth.

Trying desperately to calm herself, she pressed her palm against her burning eyes.

Get yourself together, Agnes.

You still have two younger siblings left.

Just hold on until they’re grown.

But…

How much longer?

What would happen when the twins grew older and stopped listening to her entirely?

Just then—

Knock. Knock.

Someone knocked on her door, interrupting her thoughts.

“W-Who is it?”

She asked in surprise.

A familiar voice answered.

“It’s me, Agnes.”

She hurried to open the door.

Standing there was Countess Valdemar.

Her neatly pinned hair and gentle eyes gave her a warm, graceful appearance.

She was the mother of the troublesome twins.

“What brings you here, My Lady?”

Agnes asked nervously.

Normally, the Countess would invite her to meals or tea.

This was the first time she had come directly to Agnes’s room.

Moreover, the Countess looked Agnes up and down with an unmistakably suspicious gaze.

A bad feeling settled in her stomach.

“Has something happened to Leonard and Cedric?”

While the Countess remained silent, countless thoughts raced through Agnes’s mind.

Did the boys catch a cold?

Are they upset about what happened today?

Does she intend to dismiss me?

If she lost this position…

She would have no choice but to sell both the mansion and their territory.

A noble title would become meaningless.

She might end up living worse than a peasant.

Her mouth went dry.

Her fingers clenched tightly around the hem of her dress.

Powerless, Agnes could do nothing except wait for the Countess to speak.

Perhaps noticing her anxiety, the Countess smiled reassuringly.

“Miss Agnes.”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“A guest has arrived.”

She paused.

“Are you acquainted with Marquis Celesta?”

Of course she knew who he was.

House Celesta ruled the northern territories of the Empire.

For generations, they had produced extraordinary magicians.

Furthermore, Marquis Celesta was the master of the Celestial Mage Tower, the greatest Mage Tower in the world.

But she had never met him personally.

She shook her head.

“No. Not at all.”

“Then this is strange.”

“The Marquis came here late tonight asking specifically to see you.”

“Are you absolutely certain you’ve never met him?”

Only then did Agnes understand why the Countess had looked at her so suspiciously.

She had wondered whether Agnes had secretly been meeting some man while living under the Count’s roof.

Agnes shook her head emphatically.

“I swear, I’ve never met him even once.”

“Then why would he insist on speaking with you alone?”

How could Agnes possibly know?

Leaving the still-skeptical Countess behind, Agnes made her way to the drawing room.

When she opened the door—

A man was sitting inside.

The moment she saw him, Agnes unconsciously drew in a sharp breath.

Purple…

No.

Was it black?

It was a mysterious color.

Depending on how the light struck them, his eyes shimmered like precious gemstones.

Jewel Eyes.

According to the books she had read, only magicians who had reached the highest realms possessed such eyes.

His jet-black hair flowed past his waist and spilled across the sofa.

With the pale complexion typical of northerners and strikingly handsome features, he was an extraordinarily beautiful man.

After quietly observing Agnes, he rose and bowed politely.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“You are Miss Agnes, correct?”

“Yes.”

“I apologize for calling upon you so late.”

“I came because there is something urgent.”

As soon as Agnes sat opposite him, the man placed a box before her.

“This was sent by Miss Amy.”

“…Amy?”

“Is she not your younger sister?”

“She is.”

“But my sister disappeared into a Rift a year ago.”

“Then there is no mistake.”

“She told me the very same thing.”

“…”

“…Are you saying…”

“…Amy is alive?”