Regress | Chapter 26 - Luna Winfred (2)

 Arthas  April 16, 2024  No comments

Luna used the ball as a pretext to visit Count Yustia’s mansion.

Isabel, who had dressed up elaborately, looked lovely even to Luna, as a fellow woman — she was as breathtakingly beautiful as Luna had heard, as if a sculpture carefully crafted by God itself.

Kyle fell in love at first sight.

Even someone unfamiliar with him would readily acknowledge the pure love shining in his eyes as he gazed at Isabel.

Moreover, he was affectionate towards Isabel; the faint blush on his cheeks and the warm smile that blossomed with just a few words - it was the very image of a shy young boy.

Just as Kyle had once been with Luna.

— Miss, Young Master Kyle has just left the mansion.

— He’s headed to the Count Yustia’ estate today as well.

Around that time, Kyle's frequency of outings had increased, and he began to focus more on his outward appearance.

Most importantly, the lifelessness in his eyes had started to revive.

Seeing this, Luna realized anew that there was still a glimmer of hope left in the life she had shattered.

— A engagement proposal with the Yustia family...

— To find a use even for a lowly animal, you've certainly put some thought into this.

— What are you waiting for? Pursue it immediately.

The Duchess actually welcomed Kyle’s engagement proposal. 

She wanted to tear apart that detestable smile right then and there, but Luna restrained herself; there was nothing to be gained by antagonizing the Duchess now.

With the Duchess's cooperation, the engagement proposal progressed smoothly.

They went to the cathedral to formally seal the betrothal and prepared for the official engagement ceremony.

But somewhere along the way, something had gone awry.

More than anything, Kyle’s pure nature, which had been almost pristine, began to be tainted.

— According to the servants of the Yustia family, the relationship between young master Kyle and Lady Isabel seems to have deteriorated recently.

— It seems Lady Isabel is unilaterally reluctant to go through with the marriage.

Luna had forgotten.

That Kyle was someone welcomed by no one.

All because of the rumors she had spread about him.

And because of the self-esteem she had crushed in him.

— Instead, young master Kyle is reportedly eager to hasten the marriage.

— Lady Isabel also appears to have no intention of calling off the engagement.

— The atmosphere at the Yustia family is even enthusiastically embracing the marriage.

She had thought that in time, she could be forgiven for her mistakes.

That there were reasons for her actions.

That in her young age, she had failed to properly discern right from wrong.

That she had loved him, more than anyone else in this mansion.

She wanted to plead for another chance to make amends.

She wanted to somehow prove her love for Kyle.

She hoped he would rely on her once again.

How wonderful it would be if he called her "sister" just one more time?

But as the light grows brighter, the shadows deepen.

Sometimes, certain despair was better than an unreachable hope.

And that was why she chose despair.

Because her selfish hope would be nothing but a deadly poison to Kyle.

— Send a letter to House Yustia.

— A letter, Miss?

— Yes, to move up the engagement schedule.

The rift between them had become too great to mend through effort alone.

* * * * *

Ultimately, Kyle left the duke’s mansion.

With his official marriage to Isabel, he left to establish his own branch family.

And as soon as he left, the Duchess, as if she had been waiting for this moment, began to erase all traces of him from the mansion. Kyle’s bedroom was meticulously cleaned out, and all the clothes he had worn were promptly removed.

Kyle left no remnant of his existence in the duke’s mansion; just as if he had never been a part of this place from the beginning, he gradually faded from everyone's memories.

At this horrifying realization, the dark emotions she had suppressed all this time erupted.

— Sister, where have you been!

— Goodness, I've been searching for you everywhere.

The illusion of Kyle rushing towards her flashed before her eyes.

She gazed at Kyle before her with blurred vision; even though she knew this was but an illusion, she could not avert her eyes.

— You said you wanted to become the head of the Winfred family, remember?

The head of the family.

Yes, that was what she had desperately yearned for — to the extent that she had committed terrible deeds to Kyle just because she couldn't become the family head.

"Urggh...!"

She gasped for breath.

Kyle's voice, like an auditory hallucination, sharply pierced Luna's ears.

— I'm right here, sister.

She walked as if possessed by a ghost.

And the destination was none other than the door to Kyle’s room.

Through the wide-open window, the fragments of a memory unfolded — on a winter day bleached in white, Kyle sat on the floor, pleading for help, his body shivering as if coated in frost.

— Please... please, the room is so cold...

Kyle had trembled as if frost was settling all over his body.

How much pain he must have been in…

How much he must have suffered…

— At least a blanket to cover myslef, please!"

"...Ah."

A cracked sigh escaped her parted lips.

It was all... all because of her.

The terrible guilt felt as if it was crushing her heart.

— It hurts... it hurts so much...

Of course, it would hurt.

A child who could hardly eat or find the strength, was cast into the bitter cold by her.

Tears welled up in Luna's eyes.

She repeatedly pounded her chest with the palm of her hand as if pierced by pain; the illusion of Kyle, who had been knocking on the door, eventually collapsed weakly to the floor.

— Why...?

The transparent tears fell silently.

Choked by a foreign sensation, a lump formed in her throat, making it hard to breathe.

— What wrong did I do...

"Kyle... Kyle..."

She staggered towards his illusion.

The stale emotions she had tried to suppress became like blades tearing through her mind.

“I'm sorry… It’s all my fault…”

She cried out in agony; her vision blurred from the ceaseless tears.

— I want to go home…

After staggering for a while, the illusion of Kyle finely disintegrated into tiny particles in the air and Luna’s outstretched hand, having lost its way, futilely stirred the air.

Each breath she took filled her lungs with a chilling cold.

The abyss-like void pressed down on her reason.

"Kyle..."

If she had known it would be this painful.

If she had known it would be this tormenting.

"...Kyle..."

She would have never made that choice.

"...Haha."

She chuckled through her tears.

The belated regrets seemed laughable.

* * * * *

Even as time passed, the illusions of Kyle did not disappear.

It would appear without warning, painfully scratching at Luna's insides, and amidst that agonizing pain, she would feel a perverse satisfaction.

Drowning in a deep swamp of guilt, Luna had never once gone to see Kyle after he had left the mansion.

So the fact that she could at least see Kyle’s illusion was nothing short of a miracle to her.

One day, through a servant, she came across Kyle's portrait.

He had matured beyond recognition into a grown man.

Her heart fluttered. That day, until she fell asleep, Luna gazed at Kyle's portrait, murmuring to herself.

Then, one day...

“Oh, my lady! Terrible news!”

The butler burst into the room, opening the door without permission.

In the face of this completely disrupted hierarchy, she let out a hollow chuckle.

“K-Kyle... young master Kyle has passed away!”

"...Passed away?"

Luna echoed the butler’s report in a daze.

The old butler continued, his voice rough with heavy breathing.

“Yes, he was found dead in his own residence…”

It didn't feel real. No, it couldn't be real. A strangled voice burst from her throat.

"What are you saying..."

"The cause of death is poisoning. He died from a deadly poison found on a teacup."

Kyle... is dead...?

No, that can't be.

Kyle would never have taken his own life...

"It's murder."

"...Murder?"

The butler slowly nodded.

"Who."

"Pardon?"

"Who did it!"

"Uh, it was Lady Isabel."

"...What?"

"Lady Isabel had a maid prepare the poison for her some time ago, according to the investigation. Lady Isabel is currently awaiting questioning at the imperial palace."

She read through the documents the butler provided, again and again; they contained a clear, undeniable truth.

At the same time, a terrible realization coursed through her veins.

Isabel, the cursed woman she had arranged for Kyle to be engaged to.

She had killed her brother.

"Why."

She murmured in a sunken voice.

"For what reason."

Everything felt hazy, as if in a dream.

"No, right?"

No, this can't be.

This can't be happening.

"...No."

There were still so many things she needed to ask.

She needed to seek forgiveness, to prove her heart.

".......It is all because of me."

Her lips moved of their own accord.

"I....sent Kyle away..."

Because she hadn't protected Kyle.

It felt like lava was pouring over her head, melting her reason.

She had hoped Kyle would find happiness away from the mansion.

She hadn't anticipated this outcome.

If she had known, she wouldn't have sent him away.

Luna's vision turned pitch-black; a chill settled in the corner of her heart.

"The young master's remains are being transported to the north, and the Duchess has decided not to hold a funeral."

Luna's gaze gleamed ominously.

"Not hold a funeral."

"Yes, they plan to bury him directly after placing him in a coffin."

"What about the others in the mansion."

“................”

The servant remained silent.

The implication was all too clear.

"Hah."

Ah, of course. They were always such people.

Luna's face contorted horribly and a vicious intent surged within her; towards herself, for driving Kyle to his demise, and towards the dreadful Winfred people.

"I see, so that's how it is."

She uttered flatly.

Her worn sanity, completely tattered, snapped with a faint sound.

Let death atone for it all.

Both herself...

And the Winfred family.

* * * * *

After a thorough search, Luna had finally secured the poison that drove Kyle to his death.

Colorless, odorless, and with an overwhelming fatality rate. It was said to inflict unimaginable agony upon the victim.

Luna adorned herself more beautifully than ever.

Simultaneously, she proposed a banquet, under the formal pretext of celebrating the Winfred family's prosperity.

The mansion was bustling as usual today, despite Kyle’s death.

Nothing had changed.

It didn't take long for the banquet to be prepared.

Soon, the long table was splendidly laid out with dozens of dishes, and familiar faces took their seats.

Ian Winfred.

The Duchess.

And Luna herself.

Luna sat down with a smiling countenance.

"Luna, what's the occasion for this banquet you've arranged?"

The Duchess offered a graceful smile.

And Luna responded in kind with a dignified smile, "I'm sorry for my inadequate behavior lately."

"It's fine, I'm just glad you've finally come to your senses," The Duchess chuckled lightly, waving her hand dismissively.

Ian, seated at the head of the table, nonchalantly rang the bell on the table, as always.

"Let us begin the banquet."

Clang—

The sound of cutlery clinking echoed through the air.

Sunlight poured in through the skylight, lending an almost sacred atmosphere; amidst this, an incongruous sound scattered near their ears.

Cough—!

"...Huh?"

The Duchess spat out dark red blood.

"Hel...p..."

Thud—

The Duchess staggered and fell to the ground.

"What, what is this…!!"

Ian, who had been unknowingly stuffing food into his mouth, abruptly stood up.

Profound horror dawned in his eyes.

"Urgh...!"

Soon, Ian too bowed his head, retching blood; the pristine white tablecloth was now stained a dark crimson.

"Ugh..."

He sank to the floor, his eyes bloodshot.

"Ugh... Ugh..."

A moment later.

Ian, sitting on the floor, convulsed as if a fish out of water; the sight of it was so absurd that Luna burst into laughter.

"Haa..."

Crack—

The gruesome sound of twisting muscles shattered the silence; the light faded from Ian's dilated pupils as he lay sprawled on the floor.

The Duchess, too, had perished, leaving only a brief death rattle.

At the sudden tragedy unfolding before them, the shrill screams of the watching servants filled the air.

And then...

“................”

Cough—

A dark red mass rose up Luna's throat.

"...Ah."

She stood up from her chair.

And slowly lowered herself to the floor.

The sunlight pouring in from above bathed her in a radiant glow.

The sky had never been clearer.

A perfect day to die.

"...Puh."

Her bloodshot vision turned crimson.

Overcome by a pain that wrung her muscles, her mind grew hazy.

Kyle.

My brother.

Tears streamed down.

The blood oozing from the corners of her mouth had pooled on the floor, squelching.

She knew it was too late.

She knew she had no right to seek forgiveness.

But the vile selfishness of it all made her shudder until the end.

She wanted to see.

Kyle's bright smile.

She wanted to hear.

That clear voice calling out to her.

Luna's azure eyes gradually lost their light.

Unable to find her voice, she could only move her lips when—

『You may lose what is most precious to you』

『Would you care to start anew?』

—something indistinct entered her reddened vision.

".........."

To start over from the beginning, you say...

Is that...possible?

Luna's right arm, sprawled on the floor, trembled as it was lifted.

"...Plea...se."

If necessary, she'll even offer her very soul.

"Just… once…"

The words that forced their way through her clenched teeth were pathetically small, heavily laced with labored breathing.

"Again..."

Her eyelids felt heavy.

Her consciousness was fading.

Through the narrowing field of vision, the message was updated.

『The regression begins』

Luna's consciousness flickered out.

Regress | Chapter 26 - Luna Winfred 2ArthasApril 16, 2024No commentsDon't forget to rate and review the novel on NovelupdatesLuna used the ball as a pretext to visit Count Yustia's mansion.Isabel, who had dressed up elaborately, looked lovely even to Luna, as a fellow woman she was as breathtakingly beautiful as Luna had heard, as if a sculpture carefully crafted by God itself.Kyle fell in love at first sight.Even someone unfamiliar with him would readily acknowledge the pure love shining in his eyes as he gazed at Isabel.Moreover, he was affectionate towards Isabel; the faint blush on his cheeks and the warm smile that blossomed with just a few words - it was the very image of a shy young boy.Just as Kyle had once been with Luna. Miss, Young Master Kyle has just left the mansion. He's headed to the Count Yustia' estate today as well.Around that time, Kyle's frequency of outings had increased, and he began to focus more on his outward appearance.Most importantly, the lifelessness in his eyes had started to revive.Seeing this, Luna realized anew that there was still a glimmer of hope left in the life she had shattered. A engagement proposal with the Yustia family... To find a use even for a lowly animal, you've certainly put some thought into this. What are you waiting for? Pursue it immediately.The Duchess actually welcomed Kyle's engagement proposal.She wanted to tear apart that detestable smile right then and there, but Luna restrained herself; there was nothing to be gained by antagonizing the Duchess now.With the Duchess's cooperation, the engagement proposal progressed smoothly.They went to the cathedral to formally seal the betrothal and prepared for the official engagement ceremony.But somewhere along the way, something had gone awry.More than anything, Kyle's pure nature, which had been almost pristine, began to be tainted. According to the servants of the Yustia family, the relationship between young master Kyle and Lady Isabel seems to have deteriorated recently. It seems Lady Isabel is unilaterally reluctant to go through with the marriage.Luna had forgotten.That Kyle was someone welcomed by no one.All because of the rumors she had spread about him.And because of the self-esteem she had crushed in him. Instead, young master Kyle is reportedly eager to hasten the marriage. Lady Isabel also appears to have no intention of calling off the engagement. The atmosphere at the Yustia family is even enthusiastically embracing the marriage.She had thought that in time, she could be forgiven for her mistakes.That there were reasons for her actions.That in her young age, she had failed to properly discern right from wrong.That she had loved him, more than anyone else in this mansion.She wanted to plead for another chance to make amends.She wanted to somehow prove her love for Kyle.She hoped he would rely on her once again.How wonderful it would be if he called her "sister" just one more time?But as the light grows brighter, the shadows deepen.Sometimes, certain despair was better than an unreachable hope.And that was why she chose despair.Because her selfish hope would be nothing but a deadly poison to Kyle. Send a letter to House Yustia. A letter, Miss? Yes, to move up the engagement schedule.The rift between them had become too great to mend through effort alone.* * * * *Ultimately, Kyle left the duke's mansion.With his official marriage to Isabel, he left to establish his own branch family.And as soon as he left, the Duchess, as if she had been waiting for this moment, began to erase all traces of him from the mansion. Kyle's bedroom was meticulously cleaned out, and all the clothes he had worn were promptly removed.Kyle left no remnant of his existence in the duke's mansion; just as if he had never been a part of this place from the beginning, he gradually faded from everyone's memories.At this horrifying realization, the dark emotions she had suppressed all this time erupted. Sister, where have you been! Goodness, I've been searching for you everywhere.The illusion of Kyle rushing towards her flashed before her eyes.She gazed at Kyle before her with blurred vision; even though she knew this was but an illusion, she could not avert her eyes. You said you wanted to become the head of the Winfred family, remember?The head of the family.Yes, that was what she had desperately yearned for to the extent that she had committed terrible deeds to Kyle just because she couldn't become the family head."Urggh...!"She gasped for breath.Kyle's voice, like an auditory hallucination, sharply pierced Luna's ears. I'm right here, sister.She walked as if possessed by a ghost.And the destination was none other than the door to Kyle's room.Through the wide-open window, the fragments of a memory unfolded on a winter day bleached in white, Kyle sat on the floor, pleading for help, his body shivering as if coated in frost. Please... please, the room is so cold...Kyle had trembled as if frost was settling all over his body.How much pain he must have been inHow much he must have suffered At least a blanket to cover myslef, please!""...Ah."A cracked sigh escaped her parted lips.It was all... all because of her.The terrible guilt felt as if it was crushing her heart. It hurts... it hurts so much...Of course, it would hurt.A child who could hardly eat or find the strength, was cast into the bitter cold by her.Tears welled up in Luna's eyes.She repeatedly pounded her chest with the palm of her hand as if pierced by pain; the illusion of Kyle, who had been knocking on the door, eventually collapsed weakly to the floor. Why...?The transparent tears fell silently.Choked by a foreign sensation, a lump formed in her throat, making it hard to breathe. What wrong did I do..."Kyle... Kyle..."She staggered towards his illusion.The stale emotions she had tried to suppress became like blades tearing through her mind.I'm sorry It's all my faultShe cried out in agony; her vision blurred from the ceaseless tears. I want to go homeAfter staggering for a while, the illusion of Kyle finely disintegrated into tiny particles in the air and Luna's outstretched hand, having lost its way, futilely stirred the air.Each breath she took filled her lungs with a chilling cold.The abyss-like void pressed down on her reason."Kyle..."If she had known it would be this painful.If she had known it would be this tormenting."...Kyle..."She would have never made that choice."...Haha."She chuckled through her tears.The belated regrets seemed laughable.* * * * *Even as time passed, the illusions of Kyle did not disappear.It would appear without warning, painfully scratching at Luna's insides, and amidst that agonizing pain, she would feel a perverse satisfaction.Drowning in a deep swamp of guilt, Luna had never once gone to see Kyle after he had left the mansion.So the fact that she could at least see Kyle's illusion was nothing short of a miracle to her.One day, through a servant, she came across Kyle's portrait.He had matured beyond recognition into a grown man.Her heart fluttered. That day, until she fell asleep, Luna gazed at Kyle's portrait, murmuring to herself.Then, one day...Oh, my lady! Terrible news!The butler burst into the room, opening the door without permission.In the face of this completely disrupted hierarchy, she let out a hollow chuckle.K-Kyle... young master Kyle has passed away!"...Passed away?"Luna echoed the butler's report in a daze.The old butler continued, his voice rough with heavy breathing.Yes, he was found dead in his own residenceIt didn't feel real. No, it couldn't be real. A strangled voice burst from her throat."What are you saying...""The cause of death is poisoning. He died from a deadly poison found on a teacup."Kyle... is dead...?No, that can't be.Kyle would never have taken his own life..."It's murder.""...Murder?"The butler slowly nodded."Who.""Pardon?""Who did it!""Uh, it was Lady Isabel.""...What?""Lady Isabel had a maid prepare the poison for her some time ago, according to the investigation. Lady Isabel is currently awaiting questioning at the imperial palace."She read through the documents the butler provided, again and again; they contained a clear, undeniable truth.At the same time, a terrible realization coursed through her veins.Isabel, the cursed woman she had arranged for Kyle to be engaged to.She had killed her brother."Why."She murmured in a sunken voice."For what reason."Everything felt hazy, as if in a dream."No, right?"No, this can't be.This can't be happening."...No."There were still so many things she needed to ask.She needed to seek forgiveness, to prove her heart.".......It is all because of me."Her lips moved of their own accord."I....sent Kyle away..."Because she hadn't protected Kyle.It felt like lava was pouring over her head, melting her reason.She had hoped Kyle would find happiness away from the mansion.She hadn't anticipated this outcome.If she had known, she wouldn't have sent him away.Luna's vision turned pitch-black; a chill settled in the corner of her heart."The young master's remains are being transported to the north, and the Duchess has decided not to hold a funeral."Luna's gaze gleamed ominously."Not hold a funeral.""Yes, they plan to bury him directly after placing him in a coffin.""What about the others in the mansion."................The servant remained silent.The implication was all too clear."Hah."Ah, of course. They were always such people.Luna's face contorted horribly and a vicious intent surged within her; towards herself, for driving Kyle to his demise, and towards the dreadful Winfred people."I see, so that's how it is."She uttered flatly.Her worn sanity, completely tattered, snapped with a faint sound.Let death atone for it all.Both herself...And the Winfred family.* * * * *After a thorough search, Luna had finally secured the poison that drove Kyle to his death.Colorless, odorless, and with an overwhelming fatality rate. It was said to inflict unimaginable agony upon the victim.Luna adorned herself more beautifully than ever.Simultaneously, she proposed a banquet, under the formal pretext of celebrating the Winfred family's prosperity.The mansion was bustling as usual today, despite Kyle's death.Nothing had changed.It didn't take long for the banquet to be prepared.Soon, the long table was splendidly laid out with dozens of dishes, and familiar faces took their seats.Ian Winfred.The Duchess.And Luna herself.Luna sat down with a smiling countenance."Luna, what's the occasion for this banquet you've arranged?"The Duchess offered a graceful smile.And Luna responded in kind with a dignified smile, "I'm sorry for my inadequate behavior lately.""It's fine, I'm just glad you've finally come to your senses," The Duchess chuckled lightly, waving her hand dismissively.Ian, seated at the head of the table, nonchalantly rang the bell on the table, as always."Let us begin the banquet."ClangThe sound of cutlery clinking echoed through the air.Sunlight poured in through the skylight, lending an almost sacred atmosphere; amidst this, an incongruous sound scattered near their ears.Cough!"...Huh?"The Duchess spat out dark red blood."Hel...p..."ThudThe Duchess staggered and fell to the ground."What, what is this!!"Ian, who had been unknowingly stuffing food into his mouth, abruptly stood up.Profound horror dawned in his eyes."Urgh...!"Soon, Ian too bowed his head, retching blood; the pristine white tablecloth was now stained a dark crimson."Ugh..."He sank to the floor, his eyes bloodshot."Ugh... Ugh..."A moment later.Ian, sitting on the floor, convulsed as if a fish out of water; the sight of it was so absurd that Luna burst into laughter."Haa..."CrackThe gruesome sound of twisting muscles shattered the silence; the light faded from Ian's dilated pupils as he lay sprawled on the floor.The Duchess, too, had perished, leaving only a brief death rattle.At the sudden tragedy unfolding before them, the shrill screams of the watching servants filled the air.And then...................CoughA dark red mass rose up Luna's throat."...Ah."She stood up from her chair.And slowly lowered herself to the floor.The sunlight pouring in from above bathed her in a radiant glow.The sky had never been clearer.A perfect day to die."...Puh."Her bloodshot vision turned crimson.Overcome by a pain that wrung her muscles, her mind grew hazy.Kyle.My brother.Tears streamed down.The blood oozing from the corners of her mouth had pooled on the floor, squelching.She knew it was too late.She knew she had no right to seek forgiveness.But the vile selfishness of it all made her shudder until the end.She wanted to see.Kyle's bright smile.She wanted to hear.That clear voice calling out to her.Luna's azure eyes gradually lost their light.Unable to find her voice, she could only move her lips whenYou may lose what is most precious to youWould you care to start anew?something indistinct entered her reddened vision.".........."To start over from the beginning, you say...Is that...possible?Luna's right arm, sprawled on the floor, trembled as it was lifted."...Plea...se."If necessary, she'll even offer her very soul."Just once"The words that forced their way through her clenched teeth were pathetically small, heavily laced with labored breathing."Again..."Her eyelids felt heavy.Her consciousness was fading.Through the narrowing field of vision, the message was updated.The regression beginsLuna's consciousness flickered out.