The setting sun's afterglow sprinkled over the sparkling river, bathing the buildings on both banks in a warm, gentle hue.
A few white geese flapped their wings and frolicked on the river, while wild grasses swayed gently in the breeze along the shore.
People who had been busy all day were starting to prepare dinner, and wisps of smoke were rising. The pedestrians on the streets were becoming sparse.
The twilight of the White City overflowed with happiness, so beautiful it was like a painting.
Gray sat upright on a bench by the river, next to a sobbing Shelley. The Bone Horse was frolicking on the nearby grass.
"Why exactly is she crying? It's just a little fall. I didn't see her get hurt. Human girls sure are delicate."
"You think she's crying because she fell?"
"What else could it be?"
"Alright, if you say so. I can't be bothered to explain."
"So what should I do now? I read somewhere that if someone is crying, you can comfort them. But it didn't say how to do it in detail. Maybe you can teach me?"
"I think it's better if you don't say anything."
"Why?"
"There's no 'why.'"
"Why is there no 'why'?"
"There just isn't 'why.'"
"Oh, I get it, you don't want to tell me, do you?"
"Wow, you actually figured it out?"
Gray quietly reached his hand into his armor.
"Meow——!"
"Huh!" Shelley, who had been crying her eyes out, was suddenly startled and looked around, but didn't see anything resembling a cat. Probably too tired from crying, she looked rather dazed: "I just... seemed to hear a cat. Or a scream. Every time I'm with you, I hear a cat, but there is no cat. Am I hallucinating?"
"Maybe," Gray answered casually.
"I'm having hallucinations..." Shelley said tearfully, her gaze lowering to the handkerchief in her hand, which was already soaked and crumpled from being wrung out so many times. Choking up, she said, "Do you have a handkerchief? Can you lend me one?"
"What's a handkerchief?" Gray asked the Black Cat.
The Black Cat, who had just been pinched hard, replied weakly, "It's a piece of cloth used to wipe tears, and it can also be used to wipe other things."
"I see! Yes! Just wait a moment!" Gray reached into his armor and rummaged around, then pulled out a dirty pair of underwear: "Here!"
Staring blankly at the underwear Gray handed her, Shelley was shocked.
"Is this... a handkerchief?"
"Yes," Gray said firmly.
Shelley grew even more dazed, staring at the river with a sense of dismay, clutching her chest and taking deep breaths.
"You idiot! That's underwear! Underwear!" the Black Cat roared from inside the armor.
"Why would there be underwear in my armor? I don't wear underwear."
"When you stuffed the scarecrow in last time, you stuffed the whole scarecrow, including its underwear!"
"What do I do now?"
"Wait a moment... There, give her this!"
While Shelley wasn't paying attention, Gray stuffed the underwear back into his armor and pulled out a piece of white cloth.
Alright, it still wasn't a handkerchief, but it looked a bit closer to one.
Staring at the river, Shelley said blankly, "I heard the cat again, but there's no cat around here. I'm wondering if there's something wrong with my ears. Everyone says you're nice, but I'm the only one who doesn't think so. Yet, sometimes you seem so kind and righteous. Could it be that all the mistakes are just figments of my imagination? Sometimes, when you think everyone else is wrong, it might be that the only person who's wrong is you. Isn't that right?"
Turning her head again, Shelley noticed that the underwear in Gray's hand had turned into a clean "handkerchief." She was once again astonished.
"Is this... the handkerchief from just now?" She widened her tear-filled eyes, looking pitifully at the "handkerchief," hoping for an answer.
"What should I say? How should I respond?" Gray quickly whispered to the Black Cat.
"Don't panic! Don't panic! Look, she's almost faint from crying! As long as you firmly say it is, she can't do anything about it!"
"Yes, this is the handkerchief from just now. Is there a second one?" Gray said firmly.
"Do I even have a problem with my eyes?" Instantly, Shelley's tears flowed out again, sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath: "What do I do... Do I have some strange disease? How much longer do I have to live? What if... What if I'm going to die soon... Will you still marry me? Forget it, maybe the proposal was just my hallucination, not real... That's why everyone hates me so much... I'm a bad woman, I should die alone."
*She's crying again, what do I do?*
*How should I know what to do?*
"It's getting late, the theater owner said they're showing 'The Knight's Guide to Success Sequel' tonight, and I want to see it again. I'm afraid if she keeps crying, I won't make it."
"At a time like this, you're thinking about that crappy play and not the fact she agreed to marry you?"
"She agreed to marry me?"
"Yes. Did you just figure that out?"
"But watching the play is important too, isn't it?"
"..."
Finally, Shelley managed to calm herself down, secretly peeking at Gray with the corner of her eye. Expectantly.
"She's waiting for you to propose to her again," the Black Cat whispered, "This time, the proposal should work."
"Oh."
"And then? Aren't you going to do something?"
"No."
"You lousy Lich! Don't you want to have many little Liches and scare the Priests at the chapel together?"
"Although that idea is tempting, 'The Knight's Guide to Success Sequel' is on its final night tonight, and I can't miss it. But proposing can be done another day," Gray said righteously.
"Huh..." the Black Cat was at a loss for words.
As time passed by, Gray sat upright, unaffected. Meanwhile, in Shelley's eyes, hope was gradually ebbing away, turning into despair.
Finally, she stood up slowly, choking up as she said, "It's late, can you take me back home?"
"I'd be happy to serve you!" Gray stood up with a dramatic "clang."
Seeing how eager Gray was, Shelley burst into tears again: "It was all an illusion! All an illusion! You never actually proposed to me... No wonder everyone said I forced you to admit you proposed to me. I should have known; how could someone propose on the first meeting? You didn't reveal the truth because you didn't want to hurt me, and I... I thought I really heard your proposal all this time..."
To Gray's relief, Shelley didn't sit back on the bench this time. She probably intended to go home and cry. He had to admit, this was a fortunate occurrence. At least Gray thought so.
This way, he could still watch 'The Knight's Guide to Success Sequel' on time!
Summoning the Bone Horse, Gray helped Shelley onto the horse's back. Leading the Bone Horse, the two began their way back.
Under the setting sun, the knight led his horse, carrying his lover, strolling through the small town. The scene was so beautiful... Well, not really. The knight was thinking about the upcoming knightly play, while the girl on the horse was crying her eyes out.
Along the way, Gray walked quickly, almost using the Gale Technique on himself. The Bone Horse also quickened its pace, seemingly wanting to hurry up and get Shelley home so they wouldn't have to deal with her anymore. Well... maybe not "seemingly," that's exactly what they wanted.
Shelley sobbed, her eyes filled with tears.
Soon, they arrived at the Gruglu family's mansion not far away.
All that remained of the day's sunlight was the last ray, and the alley was empty. There weren't even any guards at the main gate.
Without saying a word, Gray lifted Shelley off the horse.
Just as he thought he could let go and rush to the theater, Shelley suddenly turned around and hugged him tightly, burying her head in Gray's chest, she said, "I'm afraid I won't see you again."
"You will, we'll see each other tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Of course!" Saying this, Gray was "relentlessly" prying off Shelley's hands because he was really going to miss 'The Knight's Guide to Success Sequel'!
"*Although I know you're lying to me, I'm still happy. Really, thank you.*" Shelley reluctantly took a step back, revealing a sweet smile.
"Hey! She smiled! Does that mean I successfully comforted her?"
"I suppose so," the Black Cat said with an expressionless face.
"So... goodbye!" Gray leapt onto the Bone Horse, turned it around, and galloped away.
The action was smooth and seamless, if only he were this skilled every day.
Watching Gray's figure fade into the distance, Shelley lightly waved her hand and softly said, "Goodbye..."
Her eyes were filled with confusion and reluctance.
After a long time, she finally lowered her face, suddenly noticing something on the ground, and reached out to pick it up.
"'The Knight's Guide to Success,' a knight's novel? Could it be that even Gray is an illusion, just my imagination after reading a knight's novel... Yes, how could such a perfect knight exist in this world? Indeed, I'll never see him again." Clutching the novel tightly, holding the "handkerchief" that Gray had lent her, Shelley choked back tears, smiling as she pushed open the gate to her home and walked inside.
The courtyard was empty, with no lights even as night fell, giving it a desolate feeling. But what could be more desolate than Shelley's mood?
Shelley didn't even glance around. She walked straight through the courtyard to the manor door, lightly touching it with her hand, and it opened.
"Huh?"
Before she could react, an armored soldier appeared behind her, pushing her into the door.
"Perfect, the last one has finally returned."
In an instant, Shelley was dumbfounded.
The large living room was dimly lit by candlelight, with the fire crackling in the fireplace.
In front of Shelley, eight of the Gruglu family's guards lay in pools of blood. Surrounding them were soldiers she had never seen before.
Count Gruglu, the butler, the maids—in short, everyone in the mansion except the guards—were all tied up, gagged, and sitting in the center of the living room.
A man with long brown hair, one eye, and a stubbly face stood before her, holding a sword and smiling at her.
At that moment, Shelley looked at everything in terror, her mind completely blank.