“He’s gone.”

Just as he seemed within reach, the moment I crossed the forest’s boundary, everything disappeared, including the tracks we had made up until now.

His distressed expression as he looked at me in the last moment was vivid in my mind, as was his hand reaching out to me but not making it.

‘When I return, I should apologize.’

I probably had the same expression in his eyes.

How shocked he must have been when Rose disappeared. To lose a beloved sister was shocking enough, but for me to vanish right before his eyes as well. It wouldn’t be surprising if the castle was now in a state of emergency, suspecting black magic or something.

“Can I trust this green light?”

The cluster of light deepened and grew as I entered deeper into the forest. It guided me like a beacon, and despite my suspicions, I had no choice but to follow it.

“Uh…”

At that moment, I heard someone else’s breathing, the sound of someone dying.

“Rose Temery!”

Rose was lying under a large tree, reminiscent of the poplar at the castle.

And her body was covered in green firefly-like lights.

“No!”

I screamed, as the green lights seemed to be sucking the life out of Rose.

“Rose, come to your senses! I didn’t want to find this place like this!”

In the original story, the heroine found the treasure of the North next to Rose’s dead body. I, too, had been wandering in search of the original treasure.

It seemed like Rose was dying to show me where the treasure was, just like in the original.

If Rose dies, then this must be the right place for the hidden treasure.

Suddenly, I remembered a passage from a book I had researched about the legend.

Between the valleys, where the Windy Valley begins. Where the blood of roses flows, when the door of the full moon opens…

The moon was rising. My head spun. The legend was coming to life.

“All descendants of the North Wind, grant the treasure for your progeny!”

I held Rose in my arms and shouted towards the sky.

Rose, no. Don’t die. The full moon is out now. We can get the treasure. Fool, just hang on a little longer.

“All descendants of the North Wind, grant the treasure for your progeny!”

If the door to the hidden warehouse opened in the legend, and we went inside…

“All descendants of the North Wind, grant the treasure for your progeny!”

I could warm up Rose’s cold body.

But…

‘In the original, the warehouse door opened as soon as the heroine chanted the spell…’

Why isn’t anything happening? Like Rose slowly losing her breath in my arms.

“Wake up, Rose Temery. Before I make you copy etiquette books every day.”

Rose’s lips were white, as if showing her dwindling life force.

“What’s this…”

Then, Rose faintly smiled and spoke.

“I wanted to see Darius’s face at the end, so why did it have to be you?”

Shut up, don’t talk like you’re really going to die.

“I’m cold.”

Rose snuggled into my arms, even though she hated me more than anyone.

‘I won’t lose to this cursed original story.’

I won’t cry, I won’t despair.

If Rose dies just like in the original, what happens to my death flag in the original!

“So, Rose Temery, you have a duty not to die!”

I held Rose tightly and shouted towards the sky again.

“You said all descendants of the North Wind! Are you going to let your domain’s people die like this, you foolish ancestor!”

‘Is it a matter of bloodline? The heroine could do it. I found the right place, and the moon is out, so why!’

Rose reached out into the air.

“Darius…”

No.

Rose’s neck slumped to the side, and at that moment, the moon enlarged, and the world went dark.

“All contracted, all contracted, arise.”

“Uh…”
“New contractor, according to the oath of friendship.”

“Rose Temery!”

With a voice ringing in my head, I regained consciousness, searching for Rose.

When I opened my eyes, a new place appeared. The sound of gold coins collapsing behind my flung arm rustled.

Wasn’t I in the forest?

“Where is this?”

“This is the space where the founder of Inkheart and I made a pact. It’s also where he sealed the treasure.”

Rose Temery, the legendary treasure, a new place.

My head spun with the sudden influx of information. The entity before me rambled on, uncaring of my confusion.

“Though I said it doesn’t matter if the person isn’t of the bloodline, it’s surprising that someone who’s not a descendant of Inkheart has found these treasures. Are you going to become rich with these treasures?”

The luxurious space was filled with mountains of gold coins. Amongst the piles were art pieces, swords, bracelets, as if saying these too should be present.

I had finally found it. The treasure warehouse of the Duchy.

But a tall person, who shouldn’t be here, was looking down at me. Beautiful blond hair, an elegant posture. I knew him.

“Sir Lucion…?”

Why here?

“No, I am not him. I just borrowed a suitable form from your mind. Humans like entities with forms. Do you dislike this appearance?”

With a gesture, he transformed from Sir Lucion into Darius in front of me.

“Hmm…”

A person of unknown identity, looking at his long, muscular limbs, hummed.