Abella set down the envelope she’d been fiddling with on her desk.

During the past eight years, the place she’d spent the most time in was here—the study.

The Amerigo family’s study seemed to weigh down on Abella’s shoulders, and she found their library, which she often stayed in as a child, very comfortable. Abella touched the corners of her desk, smoothed over the years she’d used it.

She’d spent eight years here, and strangely enough, she didn’t feel any regret.

Abella raised her tearful eyes.

“Carlo..”

Now was the time to let go of Carlo Amerigo, her dead brother who’d taken care of her with all of his might.

It was exhausting. She found it difficult to hold onto her worn-out feelings any longer.

Abella placed the rectangular envelope in a prominent area on the middle of her desk.

[To Simon Amerigo.]

This was Abella’s best course of action.

In the early morning, while everybody was asleep, Abella disappeared in the midst of autumn in a pre-booked carriage.

Without anyone knowing.

***

He wanted to find Abella as soon as he finished his morning training.

His name was Simon Amerigo. He jumped in one step.

“Aunt! Aunt!”

Simon knocked on the door to the study, his throat pressuring him to call out for Aunt Abella.

“Are you still asleep?”

Simon tilted his head and opened the door. Abella was late.

He’d never witnessed anything major occur during the past eight years.

The study was strangely cool. The fireplace, which was always on, was off even though they were entering early winter and the weather was changing accordingly.

“Aunt, your hands and feet will be cold.”

Simon’s heart sank. The blue eyes of the still immature boy scanned the study.

Even the furniture, which was stained with the touch of Abella’s hands, remained unchanged, yet it still felt empty.

Simon’s face sank in the dark. He felt a strange premonition.

A rectangular envelope on her desk caught his eye. Simon opened the letter with trembling hands.

[To Simon Amerigo.]

Simon’s wavering eyes read the letter without hesitation.

[Simon, I love you.]

Her long letter ending like that could only mean one thing.

Abella had left. To a place nobody could find.

Well, the last eight years must’ve been hell for Abella. She did her best just by enduring that time.

He knew that. So now he had to let her go.

But..

Simon burst open the door again.

“Hannibal!”

The voice of the boy was sharp as he called for his butler.

“Young master?”

“Hire mercenaries right now. I’m looking for my aunt.”

Simon handed the letter in his hand over to Hannibal.

He’d ensure that Abella would be put back into place.

The letter fell from Hannibal’s hand.

[Never look for me. This is my last request.]

Simon ignored the last sentence with his eyes tightly closed.

Abella must return. To this place where there are people who love her.

‘Aunt..’

Simon was in tears as if he had become a child again.

‘Please come back.’

***

8 years ago.

It rained a lot that day.

People in dark clothes with black umbrellas had gathered together to mourn for Duke Carlo Amerigo.

Step, step.

Everybody’s attention was drawn to a woman with silver hair who walked on a wide stepping stone laid down at the entrance of the graveyard. It was located on a hill behind the Duke’s mansion.

“Abella.”

“It’s been a while, Mother.”

The woman, who wore fine black lace while holding an umbrella, smiled lightly. However, her smile soon disappeared like a firework.

“I didn’t know you would come.”

Abella exhaled a sorrowful breath. It seemed as though nobody was waiting for her. She’d been looking forward to this moment.

She had a bitter taste within her mouth. Even if nobody welcomed her, she still had to come back.

Amerigo’s prodigal daughter, who’d never been spotted during the past eight years, had returned. On her brother’s funeral day as well, nonetheless.

For a moment, people had forgotten about the tragedy of the Amerigo family, instead chattering about the story of Abella. She threw a chrysanthemum over Carlo’s coffin with a casual look on her face, then stepping back.

“Abella Amerigo!”

“The one born on Skellus..!”

Abella shifted her gaze to them, and they shut their mouths again.

She laughed.

Skellus Day.

The cursed day.

It was a day when the moon didn’t rise.

From generation to generation, children born on Skellus Day would either suffer upon birth or die early.

However, the only person who survived even though they were born on Skellus Day was Abella Amerigo.

This was why people would point their fingers towards Abella as if she was a cursed child.

Moreover, as if she was cursed, Abella was tormenting to her father.