Tale of the Moon Waiting for the Night - Chapter 1 (pt. 5)

“What’s going on?!”

The heavy footsteps of several people approach, along with a man’s deep voice.

Amid the murmurs of the servants, names like “Master” and “Kagai-sama” come up.

When I looked, the Master, the executives, the ranking members, and a mix of men and women—presumably the banquet attendees—were rushing down the hallway with alarmed expressions.

“I’m certain I felt a disturbance in the mansion’s barrier! Is there an intruder?”

At the angry question of one young man, all the servants and assisting women.

They were still holding their trays and turned their gazes toward Yohana and the others.

A crowd of eyes focused intently on the pond where Yohana was.

(What? What on earth is happening?)

It was undeniably a bizarre scene.

Two women sitting in a pond were observed by nearly thirty people staring down at them from the hallway.

Everyone seemed desperately trying to make sense of this absurd situation, and time seemed to slow down.

But in the silence, only one person began to move as if time had frozen.

The crowd that had gathered in the hallway parted naturally.

From that space appeared a young man, a presence that transcended mere words like “handsome.”

He seemed to be a little over twenty years old, with extraordinary beauty.

With platinum blonde hair—a rare color among Japanese—just barely brushing his shoulders and eyes as clear as expensive gemstones, free of any impurity.

His facial features were finely chiseled, as delicate as glasswork.

He was easily over 180 cm tall, and even in a simple shirt and chinos, his beauty and fine physique made the outfit seem refined.

But the most striking feature was the large bird of prey perched on his shoulder.

Its feathers glimmered golden, radiating a divine aura that instantly revealed it wasn’t a mere bird.

A soft, breathy murmur escaped someone: “Mizuri-sama.”

(Could that bird be the rumored sacred bird, Kinjishi? …Wait, why can I see it?)

Yohana gasped, overwhelmed by even more confusion.

If that massive bird was the Kinjishi, then this man must be none other than the first in rank—Yashiro Mizuri.

Without making a sound, Mizuri gracefully descended from the hallway to the garden, his gaze fixed straight ahead without even a blink.

Ignoring that his bare feet got dirty as he stepped into the garden, he began walking closer.

(W-Wait, wait. What should I do? Am I going to be scolded? No, more importantly, how do I even explain this?)

Tense in so many ways, yet unable to look away, Yohana watched as Mizuri approached.

“My mate.”

His perfectly shaped lips moved ever so slightly. Without a trace of hesitation, he stepped confidently into the pond.

“There’s no doubt. You are mine. My only companion.”

With those words, Mizuri came to a stop in front of Yohana.

…Or so it seemed, but he didn’t stop. He walked right past Yohana and knelt before Haru behind her.

“What is your name?”

Mizuri kneeled and extended his hand respectfully to Haru.

Meanwhile, Haru furrowed her brows in confusion, looking around awkwardly.

She was the one to whom he extended his hand

“Um, uh… My name is Kosumi Haru.”

“Haru. From today on, you are my only one. It’s cold here. Come inside.”

What on earth was this beautiful young man saying?

Leaving the dumbfounded Yohana behind, everything from that moment passed in a blur.

Mizuri effortlessly lifted the soaked Haru and, stepping out of the pond, announced in a resonant voice, “She will be my companion.”

At that, everyone around was immediately taken aback, encircling him while murmuring.

“Isn’t she a marebito?”

“She certainly is a marebito”

“A marebito has become the first-ranked’s companion,” and started bustling around.

No one’s attention remained on the pond.

“What just happened?”

Moments ago, the place was packed with people.

But now it felt as if a storm had passed, leaving Yohana alone, stranded by the pond.

A “companion” or a marebito?

Although she couldn’t comprehend it, it was clear that something significant had just happened.

She understood that Haru had been chosen and she was not.

This must be what it feels like to be completely bewildered.

Somewhere nearby, the calls of owls and frogs echoed continuously.

The human presence felt distant, and the garden was dim and silent.

Finally calming herself, Yohana stood up slowly.

Her kimono felt cold and heavy; it was soaked with water.

The urge to cry welled up within her.

(It’s not like I want someone to carry me in their arms like they did for Ms. Kosumi! But still, would it kill someone to show a little concern for me?)

Yohana felt as if she’d been suddenly excluded.

She’d done her best all day, helping prepare for the banquet.

She’d even spoken with several of the other servant women.

And yet, not a single person had shown her any concern after she fell into the pond.

Wasn’t it just too cruel?

She let out a deep breath from the pit of her stomach.

In her drenched state, returning to the mansion was daunting.

But she couldn’t just leave quietly like this, either.

Her change of clothes and valuables were still in the waiting room.

The thought alone made her head throb.

Just watching the droplets fall from her bangs made her want to abandon everything.

Unexpectedly, a clean white towel was held out to her as she hung her head.