CHAPTER 40: TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT

Edward woke up to an unusual silence.

Instead of the usual sight of Seraphine before him, there was nothing, just an eerie stillness filling in the empty side of his bed.

He pushed himself upright and frowned slightly.

It was unusual.

Seraphine never failed to wake him, sometimes far too eagerly. His first thought was to check on his connection with the Shadow Striker, but the bond between him and his summon was still active, which meant the girl was most likely still asleep, tangled up in her dreams.

Edward dressed without hurry, pulling on simple clothes, and stepped into the corridor.

The wood groaned beneath his boots as he descended the stairs. The scent of smouldering candlewax and faint ash reached him before the sight of Aeris sitting at the dining table.

"Morning," she said quietly.

"Morning," Edward returned, sliding into the chair beside her.

For several minutes, they sat in silence, the air between them calm but weighted.

Then, Aeris reached into her sleeve and drew out a folded scrap of parchment. The very same he had passed to her during the banquet—those were the instructions given to him by no other than Prince Arthur himself.

She laid the piece of folded paper before him.

Edward lifted the parchment and unfolded it. The message was brief, the words as sharp as a freshly forged blade.

Two hours before midnight, one mile from the west gate.

That was all. No names, no flourishes, only time and place.

Yet the simplicity of it made Edward’s heart pound against his ribs. Today was the day they would strike right into the heart of Crimson Oath.

"Tonight’s the night," Edward thought, the words resounding in his mind.

He folded the paper without another word and slid it back toward Aeris.

Without hesitation, she lifted it to the nearest candle and held it steady until the flame caught. The paper curled and blackened, its secret consumed in a moment of fire. When only ash remained, she let it crumble to the table, her face unreadable.

The sound of hurried footsteps broke the stillness. A cook entered, startled to see them both already seated.

"My lord, my lady, forgive me—I’ll prepare breakfast immediately!" she exclaimed, wringing her hands.

"No rush," Edward said with the faintest smile. "Take your time."

The cook bobbed her head and retreated, leaving behind the faint scent of flour and herbs.

Only moments later, another set of footsteps thundered down the stairs.

Seraphine appeared in a rush, her nightgown flowing too freely as she darted into the dining room. Her eyes widened when she saw both Edward and Aeris seated, her breath catching as though she hadn’t expected them to be there.

In an instant, relief washed over her face.

Without hesitation, she slid into the chair beside Edward, pushing it a touch too close, her shoulder brushing against his.

The rest of the morning carried on with a strange normalcy.

Seraphine spoke freely, her chatter filling the gaps in the room, while Edward and Aeris ate with quiet focus. The sound of utensils on plates, the occasional murmur from Seraphine, and the crackling of the fire made the moment almost homely.

When the meal was done, Aeris rose, brushing crumbs from her lap. "I’ll take my leave to prepare for tonight," she said, her gaze landing on Edward. "You should too."

Edward inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"Prepared?" Seraphine asked, tilting her head. "Prepared where? Where are you going?" she pressed as Aeris already left the dining room.

"We," Edward corrected, his gaze steady on her.

Her lips parted slightly. "We? I’m coming with you?"

"You are."

The confusion on her face shifted slowly, her eyes widening as the pieces fit together. Realisation dawned on her, followed swiftly by worry. "Tonight...?" she whispered.

Edward gave a single nod.

Her gaze dropped to the table, fingers twisting the edge of her nightgown. Fear trembled at the corners of her expression, as fragile as glass.

"You’ll be fine," Edward said firmly. "The royal guard will be with us. And if it comes to it... I’ll protect you myself."

She looked up at him, searching his face for any hint of hesitation. "You’ll protect me? You promise?"

Without hesitation, he nodded again.

Her entire demeanour shifted.

A smile broke through her worry, brightening her features. With sudden energy, she leaned forward, sliding into his lap and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

Edward stiffened, caught off guard by the warmth of her embrace. "Okay, okay," he muttered, awkwardly patting her back a few times.

At last, she released him, her grin lingering as she slid back into her chair.

"I should prepare as well," Edward said, already standing up.

Seraphine nodded eagerly, still buoyed by his promise. With renewed determination, she rushed upstairs, her steps light and hurried.

Edward lingered only a moment longer in the dining room before turning toward the stairs himself.

The hours dragged by, each of them absorbed in their own preparations. Aeris shut herself away in her room, quiet and methodical, while Seraphine vanished into hers.

Edward, with little need to prepare, spent the time steadying his racing heart and thoughts. Unlike Aeris, he wasn’t a warrior, his strength lay in using summons to fight in his stead. Yet a faint sense of foreboding gnawed at him. Perhaps that was why he slipped an old dagger from the townhouse into his belt—just in case he might need it.

The sun climbed high, then began its slow descent. The warmth of the day bled into a chilling dusk, the light fading into shades of violet and grey. The town grew quieter with the falling darkness, though an undercurrent of unease seemed to linger in the streets.

By the time the moon rose and silver light spilt over the rooftops, the three of them were ready.

A heavy knock fell against Edward’s door.

"It’s time," Aeris’ voice called from the other side.

Edward exhaled slowly, the sound barely more than a whisper in the quiet of his room. Tonight, answers would come—or blood would be spilt.

Tonight wasn’t the time for investigations or seeking answers—it was time for blood.