Invitation of the Crescent Moon - Chapter 65

The racetrack, surrounded by solid wooden barriers, had an ochre-colored dirt floor with spectator seating on the outside. Half of these seats were raised tiered benches while the other half were standing areas on flat ground enclosed by fences.

For this rare horse racing event, people of all social classes had gathered, creating a sea of humanity. Ashika took her seat in the tiered section along with other nobles.

As the clouds parted to reveal the sun, eight horses with their jockeys waited at the starting line for the signal to begin.

The tense crowd grew restless when the bell refused to sound. They craned their necks and scanned the area. Ashika narrowed her eyes as she fanned herself slowly.

“Does it always take this long? How much longer do we have to wait?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never been to a racetrack before either.”

Despite the large awning stretched over the nobles’ seating area, it was inadequate against the midday heat. Ladies continuously fanned themselves while men rolled up their sleeves and wiped sweat from their brows.

The crowd waiting for the race to begin looked somewhat bored. Their intense focus on the track made the scene almost peaceful.

That’s why the small disturbance in the stands immediately caught everyone’s attention.

“Aaaaagh!”

The crowd in the standing area beyond the fence suddenly split apart. Nobles in the seating area stood up one by one, craning their necks to see the opposite side of the stands.

“What’s happening?”

“Gasp! Oh, my goodness!”

Screams erupted one after another from the standing area. Frightened people pushed and shoved each other in their attempt to escape.

“What is that?”

Those watching from a distance were shocked by the scene of the disturbance. In the midst of the panicking crowd, strange figures had appeared, or rather, had been thrown in. To be precise, they could hardly be called human.

Their entire upper bodies, except for their faces, were hardened like tree bark, dried and stiff. They looked bizarrely like living mummies.

“Guards! Where are the guards!”

“Aaaagh! Let go of me!”

These beings, seemingly out of their minds, grabbed at anyone within reach. No one could even guess what they were. As people panicked, someone shouted in a booming voice:

“They’re escaped patients from the poorhouse!”

“They’re plague victims!”

The impact of these words was tremendous. Desperate people began climbing over the fences into the racetrack area to escape.

“They’re escapees from the Grand Duke’s territory!”

And then came malicious shouts from unknown sources.

“The Grand Duke’s territory?”

“What’s all this about?”

The confusion didn’t last long. A disturbance broke out even in the nobles’ seating area.

“Aaaagh! Monsters!”

“Move aside! Clear the way!”

Strange figures with bizarre appearances rushed into the stands as if being chased by something. People screamed in terror and pushed each other in their efforts to avoid these uninvited intruders, turning the viewing area into complete chaos.

“Guards! Where are the guards!”

The nobles began rushing to leave their seats. Before Ashika could move on her own, she was pushed along by the crowd.

“My lady!”

Jeanne tried desperately to follow, but Ashika was swept away by the crowd in an instant.

“Jeanne, it’s okay. Just get outside.”

Ashika gestured toward the exit, signaling to Jeanne.

In the midst of the chaos, someone drew a sword. Along with a sharp scream, the smell of blood spread quickly.

“Remove them before they touch people!”

At this command from somewhere, guards collectively drew their swords and rushed toward the intruders. About ten of them had jumped into the nobles’ seating area. Unable to find an escape route, they fell at a single stroke.

“Kheuk.”

Dark red blood spurted from the fallen figures, staining the pants and dresses of the fleeing nobles.

“Aaagh! Stay away!”

As dried, tree bark-like bodies fell everywhere, the frightened people grew even more terrified. Those in a state of panic pushed each other with all their might to escape.

“Agh! Don’t step on me!”

“Move aside!”

“Do you know who I am? Aagh!”

But the narrow stairway exits were actually blocked by the flood of people.

The commotion didn’t stop there. The door connecting to the inside of the track opened with a loud bang.

“The horses are escaping!”

“Kyaaah!”

All at once, the horses from the stables rushed into the track as if startled by something. Before the mounted jockeys could regain control, nearly thirty horses began running wild together.

People who had jumped into the track to escape the commotion were now struck, trampled, or crushed by the wild horses.

“My lady, you mustn’t go that way!”

Jeanne’s scream came from behind. But in the crowd, it was impossible to change direction at will. Ashika was pushed almost helplessly toward the railing.

The railing around the viewing area was only waist-high. As Ashika, swept up by the crowd, hit the railing, a strong force pushed her over.

“Aaagh!”

There was no time to grab anything. Her upper body bent sharply, and she fell straight into the racetrack. Thud! Her whole body hit the ground.

“Ashika!”

She thought she heard someone calling her name through the screams of the people. But Ashika was dazed.

“Huh.”

After being momentarily frozen from the impact of hitting the ground, Ashika hurriedly pulled in her limbs and got up.

“Ugh.”

Pain shot through her hips and pelvis. But there was no time to nurse her pain. The wildly running horses were entangled with people right nearby.

The scene was dizzying. Dust rose from the dry ground, and even the jockeys had fallen from their horses and were frantically running away. If she remained stupefied, she would be trampled by a horse at any moment.

‘Where’s the exit?’

The viewing area was higher than eye level, completely blocking her view. After quickly assessing her surroundings, Ashika spotted the exit leading to the stables where the horses had entered from.

She quickly changed direction and started running. The thin, fluttering hem of her dress wrapped around her legs, making it difficult to run. Moving her pain-stricken body awkwardly, she ran along the fence.

“Huff.”

But after just a few steps, her path was blocked by the disoriented horses. The screams of people, the neighing of horses, and the dusty haze made her head spin.

Ashika pressed herself against the wall and forced her trembling legs to move.

“Cough, cough.”

As if the precarious situation wasn’t enough, the acrid dust made her eyes water.

She needed to leave quickly, but she couldn’t see the exit anywhere. As she hesitated, unable to find her bearings, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“Gasp.”

“This way.”

Ashika was pulled through a small side door she hadn’t even noticed existed. With a thud, the door closed behind her.

Suddenly, there was silence with just a door between her and the chaos. The noisy tumult outside seemed like a distant dream. Ashika raised her head, catching her breath with difficulty.

“Lady Igraine, what are you doing in such a dangerous place?”

A familiar face was looking down at her from a step away. A man with heterochromatic eyes—one golden and one deep green.

“Lord Maiheller?”

“Where is your escort knight? I saw the guards coming, but why did you come in instead of going out?”

“Ah, I was trying to get out, but I fell from the viewing area.”

“My goodness, are you alright? Is there anywhere uncomfortable to walk?”

Erwin reached out to her in surprise. Ashika instinctively took a step back.

“Oh, I was just in a hurry. Don’t be frightened. I was only trying to help.”

Erwin showed both his hands and stepped back.

Though they had never conversed, she had often seen his face at formal occasions. The eldest son of the Maiheller family, boasting looks as handsome as the beautiful Shafri. However, his heterochromatic eyes, rather than beautiful, somehow gave her an unsettling feeling.

With the danger seemingly passed, her rapid breathing finally began to calm.

“Why are you here, Lord Maiheller?”

“I jumped down this way to avoid being trampled by people. But the horses’ rampage has left us trapped. It seemed safer in here than outside, so I’ve been waiting.”

The place they had entered was a small storage room attached to the race track. Since the guards had intervened, the situation outside would soon calm down. As he said, it seemed safer to wait here.

An awkward silence fell as their conversation ended. As she pondered when they might be able to leave, Erwin spoke again in a friendly tone.

“You know what? This is the first time I’ve had a conversation alone with Lady Igraine.”

“The Maihellers and Igraines don’t particularly have any connection.”

Especially with Talion between them.

“As you know, we’re now trying to broaden the scope of our relationship.”

He meant that their relationship with Talion had grown distant due to the broken engagement. Erwin smiled with an apparently disinterested attitude.

“Why are you not answering?”

“Did that require an answer?”

Erwin’s smile stiffened at Ashika’s cool tone.

“It seems my goodwill is burdensome to you. There’s no need to be so serious.”

“This isn’t really the situation for socializing.”

“Are you scared? Don’t worry. This place is safe. I can protect you.”

His gaze was coldly gleaming. Suddenly, a chill ran down Ashika’s spine.

The gloomy storage room felt more dangerous than the chaotic outside. Like prey trapped inside a fence.

As Ashika stepped back, Erwin moved a step closer.

“There’s no need to put yourself at risk because of me. My escort knight will find me soon.”

“Yes, of course. But why do you keep backing away?”

‘What is this?’

Her heart raced loudly with fear. Instinct was screaming at her that she was in danger, that she needed to get out of there.

The moment Erwin reached out his hand, Ashika yanked the door handle open. The chaotic noise from outside hit her ears all at once.

“Lady Igraine!”

Instinct moved her body rather than rational judgment. Ashika ran out of the storage room. Not even knowing what she was afraid of, she ran with only the thought of escape in mind.

Horses were still running wildly inside the track. Ashika saw a horse galloping quickly toward her and changed direction. However, she stepped on the hem of her dress and fell.

“Gasp!”

“Ashika!”

Just as a massive form was about to run her over, a force snatched her away. Losing her balance, Ashika was thrown to the ground, rolling until she hit a wall with a thud.

“Ugh.”

The soft groan wasn’t hers. Strong arms and a broad chest had embraced her. Ashika looked up to identify the person and gasped.

“Rushia? How…!”

“Let’s talk later.”

Drushia rose quickly while holding her tightly.

“Are you hurt? Did you hit your shoulder?”

Despite her urgent questioning, Drushia was preoccupied with surveying their surroundings. People still unable to escape the track were running chaotically, trying to avoid the wild horses.

“What’s wrong with these horses!”

“Get outside now!”

“Guards! There are injured people here!”

Cries of panic and pleas for help came from all directions.

Drushia firmly grasped Ashika’s hand and pointed toward the standing area. Where the intruders had first entered, red blood and flesh were now scattered.

“Ashika, can you run? Don’t let go of my hand.”

His grip on her hand tightened. Ashika pressed her lips together and nodded.

As soon as she gave her consent, Drushia ran, holding her hand. He crossed the track, monitoring the horses’ movements and narrowly avoiding them with split-second timing.

Ashika ran, watching the broad back ahead of her. The force pulling her along was strong and steady, so she only needed to follow him and run.

A strange feeling came over her. The fear that had been freezing her blood earlier disappeared, and the screams of people faded away. Even the wild rampage of the horses seemed distant, as if from another world.

In this world where everything seemed to slow down as if time had been stretched, only the man before her was vivid reality.

His bright golden hair, which remained vibrant despite being covered in dust, and his sharp yet solid face as he surveyed their surroundings. Even in the midst of chaos, his eyes, which turned back to check on her from time to time, were filled with warm concern.

A hot wave surged through her chest, which had been constricted with fear. Perhaps she had known all along—this was the feeling she had been trying to deny.

Heat rose to her eyes. To hold back the tears welling up, Ashika bit her lip.

‘Yes, now I understand.’

This feeling belongs to me. Not confusion from hallucinations, but my true feelings. And those feelings were saying:

‘Rushia, I love you.’