Side Story of 'The Mark Carved in the Dark Night': I Said Nothing

Main Text

Author's Note: It is recommended to read this alongside Chapter 10.

I still remember what happened back then.

That day, my father 'disappeared,' and my mother spent the whole day with teary eyes, crying silently. No one in the mansion went to look for my father; the servants went about their daily tasks, and no one asked, as if he had never existed.

This was definitely not a 'disappearance,' but I didn't dare to ask.

A week later, my mother passed away in her sleep.

The only thing I remember is that she was in a particularly bad mood that day, so she drank an entire bottle of wine. My mother used to be able to drink a whole barrel of wine in one night, with only a slight flush on her face.

When cleaning the body at the time, there was a little bleeding from the nostrils, but it didn't flow out. Later, it was discovered that all nine orifices had the same condition.

I didn't dare to speak up. Within a month, two new graves were added to the family cemetery.

I had assumed that my father's younger brother would inherit the title, so I didn't think much of it during the period when he was acting as the head of the family.

As it turned out, a month later, an order from the Princess arrived. The order required me to process the succession of the title and the family estate, with the coat of arms, assets, and personnel documents all prepared, lacking only my signature.

'What about my uncle, uh, Victor Nebenst?' I asked the messenger in confusion.

'Victor? He went missing a month and a half ago.'

It was truly bizarre. Although I felt that something was definitely wrong, I only dared to say that I would consider it.

Until one day, the entire kitchen staff suddenly took leave (afterward, I confirmed that they were all still alive).

There was no other choice, so I had to go out to the market to buy something to fill my stomach.

While I was browsing the market, I was suddenly hooded with a black bag, and my arms were twisted as I was dragged into a building.

When I was pressed into a chair and the hood was removed, I found myself in a cellar.

The lighting was dim, but I could see documents scattered on a table in front of me.

Standing across from the table was a woman wearing a cloak, her face obscured and difficult to see.

These documents belong to your father and mother. Take a look.

The voice was somewhat familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.

Or perhaps, I didn't dare to remember.

The woman left after saying those words, and the wooden door slammed shut with a bang.

I flipped through the documents: troop deployments, receipts for ammunition and weapons, city maps...

Each one bore my father's signature, and the checks had my mother's signature and family seal.

There were also some documents regarding my uncle.

So the rumors were true after all.

Cold sweat broke out instantly: how were they going to dispose of me?

I hope it's a quick slash to the throat, nothing too painful...

I whispered in a voice so low I could barely hear it myself.

Then, a different woman entered, though I still couldn't see her face clearly.

But there was a sweet scent about her.

Sign here, and swear your loyalty to the Princess and the nation.

I signed the document with a trembling hand.

Afterward, I was dumped back into the marketplace, where the crowds were still bustling as usual.

Nearly a year later, when Claire came to me asking to sign documents, I didn't even have the courage to invite him in.

Even though I was his buddy.

I said nothing.

Japanese Translation

This translation is based on a draft by ChatGPT, which I have personally proofread and supervised.
If you find any unnatural phrasing or tone, I would appreciate it if you could point it out.
If you have any thoughts or questions, please let me know in the comments section. I will do my best to respond.

Side Story: I Said Nothing

Author's Note: It is recommended to read this alongside Chapter 10.

I still remember what happened back then.

That day, my father went 'missing,' and my mother spent the entire day teary-eyed, just weeping silently.

No one in the mansion went to look for my father; the servants went about their work as usual, and not a single person asked about him. It was as if such a person had never existed in the first place.

I knew it was by no means a 'disappearance,' but I was too afraid to ask.

A week later, my mother passed away in her sleep.

The only thing I remember is that my mother was in a terrible mood that day and had emptied an entire bottle of wine.

Previously, my mother could drink a barrel of wine in a single night and only have her face turn slightly red.

When we were preparing her body, there was a slight trace of blood oozing from her nostrils, though it wasn't enough to flow out.

I later learned that the same traces were left in all nine orifices.

I didn't make a sound.

Within a month, two new graves were added to the family plot.

I had assumed my father's younger brother would inherit the title, so while I was acting as the head of the house, I didn't think too deeply about it.

However, a month later, an order arrived from the Princess. It was an order to proceed with the succession of the title and family name, and a complete set of documents—including the crest, assets, and personnel records—was provided, leaving only my signature required.

'My uncle... ah, what about Viktor Nebenst?'

I asked the messenger, feeling suspicious.

'Viktor? He went missing a month and a half ago.'

It was all too strange. Even though I felt deep in my chest that something was wrong, all I could say was, 'Let me think about it for a while.'

One day, the kitchen staff at the mansion all suddenly took the day off. (I later confirmed that everyone was still alive.)

Having no choice, I went out to the market to fill my stomach.

As I walked through the market, a black hood was suddenly pulled over my head, my arms were twisted behind my back, and I was dragged into some building.

I was shoved into a chair, and when the hood was removed, I found myself in a basement.

Under the dim light, documents were scattered across the desk in front of me.

On the other side of the desk stood a woman wearing a cloak; her face was covered, so I couldn't see it clearly.

'These documents belong to your father and mother. Take a look.'

The voice sounded familiar somehow.

But I couldn't remember—no, I was afraid to remember.

After saying that, the woman left, slamming the wooden door shut behind her.

I flipped through the documents. Troop deployments, receipts for ammunition and weapons, floor plans of the city...

Every document bore my father's signature, and the checks were signed by my mother and stamped with the family seal.

Among them were also documents regarding my uncle.

—So the rumors were true after all.

Cold sweat ran down my entire body. —What was going to happen to me now?

'If possible... I want you to take my head in one stroke... with as little pain as possible...'

I whispered this in a voice so small it barely reached my own ears.

Then, another woman entered. Her face was also hidden.

But a sweet scent drifted through the air.

"--Sign it. Swear your loyalty to the princess and the country."

I signed the document with trembling hands.

After that, I was cast out into the market. The crowd was as full of noise as ever.

Nearly a year had passed since then, when Claire came to visit, asking me to sign some papers--

I didn't even have the courage to invite him into my home.

Even if he was my best friend.

...I said nothing.