The Twin Moons traded places in the depths of the night.
In the populated city, there were no clouds above or mist below. Every night was clear.
It was already midnight. As the Twin Moons traded places, most people had drifted off to sleep, and the streets had long since emptied.
Tonight was especially quiet.
Beneath the sky where the Twin Moons gleamed, however, the Count's Estate was anything but peaceful.
The Count's Estate blazed with light. Servants bustled through its courtyards, all wearing delighted expressions.
They carried assorted pastries and exquisite dishes. Today was a minor local festival.
Although it was only a minor festival, nearly all the decorations in the Count's Estate had been renewed. Everyone wore new clothes, making the place look festive and lively.
The residence at the center of the Count's Estate boasted every kind of precious flower and plant. The courtyard ground was level, and leaves stirred on several valuable trees.
Winter had already begun, yet this courtyard remained warm.
Clearly, an expensive seasonal magic array maintained the temperature. That alone showed that its owner was either wealthy or noble.
At the very center of the courtyard stood a lavishly decorated two-story building.
A burly man of about forty stood in the courtyard. He was unmistakably a warrior, with a broad face, thick eyebrows, and a resolute expression that commanded respect without anger. Even standing there in silence, his every movement radiated imposing dignity, as though he were a mountain towering before others.
Just then, a maid entered carrying a tray. She approached the man and bowed. "My lord Count, your milk tea."
This man was Count Butler, the ruler of the city.
The sixth Count Butler had become a Knight at seventeen. At twenty-one, he had commanded armies, conquered territory, forced the surrounding