The moonlight gradually vanished.
Above the sky, a black sun began to take its place.
With nothing blocking it, sunlight poured down upon the earth. On the winter land, all things had ceased growing; only a few evergreen plants were barely holding on.
There were still few pedestrians on the streets. In this season that was beginning to turn cold, people's desire to go out had greatly diminished.
Unless work required it or there was some urgent matter, people preferred to curl up at home and enjoy the warmth.
Because the Count had suddenly issued an order, the Count's Estate had reduced the number of people going out from this very morning onward.
Even those responsible for purchasing supplies had received the butler's orders. What had originally been several groups making purchases had been reduced to two groups, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Two additional teams had been assigned to stand guard at the entrance, and an atmosphere of tension permeated the entire Count's Estate.
Those who did not know what was going on did not dare ask too much. Yet those who knew some of the inside story all felt that the Count was making a mountain out of a molehill.
For instance, a certain person was currently throwing a tantrum in his room.
"What do you mean, I'm not allowed out? Who do they think they are? They think they can even control me? What a bunch of bastards!" Suria cursed in his room. The thought that he had actually been confined filled him with fury.
If he had not overheard his father's conversation last night, it would have been one thing. But now that he knew, they still told him that he was forbidden from leaving because the estate had important business to