There Is No Lie In This World-Chapter 35: Where the Black Petals Bloom

The photograph hadn’t left my mind.

Elune’s dinner was as sublime as ever. Pure indulgence. Her pampering made the whole evening feel almost decadent.

But the photo - how it ended up on my desk - sat beneath every thought like a stone. Cold. Silent. Immovable.

I hadn’t told anyone about it.

Elune sensed something was weighing on me, but she didn’t ask. Instead, she tried to bury it with sweetness - warm food, warm smiles, warm hands. For a time, maybe it worked. But as soon as I returned to my solitude, the image returned. Again and again.

Luc hadn’t appeared all day. And this time, her absence didn’t feel like "too busy." It felt intentional.

Around midnight, though I knew I shouldn’t, I reached for the phone beside my bed and quick-dialed Elune.

She picked up before the first ring finished.

"Yes, Miss Roen. How may I help you?" She sounded almost happy I called.

"I’m really sorry to bother you... were you sleeping?"

"Not at all. You can call me any time you need anything!"

I felt sorry and relieved at the same time. I really was starting to get too used to being spoiled by Elune.

But since I came this far anyway, I figured I might as well just ask her directly.

"Where is Luc?"

There was a pause. A sigh.

"The Mistress is resting at the moment," she eventually answered.

"So she’s in the tower? Sleeping?"

What a stupid question to ask - at this hour, no less.

"Yes, Miss Roen."

"Could you ask her to come see me tomorrow morning?"

"No," she said without hesitation. "I’m sorry."

"Something’s wrong with her, isn’t it?" My voice dropped. "I feel like everyone’s hiding something from me."

"I do apologize again... but there’s nothing I can say. Please understand. I’m really sorry."

She did sound genuinely sorry. She clearly knew more. She just... couldn’t say it.

"Are you in danger? Is someone threatening you? Is there anything I can do?"

"Miss Roen, please..."

I knew I wouldn’t get more out of her.

Maybe it was foolish of me to push at this hour.

"Right. I’m sorry I asked. Maybe... we can talk tomorrow."

"Thank you for your understanding."

"Good night, Elune."

"Good night, Miss Roen. And... sweet dreams."

I set the phone down and stared at the ceiling.

———

"Miss Roen."

I woke to a whisper, gentle as wind slipping through the seams of a dream.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Elune’s face not far from mine.

"Elune...?"

She pressed a finger to my lips, signaling for silence, and helped me sit up.

Only then did I realize - I wasn’t in my bed anymore.

"Where... where am I?"

I was lying on a bed of flowers. White and pink, soft as down. Flowers I didn’t recognize. The petals shimmered faintly under a sky that was perfectly blue but contained no sun. No clouds.

"You’re in a dream, Miss Roen," Elune said, smiling as if she’d plucked the thought right from my mind.

"So... this is a dream?"

"Yes. Just a dream."

What a strange reassurance.

"So... you’re not real?"

"That’s right. I’m just part of your dream."

And what a strange dream...

"Please follow me."

We walked in silence.

Actually, for quite a while. It felt like half an hour, though time moved strangely here.

Eventually, we climbed a small hill. At the top, Elune paused and raised her finger again for silence. She opened her palm and gently directed my gaze.

Down in a dark clearing was a patch of land so black it seemed to absorb light. Yet something silver shimmered within it, like moonlight.

Elune took my hand, and we began descending the hill. Our footsteps made no sound, cushioned by the flowerbeds beneath us. I felt bad crushing them, but they didn’t bend. They didn’t break. They simply accepted our passing.

As we neared the clearing, I saw that the darkness wasn’t empty.

It was made of shadows in layers - velvety shades of black, impossibly deep.

At the center stood a great black tree, its trunk, branches, and fluttering leaves all the color of midnight. And beneath it, among the black petals, she rested.

Luc.

Elune gently held me back, and we stood at a distance - twenty, maybe thirty meters. Watching.

Luc lay there as if asleep. Her body rested in serene stillness atop the flowers, her face illuminated by the strange, silvery glow.

She looked peaceful.

She looked... beautiful.

For several long minutes, I couldn’t move. I only watched.

Eventually, Elune squeezed my hand, and we turned to walk back the way we came. I didn’t want to leave her, but somehow I knew I had to.

We crested the hill again, the black petals fading from view.

Then Elune turned to me and wrapped her arms around me in a soft, warm hug.

"I hope you feel better now, Miss Roen," she whispered.

———

When I opened my eyes again, I was in my own bed.

"Elune...?"

She stood over me, smiling brightly.

"Good morning, Miss Roen. Did you sleep well?"

I looked around - my room, just as I’d left it. No endless flowers, no cloudless sky.

Only Elune remained, and she bloomed like a flower and shone like the sun.

"I... I’m really confused right now."

Yet, I felt rested. My head clear. My body refreshed.

"Oh? Did you have a good dream?"

She grinned mischievously.

"You were in it."

"Wow, I’m honored."

"And Luc too."

She pouted playfully. "Now I’m jealous. How was the Mistress?"

"She... she seemed fine."

"I’m glad to hear that." She smiled sweetly. "Then I suppose you have nothing to worry about, right?"

"...I suppose."

I thought about the dream again. Everything was still so vivid in my mind. And I strangely felt that it was OK not to see Luc again for now.

"Today’s going to be another great day, Miss Roen. I’ll bring your breakfast now."

And with that, she turned and left the room, humming softly to herself.