The white and dry linen is covered with black petals, like fragments cut from the night sky, thick and light, with a beauty that does not belong to the world. Pen % fun % Pavilion www.biquge.info

The residual aroma floats in the air. When the Heart of Night is in full bloom, the fragrance is far less intense than that of ordinary roses, but these treated petals, which have been plucked before withering, emit a strong fragrance, and the original blue-purple color has also become an inky pure black.

However, the velvety touch and luster on the petals when they are in full bloom cannot be completely retained.

Aaron Mancini held his breath and carefully glued the petals one by one to the equally dry but lifelike calyx, as if caressing his lover's eyelashes.

Carefully selected petals, almost every petal is perfect. A real black rose gradually bloomed in his hands...... And it will never wither again.

Mancini admired his masterpiece and smiled with satisfaction.

He can even give it real life again...... But what's the point of that? Life will always pass away, but death won't.

He put the finished flower into the vase, rubbed his fingers that were starting to ache, and casually remembered the latest rumors of Tonbutch's great battle between Scott Criess and Sean Freyche.

In the midst of one chaotic whirlpool after another, the City of Ten Thousand Springs strangely maintained a general calm, and there was no major turmoil, but when all the whirlpools were practiced together, the entire city was swallowed up......

Mancini knew that moment was not far off.

The wait is still tireless. So, when he first got the news, he almost jumped with excitement - the conflict between Scott and Sean would erupt sooner or later, and he even thought about whether he should think of a way to add fuel to the fire......

Realizing that he was a little too excited, he sat down and began to make this eternal rose.

Concentrating on such a task, which requires only care and patience, will calm him down and think about everything more calmly.

It is true that the contradictions between Scott and Sean will erupt sooner or later...... But why now? What did Scott say to Sean? Was Ed Singall's appearance a coincidence or an elaborate arrangement? How could Scott not be Sean's opponent?......

Mancini had an uncontrollable unease about any change that was not within his control.

He is not the type of person who is born with great strength or self-confidence, and everything he has today depends on his prudence......

The movement of the fingers suddenly stopped. Mancini turned his head to look at the staff that was leaning against the edge of his chair and within reach, smiled slightly, and shook his head at himself.

He still gets caught up in this way of thinking from time to time, forgetting that he is no longer the Aaron Mancini he used to be, and that he no longer needs to be cautious, step by step, with false smiles in exchange for limited trust, and spend countless efforts to weave a strong enough web.

He no longer had to worry that even the slightest mistake could ruin his elaborate plan and ruin everything in one fell swoop.

He became more and more aware of Scott's increasingly obvious arrogance – that when you have absolute power in your hands, you can see the world differently.

Mancini grabbed his staff and stood up.

He didn't have to do much...... "go with the flow", he was only now able to understand the word.

But not doing something really doesn't fit his character...... So, he can at least visit a friend?

Before leaving, Mancini took the rose with him. He liked it as his own, but it wasn't really useful. Women, on the other hand, never seem to be able to refuse such a gift.

What's the point of its existence if it can't be used to show off?

In the unoccupied room, the fragrance of the Heart of the Night gradually dissipated. A moment later, the delicate wooden door was silently pushed open.

Nia poked her head out, looked left and right, and swaggered in.

He walked around the room with his hands behind his back, curiously rummaging around and looking at almost everything that could be opened, looking like a close friend rather than an uninvited thief, not at all worried that his master would go and return, or be discovered by others.

He didn't think he could find anything particularly useful here. For Mansini, this was probably only a temporary refuge, otherwise he would not have allowed it to remain as it was originally decorated—it was definitely not in keeping with the unique aesthetic of Lord Mansini.

He stopped in front of another door. Judging by the structure of the whole house and the windows outside, the door should lead to a corridor facing the garden on one side and the servants' rooms, pantry, and kitchen on the other......

What the eye can see isn't necessarily the real thing - that's why he's always hated magic.

He hesitated before pressing his hand on the door. The room he was in wasn't protected by magic, but there seemed to be something different behind the door...... Maybe it will be discovered.

But he couldn't contain his curiosity after all.

Behind the door was a large bedroom, with low curtains and dim light, and the scent of flowers floating in the dull, motionless air was inexplicably a little disgusting.

Nia moved cautiously and crept over to the bed. What surprised him was not the bedroom that shouldn't be here, but ...... There was actually a person lying on the bed.

The small figure looks like a child. Nia looked around, not sensing any danger, and boldly leaned closer, close enough to see the red hair on the pillow.

Lying there was a petite girl, half-curled up and sleeping soundly, and it seemed that she would not wake up easily...... Or maybe you won't wake up at all.

Nia resisted the urge to reach for her hair, and looked down at the sleeping face with a faint smile.

The girl had a sweet little face, her nose was slightly upturned, and her breathing was steady, as if she was having some good dream. There was also a black rose next to the pillow......

Nia knew the precious rose, of course—and he had even taken care of it himself. Everything in front of him almost made him suspect that this was Mansini's cherished lover or daughter...... No, that guy would never have given birth to such a lovely daughter.

He shifted his gaze to the other side of the pillow. In the shadows lay a small stuffed animal, smaller than a cat, with a pair of crescent-shaped black ears, a yellow-brown coat, sleeping on all fours with its belly spread out, looking very reassuring...... The rapidly heaving chest and tense limbs revealed a strange hint of horror.

Nia looked back at the red hair that was not very distinct in the dim light.

Mongoose. Red hair. Little.

He knew this girl - he had never seen her, but he had been known for a long time. When I heard her name be mentioned again and again, I occasionally felt a little sour in my heart......

This is the little thief who is as beloved as he is, Tess Shepard.

. (To be continued.) )