Chapter 29

The clock was just about to strike twelve. Sebastian and I were at the mansion alone. Everyone else went to the church to settle things. There was no other way around it. But no one knew what would be waiting there for them. I knew that if I went, I'd just be getting in their way, so I agreed to stay home. But the closer it got to midnight, the more anxious I felt. I couldn't stop thinking about Vlad's strong, loving gaze he had when he looked at just about anything.

Sebastian

"Kira. You really love this Vlad, don't you?"

Kira

"What?"

Sebastian

"You've had such a sad look on your face ever since they left."

Showing my emotions on my face like this will just make Sebastian worried, and he's already worried about the residents. Even though I knew that, I just couldn't hide it.

Kira

"...I'm sorry I look so sad. But I really do love Vlad and care for him deeply."

Sebastian

" I know."

Sebastian's eyes were so serious and kind I just couldn't hold back my emotions anymore.

Kira

"Sebastian... Vlad is doing things that are inhumane." "And I want to stop him. For everyone's sake and for his own sake. But…"

I Told him how I felt, I clasped his hand, but he left me anyway. And I couldn't get him out of my heart.

Kira

"No matter what I say, it doesn't get through to him. I just don't think it ever will…"

I looked down sadly. And just then, Sebastian flicked my forehead mercilessly.

Kira

"Ow! Hey, what'd you do that for?!"

Sebastian

"Because you're being a coward."

He stared into my eyes and then smiled.

Sebastian

"You're just going to give up because your words didn't get through to him? I thought you COULDN'T give up?"

Kira

"..."

Sebastian

"Then there's only one thing you can do, Kira. If words didn't work, it's time for action."

Kira

"Action…?"

His eyes stirred gently, as if he were remembering something himself.

Sebastian

"When you found out you couldn't go home, you never lost your smile. You kept your head up." "You ran into a burning building to protect Master Vincent's painting." "Sure, you can be reckless at times. But the point is, you have overcome every obstacle you've been faced with."

"You're resilient and strong. You taught me if you keep facing your problems, you'll find hope." "I adore that about you, Kira. Your tenacity and unwillingness to give up on anything or anyone."

His smile and his kind words really hit home. He's right. I tried to forget about Vlad when learned about his true identity. But I couldn't. And that's why I decided I couldn't stop reaching out to him. I decided not to give up on him, no matter how much I didn't understand him, or how far away he was. What am I doing just sitting here?

Kira

"Sebastian. You're totally right. Thank you."

Sebastian

"I did what any friend would do. What are you going to do next?"

Kira

"It might be reckless, but l'm going to go to the church and-"

???

"You'll just be wasting your time if you do that."

I heard a familiar sing-song voice and looked up to see Sander standing there, wearing a suit.

Kira

"What are you doing here?"

Sander

"A bunch of commoners are gathered in front of the a theatre in town, ready to charge in and kill the nobles."

Kira

"Kill the nobles?"

Sander

"Surely even you've noticed the strife lately between the commoners and nobles?"

Yes... Like the little boy who held that filthy coin because he'd been working in the mines. And the fire at the gallery was caused by civil unrest coming from the commoners. It's not surprising. The sad events that had plagued the world lately were etched onto my heart.

Sander

"Although I think their plan is about to fail."

Sebastian

"How can you be so sure?"

Sander

"Because le Voivode... Lord Vlad went to stop the commoners, all by himself."

Sebastian

"Do you know Vlad, Master Sander?"

Sander

"That's not important right now."

Vlad was supposed to be at the church at midnight to face everyone. So then why...? I glanced over at the grandfather clock, and it was already past midnight. It was Christmas Day now.

Kira

"You make it sound as if it's a lot of people." "Even if Vlad is immortal, surely he can't stop a huge crowd by himself?"

Sander

"Yes, that's right. So I went to get Carlos and Flynn To help." "But when I went to the church, all the residents were there. Once they heard, the raced to the theatre." "'I'm sure they'll be able to stop it."

I breathed a sigh of relief, but then a question crossed my mind.

Kira

"Then why did you come all the way here to tell us that?"

Sander narrowed his different colored eyes at me.

Sander

"Since Lord Vlad gathered the residents at the church, it seems as though he'd planned on carrying out his plan tonight." "However, he saw the commoners protesting on the way there and decided to stop them instead." "His strong desire to carry out his plan wouldn't be deterred so easily. And yet…" "This is just a guess, Kira, but...could it have been you who caused his change of heart?"

I would love for that to be the case, but surely that couldn't be it.

Kira

"…I wish that were the case, Sander. But I don't have the power to change Vlad's heart."

I stared at my fingertips, which let Vlad's warmth slip right through them. I felt ashamed at my own powerlessness.

Kira

"...I hate to admit it, but it's the truth."

I Was about to tell him I had no intention of giving up on Vlad, but suddenly Sander spoke. His voice was so quiet I could barely hear it.

Sander

"...The faceless portrait."

Kira

"What?"

Sander

"There's a portrait in Lord Vlad's room, of a woman with no face."

I thought of the way Vlad's face looked as the light from the stained glass shone on him while he gazed at the portrait.

Flashback

Vlad

"It's a portrait of someone I've been searching for, for a very long time now." "A long, long time ago I was feeling so hopeless I wanted everything to end, even my life." "And then she saved me." "But she disappeared. I searched all over for her, but I could never find her." "I held onto a wish deep in my heart. A wish to see her again someday. That was all that kept me going."

Flashback Ends

Kira

"The portrait of the person Vlad's been searching for?"

Sander

"…He's been searching for her... Ahh, I see." "He never told me about her, but it makes sense." "He gazed at the portrait as if he were in love with her."

Hearing that stabbed my heart once again. She's so special to Vlad, who knows how long he's been searching for her? I looked down to hide the pain in my eyes, but I felt Sander staring at me.

Sander

"But when Lord Vlad looks at you, he has the same look in his eyes, Kira."

Sebastian

"What?"

I gave Shakespeare a confused look.

Sander

"Once, I saw Lord Vlad standing outside the mansion, staring up at your room." "And his eyes looked exactly how they look when he gazes at that portrait."

I remembered that cold, snowy day.

Flashback

Kira

"Um…"

Vlad

"Hey." "…Haven't we met somewhere before?"

Flashback Ends

Suddenly conversations I'd had with Vlad washed over me, one by one.

Flashback

Vlad

"I knew you'd find me again."

——

Vlad

"You always come see me. So next time I'll be the one who comes to you." "I want to come find you, over and over again."

——

Vlad

"You find me over and over again, don't you?" "It's a little early, but... Merry Christmas."

Flashback Ends

Sander let out a self-deprecating chuckle as the sea of memories washed over me.

Sander

"Forgive me. These conjectures probably do nothing but make you uncomfortable." "It's just…" "I want to cling onto hope, as well."

Sebastian

"Why?"

Sander

"I joined hands with him to improve my craft. And yet I ran away from him because he frightened me so." "I'm not even worthy to be concerned for him. But I cannot help but think…" "…that he is trying to be a god who stands alone."

A god who stands alone…

Sander

"A god is a being who has surpassed humans. I don't think a god has a human-like heart." "Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to live above the earth and view creatures below equally." "But Lord Vlad has a heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have such emotion in his eyes." "He feels all kinds of emotions and accepts everything and everyone with a beautiful smile as he tries to protect the earth." "Right now it feels heartbreaking. I find myself thinking how things might be easier if only he went mad." "He's trying to save the world. But will that save Lord Vlad?"

A tragic silence filled the air.…We can't let things go on like this. As long as Vlad holds onto these ambitions, he won't stop. We have to cut off his warped love. I Lied and said I was going to go make some tea. But instead, I went to the door that brought me into this world in the first place. I stared at the door, which had changed my entire fate. Ever since I'd met Vlad, I'd gotten the strangest feelings from time to time.

Flashback

Vlad

"….Haven't we met somewhere before?"

Flashback Ends

When Vlad saw me that snowy day, he looked surprised to see me. I hadn't been able to forget that look on his

face. And that wasn't the last time I felt that odd sensation, either. But I thought the most important person in his heart was the girl from the painting, with no face. I've never been able to figure out why I kept having the strange sensations.But…

Flashback

Sander

"But when Lord Vlad looks at you, he has the same look in his eyes, Kira."

Flashback Ends

I felt it again when Sander said that. And I feel it right now too, as I reach for the door. I thought it was impossible. But all these things kept connecting to one idea in my mind. I have nothing to base it on, but…

Flashback

Markus

"But I thought the door was broken? That's why Kira couldn't go home."

Lennon

"He revived Wellington, didn't he? The space beyond the door must be cycling between being normal and warped."

Flashback Ends

I had no idea what would happen to me if I stepped into the unstable atmosphere beyond the door. But for some reason I found myself standing here, thinking about it. I know it's reckless. But this is the only thing I can think of to do. And if the theory I had was right, then I had to do anything I could to cross time and space, no matter what. I took a deep breath and reached out to the door with a trembling hand.If only one wish of mine ever gets granted, please let it be this one right now. So please… I opened the door and it swung open with a loud creak. Please bring me to him. I threw myself into the void beyond the door and felt myself floating in the maelstrom of time and space. I have no idea how long I was floating

there. But suddenly, a white light surrounded my body.