Shadow Slave/// Oldest Dream

Klaus watched as Madoc leaned on the balcony beside him. He was smiling politely, his expression composed and calm.

Well, he can't act however he wants. He's one of the representatives of the Valor Clan. those fanatics are obsessed with spreading propaganda about how they "protect mankind and the waking world from the tyranny of the Nightmare Spell."

Basically, all the bullshit you hear on TV.

He was a tall, strong, and severe man, with a sharp face and even sharper, cold steely blue eyes. His black hair was touched by silver at the temples. He was wearing an elegant attire that somehow looked like a suit of impregnable armor despite being made of nothing but black fabric with a vermilion cloak. His sharp facial features and eyes resembled Morgan's.

"I wonder what a young man like you is doing here? I'm sure tonight is quite pleasant and enjoyable. Is something not to your liking, Smiling Man... Oh, apologies. Mr. Klaus, correct?"

Klaus grimaced inwardly. As if he didn't already know. While Madoc appeared polite, it was easy for Klaus to discern the mocking tone in his voice. He was clearly making fun of his scar.

"It is, indeed. I wouldn't dare suggest this is a boring night. You don't need to worry about my mood, Saint Madoc… It's just some family problems."

Madoc nodded thoughtfully.

"Family can be troublesome sometimes, yes. There are times we can choose our family, and times we can't. But at the end of the day, it's all we have."

Klaus chuckled, tilting his head slightly as his eyes sharpened with a faint violet glow. He zoomed in his vision, observing Tatiana and MoonVeil walking in the garden.

Madoc's words might have seemed random, but Klaus could clearly see the message behind them.

"Yes, on that much, we agree."

Madoc's gaze sharpened, his expression turning cold. His steely blue eyes pierced into Klaus.

"Yet sometimes, we make the wrong choices. I remember proposing an alliance between us, and I wonder—why did you refuse it? I'm sure Morgan is a very beautiful young woman. Surely, it was a political marriage, but that shouldn't matter to people like us... And if you were worried about love—well, perhaps you and Morgan would have found it, sooner or later. That's how it often goes, living alongside someone for long enough."

Klaus sneered inwardly. He knew exactly what all this was about, but it was still irritating. Sure, Morgan was hot as hell, but he didn't exactly want his dick shredded to ribbons by her flaw… Damn it, that's not the point.

No—actually, it is the point!

But the more important reason was Jest. That old fox would sniff something out if Klaus got too close to the Valor Clan. And that was not a risk he was willing to take.

"I see. My apologies, Lady Morgan is indeed a charming young woman, but—"

He was cut off by Madoc, his words sharp and tinged with anger.

"But you chose Song instead of us. That's what happened. No sweet words will deny the truth, Mr. Klaus."

Klaus tensed, his face expressionless, though deep down he was nervous. Still, he used Faceless to steady his heartbeat and blood flow, hoping to conceal his lies.

"I suppose that's true. Yet, we must consider other aspects of the agreement. I would have preferred to remain neutral, but circumstances did not allow me to. I trust you understand that, Saint Madoc. It is in my best interest to maintain balance. I am a pacifist, after all."

Madoc laughed, shaking his head in idle amusement, but his laughter faded as someone else stepped onto the balcony.

"Is there a problem with my fiancé's brother, Saint Madoc?"

Madoc froze, his expression darkening at the sound of MoonVeil's gentle, pleasant voice.

Her silver hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her silky dress was simple yet graceful and beautiful. Her moon-like silver eyes shifted from Klaus to Madoc, tilting her head with curious smile.

Madoc remained silent for a moment, then straightened his back, hands clasped behind him, and nodded politely.

"Of course not, my lady. I would have no quarrel with such a remarkable young man. Now, if you'll excuse me."

With that, he bowed slightly and walked away, leaving them alone.

Tatiana stepped out as well, sliding beside MoonVeil with a cheeky smile.

Klaus grinned, eyes sparkling as he looked at his sister. Now that's what I call a perfect save! Luv you, sister dearest!

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady. Thank you for your help."

Klaus smiled, though no matter how charming he tried to be, his scar made him look unsettling, even terrifying. Still, he frowned inwardly. Why do I feel like a schoolgirl rescued from a bully? Nah, I'm imagining things again.

MoonVeil returned his smile calmly.

"No need for thanks. Perhaps I should start calling you brother-in-law?"

Klaus grimaced, not a fan of such titles. No matter how serious the situation was, whenever someone said something like that, he couldn't help but cringe with embarrassment. It had always been like that — once, he even burst out laughing at a funeral.

But he composed himself, his expression growing stern as he took a seat, crossing his legs and intertwining his fingers while leaning back with a haughty gaze.

"So… you do like my sister? Hmm? What are your intentions?"

MoonVeil blinked, a little surprised and confused. She wondered what he was doing and why he was acting like… a dad? Yes, he was acting like a dad. Well, it was a political marriage, so… wasn't this obvious?

"Hmm… I think Tatiana's a very charming and pleasant person to be around."

Klaus narrowed his eyes, his expression twisting into suspicion as he leaned back.

"You see, MoonVeil… my sister's womb isn't some container for you to pour your adolescent seed into—nor is it her ass, her lower back, or even her hair."

MoonVeil stared at him blankly, her gentle smile faltering and replaced by a look of pure confusion. She glanced at Tatiana, who was hiding her face—perhaps from embarrassment.

"Ahem… I'm not a man or a teenager, Mr. Klaus… but I understand, sure."

Klaus looked up at the night sky, his face soft and peaceful, almost monk-like. Then he glanced over his shoulder at her.

"Do you, MoonVeil? Do you? Hm... We shall see, we shall see..."

MoonVeil didn't know what to do. But she remembered Tatiana saying her brother was an alcoholic... mentally ill... narcissistic, with a god complex and several other disorders... and a drug addict as well.

She hesitated for a moment. Even if she were a saint, it wouldn't matter. Strength meant nothing when you wanted to make a good impression. So she decided to pull an old wine bottle from her bag.

"I've heard you enjoy the taste of fine wine. Please, accept this gift from me."

Klaus pursed his lips, his eyes locking onto the old bottle. He stood up and looked down at her with a stern, almost intimidating gaze.

MoonVeil almost thought she failed—until suddenly, she found herself in a tight hug.

"Huh?" She blinked, stunned. "Wait, where did the bottle go? It was just in my hand!"

Klaus held the bottle for a moment, then a satisfied smile slowly spread across his face. He gently put her down and said, with an oddly pleasant tone,

"Welcome to the family. Have fun."

Then—just like that—he vanished, leaving her utterly dumbfounded. She stood frozen for a beat, then glanced over at Tatiana, mouth hanging open.

"So… your brother basically sold you for a bottle of wine?"

"..."

Klaus wanted some time alone. Humor was great for forgetting problems—but the problems always stuck around like gum on a boot. What he needed now was entertainment. Something to keep him from dying of boredom… or worse, thinking about all the depressing crap happening around him.

Well… he wanted that. But fate, as always, had other plans.

Then again—what fate? He was the Narrator. He wove the threads. He bent the story.

But that was the joke, wasn't it? Fate didn't need to exist. His own stupid choices dragged him here anyway.

Just then, a voice broke through his thoughts.

"I was looking for you. Where did you disappear to?"

Klaus sighed the moment he heard that soft, gentle voice behind him. He turned and flashed his most charming smile.

"Well... when I saw you, I couldn't handle your beauty and had to run away in fear."

He paused, hoping to lighten the mood. It didn't work.

Not because he was stressed—Klaus had lived through worse without blinking an eye—but because, well... she really was that beautiful.

So the only thing that came out next was:

"You're mesmerising, Cas."

Cassie smiled—a little too smugly—and wrapped her arm around his, resting her head on his shoulder like it was hers by right.

"You're not too bad yourself," she murmured, then gently touched the scar on his face. "Hmm... I think this actually makes you look cooler. At least now you're not a princess anymore."

Klaus's mouth twitched as he barely swallowed down a laugh.

"And how would you know that?"

Cassie narrowed her eyes in irritation—then bit his shoulder.

Playfully.

Well, it would've been playful... if her teeth didn't feel like the fangs of some eldritch Abomination. Not that Klaus was complaining. In fact...

Huh. Why does this feel kinda... good? Wait. Am I a masochist? No, no—absolutely not. I just like it when she does it... Wait. No! Delete that thought, brain! Delete it immediately!

Cassie blinked as she felt his body twitch beneath her teeth. She froze. Her blue eyes widened in disbelief.

Wait. Is he... getting turned on by this? No. No way. That'd be... weird. Right? I'm just imagining things. Yeah. Delusions. Hallucinations. All normal.

She sighed dramatically.

Maybe this is the first time I'm actually glad I'm blind. At least I don't have to see whatever dumb, goofy smile he's probably making right now.

She shook her head, looking a little lost.

"Nik, enough with the blind jokes. It's not even funny anymore."

Klaus shrugged, as if. Not funny for you because you're blind? Pretty hilarious for me, heh.

"Sure, love. I'm a gentleman, you know that."

Cassie smiled, but then it faded, her expression suddenly serious.

"Nik… After you took Tatiana and the kids from that nightclub, there was a woman asking about you. Nina. She said you and she went wild back then—like, you were pretty rough but sometimes gentle. Made you... unpredictable. And fun in bed."

She cocked her head.

"What does that even mean?"

Klaus froze, his eyes widening as memories slammed into him—courtesy of his ever-helpful Wisdom of Uriel. That damn attribute was a real asshole in moments like this.

Of course, he remembered Nina. How old was she now? Thirty-seven? Forty? He didn't actually know or care.

What he did remember was sleeping with her... a lot.

So she did what... That bitch! She snitched on him to his lover!

"You know what that means," Klaus said, his voice heavy with the exhaustion he knew would come when she reacted.

Cassie was silent for a moment before muttering bitterly,

"Why?"

Klaus sighed, unsure how to explain—or if he even wanted to.

"After... Aurora died, I did all kinds of messed-up things just to avoid thinking about her... Drugs, alcohol, sex... I've lost count by now."

Cassie nodded, her expression calm—almost unnaturally so. It wasn't the kind of reaction you'd expect after hearing something like that from your lover. Sure, they hadn't known each other back then, but it still should've been a bitter pill to swallow.

On the surface, Cassie seemed composed. But deep down, his words cut her more than she cared to admit.

"What kind of person was she?"

Cassie had heard about Aurora in her second nightmare from Lich. Lich had only said she was Klaus's first love—nothing more. And Klaus never mentioned her, so Cassie hadn't asked. It felt awkward. Inappropriate.

But now, with this chance, she wanted to know.

Klaus took a deep breath, his expression softening as a gentle smile touched his lips.

"She was... kind. She loved sweets, just like you. She had a passion for art and music, and she loved to dance. Bright and innocent, always forgiving and gentle... and, in the end, that's what killed her."

Cassie blinked, caught off guard. This wasn't what she had expected. A flicker of guilt stirred within her—but alongside it, a quiet envy. Aurora seemed perfect… or at least, as perfect as one could be in a world twisted by nightmare spell, cruelty, and madness.

In a world like theirs, she had been fragile. But was weakness truly the worst sin—especially when wrapped in such pure innocence?

"I'm sorry... I didn't know about... any of this."

Klaus shook his head gently, running his fingers through her hair. He leaned his forehead against hers, a faint smile playing on his lips. Softly, he cupped her cheek and kissed her.

"She might have been my first love, but you will be my last. I'm sorry, Cas... I'll never be able to forget her, but that doesn't mean I don't love you—because I do. More than anything."