Chapter 26: The Girl Behind the Blindfold

Trafalgar sat quietly on the edge of the bed. His legs still felt heavy, but his mind was clear now. Beside him stood the strange girl from earlier—the one with the black blindfold and the pale-feathered bird perched silently on her shoulder. The little creature tilted its head, its glowing red eyes locked onto Trafalgar like it could see through him.

"Did you help me?" he asked.

The girl nodded calmly. "I did. A gentleman found you unconscious on the balcony. The elf and I took care of you."

"I see," Trafalgar replied, nodding once. "Thank you for that."

"No need to thank me," she said. "It’s the least I could do for someone injured. Do you remember feeling dizzy or anything before you fainted?"

Trafalgar paused, eyes narrowing slightly.

’I remember the woman in the black veil... the pill she forced me to swallow. Good thing I’m still alive. I’ll have to figure out what the hell that was later.’

"Unfortunately, no," he said aloud. "I just remember stepping out for some air... and then nothing."

"Well," she said, folding her hands over her lap, "you woke up soon after, so it doesn’t seem too serious. I’ll stay here until your father, Lord Valttair, arrives. I imagine the Council is still ongoing."

Trafalgar tilted his head slightly. "You know who I am?"

"I think the better question is—who doesn’t?" she replied with a faint smile. "You’re Lord Trafalgar du Morgain. Ninth heir of the Morgain family. The swordsman family, also that duel you won made some noise."

He gave a dry laugh. "Doesn’t something like ’the bastard of the Morgains’ fit me better?"

She turned her head toward him slightly. "I think you’re just Trafalgar. Does it really matter where you come from?"

Trafalgar blinked. That caught him off guard.

"It’s rare to meet someone who thinks differently about me than most do," he muttered. Then added, "By the way, what’s your name?"

She hesitated only a second before replying.

"My name is Aubrelle. Aubrelle au Rosenthal."

Trafalgar froze.

The name struck him like a cold wind. He hadn’t known much about the game’s lore—but some characters had stuck out, because that was the only information he had. He’d focused entirely on the tragic mess that was the bastard heir... but there were others. The other nine more legendary characters.

’Aubrelle au Rosenthal... a girl from a family of Summoners. Not one of the Eight Great Families, but powerful in their own right. She’s blind... but the game hinted she had an Innate Talent. It never said what it was. All it said was that she was... unique. One of the Ten Legendary Characters. Damn, so they are real.’

His gaze lingered on her face, the faint curve of her lips as she sat composed and still.

"...Nice to meet you, Aubrelle," he said finally. "I’m Trafalgar du Morgain. Ninth heir of House Morgain."

"You didn’t have to introduce yourself," she replied softly.

"Consider it courtesy," he said. "Something I should’ve done earlier, since you helped me."

"Very well."

Trafalgar leaned back slightly, trying to ease the stiffness in his legs. He glanced at the bird still perched loyally on Aubrelle’s shoulder.

"By the way," he said, gesturing toward it, "what’s your little friend’s name?"

"The bird?" she asked, tilting her head as if mildly surprised. "His name is Pipin."

Trafalgar couldn’t hold back the chuckle that escaped him. "Pipin? That’s... kinda adorable."

Aubrelle turned her head toward him. "Hey, it’s a good name for a bird," she said with a faint pout. "It suits him."

Trafalgar smiled. "Yeah, I guess it does. Something about it just... fits."

He pushed his hands against the bed to stand up.

"I think I’m feeling better now. Might as well stretch my legs—"

"No! Wait—"

The moment he rose, his knees buckled.

"Ah—damn—" he muttered as the strength in his legs gave out.

Aubrelle quickly stood to help, but she wasn’t particularly strong herself. Trafalgar lost balance, and before either of them could react, he collapsed forward — right into her.

With a soft thud, they both fell to the floor.

The force of the fall caused Aubrelle’s blindfold to slip off, fluttering to the ground like a leaf.

Trafalgar blinked as he pushed himself up. For the first time, he saw her face unobstructed.

Two long, diagonal scars ran across her closed eyes — clean, precise, almost surgical. From the corner of one ear to the other. Her eyes themselves... unfocused, crimson, and unsettlingly luminous.

He froze for a second too long.

"I—Sorry," he said, reaching out instinctively. "Are you okay?"

She didn’t answer right away, merely sitting there quietly.

"I didn’t mean to fall on you. Here, let me help you up." He reached for her hand.

She didn’t move.

Then he remembered.

"...Right," he murmured, and gently took her hand himself. "With your permission."

Carefully, he helped her to her feet.

Above them, Pipin fluttered once and landed on Trafalgar’s head, giving him a few annoyed pecks. Then the little bird swooped down, picked up the fallen blindfold in its beak, and flapped up to Aubrelle’s shoulder to return it.

"Sorry you had to see something so horrible," Aubrelle said quietly, reaching for the blindfold.

Trafalgar blinked. "What are you talking about?"

She hesitated.

"My face," she said. "My eyes."

He looked straight at her. "I thought your eyes were... beautiful."

Aubrelle stiffened.

Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. Her hands trembled as she fumbled to re-tie the blindfold.

A single tear escaped her left eye.

Trafalgar noticed the tear slide down her cheek.

Alarmed, he reached out slightly but stopped himself halfway. "Hey—are you okay? I didn’t mean to upset you. Did I hurt you? Do you need anything?"

Aubrelle shook her head gently as she finished tying the blindfold back over her eyes. Her voice was quiet but steady.

"No... I’m fine. Thank you for your concern."

Trafalgar lowered his hand and sat back down on the edge of the bed. He exhaled slowly. "Alright... sorry again. I’ll do what you said and wait for my father to show up. Not gonna try standing again."

A faint smile returned to her lips. "That would be wise."

She took a small breath and added, "Now that you’re stable, I’ll take my leave. It seems you no longer need me here."

Trafalgar nodded. "Still... thank you, Aubrelle. Really. You didn’t have to stay."

She turned slightly in his direction, then summoned a slender walking staff with a soft shimmer of mana. Pipin fluttered up to her shoulder again, resuming his place like a vigilant sentinel.

With quiet steps, she made her way toward the door. Her hand reached out without hesitation, fingertips brushing the edge of the frame before finding the handle.

She paused and turned her head slightly. "See you around, Trafalgar."

He gave her a small wave. "Take care, Aubrelle. And thanks again... for everything."

She opened the door.

Click.

It shut softly behind her.

In the hallway, the quiet click of the door echoed faintly.

Aubrelle stood still for a moment, her hand still resting on the handle. Pipin shifted on her shoulder, his tiny claws adjusting against the fabric of her dress.

Then he turned his head—once to the left, once to the right—scanning the corridor with sharp, glowing eyes.

Aubrelle crouched down gently, placing a hand on the ground for balance. Her golden hair, now slightly loose from the earlier fall, brushed over her shoulder.

"...You heard that, Pipin?" she whispered.

The bird gave a soft chirp, tilting its head.

A faint smile touched her lips—fragile and real. "He didn’t flinch. He looked straight at me... and he said my eyes were beautiful."

Her fingers lightly touched the blindfold covering her scarred face.

"...The first person who didn’t look away in fear or disgust, his tone was sincere and honest..."

She remained crouched for a few seconds longer, taking a slow breath.

Then she stood, staff in hand, and walked silently down the hall—her crimson dress trailing softly behind her, with Pipin perched proud and watchful.

Trafalgar remained seated inside the room, his mind focused on one clear thought.

’What was that pill they made me swallow... and who was that woman in the black veil?’