North was busy with his work when a text came through.Lady SM summoned him to Bachelor's Village. A celebration, she said.
It had been years since Count Knight had found his happiness.North often wondered what that word meant.Maybe marriage? he thought.
He studied, he worked, but he always felt his knowledge was incomplete. Around his "bosses," those so-called adults who laughed like lunatics, every question ended the same way:"It's not for you to know yet. You're still too innocent."So he stayed silent.
What North wanted wasn't complicated.To know how it felt to have friends.To know how it felt to fall in love.That was what he saw in the Count's house—friends gathered, lovers by their side, joy shared so easily.They all look so happy. How does it feel?
As North was preparing, the Count's voice thundered through the line.
"North. If you are not here soon… you won't live to regret it."
North froze. When the Count spoke like that, it was never an empty threat.So he ran.
Bachelor's Village was silent when he arrived.Too silent.No children playing. No voices. No footsteps.
"Where is everyone?" he muttered, scanning the streets.
His chest tightened. Was it the Triad again?
He reached the Count's house, heart hammering against his ribs.Knock. No answer.Another knock. Still silence.
"What the hell is this?" he whispered.
He thought of Lady SM. The children. Even the Count."Is anyone here?"
No reply.
He didn't hesitate. He kicked the door open, uncaring if the Count would punish him later. Inside—only darkness.
"Answer me, or I'll burn this house to the ground!" he shouted.
The lights flared on.
"Surprise."
There they were—the Count, Lady SM, Butler Cloud, the Marquess, NK, KN. All of them. Smiling. Wearing paper hats. A banner hung: HAPPY BIRTHDAY
North blinked. Today is my birthday?
They sang."Happy birthday to you… happy birthday, dear North…"
When the clapping ended, Count Knight's voice cut like a blade."Don't tell me you've lived this long without knowing your own day."
North lowered his eyes. "I… guess I forgot."
Laughter shook the walls.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NORTH!" they shouted. Gifts were shoved into his arms, fists knocked against his, chaos filled the house like wildfire.
Lady SM kissed his cheek, gift in hand."This day belongs to you. Don't ever let it slip away again."
North muttered, "Forgive me, Milady… I was just… occupied."
Her smile sharpened. "Occupied with the dead again, weren't you?"
He faltered. "Maybe…"
Even in the madness, he wondered:Is this what they call happiness?
Hours later, the house emptied. The Count and his family withdrew upstairs.
Cloud offered him a bed.Dimitri too.But North refused."I still have duties."
So he left, carrying a heavy backpack full of gifts. It felt like iron, but the weight didn't matter. Corpses weighed more.
The road stretched silent. Past midnight. No vehicles. Just his footsteps.
Then he saw her.
A figure, sitting in the middle of the road. A girl. Alone.
North hurried closer. Her hair veiled her face, concealing everything.
"Are you all right, miss?"
Silence.
"It's dangerous here. You should go home."
A whisper: "Home."
"Where do you live? I can walk you there."
Her head tilted, voice hollow."That word doesn't belong to me."
North frowned. "Everyone has a home."
Her lips curved in a shadow of a smile."Then you thought wrong."
She rose slowly. Her clothes were not ragged, but her face remained hidden in the curtain of her hair.
"I'll find one someday. Farewell, stranger."
She walked into the night.North called after her, but she only raised a hand and kept walking, swallowed by the darkness.
He stood alone in the empty street, her words lingering."Everyone has a home… don't they?"