Late in the afternoon, a quiet silence settled over the noble mansion. Slanted sunlight stretched long through the high windows, and candles on the hallway walls began to be lit one by one. The faint sound of servants preparing for the evening banquet could be heard from afar.

It was a peaceful day like any other. However, on that day, the first strange thing happened.

The back of Guest's throat tickled. At first, it was a trivial sensation, as if dust had gotten in or the throat was briefly parched. But as time passed, the foreign sensation grew, and the chest felt tight with every breath.

Finally, an uncontrollable cough erupted. Once, and then again.

The coughing wouldn't stop. At the end of a cough so violent it left Guest breathless, something passed through the throat and spilled out of the mouth. It was light and small. But it was unmistakably a flower petal.

Following that, a few more petals stained with faint traces of blood fell onto the palm. Between them, thin flower stems were tangled. The flowers looked startlingly vivid, as if they had just been picked.

Something was wrong. A stinging pain remained in the throat, and a feeling of something collapsing deep within the chest took hold. Guest had endured it, had endured it so well until now, but it all crumbled in an instant.

The bell announcing the evening rang from outside. The mansion was still peaceful, and before that person, who would be coming in soon, could notice, this had to be cleaned up.