I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 391 - 387 – Peaceful Days Under the Black Mist

Chapter 391: Chapter 387 – Peaceful Days Under the Black Mist

Mornings in Nocture always began with a cold breeze carrying the scent of black roses and damp earth after the night dew. Thin mist still rolled low between the obsidian stone streets, wrapping the city like a soft blanket that never truly disappeared. The faint sun behind the gray clouds gave only a gentle light, just enough to make the treant leaves in the castle garden sparkle like liquid silver.

Sylvia woke up later than usual.

Not from exhaustion her immortal body almost never felt physical fatigue but because she allowed herself to enjoy the warmth of the black silk sheets covering the large bed in the Queen’s chamber. Noir curled in the curve of her stomach, his pitch-black scales rising and falling gently with his small breaths. On the other side of the bed, Sofia was still sound asleep, her golden hair spread across the pillow like leftover sunlight. One of Sofia’s hands reached out, her fingers still clutching the edge of Sylvia’s night mantle as if afraid the Queen might vanish in the middle of the night.

Sylvia gazed at Sofia’s face for a long time.

For a moment, the world outside the castle gods whispering in frozen fjords, angels shivering in their realms of light, demons hesitating in blood-mist caves felt like a distant fairy tale that no longer mattered. She lifted her hand and touched Sofia’s cheek with her cold fingertips. Sofia stirred softly, her gentle blue eyes opening halfway, then smiling sleepily.

"Morning..." Sofia murmured, her voice still hoarse from sleep.

"Morning," Sylvia replied quietly. Her voice remained cold as always, but there was a small softness that only Sofia could hear.

They didn’t rush to get up.

Noir eventually stretched, leaped down from the bed, and padded toward the chamber door with a low growl, his code that he was hungry. Sylvia laughed softly inside. The zombie dragon who could destroy souls in an instant was apparently very spoiled when it came to food.

When they finally headed to the private dining room, the aroma of cinnamon toast and wild venison soup was already wafting through. Stacia was already seated there, legs propped on the table, a thick novel open in her lap. Her silver-gray hair was tied messily, and there was a small tomato sauce stain at the corner of her mouth, a sign she had eaten breakfast first.

"Morning, you two," Stacia greeted without looking up from her book. "I already ordered extra pancakes for Sofia. And for you, Sylvia, black tea with no sugar as usual. Don’t tell me you’re going to try something sweet today."

Sylvia shook her head lightly as she sat down. "No. Black is fine."

Sofia laughed softly while taking the plate of pancakes piled high with cream and black berries. "Stacia, when was the last time you slept?"

"Last night. Three more Chapters and I’ll finish this series. Don’t disturb me." Stacia dramatically flipped the page.

Alicia appeared from the side door, carrying a tray of fresh fruit and a glass of pure water. Her silver hair was still slightly tousled, a sign she had just returned from morning patrol. Her sharp eyes swept the room, then she gave Sylvia a relaxed nod.

"Perimeter is secure, Sylvia. No spatial rifts have opened in the last three days. The guardian spirits are calm too. Even the scouting birds from the Order of Eternal Light that used to fly overhead are nowhere to be seen anymore."

Sylvia nodded slowly. "Good. Continue the usual schedule. But... today all of you may rest longer. No meetings. No urgent reports."

Breakfast unfolded in an atmosphere that almost never happened before: relaxed, filled with soft laughter, and without any pressure. Stacia read aloud a funny paragraph from her novel, making Sofia choke on her pancake from laughing. Alicia who was usually quiet finally joined in, telling the story of a wild wolf that tried to steal meat from the western farm yesterday but ran away terrified after just seeing Noir stare at it from afar. The glasses on the table hummed harmoniously with their laughter.

Sylvia simply listened.

She sipped her black tea slowly, letting the warmth seep into her perpetually cold bones. The Chain of Abyss on her wrist stayed silent, not trembling at all as if even the chains of death were on vacation.

After breakfast, they scattered in the most natural way.

Stacia immediately returned to her favorite balcony with a new stack of novels brought by the dwarf caravan yesterday. Alicia headed to the training field not for intense practice, but to teach the teenage lycanthrope children how to better control their full-moon instincts.

Meanwhile, Sylvia and Sofia... chose to stroll through the city.

Not as Queen and Queen’s consort on inspection.

Just two people walking hand in hand among the citizens of Nocture.

The central market that morning was lively but orderly. Human merchants, dwarves, dark elves, and even a few beastkin who had recently moved from the southern valleys all bowed respectfully as Sylvia passed but no one dared approach too closely. They already knew the boundary. The Queen of Death was relaxing, and that was a blessing they didn’t want to disturb.

Sylvia stopped in front of a small bread stall owned by an old human woman named Mira. The elderly woman was over seventy, but her hands were still nimble as she shaped dough. She smiled widely when she saw Sylvia.

"Queen... would you like to try the new one? I added wild honey from the northern forest and a bit of cinnamon from the southern fused lands."

Sylvia nodded. "Just one."

Mira hurriedly wrapped the warm bread in cotton cloth and handed it over with both hands. "Free for the Queen. As a thank you... the city has felt like home again lately."

Sylvia accepted it without protest. She took a small bite, and the warm sweetness immediately spread across her tongue. Sofia smiled broadly at the slightly surprised expression on Sylvia’s face rarely did the Queen show such a reaction to food.

They continued walking.

Past the public garden where small treant children ran around, their branches plop-plopping merrily every time they caught the leaf-ball thrown by their friends. Some human and elf children played together, laughing without fear. In the corner of the garden, a beastkin bard plucked a lute, singing an old song about two souls who met in darkness and found light in each other. Sofia blushed slightly at the lyrics, then hugged Sylvia’s arm tighter.

They stopped at the edge of a small clear lake behind the castle. The water was so transparent that the bottom was almost visible. Shadow fish swam slowly, their bodies half-transparent. Sylvia tossed the leftover bread crumbs into the water and instantly dozens of small fish appeared, competing gracefully.

Sofia sat at the lake’s edge, legs dangling almost touching the water. "I like days like this," she said softly. "Nothing that needs saving. Nothing that needs killing. Just... us."

Sylvia sat beside her. Her black mantle swept across the damp grass. "Me too."

They stayed silent for a long time, simply listening to the wind, the distant plop-plop of small treant branches, and the gentle ripples on the lake surface.

But the peace was not entirely free of the outside world’s voice.

At midday, as they returned to the castle for lunch, Alicia approached with quick but respectful steps. She bowed slightly.

"Sylvia... There’s a small caravan from Ironvale. They brought gifts not tribute, but... voluntary gifts. They said it’s a sign of peace and hope that our relations stay good. They also brought a letter from the new mayor."

Sylvia nodded. "Bring them to the small reception room. I’ll meet them after lunch."

The caravan turned out to be only six carts pulled by large, thick-furred horses. Their leader was a middle-aged woman named Liora, a former merchant who had once helped Sylvia and Sofia during their stay in Ironvale many years ago. She looked nervous, but her eyes were full of sincerity.

"Queen Sylvia..." Liora bowed deeply. "We didn’t come to ask for anything. We only wanted to say that Ironvale... and many other fused cities... feel relieved. The rumors about Nocture made many people afraid, but they also made them rethink things. No more bandits daring to use the northern routes. No more small territorial disputes. Everyone... wants peace."

She handed over a beautifully carved wooden box. Inside was a bottle of old honey wine from the southern orchards, a small pendant shaped like a black rose made of obsidian and mithril silver, and a roll of finely woven black-gold fabric.

"For the Queen... and for Miss Sofia," Liora said softly. "We hope... one day we may visit Nocture not as fearful guests, but as friends."

Sylvia accepted the box with a small nod. "Thank you, Liora. Tell your mayor... Nocture does not close its doors to those who come with respect."

Liora almost cried. She bowed again, then led her group away with heads held high not from fear, but from relief.

That afternoon, Sylvia and Sofia returned to the back garden.

The giant treant greeted them with gentle swaying branches. Their favorite small branch immediately rolled closer, plop-plopping joyfully at Sofia’s feet. Noir was already waiting on Sylvia’s favorite large rock, stretching lazily while licking his claws.

They sat as they had that morning. Sofia opened the honey wine from Ironvale and poured it into two crystal glasses. The scent of wild honey and spices spread immediately sweet but not overpowering.

Sylvia took a sip. "Not bad."

Sofia laughed. "That means it’s really good in Sylvia language."

They drank slowly, sometimes sharing the same glass. The afternoon wind carried an even thicker scent of black roses. The treant leaves swayed as if whispering. In the distance, crystal lamps in the city began lighting up one by one, creating a sea of silver light beneath the mist. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Sylvia gazed at Sofia for a long time.

"If the world continues like this..." she said softly, almost as if speaking to herself, "I wouldn’t mind letting it go on for a long time."

Sofia smiled, then leaned against Sylvia’s shoulder. "Then let’s make it last a long time."

They sat until night fully arrived.

The black mist grew thicker, but inside it felt warm. Noir purred contentedly in their laps. The small treant branch plop-plopped like a lullaby rhythm. The Chain of Abyss remained silent on Sylvia’s wrist, no restless tremors, no threatening whispers.