28/06/2026
The Jester, with small spheres spinning above his head in an increasingly rapid dance, attempted his ultimate trick to break the chilling silence. He performed a double backflip, singing a hauntingly beautiful, melancholic song with a fading voice, and used the remnants of roses on the sand to create a dramatic rain of flower petals around the Princess. However, the Princess remained silent, only watching him with a sad and hollow gaze from beneath her heavy crown. The majestic full moon, which had been shining brightly, began to be shrouded in thick clouds, dimming the light of hope.
Finally, the Jester ceased his performance. He approached the water, letting the waves touch the tips of his peculiar shoes. Instead of offering a new trick, he simply knelt on the sand, extending his white-gloved hand. In his palm was not a rose, but a handful of sand that he let fall slowly, drifting with the wind. "Cheer cannot be forced, my Lady," he whispered. For the first time, the Princess allowed a single tear to fall. Amidst the darkness, the red roses on the sand began to look darker, almost black, as if the Princess's sorrow had infected them.
