The next carriage creaked as they stepped in, the light dimming just a touch more than before. This one was quieter. No ghostly guests. No illusionary music. Just a long corridor, lined with faded crimson carpet, antique lamps lining the walls, and a single brass nameplate etched onto a polished door:
"Clara Wensley – Bride"
Aiden exchanged a glance with Luna, who grinned. "Guess we're going to meet the star of the show."
"I swear," Lysandra muttered, "if she pops out from under the bed in lingerie, I'm leaving."
"Jealous already?" Luna purred, tail swishing behind her. "I thought you were all about duty and focus. But here you are, imagining ghost brides in lingerie."
Lysandra flushed. "I-I wasn't!"
"I think she was," Aiden added casually, smirking.
Luna leaned into Lysandra with a playful grin, trying to lighten the mood. "Still thinking ghost weddings are romantic, princess?"
"Shut up," Lysandra muttered.
"I mean, you did blush when the bride showed up. I saw it. You were into it."
"That's not— I wasn't—!"
"Aww," Luna cooed. "Our royal highness has a thing for tragic ghost women. Should I be worried?"
Aiden smirked. "Maybe we should leave Luna and Ly alone. Let them have their honeymoon."
"You too?!" Lysandra nearly exploded.
Ivy giggled softly. "They're so silly."
"You're both the worst," Lysandra groaned.
"Nope. Just honest," Luna winked.
Ivy tugged Aiden's coat timidly. "Onii-chan… that name. Clara… that's her, right? The bride?"
"Yeah," Aiden nodded. "Let's go."
He turned the handle slowly.
The room opened with a whisper.
It was a cabin—but unlike the rest of the ghost train, this one was pristine. Not untouched by time, but lovingly preserved by something beyond death. A desk by the window. A bed covered in lace and soft floral sheets. A candle half-melted. And seated in the chair before the desk—
"Wha…" Ivy gasped.
A figure. Pale. In a white dress, veil covering her face. One hand resting atop a closed book. The ghost bride.
Clara.
Her head slowly turned toward them.
No scream. No chase.
Just eyes filled with an unspeakable sorrow.
Then, like mist in sunlight—she vanished.
Her hand slowly faded away last, dragging a faint trail of blood down the cover of the diary.
The room fell silent.
Luna stepped up beside Aiden, unusually quiet. "That was… different."
Aiden reached out, touched the book. It was warm. Still. A faint red palm print marked the cover.
He slowly opened it.
The first page was dated… five months before the wedding.
---
Clara's Diary
March 3rd
Today, Lucas told me he loved me.
It was awkward. Sweet. He tripped over his words and blushed so hard he looked like a tomato. I laughed. And then I kissed him. My first or I mean my second real kiss.
We've known each other since we were kids. He used to chase me around the orchard. I think I've loved him for as long as I knew what love was.
I just didn't know what to call it until today.
---
March 16th
We went on our first date. Just us.
He took me to the lake where we used to throw stones as kids. He brought a picnic. He's still not great with money, but he spent what little he had on strawberries and cider.
We kissed again. And again.
I didn't want to leave his arms.
---
April 10th
I told my parents.
They weren't happy. They said Lucas had no future. That I was wasting my life.
I tried to explain. That love isn't about money. That I would rather be poor with Lucas than rich with anyone else.
They didn't listen.
That night, they introduced me to Edward.
---
April 25th
Edward is handsome. Charming. He comes from a wealthy family. He's well-spoken and composed. He's everything my parents wanted.
He's not Lucas.
---
May 2nd
I told Lucas everything. I cried into his chest. He didn't say a word for a long time.
Then he said, "We'll fix it."
He kissed my hand and promised we'd be together. No matter what.
---
May 20th
The engagement is official.
I tried to run. But they found me.
They think I'm just nervous. That I'll settle down once I see the estate Edward is building.
Lucas says we need to be smart. That we'll wait until the wedding day. That's when we'll make our move.
He says he has a plan.
---
June 3rd
It's almost time.
After today… it'll be just us.
Forever.
---
Aiden turned the page.
A single letter was tucked between the diary's final page.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
Lucas's.
---
My Clara,
I found a way.
The train takes Edward from the west station, right? His car passes the ridge road. There's a sharp turn before the bridge.
I'll loose the brake line. It'll snap.
He'll never make it to the platform. You and I… we'll finally be free.
I love you. Always.
Lucas.
---
Silence.
No one moved. No one spoke.
Aiden slowly closed the diary.
Lysandra looked… hollow. "She really planned it."
"With him," Luna added.
Ivy clutched her arm. "But... if Edward never got on the train… what happened to Lucas?"
Aiden's voice was low. "Something went wrong."
Luna folded her arms. "This thing never made it to this west station place."
"But how did she died?" Aiden murmured.
"A murder plot that ended in a tragedy," Lysandra said quietly.
"A love that killed everyone in its path," Aiden murmured.
Aiden thought, his mind going through all sorts of possibility.
"Don't tell me..."
Then—
CRACK.
The train shook.
Luna gripped Aiden's coat. "What the hell was that?!"
THUD.
The floor lurched. The candle fell. The diary slid across the desk.
The train screeched violently. Metal twisting. Wood snapping.
CRASH!
Aiden wrapped his arms around Luna and Ivy, shielding them. Lysandra fell forward, her hands glowing with defensive magic.
The lights exploded.
Everything turned black.
Silence.
Then—
---
FLOOR 1 CLEARED.
Mystery of the Phantom Carriage: Revealed.
Teleporting to the next floor
---
Aiden groaned.
His eyes fluttered open to darkness, broken only by dim blue sparks dancing above him. His body ached—not from wounds, but from the sheer weight of being... sandwiched.
Warmth surrounded him. He blinked, sluggishly turning his head.
To his right, Luna was curled tightly around his arm, cheek squished against his shoulder, her fluffy ears twitching gently in her sleep. Her tail draped possessively over his waist.
To his left, Ivy had both hands clutched around the hem of his coat, buried so far into his side it looked like she'd tunneled in for safety. She let out a soft squeak, still unconscious, her cheek smushed to his ribs.
And on top of him—literally—was Lysandra.
Her face was buried against the side of his neck, soft breaths warming his skin. Her generous breasts pressed firmly against his chest, her arms loosely sprawled over him like she was a royal quilt.
Aiden just stared at the red sky.
"I feel like a body pillow," he muttered.
He tried to sit up. None of them budged.
He sighed, long and deep.
Then—
---
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
FLOOR 1 CLEARED
"Mystery of the Phantom Carriage: Revealed"
REWARDS: +20 Bond Points (Luna)
+20 Bond Points (Ivy)
LEVEL UP! Level 13 → Level 14
NOTE: ALL STATS ARE LEVEALED UP BY 1
---
Aiden raised a brow at the Bond Points. "Figures," he mumbled, shifting under Lysandra's weight.
And then—
---
NEW FLOOR UNLOCKED: FLOOR 2
OBJECTIVE:
Defeat at least 100 monsters to clear this floor and unlock the next.
NOTICE: You may exit the dungeon now. Returning later will place you back at the entrance.
Accept [✓] Reject
(Rejecting will immediately teleport all party members to the exact location from where you entered the gate.)
---
Aiden stared at the blinking options.
He smirked.
His hand hovered over the translucent UI.
"I didn't have my fun yet," he said aloud, tapping Accept.
The system pinged and vanished.
"Alright," he exhaled. "Let's wake the ladies."
But before he could, Luna stirred.
"Mmm… warm…" she purred, snuggling tighter into his side.
"Master…" Ivy mumbled, eyes still shut. "Scary train… don't leave me…"
And Lysandra let out a sleepy groan. "Ugh… what… what fell on me…?"
"You did," Aiden replied flatly.
Lysandra blinked awake.
Her crimson eyes widened as she realized her position—straddling him, her chest pressed to his, face hovering inches from his lips.
"Wh-Wh-What?!" she squeaked, face flushing a fierce red.
"You make a great blanket," Aiden added dryly.
"Y-You pervert!" she scrambled off him, nearly falling backward in her panic.
Luna giggled. "You looked comfy, princess."
"I-I wasn't— I didn't mean to—" Lysandra covered her face. "Ughhh!"
Ivy sat up next, rubbing her eyes. "Onii-chan… did we crash?"
"Yeah," Aiden said. "Looks like the mystery really did end in a bang."
Luna leaned back, stretching with a yawn. "So… Floor Two, huh?"
Aiden nodded. "We need to kill hundred monsters."
Lysandra, now trying to calm her burning face, nodded grimly. "This… is more like a dungeon now."
"I liked the ghost bride better," Ivy whispered.
"I don't," Luna muttered. "I'm not sharing Master with any more dead women."
"Jealousy~" Aiden teased.
Luna smirked. "Only when I'm not on top."
Lysandra choked. "L-Luna!"
Aiden stood, brushing off his coat. "Alright, let's get moving. This floor won't clear itself."
He offered a hand to each of the girls.
Luna took it with a grin.
Ivy with a soft blush.
Lysandra with suspicious caution.
Together, they stepped forward into the unknown Floor 2.
The air was different now.
No ghostly lights. No romantic sorrow.
Just cold, ruins, red sky—and a deep growl echoing in the distance.
---
END OF CHAPTER : 31 : THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE MYSTERY : FINAL PART
---