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Chapter 24
"......Urghhh!"
When
I woke up, it seemed that lunchtime was passed. I stuttered and patted the area
near my neck.
This
is not a dream. Last night I actually fell asleep.
I
woke up staggered and looked at myself in the mirror and was shocked. There was
a purple bruise there.
I
got goosebumps all over my body. I wasn't aware of this kind of killing intent,
and I didn't even realize who it was.
Who!?
Who is that!?
Since
half of his face was melted, the culprit definitely wouldn't be fine. I have to
find him before I die...
......
"Cold!"
I
sat up, coughed, and spat something out. Dark red blood dripped down my chin.
That's normal.
I'm
a wizard who doesn't even need to cast a spell. Only with a high level of
concentration can I use magical power freely.
But
that also means the risk is high. I can't do like what happened last night.
Compared to counterattacks, my actions actually eroded my own vitality.
"......I
will kill you."
How
can I rest comfortably in a luxurious Manor with someone trying to kill me? I
got up from my seat. I gently wiped my lips with the edge of my sleeve. The
bright red lips that contrasted with the pale skin, looked odd.
When
my life is threatened, I go crazy. 'How dare you!' I repeated those words
hundreds of times in my mind.
'How
dare you try to kill me! How dare you try to kill me! How dare...'
......
Too
bad I don't know whose voice it was. No problem. All I have to do is look for
and find the man with the burn on his face in this Manor.
If
I were to walk around with strangle marks exposed like this, there would be a
lot of people asking questions. I took off my bloodstained dress.
As
if nothing had happened. Yes, as usual. I thought so and took out a new dress
and put it on.
Wearing
a dress that covers my neck, I look very beautiful. I couldn't do anything to
my pale face.
I'm
going downstairs. There were a few servants I met along the way, but they all
seemed fine. Even if I looked at them with suspicious eyes, they just
approached me and said, "Miss, what's wrong?"
"......Alex?"
I
asked the butler who had scolded several maids at the front door earlier. The
butler who seemed taken aback by my sudden appearance sharpened his voice.
"Master
went to the village early in the morning on urgent business."
"Then
Claude?"
"He
left earlier than Master, he said his fellow investigators have contacted
him."
"......Hah?"
I
chuckled. Both of them have low voices. Those are the two men I suspect the
most.
I
don't know about Claude, but it's not surprising that Alexander tried to kill
me. He was sure that I was the one who killed his father.
What
if all his actions towards me until now were just a way to get me to let my
guard down? Alexander could have tried to harm me before the other
investigators arrived, but......
I
don't know. Yesterday we had a fight. It could be that he couldn't contain his
emotions and came to me. The odds are pretty good.
"Is
there something strange about him?" I asked the Butler.
How
many people can last until the morning with a melting face?
"Something
strange?"
"Don't
make me ask twice."
"......"
The
Butler frowned slightly as if he didn't like my attitude. I've been wondering,
Even
if he doesn't accept it, I'm still a 'Miss' that he serves in this Family. As
if sensing my anger, magical power spreads in the air and surrounds me.
"I
didn't meet them in person, so I don't know. The only thing that's different
from usual is that the two of them left in a hurry.... ...Oh, and the
supervisor—"
I'm
starting to get annoyed when I talk about it. I cut off the Butler speak.
"As
a butler what do you know!? I really don't like it."
"......Miss."
The
Butler clearly showed how bad I felt. I giggled and laughed.
"Oh!
Now, I am a 'Miss'?"
"......"
"You.
Be careful."
I
realized that even if I kept quiet, I would still be angry. I've also learned,
that I have to finish off the culprit first before I get killed.
I
left the bewildered butler behind and headed out. The cold air enveloped the
thin dress I was wearing. Quickly, my fingers swelled up.
After
confirming that the culprit wasn't the servants I met at the Manor, it was time
for me to search the stables, training ground, and pavilion. Actually, this is
useless. Is there a reason for a servant I've never had anything to do with
suddenly attack me?
"......Urgh,
this is really stupid." Oh, how cute.
I
already guessed who the culprit was, and instead, I wandered around the Manor
like this because I didn't want to believe my guess. I can only wait patiently
in the room for them to come back.
But
can I stay still? I can barely steady myself.
So
I kept going back and forth in the vast Duke's Manor. I asked if any of the
servants had been accidentally injured and if any of the servants had suddenly
taken time off.
"No,
I haven't heard anything about it......"
Every
time I get an answer like that, I feel like I'm falling into a hole. That's embarrassing.
Finally,
I'm tired. The Pavilion that I haven't visited isn't far, but I chose to return
to the Manor.
Then,
at one place, I stopped walking. This is where Henrietta was found buried. Snow
continued to fall throughout the night, and snow piled up like a mountain where
her body was found.
"Here......"
Are
you dead? Henrietta.
I
know it. I almost died too. Maybe by Alexander.
I
squatted down and rubbed my eyes. That said, this snow mound looks higher than
the other mounds. As if someone had done it on purpose.
Even
though it was very cold, I was sweating from feeling the tension. I scraped it
by hand several times.
And
mutters, "Is that so?"
'Since
when have you been doing this?' I thought suddenly. There is someone waiting
for me, buried in the snow. His frozen eyelashes fluttered open.
Kwaak!
He grabbed my neck again.
I
was so happy when I found out who the strong man was after me. I'm so happy I
can't hold it in.
No.
That is not.
It's
not Alexander.
When
I found out, an immense sense of joy filled me. Claude, with more than half of
his face, became ugly, looking at me.
He
grinned, his eyes glistening. Even when I saw all that, I felt relieved.
It's
not Alexander!
"You......"
I
struggled to open my mouth and stuttered out. Claude kept moaning while lifting
one corner of his mouth.
Then
I remembered that face. I think that smile is a smile I've seen somewhere.
"Do
you know Mr. Cameron?"
Claude
asked in a low voice. I wanted to nod my head, but his grip was too strong.
What
if I know? Why if I don't know? He was my mother's second husband.
"How
could you not know? He was also a father to you once. By the way, how was my
gift? I want you to feel it. I want you to feel a little scared, but instead,
you feel comfortable, even sleeping on your back. Yes, that's me. That maid
knew my identity. So I killed her. So she wouldn't get in my way."
I
feel my neck is going to break, I can't breathe. I smiled, wanting to laugh out
loud. Claude who had half his face destroyed saw my smile.
"Smile?
Happy? Are you enjoying this situation? Tell me, come on!"
There
is no such thing as a true madman. How can you raise your voice when you're
choking me like this? I slowly reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Why?
Trying to use that damn magic again? Oh, no way. Yesterday I was a bit
impatient, so today I brought this thing."
Claude
ruffled my arm and showed me a necklace with a black gem the size of a fingernail.
Ah!
An anti-magic necklace that blocks magic.
He
squinted his eyes and started laughing. As if he couldn't stand it because it
was so much fun, he rambled on.
"As
long as I have this, I don't need to worry. Now, should I cut off a finger of
yours? You couldn't just walk away after killing my father so painfully, could
you? Do you think so too? I feel sick too. I shouldn't have visited you like
that yesterday. I should have relaxed a bit more. If only that maid didn't find
out."
"Kheuk!
Kheuk!"
Instantly
I coughed, coughing up blood. For a moment, he released me.
By
the way, Claude was wrong. It wasn't me who killed his father.
“Haa,
haa, Father, you say……?”
I
asked holding my neck. This is shocking! Does that knight have a son?
It
was obvious that Claude was the same age as me. Maybe a little older than me.
How could someone at such a young age become a First Class Investigator? I
should have wondered about that from the start.
The
answer is too easy. Pay attention to Alexander. That's why I don't have time to
think about what's going on and what's around me.
Even
I didn't know that Henrietta was working so hard. How annoying is that? I
shouldn't have been like that. I want to play a little. Before blowing out the
candles for this madman.
"Yes,
Father. My father. I was born an illegitimate child, so I'm not in the right
position to call him father. I was thrown into an orphanage right after I was
born. My mother is also in no position to raise me. Even so, my father will
come to see me from time to time and brings me clothes to wear. I also get
benefits. That's very good. It's because I can see my father. But one day,
suddenly my father stopped coming. Do you know why?"
"......"
"Why
didn't you answer me!?"
Claude
tried to kick me in the stomach angrily. It was the way he spoke and behaved as
if he didn't grow up as a child. I jumped and rolled to the side. Fortunately,
my dress was only slightly torn.
"You're
avoiding? You're avoiding it? Oh, it's okay because this is the beginning.
After all, it's all because my father got married. To your mother!"
Claude
muttered sullenly. A really strange facial expression, his half-face, from time
to time change. I'd rather melt it all over his face. I don't even have to
dream to do it.
"Yes,
I was abandoned. Because of you, Mother and Daugther. At first, I thought it
might be possible. After all, I was born as an unwanted being......"
Suddenly
he burst into tears. Instead of moving away from me, Claude kicked off the snow
that had accumulated nearby.
"But
why do I have to live like this? Why do I have to accept all this? This is
embarrassing! Don't you think so too!?"
He
cried again then laughed again. His teary eyes were filled with anticipation.
No matter how many anti-magic necklaces Claude wore, he shouldn't assume that
he was the strongest.
If
he takes off the necklace…… I shook my head slowly.
"......Not
too."
"Shut
up!"
Claude
walked towards me. His ugly hands held my hair. I tilted my head, and from far
away I could see someone running wildly.
"I
can't forgive you! I can't forgive you! I can't forgive you! I can't forgive
you! I can't forgive you! I can't forgive you! I couldn't forgive you! I grew
up without a father and I became like this! Didn't you live in such a nice
place? I can't forgive you! I can't forgive you! I can't forgive— ......Hey,
where are you looking?"
Claude
tried to look away, following my gaze. Taking advantage of that, I bit his
thigh as hard as I could. The fishy taste of blood, who knows whose it was,
touched the tip of my nose.
"Ouch!
That hurts! Can't you shut up!?"
He
grabbed my neck again. Saliva mixed with blood dripped from my mouth.
So
you've come to me for revenge? How did you hide such a fierce personality until
now? I only saw him as a very polite investigator……
"Die!
Die! Can't. I'm trying to play around, but this is bad! Die!"
Claude
shouted. This time, he sincerely showed his killing intent. Two strong hands
pressed against me. I grabbed his arm with trembling hands. Claude laughed out
loud.
"No.
How is that useful? Even though you are a great wizard, what can you do now?
Dead is still dead! Dead! Dead! Died! ......Arghhhh!"
Oops!
The
large longsword hit Claude's shoulder. I breathed quickly, I was released from
his grip. I live!
"Arghh!
It hurts! It hurts! Father!"
Claude
cried and tried to pull the sword from his shoulder. But the longsword stabbed
deeper and deeper into his body, making the sound of bones breaking.
"Stop!
Stop! Arghhh!!"
I
opened my half-closed eyes when I heard Claude's scream. A dark shadow was approaching.
"......I'm
late, Sis. Don't forgive me."
How
could I mistake the owner of this sweet voice for the person who tried to kill
me yesterday? I guess I wouldn't be thinking such crazy things if I wasn't in
such a bad mood.
Alexander
looked at me breathlessly. I could tell just by looking into his eyes that he
wanted to hug me till I break.
"Sorry."
Isn't
that a very boring word? With that in mind, I glanced at Claude. He groaned in
pain with his head down on the ground.
Well,
so...
Who
will die now?
I
smiled brightly.
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