TL/Editor: Butter Cat
Status: 4/week mon-thurs
Illustrations: none
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〈 Chapter 9 〉 Chapter 9. Fox Hunt.
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Anna's appearance was deteriorating rapidly.
Even soone who didn't know Anna's usual state would think, "That's bad."
Dark circles under her eyes, unfocused gaze, delayed reaction ti... How should I describe it?
Ah, yes.
She looks drained.
As if sensing the gravity of the situation, our parents seed to be worrying quite a bit about Anna's current state. They seed to think it was stress from her studies.
Stress, well, it's not wrong.
Stress from her studies, that's also not wrong.
The problem is, it's not sothing to be taken so lightly.
Unlike Remi, who was always causing trouble, Anna had always treated others with an exemplary and sincere attitude, so the shock of seeing her like this was doubled for those who knew her.
And at the sa ti, — it made them think optimistically that she would return to her usual self with a little rest.
Because she was such a good child.
They thought that after a little ti, everything would be alright.
That she would finish this temporary deviation and return to her usual self.
Because Anna was the child who never disappointed anyone's expectations.
Oh dear.
I don't think she'll co back so easily.
Heehee.
"What in the world... has happened..!!"
"Your Grace... Control yourself...!"
Duke Aquitaine, whom I passed by in the royal palace, looked incredibly anxious.
He was fidgeting restlessly, forgetting even the basic aristocratic composure.
It's understandable. Anna's current state must be quite a thorn in his side.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser, isn't that what they say?
Oh no, my feet suddenly feel numb. (TL Note: It’s a nice play on words, since the proverb in korean for ‘a guilty conscience needs no accuser’ is ‘The thief's own feet feel numb’ since ya know this guy is also guilty.)
"Aris? What's wrong, does your feet hurt!?"
"..Y-Yes. They hurt a little..."
"Why were you standing still like an idiot outside in the middle of winter...!! Geez..!!"
Remi sat down on a nearby rock and forcefully took off my shoes. My feet were slightly purplish.
After letting out a big sigh, Remi carefully started massaging my feet.
"Th-They're... dirty!"
"Shh! Stay still!"
Does it hurt?
It doesn't hurt at all when big sis is touching it... I-It's true!
Haah, really...
Eeeeeek!!?
Hey, hey!
W-Wait a minute!!
Even though I tried to wriggle free because it tickled, she showed no sign of letting go of my feet.
After that, they were thoroughly kneaded.
Hmph.
The Duke's plan was to gradually shake Anna's mind from childhood, beco a maternal relative through marriage, and then manipulate her after she ascended to the throne, taking advantage of her ntal distress.
But oh my? It seems the cursed earrings he gave her were more effective than he expected. How unfortunate.
He must have hired a very skilled shaman. Congratulations, Duke.
Right now, he's probably thinking about how to get the earrings back.
Yes, Duke Aquitaine is the bad guy.
It's all his fault.
Such a bad person.
Right?
To do such a thing to my sister... Unforgivable!
Give us back our kind and gentle sister!
Well, I'm the one who did it, though.
For now, thanks to the exemplary student image Anna has built up, people believe it's just a temporary hysteria caused by academic stress that will soon pass...
But what if her condition worsens, and soone in the royal palace becos suspicious of Anna's behavior?
Princess Anna would never act like this! Sothing must be wrong!
The mont soone starts suspecting sothing, things will escalate.
Boom, just like that.
If it goes further and an investigation is launched, they'll undoubtedly find traces of a curse.
Because It's already deeply embedded within Anna.
Naturally, the curse on the earrings will also be exposed, and suspicion will fall upon Duke Aquitaine.
The Duke, who gambled on sothing uncertain, will lose his hand.
Chop, just like that.
If he wanted to manipulate a person according to his will, shouldn't he have been prepared to take a gamble himself along with it?
Well... Shall we start?
Oh dear, I accidentally chopped off your head off? Sorry. Did it hurt? Ah, you can't speak, can you?
I'll assu it didn't hurt.
Then shall we try chopping off his wrist again?
Ta-da, ta-da, ta-da.
Chop.
That's just my prediction, and I think it'll play out similarly.
I don't know how things will be settled after everything is over.
But one thing is for sure, those involved in this incident will at least suffer consequences.
Anna, who is gradually breaking down, the Duke, who is becoming increasingly anxious, and even our parents, who have started to harbor suspicions.
I believe now is the best ti.
If I delay any further, I might lose the opportunity forever.
And a perfect opportunity has presented itself.
"A hunting competition! I want to go too!"
"You're that excited? Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Yes, yes! Anything is good if I'm with Remi!! I'll catch everything for you!"
"Kyaaaaah!! I love you so much too, Aris!"
Hug.
Our parents decided to hold a winter hunting competition as a way to relieve Anna's stress. It was an event planned with the hope that she would feel a little better after running around freely in the vast fields and beautiful mountains.
To ensure the safety of the young princesses who were still too young to hunt, all dangerous animals were eliminated or driven away in advance.
The knights had combed through the entire area, so all threatening beasts had been killed or temporarily relocated.
The only animals left would be rabbits and foxes huddled in their burrows, or deer with beautiful antlers.
It's literally hunting for fun.
I, who was originally prohibited from entering the hunting grounds, was finally allowed to participate this year, as I had just turned ten. Of course, Teacher Fayne's praise for played a significant role in this decision.
He said that even if all the incompetent knights here joined forces, they wouldn't be able to defeat , or sothing like that?
Father, who seed to trust Fayne quite a bit, readily granted my request to participate in the hunt.
I'm a woman who's weak to praise. Thank you, Fayne!
Well, the knights are nothing to —I can handle them with one hand tied behind my back.
".........."
"—Huh!? Big sis Anna!! You finally ca out!!"
But do they know that even I can't withstand an attack from my one and only blood relative?
Ah, if my precious sister points a sword at , with my tender heart, I would have no choice but to accept it without resistance.
Stab, stab, stab, stab, like that.
Gooey, gooey. Spurt.
Hmm...
Just imagining it brings a smile to my face.
It would be a truly sweet and beautiful sight.
"I've been waiting for you!! I called you from outside your room, but you didn't answer..."
"........"
I limped slightly and ran towards her.
Tata-da-da.
"...B-Big sis!?"
"........"
"Pl-Please... Answer !!"
"......."
I approached Anna with quick steps, but she didn't even look at , just stared blankly at the sky.
It wasn't that she was deliberately ignoring ; she seed to genuinely not recognize . Her eyes, which should have reflected the azure sky, were incredibly dark.
Only after I tugged on her sleeve a few tis did she acknowledge .
And then, she looked at with a cold gaze.
It wasn't the gaze with a hint of bewildernt that she had shown before.
It was a pure gaze, devoid of any lingering feelings.
Eyes that were purely saying, "I want to kill you."
Wow, it's really serious.
This is thrilling.
Scary.
Heeheehee.
Heehee.
Big sis, have you finally co to terms with your heart?
I'm so happy.
Ah— Big sis, I really love you.
Anna didn't even answer , just stared at for a mont, then walked past , heading towards her room.
Remi, who had followed , saw Anna and let out every curse word she knew. She called her heartless, said she had iron flowing in her veins instead of blood for walking away without saying anything after seeing Aris, that she has no manners, and so on.
But in Remi's eyes, there was an undeniable worry for Anna.
Well, until just a year ago, they were laughing and playing pranks on each other.
Remi probably wants to go back to those tis too.
"Let's... go back too..."
"...Okay..."
Tap.
Remi and I held hands and started walking back to our room. Unlike my cold hand, Remi's hand was so warm it felt like it would lt mine.
I prayed to a god I didn't believe in, hoping that her love for would last forever.
And, in the distance.
I hoped that Anna, who was looking at with genuine murderous intent, would keep moving forward with that strong heart.
I wagged my tail.
Sway, sway.
A seductive dance, calling to the hunter.
The hunt will begin soon.
Sway, sway.
Sway, sway.
**
Even if you remove the hands from a clock and draw the curtains, the sun continues on its path.
The sun doesn't care about their circumstances.
Ti flowed like water, soaking an entire page of the calendar.
And finally, the day of the festival, the day the actors had been eagerly waiting for, arrived.
One couldn't sleep, excited about making new mories with her beloved younger sister.
Another stayed up all night, preparing the best script for her two beloved older sisters.
And the last one was ticulously sharpening her already well-honed sword all night long.
Shiiing, shiiing.
And finally, the long-awaited day of the festival arrived.
"Let the —hunting competition begin!!!"
The ti has co.
The ti for death.
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