Chapter 62: Duke Richton Will Kill You Susan

Bang! White feathers flew in the air along with gunshots. Valeria took my gun and changed the bullet.

‘Your eyes are strong and beautiful, Agrane.’

Suddenly, I remembered the first time I learned hunting from Vivianne.

‘Usually, such people are good at hunting. They don’t lose sight of their prey and chase them to the end. So trust me……. You’ll be a great hunter.’

Saying that, Vivianne hunted ten geese while standing. During the thirteen rounds of gunfire, she didn’t bat an eye.

From the moment I entered the castle, Vivianne showed constant interest in me. Even though I treated her as a stranger, Vivianne’s attitude remained the same. Despite my position as a guest of the quiet Wilhelm, it was only Vivianne who always called for me. And Wilhelm showed no interest in me at all. How could that be?

‘This is for sure. Vivianne knew I had lost my memory.’

How? Had Wilhelm been kind enough to tell her about my situation? Or was it because she and Richton had a deep conversation? Vivianne was as dark on the inside as Wilhelm. So standing next to her was as uncomfortable as being in the same room with Wilhelm.

“You’re alone today.”

Just then, someone came closer behind my back. I lowered my gun and turned, answering the Count of Belbourne who was standing nearby.

“I think you know why.”

He laughed briefly at my words.

“Like Lady Hillmartino, aren’t you both trusted by Her Highness? Of course I thought Her Highness Vivianne would have accompanied you.”

“Her Highness taking me to a reunion with Her Excellency Hillmartino? You rate me amazingly well.”

“I’m only telling you what I’ve seen with my own eyes.”

If Vivianne didn’t mention anything about Hillmartino… would the interest of Count Belbourne towards me wither?

‘I can’t abandon a useful man like this.’

I moderately covered up the answer with a lie.

“It’s a reunion with an old friend. I wouldn’t dare interrupt. As long as winter is not over, I always have a chance to see the Marquis.”

“You’re thoughtful. If you don’t mind, may I fill the vacancy next to you, Miss Agrane?”

“Of course.”

The Count of Belbourne stood beside me, unable to hide his good mood. Did he know what my answer would be, and had prepared a hunting gun in advance? I accepted Belbourne’s offer, but I didn’t do it for myself. He was too interested in my insignificance. In addition, he spilled his story that I was not at all curious about.

“You’ve improved remarkably in a few days, perhaps because you learned from her Highness Vivianne.”

The hunt ended early because the number of prepared games was far from enough for two people to enjoy. The sun didn’t set, but somehow I felt like there was going to be a dark cloud.

“I don’t know where to put myself because you only say nice things to me.”

“Would you like to have a drink after dinner?”

I had been talking nonsense with you for a while, but you still want to share more there?

“I’m really sorry, but I think I have to say no. I already have a previous engagement.”

It was fortunate that the schedule was fixed. Even if I didn’t, I would have forced it.

“Oh, my. May I ask who you have a prior engagement with?”

“It’s a prior engagement with His Highness Wilhelm.”

Belbourne’s face, which had expressed disappointment, quickly hardened. He was quite honest with his feelings. I stared at him as if asking if there was a problem. Belbourne, who lowered his gaze, whispered to me in a careful voice.

“If I dare say one thing… I don’t think this is a good time.”

The meaning of those words was clear. Going to Wilhelm instead of Vivianne at the time when Hillmartino returned would mean that it could be misleading.

Maybe I hadn’t considered that. I tried my best to make a bright smile that would make me seem like a likeable person. Leaving my hunting gun with Valeria, I walked past Belbourne and slightly tilted my forehead towards his shoulder.

“Thank you for your concern, Count.”

I could feel his gaze persistently following my back as I turned away. After a while, I heard a loud voice from behind.

“Miss Agrane, shall we meet at the same time tomorrow?”

‘You want me to do this again? Are you crazy?’

Pretending not to hear, I came back to the castle, and smoothed my hair and ears. Only when there was distance between us, did Belbourne’s call become silent.

The sky was as dim as the moon was out of sight that evening. After a light dinner, I went to Wilhelm in time for my appointment. Obviously, even though I was living in the eastern section of Imperial Palace, the feeling of passing through the passage was more awkward than familiar.

The servant who was guarding Wilhelm’s door opened the door quietly as soon as he checked my face. But there was no one in the room. No, there was only one person waiting for me. One of Wilhelm’s escorts.

“Sir Cain?”

“Do you know me?”

There were doubts in his eyes as he asked with a cold face. Come to think of it, I was wearing a veil in Crohertz. I changed the subject to cover up my mistake.

“Where is His Highness Wilhelm?”

“He sent a message to wait a moment.”

Did something unexpected happen? As Cain said, I sat in a chair and waited for the door to open.

However, ten minutes became thirty minutes, and the door did not open even if the minute hand went around once more. When it was eight o’clock in the evening. I slowly got up from my seat.

“Sir Cain, do you think I should wait any longer for His Highness ?”

I wasted an hour, but I was more curious than annoyed. Why did he break his promise with me? Cain said in a calm voice.

“You can come back at this time tomorrow.”

His answer and his expression seemed to have been planned in advance. As I left Wilhelm’s room, I suddenly began to wonder what I was doing there.

At first, I thought there might have been just busier things, but as I continued my steps, my mind tilted to the opposite side. I was sure Wilhelm made me wait on purpose. Then he even got me into trouble.

“Damn you bastard.”

He was so obedient in front of me that I had forgotten. That Wilhelm was a motherfucker. After returning to my room, Valeria approached me carefully and talked first.

“Miss, you have been to see his Highness Wilhelm, haven’t you?”

Ah. Bad feelings were always right. As expected, there was something he wanted.

“Did something happen?”

“I heard that His Highness Wilhelm is enjoying his dinner. But since the young Lady said he had a prior engagement with you… I was wondering if the maid who informed me was lying.”

I answered kindly.

“You’re a pretty reliable maid. It wasn’t the maid who lied, it was Prince Wilhelm.”

Valeria also made a sour face. She must have had a certain confidence, or else she wouldn’t have spoken in front of me. It was dinner. Was it because of Hillmartino’s arrival?

“Is there any other news besides that?”

“Ah… I heard that His Highness Wilhelm’s marriage partner will be decided soon. I think her name is Margaret Hensaway. She came to the imperial castle a little earlier than the lady, unofficially she’s His Highness Wilhelm’s new lover.”

“Ahh.”

“She was also the partner of today’s dinner.”

In a nutshell, I remained as an afterthought for Wilhelm and Vivianne.

“Am I supposed to like this, Valeria?”

“I beg your pardon?”

I didn’t need to be their favourite. But I knew that holding their attention made it easier to get what I wanted.

“Hmm… No.”

There were times when I only had to worry about Vivianne and Wilhelm’s interests. Compared to the autumn I spent in Ingord, the beginning of winter was so peaceful. Experience had shown that this calmness had always brought strong typhoons. There was no rush, let’s wait for that typhoon in a leisurely way.

***

There was a strong smell of blood from somewhere. The clear fishy smell that gave me a headache and the darkness blocking my view. I was aware of the fact that this unknown space was Ingord. And I inadvertently realised, that this was a dream.

‘Uh-huh, uh-huh…..’

Someone was crying outside my field of vision which didn’t allow me to see even an inch ahead. Then there was the sound of footsteps along with the sound of breathing. Someone grabbed me by the shoulders and I made eye contact with the most desperate face.

Reina?

‘Susan, Susan! Please save me, Susan!’

Reina, why are you here…?

‘Duke Richton will kill you.’

Raina’s fingernails dug into my shoulders. Her eyes, reddened by the burst of blood, looked up at me with pain.

‘Send me to His Highness Wilhelm, Susan… please. Only he can save you.’

Save me? Wilhelm? Me? I Instinctively pushed Raina’s body back. Her hand, which was clutching me just now, fell off helplessly. The whispering voice gradually faded away. When I opened my eyes to the bright vision, I was lying on the bed.

“Haa.”

I wiped my forehead wet with sweat. It was a bad dream, but thanks to it, I could remember the name I had forgotten. Reina, the maid who was my first partner in Ingord and the janitor of Wilhelm. As soon as Valeria came up to take care of me, I asked her.

“Was there a maid named Reina here?”

She shook her head straight in wonder.

“No, I swear I’ve never heard of that name.”

None? Then where did Reina go, who escaped alive that day? Did she lie to me? Or was she not a maid from the beginning?

Of course, knowing whether she was alive or not right now won’t change my situation. Was that why? Reina’s name was blurred in my head within a few hours. However, the uncomfortable feeling remained, so as soon as I finished lunch, I left the room and headed to the annex.