Chapter 63: Crazy Bitch

When did it start? The memories of the past, which came crashing like waves every time I went to sleep, no longer came to mind. It was for that reason that I continued to visit the annex of the Imperial Palace.

I wondered if, at some point, the memories of the past would come back to life if I tiringly looked at『The River Where the Sun Manoeuvres』 I wondered if the revived memories would reconnect my broken milestones.

It had already been a month and a half. In the midst of the time that slipped through my fingers, I felt like I was firmly missing something. But unfortunately, I had no idea what it was.

“Again.”

Along with the noise of the leaves being crushed, a clear voice echoed in the back of my ears. My legs stopped and my body stiffened with tension. If my prediction was correct, the owner of this voice was by no means a pleasant person.

“Again, what’s the point of wandering in the woods? Is there a place to go back between the bushes?”

Hoo. Hillmartino, who brought her face in from the side, smirked as she blew the wind in my ear. Crazy things should be done only when the sun is down. I took a step back from her.

“Why do you think so?”

“Would there be any great meaning between just two encounters? Would it work if I said it’s just because of your expression?”

“You’re very interested in me.”

Hillmartino’s outfit was black from head to toe, as if in mourning. It felt like she was a reaper who came to announce my death because of her dark skin tone and black clothes. Even when compared to me, Hillmartino was tall for a woman. She spoke with her hands behind her back.

“There will be a lot of people interested in you, even if it’s not me. There are many people in the Imperial Palace who envy women who are pretty and useless like you, but close to power.”

“Does that mean that your interest is also envy?”

Hillmartino, who removed her hands from behind her back, covered her mouth and laughed. No affirmation, no denial, just laughing. Her eyes, which became so narrowed that the pupils could not be seen, showed widespread joy.

‘It’s a typical mood swing.’

It was easy to deal with mood swings. No matter how crazy she was, wouldn’t she spill something at times like this?

“Everyone in the Imperial Palace seems to be sharp.”

With her tilted head fixed in place, Hilmartino replied.

“Because everything that’s been crushed is already dead.”

“Most people are terrified of what I will receive from Her Highness Vivianne.”

“That’s a given. Because there’s more than one person who desires the love of my beautiful and brilliant Vivianne.”

Saying Vivianne’s name brought pure happiness to Hillmartino’s face. Just imagining the sight of her dying of happiness made me sick to my stomach. There was no other reason. Was it simply because my personality had become twisted?

“Of course, so do I.”

Only a shadow remained on Hillmartino’s face, once laughter disappeared. At her expression, I quietly replied .

“I, however, have no idea what her Highness Vivianne is thinking.”

Hillmartino listened to my voice without blinking.

“Why does Her Highness Vivianne have a child like me next to her?”

The wind blew through the long birch trees. How long was the silence? Hillmartino, who closed her eyes after a long time, swept her fluttering black hair behind her.

“I don’t know why you think that I’ll be dealing with all this bullshit….”

Our distance had narrowed again. Leaning her back, Hillmartino stared into my eyes and said each word clearly.

“If you want to use me, you’d better be more sincere. Even if I look like this, I can easily bite an arm off.”

I was dumbfounded. Was she showing off that she was a bitch? I wanted to spit on her, but… Not yet.

This was the Imperial Palace, not Ingord. Richton, who watched silently no matter what I did, did not exist in the Imperial Palace. In other words, it meant that I could not break into someone’s bedroom and take all my anger out.. I just silently hung my head.

“I’m sorry if it sounded like that to you, lady.”

Pfft. A small laugh spread far away. Turning, Hillmartino climbed onto the back of a horse tied to a tree. It was a large black horse with a glossy mane.

“Pretty Agrane. Just like you said, there are a lot of children like you in the Imperial Castle.”

Hillmartino smiled at me and swept the horse’s neck with her long fingers.

“If you know what her Highness thinks, please let me know. I was so curious that I couldn’t sleep last night.”

“I’ll try.”

“Try? Saying funny words! Oh, come to think of it, I almost forgot the most important thing.”

Hillmartino, who was trying to turn her head, looked at me again. I just wanted her to forget about it for the rest of her life.

“You’ll be my partner at this year’s hunting competition. There were three days left, but I ran so quickly to participate in this schedule.”

There was nothing I could say. No, there was a lot, but I would rather shut up and look at Hillmartino. Maybe she was expecting my reaction, but she, who had not spoken for a while, smiled.

“You don’t hide your nervousness. How cute. I hate things that get in my way the most, so make sure you get ready.”

It was right to stay away from crazy bitches. Fortunately, the person in question left first before I moved away.

‘I’m going to have to compete with that eccentric woman in the hunting contest?’

It must have been Vivianne’s permission, but I didn’t know what the hell she was doing. Indeed…. Far from going from one to ten as intended, everything was a mess. Even what was happening today was out of control. Thanks to her, I was able to realize a new fact. That I terribly hated a world where things didn’t go my way.

After dinner, I visited Wilhelm just like yesterday. This time it was with Valeria, not alone. Would Wilhelm be waiting for me on time today? I thought that maybe today would be the same as yesterday. And that thought was confirmed as soon as I entered Wilhelm’s room.

“I should’ve brought a book, right?”

Cain stood there like yesterday and stared at me. It was a scene that gave me a sense of hopelessness, but I unconsciously sat down on the chair.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to boringly waste my time today. I rummaged under the table and found cards and played with Valeria.

Cain was frowning the whole time as if he didn’t like my behavior, but it was none of his business. For one hour, the door was still closed.

“Can I come here at this time tomorrow?”

I stood up from my seat without organizing the cards. And I grabbed Valeria’s hand that was going to clean up for me. I was trying to make it obvious.

“Yes.”

Cain’s answer was much stiffer than yesterday. I smiled brightly at his face and left a few words.

“I want you to tell His Highness that I won’t like this the third time. I have no intention of wasting my time like this.”

And I left the room, leaving the messy table intact. Valeria looked back throughout the walk, apparently worried that we had disturbed the crown prince’s room.

“Lady. Shouldn’t I have cleaned it up?””

“If they are dissatisfied, they’ll come and say something.”

It won’t happen though. Seeing that Valeria’s expression was still dark, she seemed to find my behavior strange. In fact, I haven’t had any interactions with Wilhelm lately, and it must have seemed strange for me to act like this, especially after failing twice. I was on my way down the stairs to my room. I suddenly heard a voice calling me from behind.

“Miss Agrane.”

Count Belbourne, standing at the top of the stairs, hurried down and stood in front of me. This man never let me slide away even once..

“Count.”

“It was so hard to see you today.”

“You were looking for me? I’m sorry, as I said before, I had a previous engagement with His Highness Wilhelm.”

“Oh! I remember. But he….”

The Count Belbourne stared at my face with rather complicated eyes. I could tell at once what it meant.

‘He seems to be contemplating whether to say it or not.’

It seemed that he had seen Wilhelm’s face somewhere. That was also somewhere I was not accompanying.

“I know exactly what you’re trying to say. The imperial life is not what I want it to be.”

I meant it this time. The Count of Belbourne sighed briefly, as if my sincerity had been conveyed. Yes, I thought it was a funny situation, but how pitiful I must have looked to you.

“I fully understand, Miss Agrane. The Imperial Palace is like that. My brother described this place as a spider’s web. The moment he stepped into the castle, he felt trapped in a web that he couldn’t escape, waiting to be eaten.”

“You have a really witty person as your brother.”

Seeing that he pushed out such an older brother and inherited the title, it seemed that the older brother was scared and ran away. Count Belbourne, who was staring down at me, came a step forward and grabbed my hand. This level of discomfort could now be hidden casually.

“If you’re tired and lonely, I hope you can come to me anytime. If it’s Miss Agrane’s problem… I’d like to find some way to help you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The meaningless conversation will continue longer, so I took Valeria down the stairs, whispering in her ear.

“This face is very useful, isn’t it?”

Valeria’s expression, which had been frozen the whole time, was released with a short smile. But her relaxed face brought my sleeping thoughts to the surface. In this way, when would I be able to completely regain my lost past?

‘Do I have to take more risks here to achieve anything?’

But what if I had to endure it? Should I go to Wilhelm and confess that I also knew the him from the past? The one who was anxious was me, not Wilhelm, in every way. That fact would have been known to both Wilhelm and Vivianne. Maybe Richton too.

‘How far did Richton see it?’

What exactly was my wish he mentioned? Revenge? Freedom? I went back to the room and thought about it all night, but there was no right answer.