Anna’s appearance was getting more and more ragged.
Even someone who didn’t know her usual state would think that face was severe.
Dark circles under her eyes, unfocused gaze, and her significantly slowed reaction time… how to express this?
Ah, right.
She looked like she was out of options.
Maybe sensing the seriousness of the situation, even her parents seemed to be quite worried about Anna’s current state. They seemed to be thinking it was stress from her studies.
Stress, well, it’s not entirely wrong.
It’s true about the studies too.
But the problem is, it’s not something to think about so easily.
Unlike Remi, who’s always causing trouble, Anna had always treated others with exemplary diligence and sincerity, so the shock for those who saw her like this was doubled.
And at the same time— they were led to think optimistically that she would return to normal after just a little break.
She was such a good child.
After a bit of time, everything would be okay.
She’d be back to her usual self after a brief lapse.
The girl who wouldn’t betray everyone’s expectations, that was Anna.
Oh dear, what should I do?
It doesn’t seem like she’s going to come back easily.
Hehehe.
“What on earth… happened!!”
“Duke… your composure…!”
The Duke Aquitaine, whom I passed by in the Royal Palace, looked extremely restless.
He had even forgotten the basic noble expression management, fidgeting nervously.
Well, there’s no wonder. Anna’s current state must be quite a stab in the heart for him.
A thief gets more anxious over their own misdeeds, right?
Aiyo, my feet suddenly feel tingly.
“Aris? What’s wrong, does your foot hurt!?”
*i>”…Uh, yeah. It kinda hurts.”
“So why are you standing outside like a fool in the middle of winter…!! Oh jeez!!”
Remi made me sit down on a nearby stone and forcibly took off my shoes. My feet were slightly purple.
After a big sigh, Remi cautiously started to massage my feet.
*i>”That… is dirty!”
“Shhh! Just stay still!”
Does it hurt?
It doesn’t hurt at all because your sister is touching it… r-really!
Sigh, for real…
Heeheee!?!
Wait, wait!
Even as I try to escape because it’s ticklish, her grip shows no sign of letting go.
Then it turned into a chaotic rubdown.
Hmph.
From the Duke’s perspective, he probably thought he would gently sway Anna’s heart from childhood, and after marriage, he would be a distant relative, manipulating her while she struggled mentally after taking the throne.
But uh-oh? Looks like the cursed earrings are way more effective than expected. How unfortunate.
Did he hire an amazing sorcerer? Congrats, Duke.
Right now, he’s probably thinking he has to snatch the earrings back somehow.
Yes, it’s the Duke Aquitaine who’s the bad guy.
All of it.
Such a bad person.
Isn’t that right?
How can you make my sister like this… I won’t forgive you!
Give me back my kind and sweet sister!
Well, I did it.
For now, Anna has built up a perfect student image, so it’s seen as a temporary hysterical reaction due to academic stress…
But what if this state worsens and someone in the Royal Palace even raises suspicions about Anna’s behavior?
Princess Anna would never do that! Something must be wrong!
And the moment anyone suspects, the situation escalates.
Bam, just like that.
If an investigation were to take place, traces of the curse would definitely be discovered.
Because it’s already seeped thoroughly into Anna everywhere.
Of course, the curse tied to the earrings would be exposed too, and at the same time, the Duke Aquitaine would find suspicion directed at him.
The Duke, who has bet on an uncertain situation, would end up losing his head.
Bam, just like that.
If you wanted to move someone to your will, you should bet your own life too, right?
So… here we go?
Oh no, did I accidentally chop off your head? Sorry. Did that hurt? Ah, you can’t speak, huh?
I’ll assume it didn’t hurt.
Shall I try chopping off your wrist instead?
Ta-da-dan, tadda-ran, boom.
Bam.
Just a guess, but I think it’ll end up something like that.
What will happen after everything is over, I’m not quite sure.
But one thing is certain, those involved in this won’t witness anything good.
Slowly falling apart Anna, the increasingly anxious Duke, and now even the parents who are beginning to harbor suspicions after seeing everything.
I thought now was the best time.
If it gets delayed any longer, there might not be another chance ever again.
Oh, what a fortunate opportunity has rolled in!
*i>”Hunting tournament! I want to do it too!”
“You like it that much? Are you okay?”
*i>”Yep! Anything’s great if I go with Remi!! I’ll catch everything!”
“Yay!! I love you so much, Aris!”
Hug.
As a way to relieve Anna’s stress, her parents organized a winter hunting tournament. The hope was that she’d feel better running around in the vast fields and beautiful mountains.
To ensure the animal hunting wouldn’t be dangerous for the young princesses, all the dangerous creatures were cleared out in advance.
They sent the knights out to eliminate any threats, so the fierce beasts would have been either killed or temporarily displaced.
The animals that remained would probably just be timid rabbits or foxes, or elegantly horned deer, just about that much.
It’s hunting purely for fun.
Normally, I wouldn’t be allowed in the hunting grounds, but having just turned 10 this year, I was finally allowed to participate. Well, of course, it was thanks to Sir Fayne’s praises about me.
Those scraggly knights wouldn’t be able to defeat me no matter how they lined up, would they?
My father had trusted Fayne enough to easily permit me to join the hunting grounds.
I’m a girl weak to compliments. Fayne, thank you!
Right, knights are nothing— I can manage them with one hand.
“……..”
*i>”—Oh!? Sister Anna!! You finally came out!!”
But would they know that I can’t do anything against the attack of my only sibling?
Ahh, if my precious sister aims a knife at me, with my gentle heart, I really can’t fight back and would just have to accept it.
Shink shink, while saying that.
Sticky, splat.
Hmm…
Just imagining it makes me smile.
That scene would surely be touching and beautiful.
*i>”I’ve waited so long!! You didn’t even answer when I called from outside the room…”
“……..”
I limped closer to her.
Pitter patter.
*i>”….Huh, Sister!?”
“……..”
*i>”C-Could you please answer me!?”
“…….”
I had approached Anna, who was looking blankly at the sky instead of looking at me.
It wasn’t an act of ignoring me, she genuinely didn’t recognize me. Those eyes that seemed to reflect the sky were too dark compared to the blue above.
After tugging at her sleeve a few times, she then finally recognized me.
And shot a cold gaze in my direction.
It was no longer the slightest trace of affection she’d shown me before.
Those were eyes that had discarded all lingering feelings, far too pure.
Simply, those eyes told me she wanted to kill me.
Wow, that’s extreme.
How thrilling.
Scary.
Hehe.
Heehee.
Sister, have you finally settled your heart?
I’m so glad.
Ah— Sister, I really love you so much.
Anna, without even responding to my words, simply stared at me quietly and walked toward her room.
Remi, who followed me, unleashed all the curses she knew at Anna’s back. What a heartless person; to turn away after seeing Aris without saying a word is like having iron in their blood, totally rude, and so on.
But in Remi’s eyes, worry for Anna couldn’t be hidden.
Well, just until a year ago, they had been playfully teasing each other with smiles.
Remi must be wishing to go back to those times.
“Okay… let’s go back too…”
*i>”…Yeah…”
Clack.
Remi and I held hands and started heading back to our room. Unlike my cold hand, Remi’s was so warm it felt like it could melt away my hand.
I prayed to a god I don’t even believe in that her love for me would last forever.
And from far away.
That Anna, who was watching me with true murderous intent, would keep her strong spirit and move forward.
I wagged my tail.
Swish, swish.
The seductive dance calling to the hunters.
The hunt is about to begin.
Swish, swish.
Swish swish.
No matter how much you take the hands off the clock and draw curtains over the windows, the sun follows its own path.
The sun has no reason to care about their troubles.
Time flows like water, soaking a page of the calendar.
At the same time, the day of the festival that the actors had eagerly awaited had finally arrived.
One person couldn’t sleep thinking about creating new memories with their beloved younger sibling,
Another had prepared the best screenplay for their two beloved sisters, staying up all night,
And the last one was personally grooming the well-sharpened sword all night.
Swish, swish.
And finally came the long-anticipated day of the festival,
“The hunting tournament— will now begin!!!”
The time has come.
The time of death.
