The Girl Wants to Be Murdered

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.

Dark circles under her eyes, unfocused gaze, delayed reaction time... How should I describe it?

Ah, yes.

She looks drained.

As if sensing the gravity of the situation, our parents seemed to be worrying quite a bit about Anna's current state. They seemed 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 something 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 same time, — 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 time, 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 come 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 me 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, become a maternal relative through marriage, and then manipulate her after she ascended to the throne, taking advantage of her mental 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 someone in the royal palace becomes suspicious of Anna's behavior?

Princess Anna would never act like this! Something must be wrong!

The moment someone starts suspecting something, 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 something 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 assume 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 time.

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 me 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 me, or something like that?

Father, who seemed 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 me—I can handle them with one hand tied behind my back.

".........."

"—Huh!? Big sis Anna!! You finally came 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 me, 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 me!!"

"......."

I approached Anna with quick steps, but she didn't even look at me, just stared blankly at the sky.

It wasn't that she was deliberately ignoring me; she seemed to genuinely not recognize me. Her eyes, which should have reflected the azure sky, were incredibly dark.

Only after I tugged on her sleeve a few times did she acknowledge me.

And then, she looked at me with a cold gaze.

It wasn't the gaze with a hint of bewilderment that she had shown me 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 come to terms with your heart?

I'm so happy.

Ah— Big sis, I really love you.

Anna didn't even answer me, just stared at me for a moment, then walked past me, heading towards her room.

Remi, who had followed me, 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 times 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 melt mine.

I prayed to a god I didn't believe in, hoping that her love for me would last forever.

And, in the distance.

I hoped that Anna, who was looking at me 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.

Time 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 memories 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 meticulously 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 time has come.

The time for death.

**

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