Chapter 13 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

〈 Chapter 13 〉 Departure * * * ** Remi was in a rather foul mood. For someone who would answer that she likes Aris when asked, "Do you like Mom or Dad better?", it was extremely displeasing that Aris went on a date with Anna. Especially since Anna has a history of hurting Aris! "Again, Aris has gone to Anna," Remi muttered. Remi was resentful that Aris seemed to prefer Anna over her, even though she had always been the one playing with Aris and taking care of her. Of course, all of this was part of Aris's deliberate plan, but since Remi had no way of knowing that, she was perpetually dissatisfied with the situation. Even Remi, whose mind was filled with flowers, harbored a small knot of frustration in her heart. Aris was so kind that one might suspect she was an angel reincarnated. Yet, that sister figure of hers had done nothing to cherish such an angel, instead, pushing her away without even a word of apology, hadn't she? For a sister who constantly mumbled about wanting to keep her little sister close enough to see her, the current situation of being out hunting alone was indeed troubling. "But Aris said it'd only be for today...." Thump, she shot an arrow at the innocent ground. Nothing but dirt below. Naturally, she caught no prey, and the arrow simply stuck in the snow-covered ground. Sighing, the princess resumed her slow, plodding walk. The innocent arrow would later be retrieved by the maids. Poor thing. This princess... had no intention of hunting at all...!! The only reason she was holding back her urge to run to Aris this instant and hug her tightly was just that one thing. Because her sister said it would only be for today. Because she asked to be waited for. Therefore. Remi Achaia believed. That, just as Aris had said, everything would return to the way it was after today. That her older sister, who had completely lost herself in her studies recently, would once again become the exemplary student dedicated to her studies. That Aris, visibly hurting both physically and emotionally, who only cared about watching over her troubled older sister rather than worrying about herself, would once again be nestled safely in her arms. That everything would return to the happier days they once were. She firmly believed so. If Aris were to see Remi right now, she'd probably think this: This is why my sister is so arrogant. Death waits at uncertain times and places. Thus, be ever ready for its arrival. There is no rule anywhere that dictates one must be happy tomorrow because one is happy today. Remi had forgotten this. From a distance, a commotion began to reach her ears. The appearance of an intruder, disturbing the grandeur of the day. Curious about what was happening, and having nothing better to do, she slowly made her way towards the center of the commotion. "...ㅡㅡ!!" "...Grandpa Feirn..?" Remi instantly recognized him as Aris's swordsmanship teacher. Simultaneously, she saw that the usually benevolent, never-angered Feirn was urgently whispering something to her father. Next to him was a woman, sitting atop a steaming, heavily-breathing horse, trembling as she handed something to an attendant. There must be something urgent that needed reporting to my father, Remi thought. Well, of course. To cause a commotion at an event hosted by the king just to report to a mere noble? There's no one daring enough to do that. Regardless of how high-ranking they are, there are codes of conduct and limits to respect. Ultimately, the reports could only be limited to the king and queen. Thinking it was unrelated to her, Remi observed from afar, but as she saw her parents' expressions grow graver and more serious, her steps quickened. What's happening? As she got close enough to catch occasional words, she heard the one word she dared to claim she had spoken the most: 'Aris.' A name. The word used to distinguish one from others. It's hers, but others use it far more often. The incomprehensible murmurs gradually became clearer, delivering their message. And amidst those words, Remi realized the frequency at which Aris's name was mentioned was alarming. The moment she realized this, Remi started sprinting faster than she ever had before. Finally, close enough to hear, Remi caught one definite line from Feirn's explanation. A phrase cut off from its context, one she couldn't begin to understand or accept: "ㅡPrincess Anna might kill Princess Aris!" ".....!!" Yet, no further words were needed for Remi. Just that one line was more than enough. She turned on her heel, spotted an unattended horse nearby, and climbed aboard. The knights, sensing something, attempted to stop her, but it was futile. There was no one present who could stop this princess whose eyes were now ablaze. For the one person who could, was far away, in peril. Hyah. Faster, go faster. A bit more... Faster...!! Cutting through the wind, Remi Achaia urged the horse on for her dear sister's sake. ** "In the morning, it has four legs; by noon, it has two; and in the evening, it has three. What is it?" This is the riddle posed by the Sphinx in the Oedipus myth from Greek mythology. One might find it an even greater riddle why, in Greek mythology, a Sphinx—an Egyptian architectural symbol—appears to pose a quiz, but, in fact, they are different entities. There is indeed a monster named Sphinx in Greek mythology. Some claim they are the same, but that isn't something I need to concern myself with. It's not my problem. Should I reveal the answer? The answer to the riddle is 'a human.' It's so overused that even a passing five-year-old would know it. A baby crawls on four limbs, an adult walks on two legs, and an elder walks with three legs, with the help of a cane. What I'm trying to say is... —Crunch! "Aaaaahhh—!!! It hurts, it hurts, it huuurrts!!!" "HahahaHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Wah, I'm baby Aris. I'm a baby. I'm crawling on all fours. I had cast aside my human dignity, rolling on the ground as a tool for Anna’s pleasure. Anna's hunting boots mercilessly stomped on the back of my hands. The rough metal embedded in the soles was enough to produce pain. The back of my hand she chose was already pierced by an arrow. Whether intentional or not, it was clear that Anna was stomping down with all her strength on the spot where the arrow remained. Crunch, crack, snap. Sounds that should never come from a hand began to echo. It felt like an electric current starting from my hand traveled through my bones, frying my brain. You must have held on to a lot, sister... You must have wanted to catch the rabbit first... I didn’t know... I’m sorry... Actually, I knew... I'm really sorry... "S-Sister... Please... Please, come back—aaaaaack!?" "I told you to shut up—!!!" The kicks continued. I crawled on the ground, trying desperately to escape the flood of violence. Oof. By now, my clothes were stained with the blood seeping from my body and the dirt that clung to it. Spitting out a clot of blood that had dried and stuck at my throat, I crawled despairingly. Exactly how Anna wanted: miserably, cowardly, and pathetically screaming in fear as I crawled away. Anna chased after me, laughing joyfully. The trees that covered the sky gradually disappeared. The sound of flowing water began to echo from afar. Instead of dirt, my hand began to touch the solid texture of stones. I already knew that she was leading me somewhere. The arrows shot, the violence inflicted was all pushing me in a certain direction. Yes, even in this extreme situation, Anna was doing her utmost to plunge me into despair. As expected, Anna is extraordinary. But my reverie was brief—this endless chase finally announced its end. I saw a small stone slipping under my movement, falling below. Then, it was swept away by the current, leaving no trace behind. A steep cliff that seemed dozens of meters high. Below, the roaring current, evident even from the distant sound of water. The grand spectacle of nature seemed to be telling me that there was nowhere further to go. To flee and flee, and to find only despair at the end of that long escape. Ah, this is what she wanted to show me. Sister wanted me to understand her suffering. The end that we, I, reached—was a cliff with no further path forward. ** I let out a sigh filled with admiration. "Ah... Ahhh...!!" "AhahahaHAHAHAHA!! Did you think you could escape!? Huh!?" I turned around to look. From the shadows, Anna emerged, clutching swords in both hands, walking slowly towards me. Step by step, the approaching footfalls were terrifying. By now, perhaps my face was wearing a look of despair? Because, likely, I would soon die. —Whoosh Anna stopped about ten meters away, throwing one of the swords she held. I closed my eyes. But the sword didn't fly toward me. Thud, the throw landed the sword exactly between my legs. As if it wasn’t an attempt to kill, she slowly gripped the sword with both hands and took her stance with the other sword still in her hand. ...Why? Wouldn't it suffice to just kill me now...? Everything is concluding, what are you trying to do? I muttered to myself inside. One leg extended forward, the other pulled back. With the sharp tip of the sword pointed towards me in a stance. It felt as though she was preparing for a sword duel— "My head hurts. It's throbbing, as if it'll kill me." "....S-Sister...?" Those always intense eyes, seeming to want to tear me apart at any given moment, glaring fiercely. Within those eyes was Sister Anna. From start to finish, she didn't turn away even at moments she'd want to avoid. She faced everything head-on. This wasn't some emotion or curse I had implanted or its influence. It couldn't be compared to something so trivial. It was unmistakably the true intention of Anna Achaia. "If I kill you, will this pain disappear too?" "No... No... Sister..." With my only somewhat intact arm, I covered my eyes. Drip, drip. Tears poured like rain. Even though my arm blocked my eyes and my clothes caught the tears, the unending stream soaked through sleeves, pants, and eventually the dirt. I'm not crying because I'm sad. I'm crying because I'm happy. "Pick up the sword, Aris Achaia." "I don’t want to fight you, Sister—Waaaah!!!" To Anna, I'd always been a curse that followed her. Her eyes spoke without words. Though one might say she had once attempted to flee, ultimately, confrontation was unavoidable. Both I and you, were destined to face this. That’s why, the noble she sought to rid herself of the curse upon her own being, here and now. "—Otherwise, I'll kill Remi." "Ah... Ahhh...!!" The final ordeal began. I picked up the sword. ** Inwardly, I always wanted to defeat Aris. Because she was the younger sibling, I thought myself unseemly. But even knowing I’d lose, even knowing it was a futile struggle, I wanted to... If I simply surrendered to the impulse, my heart would be at ease. You may scorn me. You may ridicule me. It’s only fair to do so. I already know it's too late to turn back...! But... that last step... I will take it myself. ** Tomorrow. The day after, or perhaps the one after that. The episode comes to a close. ** * * *