Chapter 32 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

**Chapter 32: Relocation** * * * The sound of horses’ hooves echoed as a group of ten riders passed by, stirring up quite a bit of noise and dust. For the animals lounging lazily nearby, it was like a bolt from the blue. Startled, they bolted off in the opposite direction. "Hyah!" Leading the group was a young girl with sleek hair fluttering wildly in the wind as she galloped forward on her horse. Behind her, a frail-looking woman with brown hair followed with a weary expression. Riding was physically demanding, and it was clearly challenging for a woman with barely any muscle on her. Yet, the way she persevered and kept up underscored just how much effort she was putting in. "Huff... huff... huff..." She looked particularly exhausted. "Ah! Princess Remi! Can we take a short break? Please!?" "Sigh, Tessa..." At Tessa's plaintive wail, the librarian of the Royal Library, Princess Remi relented, gradually slowing and eventually stopping her horse. Soon, those who had been lagging behind to scout the surroundings began to arrive. With the sun setting, everyone busied themselves preparing for the night's camp in the forest. They started fires, set up makeshift shelters, and prepared meals—a lively commotion. Soon, smoke billowed as their dinner was ready. Though it couldn't compare to the sumptuous meals from the royal palace, no one here complained about the food. Clink. Tessa and Remi sat across from each other, their meal laid out on a small table. It was Remi who broke the silence. "I'm sorry, Tessa, for dragging you into this." "Oh, not at all, Princess. If only I had been a bit quicker..." "As I've always said, Tessa, it's not your fault. It's rather my fault for not noticing Aris's struggles." Tessa, having been a librarian, decided to accompany Princess Remi on her final journey. It had been decided that Remi Arkaia, the second princess, would study abroad in the empire. Before leaving her homeland for what could be months or even years, Remi took it upon herself to search for her missing youngest sister one last time. Everyone else dismissed it as a futile endeavor, but Tessa was the only one who accompanied Remi. In her heart, she believed that had she discovered sooner some notes hidden within the book—had she realized Princess Aris's erratic behavior had been a warning—the tragedy might have been averted. It was Tessa's own form of atonement. Or perhaps, it was her way of letting go of the attachment and hope she still harbored for the little princess she once adored. Despite her lack of physical ability or prowess in anything requiring physicality, Tessa's knowledge from books proved invaluable during their journey. Whether it was about food, reading maps, or understanding the landscape—her intellect came in handy. Of course, her body was protesting the demands placed on it, as there are times when brains alone aren't enough to avoid physical hardship. "....." "....." As they began eating, an awkward silence hung between them. Unable to bear the atmosphere, Tessa initiated conversation with the princess she had grown quite close to. "Next year... you are joining the academy, right?" "Well... yes." The topic swiftly turned to the Museion, colloquially known as the academy, of the Arcadia Empire, which Princess Remi would be attending. Tessa herself was greatly interested in the institution and saw this as an opportunity to learn more about it. With eager anticipation, she looked at Princess Remi—only to be disappointed in an unexpected way. "Well, they call it an academy, but in reality, it’s more like an exile." "...What?" "Matchmaking venue... a graveyard... there are plenty of nicknames, but personally, I prefer 'exile'—such a lovely word, isn't it?" The academy functioned as Arcadia Empire's method to gauge loyalty and extend its influence to nearby kingdoms. Under the guise of goodwill, kingdoms were pressured to send valuable 'hostages'—an ominous form of diplomacy. Nobles, reluctantly acquiesced, sent their children to a foreign nation’s school rather than their own. After all, who would willingly send their offspring to a distant country’s school? Adding to this, the academy subtly instilled pro-empire policies and selectively revised historical narratives in its teachings. "When I begged on my knees, asking them to search for Aris, my sister, all I got was indifference—not even a search, just disdain." "Pr... Princess?" Further, those in line to inherit the throne or a duke’s title rarely attended such institutions. They had access to the best tutors; why would they need to go there? They had already formed networks among themselves, hosting tea parties and balls, building connections and friendships since childhood. Even without making direct connections, people would approach them one way or another. To appease the empire and maintain appearances, those lower in succession and nobles below the rank of count were sent to the academy. Despite that, it was also a place where skillful commoners paid to form connections with the still notable nobility. This was the academy. The noise of shattering illusions echoed continuously in Tessa's mind. She was visibly trembling, her hand quivering uncontrollably, causing the food on her spoon to plop back onto her plate. The flavorful stew she was eating, rich and sweet, seemed tasteless as Tessa's entire perception of the meal blurred. She thought to herself—Ah, this is a trap. For only the second time in her life, she wished time could turn back. The first time was the day Princess Aris went missing. The second time was now. "Since 'that fellow' is taking the throne, I have no choice but to be sent away. Just told to play hostage, ha! Haha! Go to school, make some connections, maybe snag a husband." "...Princess Remi..." "Oh—sorry, Tessa. Hehe." Remi muttered softly, "I didn't mean to make it awkward," as she bit into a tough piece of rye bread. It tore apart with a loud crunch. Watching this, Tessa clutched her racing heart, trying to finish their meal. She vowed never to bring up the academy again. And when she returned to the library, she'd burn all those romance novels set there. Their meal ended, leaving the two in their uneasy mood. Caw, caw. The sun disappeared beyond the horizon with the echoing cries of crows high in the sky. Except for a few night guards, everyone dragged their weary bodies into a deep sleep. Another day had passed like that. Caw, caw. Caw. In the gentle moonlight, no one noticed the small jewel attached to the crow's leg. Everyone slept, unaware. ** The crow's urgent report: —People from the Kingdom of Tessilia are moving down along the river. Previously, it wasn't as if there hadn't been people searching this area. But most of them wore only standard scouting equipment, lightly adorned with subpar magical gear, making it easy to deceive them. The slightly altered environment here was a spell in itself, causing people to pass by without noticing the oddity of this hideout. The situation was now different. "Caw... caw..." —Thank you for your efforts. Rest well. Watching a small orb, from which sparks of electricity jumped, only static and distorted images could be seen. It was now unusable. Magic had been disrupted. Some high-class, perhaps even superior-tier, defensive equipment was interfering. Likely the result of magical gear entrusted to the princesses to prevent past incidents. Moreover, the princess with those enchanted items was approaching, nearing where Alice and I dwelled. "They must not meet." The conclusion was clear. No. Absolutely not. The distrust towards the Arkaia royal family still lingered. Additionally, I heard the brutal first princess had now solidified her claim to the throne. If she knew her sister was alive, there's no telling what she'd do. For Alice's safety, contact with them must be avoided. "......" Turning back, I saw our small hut, where we had lived for so long—a place one might even call home. To say it wasn't dear to me would be a lie. However— "We need to move," I said, no hesitation, for the conclusion had been set from the start. Alice's safety was everything to me. I quickly scouted for a place suitable for us to live in. Wealth and memories, past, all held far less importance than the well-being of one child. I'd gladly trade away such a home, no matter how many I had. The time had come. Alice was reaching a growth stage, and a nearby village where I could procure daily necessities was crucial. A place not too isolated to be wary of outsiders, nor too populous so rumors wouldn’t spread. Additionally, it had to be a place distant enough from Aurilia, where Tessilia's reach could not easily extend. I narrowed down our options swiftly, considering the closest place for Alice's sake. A stone rolled away from my foot. It was time. "Let’s head to the empire." The time for relocation had come. ** Arcadia Empire, Village of Syria. A scraggly girl staggered along, arms full of cloth—that was me. Why were tears falling? "Oh... the medieval ages, what's this... I want to use a smartphone... watch YouTube... listen to the latest songs, not hymns... eat macarons..." "Hey, Hahn! What are you mumbling about again!? Get the laundry done, or do you want to skip dinner!?" "Ugh! Mr. Hust, I’m on it!!" Daily chores like laundry and sewing had left my fingers covered with eczema and needle pricks. I could only manage menial tasks, lacking real skills in cooking, exercise, or hunting, which I only knew from skimming the surface. No one cared for abstract truths like a round earth or atoms—they only valued knowledge about identifying edible herbs and sowing seasons. A story too harsh for a high school student like me—Han Si-a—who only knew the routine of attending school, going to cram school, and enjoying leisure time. Indeed. It was too harsh. "Seriously—though I died, why was I reborn in a place like this?" Every entity, they say, bears a meaning. But did the life I was born into have any meaning at all? Amidst a relentless routine, I couldn’t shake off that doubt. And even after ten fleeting years, the answer remained elusive. Sadly. *** Episode 2. Lady of the Scent of Blood (?) End Episode 3. Fellow Kin? Commencing. *** The final heroine appears. Note: The protagonist of this novel is solely Aris (Alice). I dislike dual protagonists. Rest assured, this is a cameo. Reason for including the reincarnated newcomer (second-timer)? Modern individuals are often quite sensitive to ethical and moral nuances. Relying on a woman who resorted to self-cannibalism, having a sister who attempted to stab her with a knife, being a young girl covered in scars and missing pieces. How would a modern person react to witnessing such a tale? The four-way battle begins. Perhaps everyone will converge in Episode 4. For now, Episode 3 will take a different path. * * *