Chapter 10
"What's going on…"
"It sounds close."
Benya appeared to share my uneasiness. We quickly headed toward the direction from which the scream originated. It led us to the clearing where I had captured the fox earlier.
As we drew nearer, the cacophony of screams, sobs, and murmurs grew louder and more chaotic. What in the world had happened?
"Hyung?"
"… Oh, you guys..."
Lethias stood amidst a clustered group of men, and when he turned to us, his sky-blue eyes were filled with an eerie light, and his complexion had drained, making him look like a lifeless corpse.
Worry immediately gripped me.
"What's happening? What's the matter?"
Instead of answering, Lethias just stared at us in a daze. Benya moved past him and approached the scene, only to halt abruptly as well. I, too, was at a loss for words.
"What in the world…"
Assad, whose face wore an indescribable intensity, shifted his gaze to the three of us. Our eyes met swiftly. It wasn't surprising; this was the kind of situation only the four of us could truly comprehend.
“Haaaaagh!”
The source of the scream was a familiar aqua-haired man. Though it had been a while since I had seen him, I could instantly identify him.
Count Vivora. Benya and Lethias' eldest uncle. Medical personnel were struggling to calm him as he clutched his bloodied face. On the other side…
"I-I thought it was a creature… I-I thought it was a hawk or a beast lurking behind the bushes…"
And there was the younger brother of Count Vivora, Jerome. He was sobbing, recounting how he believed there was a beast hiding and never fathomed that it could be his own brother.
Was it really possible to accidentally aim so accurately at someone's eyes hidden behind a bush? Even if it was coincidental, was it such an astonishing coincidence? Suddenly, Jerome's terrified eyes met mine.
A smile began to creep onto my lips. Is this your way of proving it? Did you want to prove it in this manner? You did your best; I knew you would do something like this…
An eye for an eye.
I clenched my hands together tightly, attempting to suppress this creeping smile. I could sense the people around us murmuring in confusion, shifting their gazes between us and the scene.
Rumors might soon circulate that the Serpente family has adopted a new tradition – the elders trading an eye for an eye...
"Ha," someone chuckled in my place. I turned, finding the source to be Benya. His pale blue eyes gleamed with a mischievous light as a faint smirk graced his firmly set face.
"I wasn't aware we had such a tradition in our family. Were there as many spectators when it was your turn?"
At these words, the scene, which had been buzzing with conversation, fell eerily silent, as if cold water had been thrown over it.
The only sounds that echoed were Count Vivora's groans and Jerome's sniffling.
Lethias nodded. Our Duke's feeble expression had vanished, replaced by an unexpectedly resolute and incisive tone.
"Wouldn't you have done the same for me? If it were me, it would have garnered attention and felt less sorrowful."
"Unfortunately, I missed that perfect opportunity. What do you say, Your Highness?"
In response, the Crown Prince's voice took on an even more pathetic tone, as if he were intentionally trying to be pitiful.
"It's an unfortunate accident, but misfires can happen during hunts. I'm sure everyone is more saddened by the fact that it's not the dramatic brotherly quarrel everyone was expecting. But more importantly, does anyone have any clue as to why the Count was hiding behind those bushes?"
Speculations began to fly. Was he in a hurry, was he targeting someone, or was he seeking solitude?
Laughter rumbled through the group, and the incident was concluded as an unfortunate accident that left both the shooter and the one who got shot rather embarrassed. The Count was carried away on a stretcher, and Jerome was led away in another direction.
With that, a resonant trumpet blared, signaling the end of it all. It was time for everyone to bid farewell to the forest and head back to the main event area.
* * *
As I got closer, I noticed that lights were illuminating various spots around the lakeshore, casting a bluish-green glow over the surroundings.
In a clearing near the entrance to the hunting grounds, a tall pillar of fire had been lit, its flames flickering toward the sky.
The sight of the fiery pillar, which was said to burn in the color of the winning team, prompted cheers from all sides.
The accidental misfire earlier during the hunt had not dampened the excitement and fervor of the Hunting Festival, an event not to be missed.
Most people chatted about the incident, mixing in a bit of sympathy and amusement, before quickly shifting their attention to other matters of interest.
Discussions revolved around the second prince's rare appearance, an altercation over matters of status and class, or the upcoming auction.
"Sasha?"
"Sasha, come here. Where were you and what were you up to?"
Approaching a table where some women were seated, including Adriana and Alfonsina, I was beckoned over by their gestures.
It seemed Juan hadn't shared the details of my encounter with his sister.
"I was just watching the hunt. This year, our team emerged as the winner."
"Oh my, wasn't it frightening? I heard about the misfire accident earlier. Was it related to Serpente's collateral family?"
I affirmed Adriana's question with a nod and glanced back. Lethias and Benya were standing a short distance from the other men, engrossed in a serious conversation near the auction table.
Assad was also present, presumably discussing the accident.
"Despite their strained relationship, he must have been upset. After all, they are blood relatives."
Adriana turned her head and muttered something regretful as she followed my gaze.
I let her words pass through one ear and focused on the group again. My gaze locked with the siscon guy who was eyeing us suspiciously while enjoying a piece of cake.
Juan's frown deepened as if he were displeased with my presence. Hm...
"By the way, Sasha, are you feeling cold?"
I blinked and turned my attention back to Adriana. It was then that I noticed her curious gaze on the large checkered hunting coat I was wearing.
Before I could reply, Alfonsina stepped forward with a concerned expression and spoke gently.
"Sasha, your clothes appear damp. Are you alright?"
"Oh, I'm fine. The forest path was quite good, but I tripped and stumbled while walking alone in the woods. I thought it had dried up, but there might still be some moisture?"
"Then you might catch a cold, Sasha. Why don't you go near the fire pillar and warm up? We can make wishes together."
Both Alfonsina and I nodded happily at Adriana's suggestion. After a while, the three of us maneuvered through the crowd and headed along the quieter edge of the lakeshore.
A small gathering had formed around the pillar of fire, with people tossing handkerchiefs into the flames and making wishes.
"I can't wait to see what the auction will bring. Sasha, have you attended an auction before?"
"I've participated in playful ones during school festivals. Students from sister schools would volunteer to be auctioned."
"Wow, really? So you auctioned off actual students? Is that even allowed?"
"Only those who volunteered. Then, the winning bidder would spend time with the student they won for a few hours."
"That actually sounds interesting."
"Everyone had a good time. I'm not sure how it works here, though."
As I said this with a playful tone, both young ladies burst into laughter. But that was when...
"You seem quite delighted."
I was almost caught off guard and stumbled as someone suddenly appeared beside me, speaking with a crooked grin and grabbing my arm. Alfonsina and Adriana also flinched and widened their eyes.
"Lady Vivora? What kind of disrespect is this?"
Despite Adriana's bewildered urging, the unexpected intruder remained silent.
Flor, with her blazing blue-green eyes fixed on me, seemed somewhat intoxicated, her face flushed, her hair disheveled, and the scent of strong wine emanating from her.
Her demeanor, akin to that of a troublemaker, was flushed with anger. She seemed drunk and agitated.
"You're quite pleased with how things have turned out, aren't you? Now that you've completely manipulated our foolish youngest uncle like a puppet, tell me, what's your plan?"
"… Lady Vivora, I am sorry for your father's accident today, but how does that connect to me?"
I inquired calmly, trying to ignore the pain in my arm caused by her grip. Flor snorted.
"Really? What's certain is that there's a possibility today's incident wasn't just an accident. We all think so. Why did my cousins, who have always disregarded our blood relatives, suddenly show favoritism to the most useless youngest uncle? You should know, shouldn't you? What's the reason behind all this nonsense? Who are you, a mere nanny's daughter, to be at the center of our family home, taking control? What's your true identity..."
"Lady Vivora!"
A sharp voice broke through the tension, and it was none other than Alfonsina. I had never seen her so furious before; it was quite surprising.
In the meantime, Adriana attempted to defuse the situation in a more composed manner.
"Lady Vivora, such behavior is hardly ladylike. I understand your distress regarding your father, but it's not right to vent your anger like this. You should apologize..."
"Venting my anger? Do you think I'm merely venting my anger, Princess? Or have the two of you also fallen under this woman's spell?"
Flor responded with a twisted tone and tightened her grip on my wrist. I shifted my gaze slightly, looking past her. It felt like everyone's eyes were on us.
Adriana's hand reached out to try and pry Flor's grip from my wrist, but the inebriated young lady proved to be unyielding.
"Enough, Lady Vivora. I don't know what the issue is, but even if you share blood, it's our world to navigate conflicts and reconciliations. What's Sasha's fault in all of this?"
"We can't definitively know if she's involved or not. Perhaps the Princess is oblivious, but I've known this girl since we were children. She hasn't been insignificant or ordinary in all that time. I should have already noticed..."
"Can we please stop this? It's unnecessary. Let's have a calm conversation to clear up any misunderstandings, all right? It benefits no one to nurture hostility like this. I'm willing to mediate."
Flor removed her heated gaze from me and appraised Adriana rudely, from head to toe. She seemed to be questioning who Adriana was to offer help. I interjected with a smile.
"Lady Vivora, you've made it a habit to confront me like this every time. Now I'm starting to think that it's you who's fascinated by me."
"What... Ugh! You're incredibly irritating!"
Finally succumbing to frustration, Flor yanked my wrist fiercely. The force propelled me backward, causing me to stumble. I was a little off-balance.
However, I didn't stop there. I took a determined step backward. It was a moment that left all three young ladies, including Alfonsina and Adriana, wide-eyed in astonishment.
"Kyaaa!"
Splash!
Amid the simultaneous shouts of several people, I found myself landing in the cold water. The icy chill seeped into my skin, almost freezing my heart. But over time, I grew accustomed to it.
Oddly enough, I even felt refreshed. As I sank deeper with my eyes tightly shut, my complex thoughts seemed to calm, and a sense of purification overcame my mind and body.
Soon, all traces of the confrontation faded away, becoming blurred bubbles that scattered.
Comments
Post a Comment