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Lunaria: Reborn Of The Bloody Empress - Chapter 24
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I left the ladies immediately after I had won the argument. I could not bear to stay any longer as I was afraid my temper would rise up and I went out of control and as a result, I choked Karina in public. That would surely plummet my reputation.
I sighed and praised myself for holding back.
“Wait! Luna!” A voice suddenly called me from afar. However, even though I didn’t turn my back, I already knew the person very well since I recognised her.
I keeped walking even faster now, ignoring the desperate voice who seemed to want to stop me.
“Wait!”
Tak! Tak! Tak! The sound of my high heels echoed around the alleyway.
“Wait! Stop!” screamed the voice.
Tak! Tak! Tak!
I reached a corner and turned right.
“WAIT! STOP!”
“…What?”
I stopped into a halt, turning my head slowly and facing Karina. I narrowed my gaze after I saw her dishevelled appearance, probably from running to catch me.
“W-wait a minute …” uttered Karina breathlessly, panting. She smoothed down the wrinkles on her dress and massaged her feet repeatedly while staring at me with her doe-like eyes, as if she was asking for mercy.
I furrowed my eyebrows. It must be tough to run while wearing 6-inches high heels.
I rolled my eyes irritably and clicked my tongue. Pretended to genuinely be concerned about her, I asked her gently, “May I ask you, what do you want, Karina?”
Karina still panted and took a deep breath, breathing hardly. She glared at me. “Why do you do that?” There was a clear dissatisfied tone in her voice.
“Do what?” I asked innocently and tilted my head from side to side.
“That! Why do you embarrass me in front of the ladies?” She stomped her feet and sulked childishly.
“Oh … “ I covered my mouth with my hand. “Well, I was just speaking the truth.”
“What truth! You should’ve defended me!” She shook her head in disappointment.
“Why should I?”
“Why, you ask?” She raised her voice and her eyes rounded as though she could not believe why I asked about that.
It was such a simple question, yet she asked about it.
‘She should know better about the answer, doesn’t she?’
“That’s because you’re my friend. And friends help each other when they’re in need.” Karina’s voice quivered as she tried to control the anger in her tone.
“But if we’re friends, then why do you kill me?” I muttered quietly.
“What do you say?” Karina asked sharply. I was glad she didn’t seem to put much thought on it.
“Nothing … “ I said hastily.
“I was there as well. How could you do that and humiliate me?”
“But Karina, you know you’re wrong right, so … why should I defend you? Do you want me to tell lies?”
“… W-what are you talking about?” Karina’s pupils shook slightly. “Since when I — “
“The rules,” I said shortly, sounding a bit annoyed and tried my best not to roll my eyes.
“Anyway Karina, I also want to ask you, why don’t you defend me and just speak the truth? You should’ve told them that you’re wrong so I won’t be the bad person here.”
“W-well, I-I … ”
“Forgot?” I sneered, enjoying her reaction as she fidgeted.
“It seems as if you want to tarnish my reputation.”
“No!” Karina flinched and shook her head vigorously, waving her hands. “Of course not! We’re friends, remember?”
“Then, if you remember we’re friends, you should know there is a line that cannot be crossed, right? I’ve a limit too, don’t expect me to be kind to you all the time, I’m tired.” I told her fiercely.
“Luna! Y-you … why do y-you like this to me? Why do you mad at me right now?” questioned Karina, looking dumbfounded and her eyes welled with tears.
Oh, wow! I clapped. ‘Stop pretending to be a victim, you vulgar bitch! Just drop your act!’
At last, I could not help but roll my eyes and gnash my teeth. “Why do you pretend to be so innocent, Karina? You make me look like I’m the bad one and you’re the victim. I should’ve said I’m the one who is the victim here, since I suffered from your slander and got my reputation tarnished.”
Karina looked like she got something stuck in her teeth, she opened her mouth trying to say something but I cut her immediately.
“Oh! And … “ I cleared my throat and leaned forwards, whispering softly in her ears. “For your information, Karina. I heard it all about your conversation with the ladies. You guys seemed to enjoy talking behind my back, weren’t you?”
“T-that ….! I can explain — “ She seemed taken aback and speechless as her face was pale as white.
“I don’t need you to explain a thing,” I said coldly, throwing her a dark look and crossing my arms furiously. “You ask me to save your face in front of them, when you’re backstabbing me, spreading false rumours about me. I don’t expect you to betray me, Karina. Clearly, I’m disappointed with you.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to defend you, but … the ladies — ” said Karina hastily, trying to defend her actions.
“Why? They are powerful enough to make you get tongue-tied? As I just told you, I don’t need any explanations from you. From now on, we aren’t friends, and I think Lady Dorothea, Marthabess and Gabriellica suited you better than me.”
I turned my back to her. “Now, then, if you have nothing to say, I’ll go now —”
“Stop right there!” Karina tugged my dress, clutching it tightly as though she didn’t want to let me go. “I’ve another thing to say to you —”
“Oh dear, Karina.” I shook my head. “Don’t you understand? I’m such a busy, busy, person. I don’t have any time to waste on your meaningless talk. If you have anything you want to say, be it to defend yourself or denying the truth, then come meet me in the duchy.
“Oh! And of course, if you don’t want to get kicked in the butt, then you should reconsider writing me a letter to notify your attendance so I can ask Cervantes to schedule a meeting immediately.”
“By the way, I love it when you don’t defend me in front of the ladies, since I know now that you’re a hypocrite, fake friend, and a toxic one. Don’t forget the next time you see me, you should call me by my family name, Lady Lisianthus, rather than my first name.”
Before I rode the carriage, I wheeled around and managed to catch a glance at Karina, who was looking very still and rigid. Her face hardened and I could see she was trembling in fury.
I laughed at my heart with great pleasure.
****
Karina had always been my best friend since we were eight, and we had gone through ups and downs together. We had always been caring towards each other and to be honest if there was something we disliked.
If we make just the slightest mistakes, then we would apologize to each other as soon as possible. I had always favoured and loved Karina because I thought she was adorable and cheerful.
That was why from up until now, I still could not figure out why Karina wanted to kill me.
Why?
Have I done any wrong to her?
Why did she kill me?
Do I do something that make her despise me?
If that so, then what did I do?
Do I still have any chance to correct my mistakes?
These questions always went around in my head and I could not stop thinking about the answers to my questions.
What did she want from me? I gave her everything — down to expensive and luxury accesorries and jewelleries, dresses and even my precious things, tons of things that couldn’t have been owned and afford by any people, but she paid it with betrayal!
I have always been so kind and loving to her. I treated her like nobody else and forgave every mistakes she commited, doesn’t matter if they are small or big.
“Why do you hate me? Why do you want to kill me? If there’s something you’re clearly dissastified about me, then we can talk together,” I once questioned this to her when I was locked in the prison in my previous life.
“Well, I don’t have any specific reasons to hate you. I just hate your existence, you know,” replied Karina and she shrugged, followed with a high, cold and cruel laugh.
“Karina, just what do you want from me? I gave you everyhting but you look like it’s not enough!”
“Yes, it’s not enough,” she shouted. “Because I can’t have anything that you have! Your status, your wealth, your power and your influence!”
I muttered. “You’re mental. Crazy one …”
“Yes, I’m crazy, so what?” Karina cackled like a mad person.
“But there are things you don’t know. Such as wealth doesn’t give you happiness, power doesn’t mean you can conquer death, and satus can’t guarantee your position.”
I drew a breath.
“In conclusion, death separates you with everything you desire when you are still breathing. In the end, you will go alone when you reach your end, the same when you’re in your mother’s womb.”
She snapped, “What do you know?”
“I know some things that you know nothing about.”
Everything that she’d said before left me with a painful scar. The pain that I felt seemed much worse than the pain of discovering my husband’s infidelity.
The more I think about the things she said, the more I resent her. This is what you call a friend? I clenched my teeth and shook her head violently.
I snapped out from my thought and Blaire’s face came into view. She looked worried as she bit her lower lip, fidgeting nervously.
Finally, after gathering enough courage, she asked timidly, “Milady, is something bothering you?”
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Nothing, Blaire. I just remember something in the past.”
“Well, we have arrived, milady. You’re so immersed in your thought that you don’t aware with your surroundings.”
I cracked into a grin. “Thank you for informing me.”
“… Milady.”
“Yes?”
“If there’s something troubling you, then you can share your thoughts with me,” said Blaire gently and she added hastily, “Eh, but of course, I don’t mean to pry into your business. How dare I, just a mere maid …”
My heart calmed down a bit, and I pat Blaire’s shoulders lightly. “Thanks, Blaire. But I’m afraid I’m not prepared to tell you.”
“It’s alright, milady,” she said brightly, beaming. “I’ll be here whenever you need me and I’ll listen to all your stories.”
I nodded and thanked her for her understanding.
Before we left from the carriage, I turned around, with Blaire by my side and whispered softly, “I will tell you later when the time has come.”