Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

"The soil in Tingen is always damp and cold, unable to ignite even a spark, but the withered grass and trees still stubbornly break through the ice and grow. The hope and courage discovered in the solemnity is your motto."

"In the future, we will rebuild our homes and let the sun melt the accumulated ice and snow."

"And in this harsh winter, someone must raise a torch, even if it cannot be done, it must ignite hope..."

Even if she is not qualified.

As the moonlight gradually fades, spring slowly approaches.

As the sun rises above the sea, it bestows upon the world a radiant red glow and a brief moment of warmth.

One of the petrels broke away from the flock, flapping its wings and flying into the sky like a pilgrim.

It lost its strength halfway and fell into the sea, yet it still tried its best to get closer to that brilliant crimson.

"So, let me take the initiative one more time."

It was a whisper as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

As the minute hand of the evening clock moves to its last position, after the sequence of twelve and one, the countdown of life is reduced to a mere odd number.

......

As another ray of dawn falls on the streets of Tingen, it's a brand new day.

Children carrying cloth bags hawked freshly printed newspapers along the street at cheap and fair prices, while workers in blouses, their clothes fluttering in the wind, hurried and weary.

The window was half-open, and the first rays of dawn were breaking. Charlotte lay on her side on the dry, hard, narrow bed, her head buried deep in the pillow, letting out a long, sweet breath.

She did not simply find a hotel to stay in, but instead slept with the little peacock for the night, even though the house was dilapidated and the conditions were poor, which was unbecoming of her.

She wanted to leave this little bird, whom she felt indebted to, with one last warm memory.

Without disturbing her own sun, Sufby got up first, boiled warm water for her mother, and after thoroughly washing the dirt off her fingertips, she embraced her sleeping friend and gently combed her disheveled silver hair.

The girl's figure was not plump, but rather quite slender. When her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her usual dignified demeanor faded, all that remained was a delicate and endearing fragility like that of a small animal, making one unable to resist reaching out their fingertips to gently caress her.

"Josephine, it's almost time for the office."

"...Phew, Mr. Singh, no, he won't mind. Let me take a nap, just a little while longer."

Upon hearing this, the little peacock smiled and pulled Watson from the quilt into its embrace.

With the mountain peaks as her pillow, Charlotte felt no discomfort as she moved from one soft pillow to another. Even though she was awake, she simply shifted lazily, finding the most comfortable position, and curled up in the red-haired girl's arms.

Sophie is getting to know her friend's habits better and better. Just like a kitten, as long as you can make her happy and comfortable, she doesn't mind being petted a few times.

Carefully maintaining this balance, the little peacock hugged Charlotte even tighter, pressing her head against the girl's shoulder and gently rubbing against her fair neck and ear.

When is the feeling of possessing a best friend strongest?

Was it when the other person was lying down on top of you?

No, it's after waking up, when the other person lets down their guard and shows dependence on you like a baby.

Who wouldn't love to have their beloved lying in their arms, softly telling them of their reluctance to part and their infatuation? Who wouldn't love to have their enchanted lover leaning against them, their face sleeping innocently? The sense of possession in the mind is often more addictive than physical conquest.

Moreover, given her cunning and unpredictable nature, and her tendency to bestow favors upon herself, Sue longed to stand beside Watson, or even closer to him, more than she ever dreamed.

As the morning sun gradually brightened, the room remained brightly lit by candlelight. The little peacock gently stroked Watson's cheek, quietly enjoying the softness of holding bubbles in its palm.

Sophie wasn't a womanizer, but Watson was too special to her. He fell like a shooting star and shone like a gentle breeze on her. However, the only downside of this dreamlike happiness was that it was too illusory, making her afraid that it would shatter at the slightest touch, and that she would wake up once it was shattered.

Waiting quietly until the candlelight inside the room burned out, the shadows trembled gently with the sunlight, falling from the windowsill to the floor, as white as frost and snow.

A cold wind blew outside. The little peacock and Charlotte whispered to each other for a long time before finally succumbing to the cold and crawling back into bed. The velvet sheets were warmed by her body heat, and she could hear the sound of the sea outside the window. She hugged Watson tightly, rested her head on his shoulder, and whispered, "Thank you for your company, Josephine."

Charlotte's eyes were closed, her chest rising and falling slightly, as if she were fast asleep. The morning light illuminated half of her face, the shadows outlining the curves of her profile, beautiful and serene. She smiled brightly, nodding, and said, "I know this, but tell me something I don't."

"Then, will you always stay with me?"

It is an unwavering gaze.

"..." The silver-haired girl was stunned for a moment. She turned her head to look at Sufby, but Sufby turned her face away, making it impossible for her to see clearly.

"Are you scared?"

The little peacock tightened its grip on Charlotte's hand, and Charlotte pursed her lower lip, nodding gently.

With that subtle movement, the girl felt her shoulder become slightly damp.

Even if you don't know the truth, are you still used to it and unwilling to give up the peace of mind of having someone to rely on?

Charlotte thought to herself that people live for peace of mind. She was a traveler from the Duchy of Plantagenet. She came as gently as a breeze, yet as fleeting as an evening wind, as if she would disappear in the blink of an eye.

So she gently tucked a strand of hair behind the little bird's ear.

"Don't be afraid, I will always be with you. As long as you are Sophoby Bertrand, and as long as I am Josephine Watson, I will stay by your side until you bloom again in your bright and beautiful form."

"So, when one day I'm no longer the same, and you lose interest, you'll leave, right? And the standard for whether or not this is true or not is only in your heart." Sufby held the girl's fingers tightly, not letting go at all.

"...Don't nitpick, girls who are too self-righteous are not popular."

It was the avoidance of his gaze.

“I know, Josephine, do you know what you are like in my heart? You are a knight in a fairy tale, omnipotent and incredibly reliable, descending from the sky with all that is beautiful, yet you may disappear at any moment, vanishing like a bubble.”

The little peacock's blood-red eyes grew ever brighter, and its struggle intensified.

"Although I'm slow to realize it, after experiencing so much, it all feels like only half a month has passed... My sister's rescue, the extraordinary experience, it all feels so unreal. Josephine, have you thought about the future?"

"I hadn't thought about it," Charlotte honestly admitted.

“But I’ve thought about it, I’ve thought about it so many times. At first, I just wanted to regain that confidence I once had, confidence that I could be by your side. On the surface, we’ll be detective and assistant, and in secret, we’ll be extraordinary people helping each other. Then, the two of us can make life better together, and even go further.”

"That's good." The girl simply nodded.

“No, because I just remembered that Josephine, you are a noblewoman of the Plantagenet family. This is just a trip for you. If you lose interest, you may return to the other side of the ocean.”

Sufby spoke again with even greater seriousness, "I've never been to the Duchy of Plantagenet, but I know that both Hadings and Plantagenet despise each other's doctrines and beliefs. So, these past few days, I've been learning about that unfamiliar country, thinking of reclaiming the former honor of the Dill family, so that we can rightfully..."

“That’s good.” Charlotte flipped her fingers, interrupting the previous statement.

“It’s not good at all, Josephine. Do you know why I’m saying all this?”

"I said you have a good idea."

Her pale lips uttered cool words, and Charlotte blew a breath, ruffling the bright red strands of hair in her palm. "I know you hope I'll be tempted by these prospects of life and stay. Describing the beautiful future is indeed a nice phrase."

"But how much do you really know about me? We've only been together a short time, and you're already this greedy."

No longer lying, the girl looked directly into the former's eyes, where the silvery-gray moonlit lake and the crimson amber met.

She was in a dilemma. At first, she only felt that Sufby was worth helping. In fact, she did gain a path to the extraordinary from him. But as time went on, she suddenly realized that she had become somewhat accustomed to and enjoyed this kind of life. She also developed an unexpected affection for the birds. Therefore, she did not want to deceive them again at the time of parting.

It's pretty foolish. Whether it's this act of believing it to be real or being moved by emotions, a wild beast that has left its cage and its harsh environment will inevitably dull its claws and become intoxicated by warmth.

If she were to tell the truth, what could she possibly say?

To say that everything about Watson is a lie, that her birth was merely to provide a livelihood for another girl, and that everything she has done so far has been driven by self-interest and exploitation of them.

It was too late. The situation she found herself in after waking up left her with no choice but to do it. For the first time, Charlotte felt a little negative about this role-playing experience that had initially amazed her.

After all, outright deception is unforgivable.

"......sorry."

She lowered her head and spoke softly.

Sophby jolted awake as if electrocuted, staring at Charlotte with disbelief, even the moisture in her eyes vanishing.

"Sophie, I want to stay with you too."

"Your heart is sincere, energetic, and strong, which I really like."

Charlotte hugged the little peacock tightly, nuzzled her head, and didn't say anything.

Who could know, you silly bird, that you were the one who saw it most clearly, but—

"I haven't tried to love someone in a long time, and besides, there are some things I have to do."

Loving others is a tiring thing; most people just want to be loved.

Charlotte was the same; as long as she was loved, she was content to leave or stay as she pleased. If she felt indebted, she would make up for it with material things, regardless of whether others were happy or not, as long as she was satisfied.

She lived her whole life holding this view and didn't feel there was anything wrong with it; she was carefree and content. On the contrary, she thought those who actively loved others were foolish, suffering and exhausting, and might not even get anything in return.

That was how it was before. The troubled past, though distant and hazy, uncertain and unclear, continued to affect the girl's life.

"Josephine, what do you mean?"

“What I mean is, I might not be as good as you think, nor am I a kind girl. I don't like being controlled by emotions; I only like being loved... or rather, I only like happiness. I can start things without restraint, and you can only silently accept it, do you understand, Sophie?”

It is the truth, without any falsehood.

The little peacock opened her eyes wide, and suddenly, she seemed to understand something.

How could a pair of slender hands grasp the rootless Yunping? How could they see through the mask and touch the gentle breeze within?

A wave of sorrow washed over me, and my body went slightly weak, but just as I was about to reach it, a thin lip landed a kiss on the bird's forehead.

The girl in the masterpiece "Watson" tilted her head slightly, her eyes brimming with a soft light, and said:

"Unless you are willing to wait, wait until the wind is tired, wait until the clouds are weary, wait until the flowers bloom over the winter snow, wait until the years have worn away your character, wait until the so-called miracle happens."

—A miracle of death and resurrection.

It's a lie, yet it has a certain absurdity to it.

After all, it's not appropriate to refuse at this time.

After all, even a pretty girl won't look good when she cries; her eyes will be red and her lips will be stiff, which Charlotte doesn't like.

"......I'll hold."

It was a brief response, yet it conveyed more emotion than any number of words.

With a smile that lifted the corners of her lips, Sufby's smile was radiant, even more dazzling than the floral dress she wore back then.

Because she received a promise, a real promise, no longer the pretense and lies of the past.

Her clear red eyes shimmered with light; if you wait, the clouds will stop in their tracks; if you hold onto hope, your destiny will come to fruition.

The little bird spread its wings, pecked open the shallow bark, and drank the sweet sap, never imagining that the intersection of life and death was the final lie.

Chapter 84 Delivering the Future

As the art exhibition draws near, Tingen is like a blazing fire, with artists flocking to this seaside city in search of fame and fortune, to prove their talent, or to express their aspirations.

The horse's hooves landed on the green lawn. Compared to the Mahei district, this exhibition hall was quiet and beautiful. Flowers and greenery surrounded the stone path enclosed by wooden fences. It was not the ordinary, rough stone path, but a clean and uniquely polished one.

It is elegant and refined, seemingly a microcosm of a certain social class in Tingen. Day and night are bright and peaceful. The gentle sea breeze ignites the flames in people's hearts, dispels the filth and stench of the streets and alleys, and wipes away the sour smell of swill and leftover sauce that spills from the low windows onto the street.

The figures moving through the courtyard all wore radiant expressions. Some brought out exquisite pastries and fruits, bowing to greet their distinguished guests, while others set out glassware filled with wine, personally toasting the celebrities. Extravagance, enjoyment, and a life of debauchery were all on display. Although they were just inconspicuous supporting characters, their faces were filled with excitement and laughter, as if they had become one with the elegance of the moment.

The festive atmosphere radiated outwards from this center, with vendors and shops along the roadside hanging colorful celebratory flags, and countless people selling balloon toys on the street.

Charlotte strolled along the street, the roadside signs still displaying the name Baker Street. It is the main thoroughfare from the Marais to the city center, wide and smooth, with tall camphor trees planted on both sides. The soft green and bright white intertwine before the eyes, and the sun makes them glitter, so beautiful.

Time was slipping away, and spring was drawing ever closer. Charlotte should have boarded the carriage with the little peacock to go to the agency to report on the completion of the commission.

But she felt that since she had already taken care of her affairs, there was no need to rush to meet the gentleman. Before leaving, Miss Watson still wanted to lower her gaze and quietly look at the city that she was about to unveil with her dance, and silently observe the seaside that had witnessed the story of a young girl's life.

Tomorrow marks the start of the art exhibition and also a stage for the passing of life. Today, we leave behind memories and cherish the sweet moments we shared.

So she took Sofby's hand, letting her hair flow freely in the sea breeze and her clothes be adorned by the morning light.

The girl's gait was unrestrained and free, just like any young woman in the prime of her life. Yet, those around her unconsciously made way for her, as if she were a noble lady traveling incognito, her gentle smile a contemplation of the myriad expressions of the crowd.

Who wouldn't think so? Although her dashing men's attire wasn't extravagant, her stunning beauty was undeniable. Petite figure, delicate features, short, silver-gray hair flowing like silk, and clear, bright silver eyes—she stood there, more poised than any gentleman, more dignified than any lady. At first glance, she was breathtakingly beautiful; upon closer inspection, she was utterly captivating.

Charlotte didn't care about the world's opinions; she simply indulged her natural inclination to pursue pleasure, even if it was just childlike innocence or naivety.

She took out two pence and bought a whistle from a toy seller. It was the kind of whistle used for performances, with a rolled-up ribbon attached to the top that would straighten out with a whoosh when blown.

A group of children chasing and playing ran past the girl, and Charlotte walked along the road with her head held high, whistling as she did.

The ribbon is stretched taut.

Beep!

Without disturbing her friend's enjoyment, Sophie lowered her eyelashes and gazed intently at the former's lively and carefree nature, never looking away for a moment.

She noticed that many people were looking at Watson. Although they were restrained, they would still glance at the silver-haired girl intentionally or unintentionally as they passed by.

For some reason, the little peacock felt a slight sense of superiority.