Bad woman, am I pretending to be bad?

After graduation, they were brought together by fate to settle down in this city, and now...

The words were stuck in her throat when those smooth, white hands caressed her cheek, and those pale lips sent out a warm, moist sensation.

“If it were you, you would do the same. So, Zelena, what I need is your blessing.”

"I can stay with you—"

"Shh, don't say anything impulsive. Our relationship is the same as it was back then, but it's gone a step further."

Supporting the woman's slender waist, she gently embraced her pretty face between her knees, speaking only softly and gently.

"I've always been the one waiting for you, so this time, let's switch roles. You wait for me—"

"return."

The dying puppet gathered a lock of her best friend's hair and chatted with her, seemingly unintentionally.

It is the most genuine performance.

Chapter 113 Negligence and Discovery?

The spire receded from its side, and Charlotte's steps paused slowly beside a child with a flushed face.

"Madam, please let me shine your shoes."

Instead of getting up to forcefully stop him, the boy simply lowered his head and respectfully pleaded.

With a slight frown, her thoughts were still immersed in the clinic, in the long, sweet conversation between Isabella and Zelena.

Coming to her senses, Charlotte glanced at the sallow-faced, thin boy and swallowed hard. To her, these people were nothing more than NPCs in a game, so she would never hold back her anger or care too much about them.

The blonde woman generously tossed down a penny, without asking for change or saying a word, simply nodded to the man, and walked away.

Let it be the shallow kindness that Watson retained from his past.

The flowers and plants in the courtyard swayed in the wind, and the streets in the central area were always like this, fresh and clean, without the pungent salty smell and sweaty stench of the harbor.

Ah, that performance of the past didn't fundamentally change society; it merely gave its past self a grand funeral and provided a slightly better situation for the poor, just like its own nature—

Bad woman.

Yes, she was a villain. How could she possibly save the masses? From beginning to end, she only cared about her own escape. The promises she made to the birds and the laborers were nothing but lies made in a moment of inspiration.

In some ways, he might be no different from those feudal nobles who oppressed the people.

Charlotte sighed slightly as her long eyelashes drooped. Just as she was about to turn and leave, the child from before ran up to her and handed her a few blackened coins with his muddy hands.

"Kind lady, here is your change. Thank you very much, but we cannot easily accept charity from others."

"Even though life was tough and we could only eat black bread stuffed with sawdust, my mother said that no matter how poor we were, we should never lower our heads. Besides, since that detective's selfless dedication, our lives have improved a lot. My father doesn't have to come home so late anymore, and my sister can bring joyful news that makes the dinner table even warmer."

Is it selfless dedication?

Gazing into the child's clear eyes beneath his dark face, Charlotte was momentarily speechless. She should have, out of her noble bearing and fastidiousness, tossed the coins aside and arrogantly watched him frantically pick them up.

Oh well, I guess you just made me happy with your praise of Watson. What can I do? I'm just that easy to please.

Even Charlotte herself didn't realize that, without realizing it, she slightly raised her lips and gave a gentle and elegant smile.

Perhaps Watson's actions were not as meaningless as she believed.

She accepted the blackened coins, suppressing a slight disgust in her heart, and silently bid farewell to the former.

Her shift at the arbitration tribunal hadn't started yet, so she still had some free time to meet with the people she needed to see and discuss some necessary matters.

For example——

In the distance, a chestnut-haired girl is seen carrying her luggage and leaving alone.

The dark-colored wide-brimmed hat was adorned with two tufts of fresh green eagle feathers, which fluttered playfully in the spring breeze. However, the owner's mood did not seem to be very good.

Undoubtedly, it could only be Melina, the little parrot who once accompanied Watson.

despair.

The leather boots broke through the puddles, splashing tiny droplets of water that scattered onto her clothes. Clearly, the girl had lost all concern for her gait or whether it would soil her shoes and socks.

"Melina."

Without approaching, Charlotte simply stood under the tall sycamore tree and casually called out her friend's name.

Because of the topic that Watson had brought up at that time, after she escaped, she became acquainted with the little sparrow in front of her. Their relationship was neither warm nor cold; they simply exchanged thoughts as fellow book lovers.

"Charlotte..."

Upon hearing the sound, Melina looked up and saw Charlotte. She was clearly disappointed, yet also felt a little comforted.

After Watson's departure, few people in the city could understand her, her ideas and ideals. Although those around her did not agree with her, they listened quietly as she finished telling her story.

They are few friends, and not very close friends.

"You...are you planning to leave Tingen?"

"Um......"

Recalling the scene of being scolded by its father, the little parrot's face darkened.

Everything remained the same. Even though Count Cliff died at the art exhibition and the Bathory family name disappeared overnight, the reshuffling of classes remained unchanged. The nobles scrambled to devour the remains, becoming the next oppressors and exploiters, as did her stubborn and arrogant father.

She was merely expressing her idea of ​​slightly improving the workers' conditions and not being overly critical of others, but she was arrogantly denied and condemned by the other party, who said she didn't know what was important and that they were no longer on the same level. The subsequent insults and abuse were even more unbearable to hear.

So, have I brought shame upon my family, my surname, and this city?

Perhaps so. In their world, how could anything other than fine clothes, sumptuous food, fame, and social status be tolerated?

Since that's the case, since even Watson has left her, since there's no one left to support or care about her, then she should leave Tingen, leave this place of sorrow, and perhaps that will make her grieving heart feel a little better.

If only that silver-haired figure were still here, she wouldn't be so lonely relying on him, listening to his lofty ideals, putting them into practice, and entrusting her future to him.

However, nowadays—

"Do you need help with your luggage? Just like the story you wrote, fate brought me here, and we met here."

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she caught sight of the beautiful woman in front of her speaking softly and unusually asking about her condition. Melina quickly waved her hand and, somewhat absentmindedly, picked up her handbag and stepped forward.

"No need to rush. The train to the destination is still a while away. The snow from last night has melted into dew. If you're not careful, you can easily step into puddles and stain your skirt."

There was no obstruction; Charlotte, as a friend, merely expressed a slight concern.

"Thank you. Actually, I'm very good at walking through puddles and cleaning stains off my skirt and shoes."

Melina's brown eyes, hidden behind round-framed glasses, gleamed. She lifted her skirt, took a half-step back, and then lightly and gracefully stepped out, perfectly clearing the surrounding puddles.

This is neither elegant nor ladylike, but it suits the little parrot's free and lively nature.

"Pfft, isn't this attracting too much attention?"

It was a rare, gentle smile.

"Jumping on flat ground does seem a bit strange, but if you think of it as running, it becomes more coordinated. Of course, if you calm down, you won't notice the stares of others; they'll just be left behind..."

"Like those legendary descriptions, of you climbing over a lady's wall?"

"Yes, like... um?"

The chestnut-haired girl opened her eyes wide, touched the tip of her nose, and raised her voice in surprise.

"Charlotte, how did you know about this? I definitely didn't mention it."

"As a pen pal, to truly understand a book, one must also learn about the author's experiences, so I asked many people."

Taking the heavy suitcase, Charlotte stopped the little parrot from going any further. She watched the ferry dock and listened to the hoarse sound of its horn fading into the distance, and whispered.

"Just like you said, people's eyes will be left behind, but their owners will follow your back until you are completely out of sight."

Yes, her trip to see the little parrot wasn't just to find out about its future plans, but also out of a sudden impulse to give it some useful tips as clues to finding Watson.

So, the blonde beauty spoke again.

"Melina, don't overlook anything; perhaps the answer you seek is hidden in the smallest things."

She reached out and smoothed her companion's loose hair, saying:

"Of all the people I know, you are the only 'witch' who would escape from the back window of a noblewoman."

The witch signifies the extraordinary, while recognition implies one's unique identity.

The preface is neither a conclusion nor an end. Desires, nourished by the traces of loss, flourish even more, like seeds sown in the soil. In the end, the story of reunion will—

blossom everywhere.

Chapter 114 Happy New Year's Eve!

At the turn of morning and noon, listening to the somber chimes, Charlotte entered the anteroom of the arbitration tribunal as scheduled, accompanied by the Patriarch.

Out of politeness, she lightly tapped her knuckles on the door, giving the person inside a reminder.

Isabella had just finished her morning chat with Zelena, and the lady was naturally still on her way, so the lively seashell girl, Pedeline, would be temporarily greeting guests in the front hall.

dong dong dong.

A slow knocking sound rang out, but there was no response from inside; only faint, scattered noises could be heard.

So she pushed open the half-closed door and found the red-haired figure on the armchair near the sofa. As she expected, the cheerful girl stopped chattering and just lowered her head. Even though she was holding documents in her hand, her head kept bobbing down.

Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and drowsy tears dripped from the corners of her eyes. Clearly, Pedeline had not been able to resist the drowsiness and was in a half-awake state.

"Pedeline, Ms. Z is here."

Charlotte tapped the girl's ear twice and deliberately mentioned Zelena's name.

Deng!

She sat up straight abruptly, grabbed the documents spread out in front of her, and while covering her face, she frantically but pretended to be serious as she scribbled on them.

“Ms. Z, the fog has gotten worse lately. I wonder when we’ll see the clear blue sky again. Just looking at this thick yellow fog makes it hard to feel good… Oh? It’s you, Charlotte. You’re deliberately trying to scare me!”

She complained in a pretentious manner, and after a few words, she lowered the file, revealing her smooth forehead. She first gave an apologetic laugh, then looked at Charlotte in astonishment.

"I'm just telling the truth."

Charlotte touched the hem of her petticoat with her finger. She didn't feel awkward about her lie being exposed. She sat down on the sofa knowingly and looked at the scattered papers and complicated sentences around her.

"That's terrifying, you know. If Ms. Z finds out I've been slacking off, then..."

"She won't blame you; instead, she'll ask with concern if you slept well last night and if you need to close your eyes and rest for a while."

"Yes, if it were Ms. Z, she would definitely... no, that's not the point. You actually lied to me, Charlotte!"

Just as she was about to agree, Pedeline changed the subject, pouting her cheeks in dissatisfaction, like a playful little hamster.

"You know, even the most aloof person will crack a joke when necessary to ease the tension. I gave her a heads-up, so when Ms. Z came over later, she wouldn't notice that you were dozing off, right?"

His voice remained calm, but his eyebrows and eyes were slightly raised, a natural expression of joy.

“Yes, thank you very much, Charlotte. To be honest, it was a last resort. I suddenly had an inspiration last night and wrote down the score overnight. Although it was really tiring, for a musician, this kind of opportunity is rare!”

The red-haired girl patted the stringed instrument placed behind her, her eyes revealing a hint of pride.

"Charlotte, do you want to listen? It will help everyone relax, like a good night's sleep."

"While I'd love to hear it, the timing isn't right, after all—"

The slow, tinkling sound of leather boots echoed as the door gently slid open and closed beside them; the person they had been talking about had returned.

Good morning, two vibrant young ladies.

That calm and gentle voice could only belong to Zelena. With exceptionally light steps, the black-haired beauty pulled out a chair and neatly stacked the messy papers.

From her radiant eyes, one could tell that her warm and cozy time with Isabella had brought her peace of mind and contentment.

After all, according to the senses transmitted from the other side, the puppet he himself had transformed into, in order to dispel the sorrow of parting, pulled Zelena into his arms and laid her on his lap as a pillow.

It was both painful and tiring; I wouldn't have done it if it weren't for the need to fit the role I was playing.

No longer dwelling on Shu Yi's earlier thoughts, Zelena accurately selected a case from several documents. Looking at the bleak black and white photograph above, she couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Hey, the number of infected people in the port area recently is not to be ignored. Regardless of whether there is any role played by the extraordinary, we need to handle this matter properly. Even if we cannot regard this disease that came with the spring breeze as a plague, we should try our best to avoid overlooking the slightest clues. Centuries ago, those epidemics that plagued half the continent were all initially ignored, which led to their subsequent uncontrollable spread."

She patted Pederina on the shoulder, raised her voice, and then spoke.

"Issues concerning people's livelihoods should always be given top priority. Although we are dedicated to the church, we cannot abandon our moral principles. I will discuss these matters with the governor and the other churches. Similarly, as mentioned the other day, we need to get a general result regarding the infiltration of the Enlightenment Church. After all, they have caused quite a few disasters, and there is a possibility that they may have been involved in this matter."

“If this plague sweeping the empire is caused by extraordinary forces, we should do our duty to at least ensure that Tingen is not ravaged by them.”