Don't Ask, It'll Hurt If You Know - Chapter 12
While there was a training area in the Countess Elena’s estate, her mother had imposed a ban on her practicing swordsmanship there, deeming it inappropriate, so she had no choice but to go outside.
“If only I could use the training grounds at home, I could have honored Jeremy’s request.”
How regrettable. Just as Chloe was about to touch the necklace Jeremy had given her.
Caw—
“W-what’s that?”
Out of nowhere, a crow swooped down, attacking her with its sharp beak.
“Get away from me?!”
Caught off guard by the sudden bird attack, Chloe waved her hands in disbelief.
Fortunately, she managed to scare the crow away quickly, but another problem arose.
“……!”
It was the realization that, in her rush to scare away the crow, she hadn’t seen the child darting into the street.
If she stayed there, she would hit the child.
Before that thought could fully form, Chloe yanked hard on the reins.
Hee-hee—
Startled, the horse reared up violently, beginning to bolt.
“Ugh……!”
As a result, Chloe fell from the horse, unable to let out a proper groan due to the pain that engulfed her body, starting from her back.
As her consciousness began to fade and the pain dulled, she caught a glimpse of the cross necklace that had split in half in her blurred vision.
That necklace—I need to return it to Jeremy…….
Chloe tried to reach for the necklace, but she couldn’t move her arms freely.
“I hope you feel the pain I’ve felt.”
Before Chloe lost her grip on consciousness, the last thing she heard was the voice of the pink-haired woman she had met in Rumonie.
* * *
“Just once would be enough. Even if it’s just a passing glance, please look at me, Your Highness.”
“I know my place. I’m aware I’m an unworthy woman to stand by your side…… but still, I want your gaze, I want your love.”
“Ah, Your Highness. My beloved prince.”
It was so noisy.
It felt like a mosquito had entered her head, buzzing incessantly.
“You can’t get anything without effort? I know. I understand that well. But no matter how hard I try, it doesn’t work. I can’t do anything!”
Please, just be quiet.
“Then you try it. See if you can keep that arrogant mouth of yours moving while in my position. I’ll be watching closely!”
“I told you it’s too loud!”
It was too noisy for her to sleep!
Clutching her head, Chloe shot up with a startled scream as the acrid scent of blood assaulted her senses.
“Ugh, what is this?”
She quickly discovered the gruesome remains of brutally slaughtered animals, making her gasp as she sprang to her feet.
“Ack!”
However, a searing pain struck her head like a massive hammer, forcing her back down to the ground.
“Huff, huff.”
As if someone were squeezing her lungs, Chloe struggled to breathe, clutching her chest and lying flat on the floor. Her ragged breaths rose and fell quickly.
Fortunately, it seemed she wasn’t mortally wounded; the pain subsided after a short while.
“Phew…… Huh? What’s this?”
As she began to relax, Chloe noticed strands of pink hair cascading down to her chest and yanked at it sharply.
“Ouch.”
As she yanked at the hair, a pain shot through her scalp as if it were being ripped out entirely. That meant it was her hair.
“That’s impossible.”
My hair isn’t pink, it’s golden.
And why on earth am I in such a strange place?
Still sitting on the floor, Chloe scanned her surroundings again. Her eyes, now adjusted to the darkness, spotted a magic circle drawn in blood.
It was unsettling enough that the circle was made with blood, but what sent chills down her spine was the name “Chloe Elena” written prominently within it.
As if it were meant to curse her.
“Surely, they didn’t intend to curse me…….”
She hoped not, but no matter how she looked at it, it felt all too plausible. Chloe shivered as goosebumps raced across her arms and slowly stood up.
“First, I need to get out of here and think.”
Not wanting to remain in the room filled with a strange magic circle and dead animals, Chloe made her way up the visible staircase.
When she opened the wooden door at the top of the stairs, a chilling creak echoed through the air. She worried it might not lead outside, but fortunately, it opened into the fresh air.
“Phew.”
Relieved, Chloe brushed her chest and looked around. It was a hallway she had never seen before. The scenery outside the window was unfamiliar too.
“It doesn’t look like a hospital.”
Given her fall, she had assumed she would be taken to a hospital if not to her mansion, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
Then again, a place as gloomy and suspicious as this would hardly exist in a hospital.
Where on earth am I? While pondering this, Chloe caught sight of a strange woman reflected in the window and blinked her eyes wide.
“What…… is this?”
