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Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.
When Connie woke up, the sun had already risen high. She was greeted by soft light and fresh air. And chirping birds on the other side of the window.
She somehow felt like she had seen a very turbulent dream. Yes, as if she turned tables on Pamela Francis―――
(Nonono, now that ought to really come from the realm of dreams)
After all, her opponent was that Pamela.
With her eyes closed, Connie moved her shoulders back and stretched with all her might.  Yup, it was impossible. It sounded sad when the person herself said it but Constance Grail was a plain and dull small fly.
The moment she opened her eyes with a sad feeling, she found a face in front of her.
“Hm?”
Amethyst colored eyes that almost sucked you in and hair as black as curtains of night.
“Hmmm?”
This appearance was beautiful enough to snatch one’s soul. But at the same time it made her feel very strange. Was this not Connie’s bedroom? As she thought so and looked around, she noticed the familiar ivy-patterned wallpaper and a drawer with a golden handle next to the bed. There was also a two-person couch, table with a glass countertop and short legs and a small bureau that doubled as a vanity and hence came with small drawers ――― all these were, of course, the usual furnishings of her room.
『You finally woke up, Constance Grail. You slept away the whole day.』
However, that somewhat familiar, clear and beautiful voice was something that didn’t belong to the usual morning.
After a moment of silence, Connie screamed.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”
The girl in front of her retreated with a dreadful expression. However, Connie was still shaking. The scenes from what happened at Grand Meryl-Anne were resurfacing in her head with a frightening speed. It was as if she was watching a picture-story show where each time she blinked, a new scene replaced the old.
(W-wait a minute―――)
It was not just images. She could even feel the atmosphere and the temperature of that place. Also voices and the smell. Everything felt a bit too raw to be just a dream. Was this, perhaps―――
“It was a dream but not a dream―?!”
As she screamed astounded, a displeased voice replied.
『What are you talking about? Are you still half-asleep?』
No, Connie was pretty sure that she was relatively awake. According to her memory, the person in front of her was the noble one she met in the corridor leading to Grand Meryl-Anne’s greenhouse. However, she wasn’t entirely sure. Was she really still half-asleep? Was this still a dream? She didn’t know. That’s why Connie cautiously decided to inquire.
“Umm, m-may I inquire your name?”
At any rate, there was one thing she was sure of. Clearly neither the girl’s unapproachable beauty nor her sophisticated and elegant bearing or her alluring body and provocative dress―――were familiar to Connie.
The girl replied to Connie’s question by softly narrowing her eyes. Her red lips painted a gentle arc, letting a well-projecting voice pass through.
『Me? I’m Scarlet. Scarlet Castiel!』
―――Scarlet Castiel? Dumbfounded, Connie opened her mouth wide.
“Nononono, that’s impossible. Because Scarlet Castiel was executed 10 years ago…”
『Oh dear, do I perhaps look alive to you?』
It was tone that implied that such assumption would be very strange, so Connie spontaneously ended up seriously inspecting the girl before her. Her delicate features truly seemed to be out of this world, but the true essence of the matter was probably in a different point. The line from her chin to her nape was very delicate and her bosom was bountiful. Her waist was slender and narrow――― and her feet literally didn’t reach the ground.
She was, for some reason, floating in the air.
The moment she realized this, Connie once again lost her consciousness.
◇◇◇
『You’re a bit oversleeping, you know?』
As she hazily opened her eyes to the exasperated voice, she was greeted by the same girl as before looming over her with a hand on her waist.
『You even fell asleep while having a conversation with me of all people…! It was the first time in my life I was treated so rudely!』
Aren’t you already dead though? Unable to blurt those words out loud, Connie barely managed to squeeze out “I fainted”.
――― Amethyst colored eyes and hair akin to the night. A breathtaking beauty. All these were the characteristics of the famous Scarlet Castiel. Now that she looked at it, her face might’ve been similar too.
That being said, Connie only saw the real Scarlet 10 years ago. And it was only once too. She did remember that Scarlet was a very beautiful person, but her actual facial features in her memory were vague. 【The execution】she saw for the first time in her life was more impactful. After that, Connie, who had escaped in a panic, reached her house and collapsed for 3 days and 3 nights. The name ‘Scarlet Castiel’ had already become the pinnacle of her trauma.
“B-but why were you at Grand Meryl-Anne? Didn’t the ghost of Scarlet appear at St. Mark square?…”
The rumor of a headless noble lady roaming the streets at night searching for her head had become famous enough to be counted as one of the 7 mysteries of the capital. After being told so, Scarlet doubtfully tilted her head.
『St. Mark Square?…oh, the place I was executed at. I’ve never been at that place. To begin with, I have absolutely no memories of the day I was executed on.』
Oh. For some reason the girl’s words made Connie feel really relieved. On that day, the square was full of malice. It was better if she didn’t remember anything.
『―――Grand Meryl-Anne, on the other hand, is the place where I was done in by that two-faced Cecilia! Good grief, just remembering it all makes me feel angry!』
“T-two faced?!”
What was she saying about Lady Cecilia1, who was said to be the second coming of Saint Anastasia?! However, the person herself unconcernedly ――― or perhaps without actually noticing it ――― continued her story.
『But you see, all this time I was unable to enter the hall. Even when I tried to go in, I would always end up being repelled outside. Perhaps the dead have some kind of restrictions on them? I’m sure I only managed to get inside because of you. During those 10 years, no matter who I talked to, they only ignored me. They wouldn’t even meet my eyes. Among all these people, you are the first person to have noticed me. You might be plain, dull and not worthy of any notice, but of this you can be proud!』
The girl in front of Connie was standing imposingly with a smug smile on her face. If one listened closely, they could only hear her insulting Connie, but her smile was just so lovely that the latter ended up being fascinated by it instead. Incidentally, she also remembered that right before entering the venue of Grand Meryl-Anne, the girl certainly said this:
―――You have my gratitude.
She wasn’t entirely sure what happened, but from the looks of it, the girl was able to enter the venue simply because Connie talked to her. She was convinced for the time being, but she still had one question.
“But why did you…”
Follow me to my house?
Since she fulfilled her goal of entering the venue, she could go anywhere after that.
Perhaps her face perfectly mirrored her thoughts, the self-proclaimed Scarlet put her hand on her waist and looked down on Connie with her eyes half-closed.
『Because I still haven’t received my payment.』
“Payment?”
『Oh dear, have you forgotten? Who would help strangers without asking for any compensation?』
Saying so, the girl laughed, her face reminiscent of the ferocious beauty of a predator cornering its prey. At that moment, a voice resurfaced in her mind.
―――All right, I’ll help you. But, in return―――
Connie instantly paled as if she was doused with cold water. She couldn’t hear the voice until the end at that time. However, at all times and places, when it came to the payment for the contracts with those not of this world――― one’s life was the most famous. Connie hugged her trembling body and squeezed out her voice.
“I-I didn’t hear it…”
『Huh?』
“I r-really didn’t hear anything. I couldn’t understand what was happening. T-that’s why, at least my life…!”
Please at least spare my life! Even after Connie begged her so, the girl continued laughing.
『No~pe』
Connie’s field of view went black in despair. Tears began to slowly well up in her eyes.
(Ah, dear Father, dear Mother, please forgive for departing before you―――)
The life she had lived so far was just as mediocre as her appearance. Connie’s shoulders dropped and she hung her head down.
Scarlet Castiel’s overwhelming presence approached Connie. Her sadistic smile was exactly like that of the rumored wicked woman.
『I’ve already helped you out so I won’t let you refuse.』
\n
At this moment, the poor Constance Grail was convinced that, just like how Atropos2, cut off the thread of human destiny, she would also be taken to the afterlife by Scarlet.
『―――Listen well, Constance Grail.』
Constance shut her eyes tight and prepared herself. However, waiting for her was not a demise.
The future that followed was slightly different from Connie’s expectations.
『From on on, you must dedicate your life to making my revenge successful!』
<hr>
Notes:\n
1. Read “Crown Princess”\n
2. Read “The youngest of three goddesses”
Sorry if you’re reading this for the second time. I tried using footnotes and wordpress editor went bonkers.\n
Anyway, just notify me about mistranslations, typos and awkward grammar and I’ll fix it asap.
P.S thanks to Amarrez for illustrations <69
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