Chapter 8

"Nessa!"

Selene cried out and quickly dismounted. But in her haste, she faltered and fell hard on her knees. As a result, her hands pressed down onto the muddy ground.

Fenric was about to rush forward, but Selene shot him a look to stop him. She pulled herself up and limped toward Vanessa with concern. "Are you alright, Nessa? I didn't do that on purpose!"

With her muddy hands, Selene cupped Vanessa's face and scrutinized her anxiously. Then, she ran her hands all over her body while exclaiming, "Did you get hurt anywhere? I'd better check thoroughly!"

"Why, you…"

Mud had gotten into Vanessa's eyes. She nearly lashed out in anger, but upon remembering that she was in public under many pairs of watchful eyes, she forced herself to swallow her rage. She said, "I'm fine, Selene. Don't worry about me."

"It really wasn't my fault. It was the bow… No, I mean the wind!" Selene blamed everything but herself.

Then, she turned to look at Alaric and pleaded, "Father, please give me another chance. I didn't do well earlier…"

"The competition stipulates that each person gets ten shots and no more," Alaric replied sternly.

He paused for a moment before adding, "How is Nessa's injury?"

Selene had estimated and executed her "missed" shot to perfection. Vanessa's face bore only a faint scratch. In fact, it was so superficial that it hadn't even drawn blood.

"I… I am fine," Vanessa forced out through gritted teeth.

"In that case, both of you, go and tend to yourselves," Alaric said, clearing his throat. He then looked toward the center of the competition grounds and ordered, "Continue."

Besides the competition venue were washrooms set up for the participants. Selene walked toward them under Fenric's confused gaze.

She was in excellent spirits. "Well? Wasn't I insufferable?"

Fenric frowned hard and pursed his lips, shaking his head firmly. "You could never be insufferable."

Selene gave him a helpless look and said, "Just wait for me outside."

Once inside, she dismissed her attendants and slipped into the bath alone.

After that spectacle, everyone believed Selene was nothing more than an heiress who had since fallen from grace compared to her past glories. With that, Alaric's suspicions toward her vanished completely.

But still, Vanessa wasn't one to sit around doing nothing. She would surely devise new ways to rekindle his doubts.

Selene was still thinking when the sounds of a scuffle came from outside.

"Give it back!"

"This is mine!"

Startled, she threw on a robe and stepped out.

Zirion and Fenric stood face to face at the door, glaring at each other. Fenric had his sword drawn and pointed at Zirion. The sword knot hanging from the hilt swayed faintly in the wind.

"He's trying to take the gift you gave me!" Fenric fumed.

"That's mine to begin with!" Zirion countered. His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Fenric, his words revealing more than what he realized.

This indicated that just like Selene, he had gone back in time too. She had been harboring some suspicions since that stormy night when she overheard his delirious muttering.

Zirion had said he had begged so hard for a chance. It could have meant his begging Vanessa for the chance to meet her, or it could have also meant that he had begged for another shot at life.

Selene had no idea which scenario it was. That was why she made Fenric flaunt the sword knot openly. She wanted to see how Zirion would react.

"That sword knot should be mine…" Zirion insisted in a trembling voice, turning to look at Selene.

He wouldn't be reacting this way if he were simply the Zirion from this life without any past memories. The carved wooden rose being his gift was something that had happened in their past life.

"How ridiculous," Selene said with a scoff, crossing her arms and leaning lazily against the doorway. "I carved that rose and gave it to Fenric. How could it be yours?"

Zirion clenched his fists, his gaze darting between the sword knot and Selene. "I… I once lost one just like it…"

"So are you implying I stole it from you?" Selene retorted sharply.

The more he explained, the worse the situation became.

Zirion moved closer anxiously. "Ms. Wyndham, I wish to speak with you alone…"

The city bell tolled again, signaling the end of the annual competition.

"Nessa hit the target once, so she'll surely be rewarded. Shouldn't you go take a look?" Selene said with a sneer.

Fenric stepped to block Selene from Zirion's view. His eyes brimmed with hostility.

Zirion stood silent for a moment before turning his back and saying, "Ms. Vanessa and I are merely master and servant."

Then, he walked away.

…

Now that Selene had confirmed Zirion had gone back in time like she did, she kept a closer watch on Vanessa.

By right, Zirion should have already revealed all of her secrets to Vanessa. But strangely enough, though Vanessa continued plotting her schemes, she seemed to be struggling.

Her moves mirrored the ones she did in the past life, and Selene foiled them all one by one. After a while, Vanessa started to lie low and not make any moves. For a moment, Selene thought she had given up.

But one evening, she found Zirion in her bedchamber upon returning. He had been carefully dressed, his long hair loose and hanging free over his shoulders. His robe was so sheer that it was nearly transparent. Only the golden embroidery on the cuffs gave the garment an air of refinement.

It turned out that Vanessa had not given up, after all. She seemed to believe that Selene would inevitably fall for Zirion.

"Interesting choice of outfit. Did Nessa send you over again?" Selene smiled faintly from where she stood without moving closer.

But Zirion only stared at her with brooding eyes. Casting away his pride, he dropped to his knees before her. He took her hand and kissed her fingertips fervently, mimicking the very gestures he had scorned in his past life.

"I came here… of my own volition. Will you let me be your beastman?" His voice was soft, carrying a faint, unhinged edge.

"Sure," Selene replied airily. She crouched down so that her eyes met his, and her smile vanished. "Close your eyes."

His pupils that reflected her silhouette dilated a little. His shoulders shook ever so slightly. Slowly, his eyelids fluttered closed.

In the next instant, Selene pulled out a dagger from her sleeve and drove it straight into Zirion's chest.