33 Chapter 19: A Change Of Plans

Angelina.

The second villainess was back.

I shivered; the night seemed to be colder than before. Why was she back?! She was only meant to come back in a few years time!

I fumbled with my hands. My plans of survival may be nought if she ever interfered with it.

"…Ivory?" Kyle asked anxiously, "Are you alright?"

Ah… I knew it.

I was doomed.

I never thought of the idea of Angelina coming back. The malicious and scheming daughter of a ducal house.

But, I wasn't going to die yet.

I could retaliate, I wasn't going to die young just like in my other life. I still had a chance. I had to sharpen and perfect every aspect I could as soon as possible to avoid any chances of death. I could not rely on simply allies, I had to polish my skills to flawlessness.

"Ivory!" Raven shook my shoulders, "We're safe now!"

No Raven. I was still in danger.

"…Hah." I sighed, picking myself up and brushing off the small pebbles and dirt, "What a shame. Are you guys okay?"

***

"I greet the Young Lady Ivory." A woman greeted me humbly.

A petit young woman with plain brown hair kept her downcast eyes at the floor.

"Rise." I smiled, "I believe you understand why I called you here today."

"Lady Ivory, with due respect I must ask you why you must have a simple actor from poor origins to teach you?" The woman stumbled with her words, "Wouldn't there be better options in nobility?"

I tilted my head, thinking of the correct answer that wouldn't raise any suspicions.

"Ah… but nobility tends to have a very… loose tongue, I don't dare to call on them yet." I smiled, "I trust that you can keep our meetings a secret, of course with extra pay."

"Y-yes… Yes of course…" She stuttered.

I gestured to a seat and waited for her to sit down and arrange her belongings before I leaned forward on my chair, my hands tucked under my chin.

"Now tell me, how does one pretend on command?" I began.

***

"How have you been?" Raven grinned, slightly skipping as we entered the palace hallways.

"Same old." I smirked, "Where's Kyle?"

"In the library, as usual." Raven sighed, "Studying like a nerd."

"He'll be king one day, he's preparing himself well." I laughed.

We continued walking, bantering and laughing, when Raven suddenly halted.

"I… remembered I forgot something." Raven mumbled, "I'll meet you in the library."

Raven walked at an extremely rapid pace from the opposite direction of the library. He was obviously lying. I debated whether I should respect his decision and leave him be or follow him to check if he was alright.

Raven was going to be annoyed if he found out.

I followed Raven's footsteps cautiously, careful to not be heard. As I listened and pursued after the echo of his paces. It finally stopped. I quickly rounded the corner, and no one was there. Raven disappeared. The only thing remained was a small splatter of blood mixed with detached butterfly wings.

***

"You took a while." Kyle looked up from his book, "Where were you?"

"Have you seen Raven?" I frantically asked, ignoring his question.

"Hm?" Raven looked up from his book, sitting in a velvet chair in the corner of the library, "What do you mean? I'm right here."

How did he get here so fast? Then who's blood was that on the floor earlier?

"That idiot climbed in through the window." Kyle sighed, "If he falls and dies one day, I'm not going to be surprised."

"I'll never fall, trust my abilities!" Raven cheered, pumping his fist into the air.

"Oh yeah, Raven." I looked at the titles of some books, "Did you see any blood in the palace when you were walking around?"

There was a lengthy silence as Kyle stopped reading to look at me and Raven stopped fiddling with his novel.

"…Blood?" Raven gasped, "Where? Was anyone hurt?"

"I don't think so, no one was around." I smiled, walking to another bookshelf.

"That's good." Raven let out a sigh of relief.

"Except… Raven, could you explain why you're lying?" I grinned, tucking my hands behind my back.

There was a stretched silence, and the only sound was the birds chirping outside the window.

"Hmm… I think someone's calling for me!" Raven laughed nervously, averting his eyes towards the door, "See ya!"

In an utter and awkward silence, Kyle and I stared at the doorway where Raven had just fled before I averted my attention towards him.

"Adios…" Kyle smiled uncomfortably before jumping out the window.

I ran over the window, there was no way her survived that height. Instead, there was only birds and no Kyle.

"Those brats…" I tsked, shaking my head before leaving the library.