Missing Necklace

Laura looked at the papers set on the table as she chooses her first lesson. She felt troubled because she wanted to learn everything at once, but Viscountess Andrea had told her to choose only one for now.

Viscountess Andrea enjoyed watching Laura as she concentrated and thought deeply about choosing her first lesson. Laura wanted to be sure that it would help her in the future. She wanted to be sure so that she would be able to win against Tine.

Laura had two years until her death could happen, but she will never know when it'll happen. She didn't want to be late and regret her decisions any longer. After Laura had fixed her mind on it she smiled confidently knowing that she'll be able to get her revenge on Tine.

"So have you decided on one?"

Laura nodded and handed the paper, and upon seeing what she chose, Viscountess Andrea was impressed. Viscountess Andrea lowered the paper as she smiled at Laura with satisfaction.

"So tell me why you have chosen economics?"

"I just had a thought that it was for the best of me, especially when my father is a businessman."

"Reasonable and there's another reason for it, right?"

"I can't hide anything from you huh, Miss Andrea?"

"Who said you're allowed to hide things from me?"

"Me."

"I won't force you to say it. Do whatever you want and treasure your own life."

Laura had repeated the last few words of Viscountess Andrea and frowned. 'Treasure your own life.' She knew that she should treasure the second life that she was given, but she would never know when her time is up.

Laura had triggered Tine one too many times, and knowing Tine, she knew that Tine wouldn't stand still and do nothing. Maybe the first thing Tine had planned to her was to steal her necklace.

"That reminds me. I heard something had happened to you."

"I don't know what had happened but Mary, my maid, told me as soon as she came in, she saw me on the floor, unconscious."

"If you were that tired, why didn't you send me another letter? I could have waited."

"It's not like that. I honestly wanted to see you. I was rather excited."

'Yes, excited to see the fallen face of Tine, who was clearly rejected by Viscountess Andrea.'

Laura couldn't help but enjoy seeing the sight of Tine's frustrated face. She wanted Tine to pay back for what she had done to her in the past. She felt like a villainess.

"Not only that, I also heard that your necklace got stolen?"

"Ah... yes it did."

The necklace she had wanted to buy but was instead gifted to her by the count had gone missing from her jewelry box. Laura had a clue on who could've stolen it, but she did not know how the person had gotten into her room.

She then had a thought that maybe Tine had hired someone to do it, but where did she get the money from? It's not like Tine had a business of her own, nor would she use her father's money just to hire someone to steal the necklace.

Laura knew that there was more to it. Because the last thing Laura had remember seeing before losing her consciousness was a shadow. Just a shadow.

Viscountess Andrea had mulled over it and had a clue, but she was not sure about it. She then mentioned to Laura about an organization group called, "Silence".

The name had ringed in Laura's head, but she didn't think that was the case. It was impossible for Tine to have such connections with them. Silence, just like its name. They move in silence. They are a group of unknown people, but they all agreed with one thing.

Each person believed that magic is for everyone, but they had abused it. Silence is an assassination group. No one knows who they are, and why they had appeared suddenly. Some speculate that they all use black magic, which is forbidden even amongst the mana users.

The royal family had never shown their powers to the citizens because for them it is sacred. There was a reason why magic wasn't taught to the people, and that was because, with the power it held, they would have abused it.

The fact that the chosen ones can only use magic was a lie. Each person can use magic, but most of them did not awaken their mana. However, if their mana had awakened, they would have been forced to work in the church.

But no one knew the truth except for the royal family. Once the lesson was done, Laura escorted Viscountess Andrea to her carriage, but before Viscountess Andrea took a step into the carriage, she held Laura's hand tightly.

"I hope that you find the culprit. You may never know that he or she might be close to you."

"I will Miss Andrea, thank you for your concern."

Viscountess then bid Laura goodbye and entered the carriage, and as Laura watched her carriage exiting the gate, her smile had turned into a frown and she went to walk back to the dining hall.

She thought about the incident once more and knew that it was impossible for Tine to steal the necklace alone. Laura knew that someone was helping her, and it might have been the group "silence".

But she couldn't accept it because she had no proof. Who knows, it may be someone else in the estate who had stolen it. The servants had opened the door and entered Laura. She walked to her seat and observed Tine while as they waited for the count to arrive.

"How was your day with Viscountess Andrea?"

"I had fun talking with her. Just like what people say, she's really nice and elegant."

"I wonder if she'll give me an answer. I hope she does."

"I don't think Miss Andrea will. She's a busy person, after all."

"Have you heard of the saying? You will never know if you don't try."

"I've heard of it, but I clearly remembered Miss Andrea saying she'll only accept one student."

"You're so negative. At least cheer for me. I want to learn new things with you."

"Is that so?" Tine smiled, nodding her head, and noticed the door opening.

Count Harrison removed his coat and gave it to Percival as he sat on his seat. He looked exhausted and wanted to take some rest. But he couldn't because there were so many incidents that were happening.

He wanted to find the person behind the stealing of Laura's necklace and had promised to show no mercy. Laura then had thought of an idea. She had a thought on how to deal with the thief and proposed it to the Count.

He looked shocked and had thought hard about what she said. And at the end he agreed with Laura and told her not to show mercy.

On the other hand, Tine's face had stiffened upon hearing this. She had not prepared for this and wanted to finish her food as fast as possible so that she could have time to hide the necklace.

Laura watched Tine as she had noticed her eating in a hurry. Laura couldn't help but want to tease her. After all, she already knew who the culprit and was just lacking proof and all that's left is to expose her.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Tine choked on her food after hearing this and immediately drank water. She wiped her mouth with a napkin, putting on an innocent face as she faced Laura.

"I'm not. I just suddenly remembered that I still need to write back to his highness."

"I see. You wouldn't want him to wait."

"Yes, and that is why I seem to have rushed my eating."

Tine left the dining hall and was taken aback with Laura's sudden question. She felt as if her throat had got cut. She bit her lip as she hurriedly walked back to her room to hide the necklace.

Laura couldn't help but feel satisfied with how Tine had acted in front of her. She wondered if she should have asked more questions and pretend not to know anything.

Indeed, Tine was smart in some place but not smart enough to outsmart Laura.

The search for the stolen necklace had started. What will be Laura's fate?