[TIDK] 80 – We’ve Met Before

Hughan raised himself with a worried look.

“Are you feeling better now?”

At his question, she contemplated, then asked.

“Is this really your first time seeing me?” 

“Pardon?”

“These days, I can’t rely on my memories...”

Scarlett, who had been speaking casually, hurriedly covered her mouth with her hands.

It was not a good idea to bring this up in front of Viktor.  

Viktor wasn’t looking at her, and so Scarlett said with a forced smile. “I’ve been busy lately, so I’ve been a little distracted.”

“I see.”

“Really though, have you never met me?”

“If I had met Miss Scarlett before, I would have no choice but to remember her.”

Scarlett stared at Hughan, which was discourteous, frustrated. Then a moment later, she opened her mouth.

“Since you said you’re part of the Royal Police, have you met me at the Royal Police Station?”

Viktor looked in their direction to her question. Hughan smiled nonchalantly.

“It was another royal police officer. Although, you do seem a little frazzled.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Scarlett apologised but unconsciously looked at Hughan’s face again.

The frustration in the corner of her mind, and the awful curiosity, overcame the fear. 

“No, I’m sure,” she muttered.

She finally convinced herself of her fragmented memory and continued. “I’m certain I met you there.”

“I see,” Hughan smiled.

“Let me check again.” 

“Thank you.”

Scarlett only seemed stable then.

Sitting at the table, she calmly began to drink tea. At that moment, she recalled a scene and screamed, dropping the cup of tea cup.

Viktor’s eyes turned on Scarlett as she stood, from the table.

Scarlett was terrified by the scene she remembered.

But she spoke unsteadily, in a way different from the insanity of Duchess of Marina Dumfelt, who had always been unstable.

“There was a bug…”

Nina tilted her head and asked. “In winter?”

“...”

She tried to drive away the memories that lingered in her head.

She thought it would be fake. At the same time, however, the face of Hughan Hunter, when she was questioned at the Royal Police Station, came to mind.

Apparently that man was there. 

“You gave me the tea.” Scarlett said to Hughan.

Hughan thought about her words for a moment and spoke, red-faced.

“I sometimes flirt with women I don’t know. I’m so sorry if it was like that.”

“That’s not it!” 

“Miss Scarlett,” Hughan forced, embarrassed. “I don’t know what’s going on, but you can’t do this. Sir Viktor is here, too.”

Scarlett turned around and Viktor wasn’t even looking at her.

Her behaviour seemed like an insane person and Viktor had no intention of comforting her anymore. Scarlett came to think that the friendly action Viktor showed earlier was just to keep her from acting strange in front of Nina, the centre of society.

Still, Scarlett was grateful for Viktor’s kindness earlier and didn’t want to embarrass him anymore.

She had to think that the memory she remembered was an illusion. 

If she turned a blind eye to that, reality would become stable. But she couldn’t turn a blind eye to it, and spoke to Viktor in a desperate voice.

“I think I remember a little bit of what happened at the Royal Police. I’m sure I saw him.”

Then Hughan soon smiled and said. “Yes, I think so, too.”

Nina frowned.

“What are you talking about? You weren’t even in the capital since you went on a tour with Yuli around that time.”

“Nina.”

Hughan said, but Nina looked at Viktor in frustration. “You remember when the group left, too, right?”

Even Viktor didn’t answer her question, so Nina clicked her tongue and sarcastically spoke.

“Oh, you’re all very gentlemanly.”

Scarlett tried to explain more, but all she could think of was the scene where she was drinking tea in front of Hughan.

But she was certain this was a concrete memory. Scarlett had been hung up on recalling the memory of that day, which she couldn’t think of. 

Then, as soon as it saw Hughan Hunter’s face, the outline of those fateful events began to appear little by little as if she had put together an important puzzle.

♔♔♔

Scarlett sat back in the chair and clasped Viktor’s hand.

“I’m telling you, Viktor. I was questioned by the Royal Police that day. If you ask him, he’ll tell you exactly what happened that day.….”

Scarlett, talking with earnestness in her voice, gradually died down.

Viktor was staring motionlessly at what she was saying. 

“Should I send my wife to the monastery?”

Scarlett recalled the face of Viktor as he said that.

At that time, he looked at her with the same expression as he was now. It was an expression that said: “I am sick and tired of insane women.”

‘That’s right, he doesn’t believe me.’

Scarlett smiled bitterly as she remembered.

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