[TIDK] 87 – Round Two

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“How do I trust the Royal Police?”

Scarlett was sceptical. All her problems had started here.

“Our deal has already succeeded once, hasn’t it? I think I’ve built some trust.”

He was referring to the bitter medicine for Isaac’s eyes.

The reality was that the royal police obtained a way to get the medicine, and Isaac could see the light. Ironically, there was already some trust in this deal.

Scarlett thought again. No, it wasn’t the Royal Police that was the problem. It was the trust and broken love between her and Viktor.

Hughan tore the report on the spot. Then he took out the second report, signed it, and handed it to Scarlett.

“Here you are.”

She looked at it for a moment, then Scarlett accepted the report. Abel Crimson’s first attempt to stab Isaac Crimson was a statement that eased all the words involved in Isaac Crimson’s assault.

Scarlett looked at the report card in front of her, and Hughan continued. “Drink.”

Scarlett breathed slowly at his words. She asked.

“Does this erase my memory?”

“To be exact, it digs up memories. Partial memory loss is just a side effect of the drug,” Hughan said.

“...Ah.”

Scarlett reeled in understanding.

“So I’m not going crazy because of the guilt of betraying Viktor. I didn’t remember, did I?” She wondered.

“Yes.”

Scarlett blamed herself for doubting herself. She accepted the glass and said,

“Don’t touch Isaac.”

That was the one thing she had worked so hard for. Not just for the medicine, for her brother, she would do anything for him, when she was twelve, and even now.

“I’ll do that.”

He got up and headed to the door as she gulped down the cold tea. The royal police didn’t block him and opened the door.

Hughan spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“Stay a little longer. Because the medicine has to work.” 

“…I will.”

Scarlett stood from her seat.

The royal police, who stood at the door, hesitated and told her. “Forget it; Miss Scarlett kept her faith in Sir Viktor.”

Scarlett muttered in a lonesome voice at his consolation speech. “At that time, Viktor was here…I wish he’d come.”

Scarlett’s lips trembled. She smiled vaguely.

“Just once… I wish Viktor would come to see me, leaving his honour behind.”

“No way, Miss Scarlett, you are estranged,” Hughan said jokingly.

Scarlett nodded weakly.

“I lived with a cold man...”

While muttering, she stumbled. Her head pounded. Then the royal police, blocking the door, helped her urgently.

“Are you alright?”

The Royal Police officer, who made eye contact, was young, about Scarlett’s age, and had a bright, amicable face. It was terrible to have a friendly individual in a group that she viewed as having not-so-good intentions. Scarlett thought that maybe they thought their actions were just and enforced for order and not individual evils.

“I’m okay.”

She managed to straighten herself up.

It wasn’t until three or four hours after that that the royal police opened the door.

The royal police again guided Scarlett. For some reason, she tried her best to retain her memories.

‘You have to remember. I must remember what happened today.’

Scarlett first confirmed with her eyes that Isaac’s report had changed before the medicinal effect erased all her memories as she peeked at Isaac in jail.

Isaac also grew up in violent situations, so he seemed to find it easy to use violence. He couldn’t let it go.

First of all, what should I do about Isaac’s violence? Ah, I’ll tell my husband... No, I’ll tell my ex-husband that I didn’t betray you. I’m sure you’re the one who betrayed me, and I’ll get mad when I tell him. It’s not until I tell him, in any case...

Only then did she feel like she could tell Viktor how heartbroken she was then. About how scary it was to lose her memory and open her eyes at a hotel.

And what was more frightening was that she knew she couldn’t rely on her beloved husband and hated him for not believing in her.

Out of the heresy she was experiencing, she stopped a passing royal police officer and said, “I’m sorry, but can I borrow a pen and paper?”

She was going to write it down before she forgot everything. The police answered coolly.

“Yes, of course.”

Then, he held a pen on his desk and hesitated, saying, “I’m looking for a paper that I don’t use.”

Later, Scarlett found a royal police officer looking inside from outside the police station. 

“If you write down what you remember, you’ll get it eventually”, the police mouthed when they realised.

“I’m sorry, but there’s no paper I don’t use. Do you want me to lend you a pen or something else?”

Scarlett looked back and asked. “What?”

“A pen. You asked me to borrow it.”

“Me?”

Scarlett blinked as the police held out a pen. She smiled with her head tilted.

“It’s okay.”

She said goodbye and left the police station. 

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