Chapter 1896: Chapter 1896

Miss Windsor asked. She didn't blush. Instead, she pressed a hand to her heart, her expression hardening with anger. Her fury wasn't directed at Jenkins for his refusal, but at Queen Windsor.

"Because I want you to be happy."

This time, Queen Windsor failed to grasp her other self's feelings. After all, she had never fallen in love with someone as peculiar as Jenkins.

"My happiness is not for others to secure! Do I need to be pitied?"

Unable to contain the sudden swell of rage, Miss Windsor suddenly snapped, startling the other three. Realizing her discourtesy, she murmured an apology.

"I am not 'others.' I am you."

Queen Windsor said gently, her tone like one used to soothe a petulant child.

Miss Windsor looked up at her. "So, are you saying I'm pitying myself?"

Queen Windsor didn't get to finish. Miss Windsor cut her off. "Excuse me, I need to touch up my makeup."

With that, she rose and headed for the ground-floor washroom. Jenkins had never moved it, so she knew exactly where to go.

Jenkins sat still, making no move to follow her.

"You did that on purpose," he said to Queen Windsor.

"I made her angry. Does that upset you?"

She toyed with a lock of her hair, her eyes fixed on Jenkins.

"Your friend doesn't seem to understand her own heart."

"That doesn't require your intervention. This has nothing to do with you."

"Jenkins, you're remarkably inept when it comes to matters of the heart. You handle your relationships with women like a child."

Her assessment was identical to that of most of the young women who knew him well.

"What is it you're trying to do?"

"I want everyone to be happy."

A sarcastic smile touched Jenkins's lips. Queen Windsor simply watched him with a soft chuckle. Magic Miss, holding her teacup, remained silent. She figured it was best just to observe; this had nothing to do with her.

Meanwhile, Miss Windsor had stormed into the washroom and bolted the door. She gripped the edge of the sink with her right hand, her left clutching her chest as she stared into the mirror.

The reflection staring back at her was twisted and monstrous. Miss Windsor knew something was wrong with her, but that sudden, explosive outburst had, strangely, brought her a sense of relief.

"I'm not this kind of person. A lover... I'm not happy about this."

She spoke to her reflection through gritted teeth. She knew how insane this was, but right now, it was the only thing that brought her any comfort.

She murmured his name, a low groan escaping her lips. Her mind raced back to everything that had happened in the Mysterious Realm today: Queen Isabella's "betrayal," the different versions of herself she had seen, and Jenkins's damnable "cowardice."

"I don't need anyone's pity."

She glared at her reflection. Her hair was a mess, her complexion unnatural. Jessica Windsor had never seen herself in such a wretched state.

"I won't even pity myself."

She stared at her reflection as if it were a mortal enemy. The Jessica Windsor in the mirror sighed.

"You foolish girl," the reflection said.

"Oh, damn it. I've finally gone mad."

Miss Windsor covered her face, squeezing her eyes shut as she gasped for air. She turned on the tap, splashed her face with cold water, then covered it again. After a long moment, she finally looked up at her reflection. She looked even more wretched now, water dripping from her face and plastering her hair to her forehead.

"I don't need pity. I will get what I want," she declared, glaring at her reflection. But then she shook her head violently.

"I want it, but I will never do something wrong... Never... I'm not like her..."

"You foolish girl," her reflection said again.

Miss Windsor glared at her reflection. The woman in the mirror crossed her arms. Though she shared the same disheveled appearance, with wet hair stuck to her cheeks, her expression held none of the madness of the woman staring in.

"Why should I be quiet? You are being foolish. You have the best possible path laid out before you, yet you still don't understand what you should be reaching for."

"I said, shut up! Damn it, what do you know?"

Miss Windsor clenched her fists tightly.

"No, I do understand. I am you, and you are me, are we not? You foolish girl, you should be taking what you want, not standing here screaming at me."

"What do you know? Do you think I don't want to do that?"

Miss Windsor's voice lost its sharp edge, dropping to a low register, as if she were speaking from the depths of her lungs. Her expression slowly settled, but beneath the calm was a terrifying darkness no one had ever seen on her face before.

"Bound by morality? How laughable."

"Laughable? I will never do what is wrong."

"Oh, you foolish girl."

Miss Windsor threw a punch at the reflection. In response, an identical hand reached out from the mirror's surface and caught her fist in a tight grip.

Miss Windsor finally recognized her—the woman in the mirror was Queen Windsor from the first possibility world, the commoner betrayed by Isabella.

The woman in the mirror emerged as if from the surface of water. Still gripping Miss Windsor's fist, her body slid free of the mirror, and she pulled Miss Windsor into an embrace.

In the end, both stood on the floor.

Embracing herself—this other self—Miss Windsor felt her turmoil subside. The anxiety and unventable rage vanished without a trace. She realized what she had just done, and closed her eyes, unable to comprehend her own actions.

"I only said one thing wrong just now. I am you, but you are not me."

Queen Windsor from the first world whispered in her ear, "Remember, I am you, because we are both Jessica Windsor. But you are not me, because you are far luckier. You have so much more."

Miss Windsor murmured, "I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm not as strong as you."

"That's a good thing. My strength comes from having lost so much more."

Windsor said. They held each other, resting their heads on opposite shoulders, listening to the perfectly synchronized rhythm of their heartbeats.

"I admit, perhaps I'm not the person I always thought I was."

"Because you saw other versions of yourself?"

Their voices were barely whispers, but with their lips so close to each other's ears, they had no trouble communicating. Miss Windsor's breathing grew steady, her agitated heart finally finding peace. She understood the situation, and what it implied.

"Yes. I don't know myself at all. I've realized I don't truly know anyone around me. Perhaps I really have been too naive."

"Do you think that because you were born into a great noble family, always protected by its power, you developed the delusion that you were exceptional and could do no wrong?"

"Yes. If our circumstances were switched, I would be just another person who would do anything to survive."

"Oh, my foolish girl."

Windsor said gently. She was the same age as Miss Windsor, but their different experiences had made her far more mature.

"Anyone taken out of their own environment would become a stranger. It's not your fault, and it's certainly not mine."

"Would Jenkins, too?"

"Didn't you see the difference between the wanted criminal, Williamette, that I knew, and the one who travels with you? They're practically two different people."

The two women held each other tightly, their voices intertwining, their scents mingling freely. It was the most direct form of communication possible.

"I want Jenkins, but I don't want to do something wrong."

Miss Windsor confessed her greatest dilemma.

"I can give you some advice."

"Have you slept with a man?"

"How can you slander yourself like that?"

Windsor whispered, blowing softly against Miss Windsor's ear. The ear instantly flushed red.

"I don't trust men, but I do like pretty girls."

"Oh! How could you..."

"Does he reject you because he doesn't like you?" she deftly changed the subject.

"Of course not," Miss Windsor objected firmly.

"Then does he have some secret affliction?"

"No. Aside from a potential psychological disorder involving an excessive fondness for his cat, Jenkins is a perfectly healthy adult male."

"Then, is he bound by a marriage vow?"

"Oh, my foolish girl. If that's the case, have you ever asked the other party to his vow for her opinion?"

Miss Windsor couldn't even picture herself doing such a thing. It was too insane. Read full story at NovelHub(.)net

"I'm not a madwoman."

"All's fair in love and war. Since you don't want him to break his vow, why not ask the person to whom that vow was made?" Windsor asked. Because they were still embracing, Miss Windsor couldn't see the faint smile on her face.

It sounded like utter madness, but upon reflection, there seemed to be a sliver of logic in it.

"So what are you so tormented about? You have everything—your parents are alive, your respected elders have done nothing wrong, you have a man you care for by your side, and you don't even have to bear responsibilities that aren't yours. What is there to be troubled by?"

Miss Windsor closed her eyes, leaning her full weight against her other self. She took a deep breath, inhaling her own scent. She liked the smell, just as she liked herself.

"My heart... it really does hurt."

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