Chapter 43
As if the sunny weather from the day before had been a lie, it rained miserably all day.
“Going out is impossible…”
I slouched on the sofa and murmured, sipping the cocoa Nancy had brought me.
It had been three days since the heroine had been kidnapped.
Her whereabouts were still completely unknown.
Because of that, a creeping sense of urgency started to set in—maybe I should start looking for her.
‘Well, even if I just stay put, the male leads will figure it out…’
The problem was that, except for Male Lead 4, the others didn’t know yet.
“They’re hiding her in the royal palace, huh…”
I recalled the information I had gotten from Male Lead 4.
It made sense that the palace would keep the absence of the purifier a secret.
The people here had a blind hope that, even if a disaster like a gate occurred, it could be “purified.”
The awakened ones, who were always at risk of going berserk, were the same.
But if their only savior disappeared…
And if it were revealed that she had been kidnapped by some faction, it would cause a huge stir.
“But… what does it mean that she was in a coma?”
While lost in thought, another idea suddenly crossed my mind, and I furrowed my brows.
― You know the purifier suddenly disappeared after the Torlen Gate incident, right?
― Did you know she didn’t actually disappear, but was in a coma?
How much did I want to avoid thinking about that day that I only remembered this important information three days later?
“Judging from the symptoms, it’s the same as mine… Surely it’s not a ridiculous story where the heroine’s soul changes too.”
Just talking about it made my skin crawl, and I quickly shook my head with a muttered “Ew.”
Even logically, the chance of that happening was low.
I didn’t know why or how I had possessed this body in this damn novel, but anyway, I had entered an empty body whose original soul was gone.
‘So, Edit actually died and her soul disappeared, and I took over this body during that gap.’
…That was my deduction, squeezed out from this absurd situation.
But unlike Edit, the heroine hadn’t faced a life-threatening crisis.
So there was no way another soul could take over her body.
“Coma or whatever, I still have to look for her.”
I bit my nails and resolved myself.
The heroine had to return quickly.
Then the male leads obsessed with her would focus on her instead of me.
‘Especially Male Lead 4!’
He had left a warning about his berserk tendencies, but I knew it was only a temporary measure.
Even without checking, I could vividly imagine him sharpening his focus on me.
“…He won’t remember that I purified him, right?”
It had happened so fast while he was off guard, and I had struck him down firmly with a stool, so any normal human wouldn’t remember.
But he wasn’t normal, so I couldn’t be sure.
What if Serge spread the news that I had awakened?
No, even before that, what if he found out I was the purifier…
“Sigh… Let’s just avoid meeting him as much as possible for now.”
That gave me two goals:
Avoid Male Lead 4 at all costs.
And quickly find the heroine to redirect the male leads’ attention to her.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, someone knocked.
“Miss, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
The visitor was the butler.
I was curious but let him in.
He delivered somewhat unexpected news as soon as he entered the room.
“Miss, the duke has sent word that he will return in thirty minutes.”
“Really?”
I was just confused.
Neither the duke nor Ethan had bothered to tell me when they came and went.
‘So what do you want me to do?’
I stared blankly at the butler with that question in mind, and he sighed.
“But he is coming with a guest, and he asked you to meet them at the entrance.”
“Me… meet them?”
“Yes.”
“Who on earth is coming?”
“I’m not sure myself…”
I frowned but held back, careful of the butler’s gaze.
‘Are they some royal visitor or what?’
This had never happened before.
How important must the guest be to ask me to greet them personally?
‘Life as a duke’s daughter is surprisingly exhausting…’
I nodded, feeling a little guilty for thinking that while I had spent the past few days lounging with an excuse of being sick.
“All right. I’ll get ready and go down on time.”
A little later.
With Nancy’s help, I quickly got ready and headed to the first floor.
“Good day, Miss!”
Perhaps by the duke’s order, the servants were neatly lined up in the entrance, all dressed formally.
Their sharp, precise bows made me a little uncomfortable.
The marble floor shone so brightly it looked slippery, as if the cleaning had just been finished.
‘Who on earth is coming to cause such a commotion…’
I stood politely at the front door, guided by the butler.
Clatter, clatter!
Soon the sound of a carriage outside stirred the area.
I erased my slightly bored expression and straightened my posture.
Bang!
The door opened, and the duke entered.
“Duke, you’ve returned!”
The servants’ loud greeting echoed again.
I smiled awkwardly and approached the duke with the butler.
“Father, you’re back?”
“Yes.”
“But, what kind of guest—”
I was about to ask why all this fuss.
Then, I froze as I saw the figure step inside.
Jet-black hair, a uniform that darkened the surroundings as if it absorbed the light.
Eyes like a deep abyss, mineral-like, almost reptilian, with not a wrinkle of the iris visible.
A conspicuous white bandage wrapped around one forehead.
“Yo—How have you been, Princess?”
Male Lead 4.
Serge Belnac raised a hand and smiled like a ghost.
‘…Insane.’
I couldn’t breathe properly, even though he hadn’t used any powers.
‘Why is he… here…?’
I had decided to avoid him for half a day at most.
And yet, here he was—inside the house.
My brain froze as if lagging.
Moreover…
79%
What was that vertical jump in the number, just a few days after purifying him?
“Greet him, Edit. This is Grand Duke Belnac. Your Highness, this is my daughter.”
“I know very well about the Princess’s fame.”
“Ahaha… What are you doing, hurry and greet him.”
The duke, chatting casually with the grand duke, glared at me.
I had been staring at his head, lost, but finally snapped out of it.
“Good… day, Your Highness. I’m Edit Blake.”
I should have smiled, but nothing came out.
My lips trembled as I managed to finish speaking, and the grand duke tilted his head and sneered.
“Why so stiff when we just saw each other three days ago?”
“….”
“Relax, like last time, Princess.”
“Like last time…?”
The duke looked confused, alternating between me and him.
“Your Highness, did you greet my daughter separately at the banquet?”
“Well. Did we just greet? We actually had quite a fun time…”
“B-But—!”
Shut up, please!
I hurriedly cut him off and asked,
“Your Highness, why have you come here?”
For some reason, the answer came from the duke.
“…Tsk, you careless fellow. If it weren’t for the grand duke, you wouldn’t even know you lost your earring!”
“Earring… mine?”
“Yes. Thanks to His Highness, he happened to pick up your earring.”
“It’s not mine.”
Without thinking, I reflexively denied it.
‘Father! Just let it slide, please…!’
I desperately gestured for the duke to help me.
“I’m sorry for troubling you, but I never lost anything…”
“I checked personally. Of course it was yours! I gave it to you as a gift at the banquet!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
The duke hadn’t noticed my signals at all, and it felt hopeless.
‘Really… the people in this house are no help at all.’
“Puhuh.” A mocking laugh brushed past my ear.
“Ah! Let’s go to the parlor, Your Highness!”
Apparently oblivious, the duke tried to treat Male Lead 4 with utmost care.
Then it happened.
“Hmm… Duke, I’d like to receive thanks from the Princess personally.”
The thunderbolt-like words came from him.
