Chapter 45
It was a clear provocation.
I knew this kind of remark would ignite that bastard’s rotten temper.
But I also wanted to know.
…What exactly is he scheming, coming all the way here? Does he remember that I’m an awakened one?
If he were the “Male Lead No. 4” I knew, he wouldn’t politely visit the duke’s residence holding earrings—he would have dragged me away without warning.
Or at the very least, he would’ve flown into a rage at my provocation and already be choking me.
“Hmm… that’s quite a reasonable point, young lady.”
This calm, intellectual acceptance wasn’t something that appeared in the novel.
So I felt extremely unfamiliar.
“I’ve been thinking since last time—you’re quite capable of thinking like a proper person, unlike the rumors.”
That’s what I should be saying, I thought, the words lingering at the tip of my tongue.
“What is the duke even doing? Letting such a capable daughter rot away at home.”
“Capable…?”
“When did your ability manifest?”
His sudden question struck without warning, and my body stiffened.
…As expected. What a monster.
Even on the verge of rampaging, even after getting hit in the head with a stool, he hadn’t lost his memory.
Does he even know that I’m a purifier?
Since he hadn’t threatened me at all yet and was leaving me alone, there was a chance he was just testing me.
But the worst outcome would be getting caught up in his probing and revealing my ability myself.
I had to stay sharp from now on.
“I heard you were an unawakened person until recently.”
Sergei probed again, as if confirming.
Since he already remembered, there was no point denying it further.
“…After the funeral.”
“Ah. You were found in a monster’s mouth, right? I suppose that satisfied the awakening conditions.”
That sent a chill down my spine.
The way he inferred everything from just one sentence.
…He’s not someone to take lightly.
I tensed as I waited for his next question.
“Does the duke or his underlings know?”
“Underlings… you mean Ethan oppa?”
“Something like that, I think.”
“…Neither of them knows. I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Hmm. Makes sense. The story of a high-ranking noble abandoning his real daughter and quickly adopting an awakened one is quite famous.”
I frowned.
Even if it wasn’t really my story, who talks so casually about someone’s painful family matters right in front of them?
Should I tell him about how he got thrown into a gate right after awakening?
As I glared at him, he suddenly said something unexpected.
“Good job, young lady.”
“…What?”
“Not telling anyone. If you blurted it out just to gain favor, you’d end up being worked like a dog in the gates. Staying unawakened is the smarter choice.”
“….”
I stared blankly, my mouth slightly open.
I never expected words like that to come out of his mouth…
And I couldn’t believe we even agreed on something, even a little.
As if he felt the same, Male Lead No. 4 raised one eyebrow.
“But it’s a bit strange. Weren’t you envious of purifiers? I thought you’d spread it across the empire the moment you awakened.”
“It wasn’t that extreme.”
“No way. Where do you think I heard the rumor that griffin brain soup helps with awakening?”
At that, I suddenly remembered the eagle head rolling across the banquet hall floor.
A horrifying memory.
Wait… don’t tell me Edith actually ate something like that to awaken?!
My stomach turned instantly.
“…Ugh!”
“Huh?”
I covered my mouth and retched without thinking, and Sergei looked at me like I was ridiculous.
Knock, knock.
“Miss, I’ve brought tea.”
At that moment, the butler arrived with tea and refreshments.
“C-come in!”
I quickly let him in.
The butler entered with a tray and began setting the table.
He wasn’t particularly helpful, but thanks to him, I could catch my breath.
As he poured the tea, he kept glancing suspiciously between me and Sergei, as if he pitied me.
For some reason, Male Lead No. 4 remained silent while the butler was there.
That was a huge relief.
“I’ll be waiting nearby. Please call if you need anything.”
After finishing, the butler even placed a call bell in front of me.
“Okay. Thank you.”
I doubted such a tiny bell would help against that monster…
Just as I was barely holding back the urge to cling to his leg and beg him not to leave—
“Feeling better now?”
Sergei spoke with an annoyed expression.
“It’s my first time being retched at to my face.”
“…I’m sorry.”
His disdainful gaze made me a little embarrassed, so I apologized.
“After the Tollen Gate incident, I developed amnesia. I don’t remember what you mentioned, so it just…”
“Amnesia… That explains why you speak like a normal human, unlike the rumors.”
Hearing him say things I should be saying made irritation build up.
At that point, I became certain.
This bastard doesn’t know exactly what my ability is.
If he did, he wouldn’t be spouting nonsense about griffin brain soup so casually.
Suppressing my rising excitement, I drove the nail in.
“Then, Your Grace—do you know what my ability is?”
“Why ask the victim? That’s a strange personality you have.”
“I thought you might remember.”
“Of course.”
He answered confidently—completely wrong.
“Isn’t it the ability to knock out enemies silently? Some kind of lightning, I think.”
At that moment, joy surged through me.
For the first time since meeting him, I smiled.
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“It lacks killing power, but immediate effect isn’t bad. Can you use it without touching?”
“No.”
“You answer quite decisively. Good.”
Good…? What’s good?
Whenever he said that, something bad always followed.
I looked at him uneasily.
As expected, he smiled coldly.
“Let’s make a deal, young lady.”
“…A deal?”
“When I call, you come and use your ability. In return, I’ll keep your secret.”
“…Ha!”
It was basically a declaration that he’d use me however he wanted.
“And when you accused me of kidnapping a purifier and tortured me—was that trust? You believe me now?”
“I investigated for three days. The real culprit is someone else. I trust you to some extent now.”
I almost jumped up and grabbed his collar.
Then you should’ve investigated before choking me!
Grinding my teeth, I answered firmly.
“My answer is no.”
“Why?”
“You really don’t know?”
“No. That’s why I’m asking.”
“I don’t want to deal with someone violent and unreasonable like you.”
“Hah! Who are you calling violent?”
He laughed incredulously.
“What about my forehead you tore open? That’s attempted murder.”
“I acted in self-defense.”
“Then what I did was just an unfortunate incident during interrogation. Let’s call it even.”
“….”
“No, actually I’m being generous. Attempted murder is worse. And I left no evidence of torture.”
Are you serious right now?
His constant comebacks were pushing me to my limit.
What made it worse—it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“…Anyway! I don’t want to get involved with you anymore! I refuse.”
“It must sound like a request because the reward is too generous…”
Suddenly, his expression darkened.
“Don’t forget I’m a Grand Duke. I can send an official order and make you comply.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Think of it as persuasion. You wouldn’t want your awakening exposed after hiding it so carefully.”
As expected.
He was trying to control me using my secret.
Not happening.
I smiled at him.
“You seem to have forgotten—you have a weakness too.”
Unfortunately, my victorious smile didn’t last long.
“Oh, that?”
“…That?”
“Click. I thought you were clever, but you’re only half-smart.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Like you said—what will you do with it? Say you saw me rampaging? Where’s the proof that blood was mine?”
“Wouldn’t your brooch be enough?”
“Petty thief.”
Then he fired off questions rapidly.
“How did only you escape unharmed from the attacker?”
“….”
“Why were you alone with a Grand Duke in a purifier’s room?”
“W-what do you mean alone?!”
He smirked.
“Now you understand why I came here myself.”
“….”
“The evidence you have was useless from the start.”
He clicked his tongue, looking down on me.
I almost laughed.
You’re the one who’s only half-smart.
“Of course, if I were alone, that would be true.”
“….”
“But if I tell my father and brother the truth and ask for help, wouldn’t I be able to prove it?”
Our relationship was bad, but I was still a Blake daughter.
“…Hmm. I didn’t consider that.”
For the first time, he looked slightly taken aback.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He tapped the table, thinking.
I hoped he would give up.
But—
“How troublesome…”
“….”
“Should I just kill them all?”
