chapter 07
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Through the open door, the healing-type awakened person I had seen yesterday walked in.
“Aston, why are you here…?”
“Why do you think? I came to treat the noble lady.”
She glanced at me.
The butler looked even more shocked than I was and questioned her.
“Treat her? Didn’t you clearly say yesterday that she was fine?”
“Yes. But the young master gave instructions.”
“What do you mean…?”
“He told me to help the young lady recover her memories as soon as possible. I don’t know what more I’m supposed to do.”
She shrugged as if it were unfair.
Her attitude openly showed hostility.
‘She must really hate Edith.’
No wonder she seemed oddly rude yesterday too.
‘Isn’t she making it too obvious, even though I lost my memory?’
Since she couldn’t hide her emotions, she didn’t seem very old.
Maybe around Nancy’s age—about eighteen?
Or maybe she had only recently awakened and felt fearless about the world.
If the real Edith were here, she would’ve already caused a scene. While I was thinking that, Aston suddenly walked toward me.
“You tried it once yesterday, so you know, right? I’ll treat you again today, my lady.”
She reached out her hand without permission again, so I quickly pulled my body back.
“What are you doing…?”
“What does it mean to be ‘pelted with stones’?”
At my sudden question, Aston frowned.
“…You’re not seriously asking because you don’t know, are you?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t ask.”
“Oh right. You said you had amnesia.”
With a mocking smile, she continued.
“The world is really unfair.”
“…”
“Someone can attempt murder and just say they don’t remember, and that’s it. While someone else has to leave their dying family behind to treat that person.”
“Aston! How dare you speak such nonsense to the young lady!”
The butler shouted angrily at her disrespectful words.
But Aston did not stop.
“The young master rushed off to prevent a riot. What did he do to deserve that? Don’t you think?”
“Aston Kenderson! Close your mouth this instant!”
No. Don’t close it.
I asked on purpose because I wanted to know.
The butler trying to stop her was becoming annoying.
“Butler. I’m fine, so please step outside.”
Even though I told him to leave, he firmly shook his head.
“My lady, it’s useless talk. You need not listen to it.”
“Still, if there’s something I don’t know, wouldn’t it be better to learn it?”
Aston added slyly, “That’s right. If the young lady wants to regain her memory quickly, shouldn’t she know what she needs to know, Butler?”
“Enough! Aston, come with me right—!”
The butler grabbed her arm and tried to drag her out.
I let out a deep sigh.
“…Butler. Didn’t you hear me say to step outside?”
“But my lady, it truly is something you don’t need to know—!”
“That’s for me to decide.”
My voice had turned cold.
The butler hesitated and looked at me.
‘I was going to become kind Edith now that I lost my memory. Why won’t they understand me?’
I reached out and grabbed one of the larger perfume bottles from the dressing table.
It felt heavy. It had a good grip.
“That’s strange. I was fine just now, but since you won’t listen, I suddenly feel like throwing this at you.”
“M-Miss Edith…”
“Why is that?”
I tilted my head as if I truly didn’t know. The butler flinched.
Even Aston, who had been mocking me while being dragged, changed her expression.
I gently shook the perfume bottle.
“This is the last time. Will you step outside, Butler?”
“…I will wait in front of the door.”
Thankfully, he finally listened.
He released Aston’s arm and bowed to me.
“If anything happens, please call me immediately.”
“Nancy, you step out too.”
“Yes, yes!”
The quick-witted maid rushed out without a word.
Click.
Silence finally settled in the room.
“Now. Let’s talk properly, Aston.”
I carefully placed the perfume bottle back and smiled at her.
“You said I attempted murder. You’re talking about me, right?”
“W-Well…”
Like the butler earlier, Aston flinched.
She stared at me as if I were crazy, then barely replied.
“…Who else would it be?”
“I already told you twice—I’m asking because I don’t know.”
My smile disappeared as I looked at her coldly. She flinched again.
But soon she lifted her chin stubbornly.
“Who did I try to kill? The Purifier my father mentioned yesterday? Are you close to her?”
“…No.”
“Or are you blaming me for your family dying because of the gate incident?”
Aston suddenly snapped at me.
“If you hadn’t put the Purifier in danger, that entire area would have been fine!”
“…”
“The people exposed to demonic energy would have been fully purified too.”
“So that’s what this is about…”
I let out a dry laugh.
“After the gate closed, the Purifier didn’t properly finish the purification, did she?”
“Would she want to stay there after almost dying because of you?!”
This was new information.
The novel hadn’t mentioned this.
‘Right. It said she fainted right after being rescued by the male leads and was moved to the capital. There wouldn’t have been time to purify everything.’
The story couldn’t include every small detail.
Just like it never explained why the villain kidnapped the heroine.
Sadly, the protagonist was far too busy to care about the deaths of minor characters.
But still.
‘Why don’t you go argue with Llewellyn directly? Why are you taking it out on me?’
Do you think I’m easy?
Just because I lost my memory, you think you can blame me for everything?
Now that I roughly understood the “stone-throwing,” I muttered irritably,
“You have many ways of venting your anger. Don’t you care that I almost died too?”
“Well, if you hadn’t harbored evil intentions and kidnapped the Purifier in the first place—”
“Who said I kidnapped her with evil intentions?”
“…What?”
Aston looked stunned.
It was true.
In this episode, the villain simply dies miserably.
There was no proof that Edith kidnapped Llewellyn to kill her.
“Maybe I was desperate for purification too and asked her. I heard Ezenia is precious to me as well.”
“Hah. That’s—”
“You didn’t just hear one side and immediately decide I’m a criminal, did you?”
My bold attitude clearly flustered her.
“…You’ve always disliked the Purifier! Not just me—the people in the territory think so too. Because of you, those exposed to demonic energy lost their chance to be purified—”
“The world really is unfair. Someone survives being in a monster’s jaws and gets treated like a scapegoat. Someone else neglects their duty without a scratch and receives sympathy.”
I threw her earlier words back at her.
Her eyes shook.
“Instead of taking your anger out on the wrong person, why not go volunteer somewhere?”
“Don’t speak carelessly when you don’t know anything! While you’re being treated like royalty here—!”
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
“…Forget it.”
She looked exhausted, as if arguing with me had drained her.
Then she bowed slightly.
“I overstepped and was disrespectful. Please forgive me generously.”
“…”
“Then I will begin the treatment.”
That was when it happened.
A strange, ominous energy suddenly poured out from Aston’s body as she approached me.
And then—
89%
The same number I had seen above Ethan yesterday appeared above her head.
A low rumbling sound filled the air.
Black smoke rose from her feet and quickly reached her neck.
‘89%?!’
I was shocked at the severe rampage rate.
‘She must not use her ability anymore.’
With that thought, I quickly slapped away the hand she had stretched out to use her healing power.
Smack!
“Ah…!”
“That’s enough.”
“My lady!”
Aston glared at me sharply.
But I had no choice.
“It seems you’re the one who needs treatment, not me.”
“What do you mean? I’m perfectly fine!”
No. You’re not fine at all.
If the duke’s family hired her, her awakening rank must be high.
And she said her family was dying.
‘She’s been exposed to demonic energy continuously and overused her powers.’
I wanted to tell her to see the Purifier immediately.
But to do that, I would have to reveal my own ability.
After hesitating for a moment, I spoke heavily.
“Go have someone check your condition as soon as possible.”
“Hah! I’m a healer. What are you even saying?”
“You’ve blacked out while standing recently, haven’t you? You’ve felt dizzy often, and you’ve had nosebleeds several times.”
She froze.
“H-How do you…?”
“You’re having a nosebleed right now.”
