Chapter 122
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I possessed the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 122
Bonita's bright eyes fixed directly on me.
Come to think of it, Bonita had always taken a keen interest in such matters. Though unintentional, she seemed to have a habit of pairing me with Blaire Grand Duke from time to time.
As someone who never concerned myself with my superior's personal affairs, I couldn't quite understand it, but the world was full of all sorts of people.
'Bonita especially is so very different from me.'
Watching that powerfully extroverted nature of hers, I often found it remarkable how she could remain so attached to someone like me.
And truth be told, I wasn't exactly an ideal superior either.
"Yes? My lady? So what do you think?"
When I didn't respond, Bonita pressed me once more.
Was she really that curious?
Eventually, I abandoned my pretense of ignorance and let out an awkward laugh.
"Well, Bonita. The thing is..."
Until now, some inexplicable embarrassment had kept me from telling her, but the time had come.
Besides, to fulfill my contract with Blaire Grand Duke, it was better to make it public anyway.
But saying this out loud felt somewhat... ugh, I don't know.
My mind was already muddled enough, so I simply relaxed and opened my mouth without overthinking.
"I'm dating Blaire Grand Duke now."
"...Yes?"
Bonita's eyes widened to the size of lanterns.
"Yesssss!?"
Yes, I knew this would happen.
Seeing Bonita's expression as though the word "shock" were written across her face, I quietly averted my gaze.
In truth, I wasn't comfortable with lying, and I wanted to honestly confess this was a fake relationship, but the confidentiality clause prevented me from doing so.
In the end, only Blaire Grand Duke, Liam, and I knew the truth about this "relationship."
Toward Bonita, still reeling from the shock, I added with an embarrassed expression.
"It just kind of happened, you know? Haha..."
I'm sorry, Bonita.
Lying without even moistening my lips made my conscience prick.
But Bonita waved her hand dismissively at my words.
"No, my lady! If anything, I'm amazed you're only now starting to date! His Grace the Grand Duke seemed to have liked you for quite some time. Oh—hohoho!"
"Huh...?"
"My lady, you had no idea, but I, Bonita with my hundred-fold intuition, always by your side, had suspected it all along!"
Bonita, I'm sorry, but you've got it all wrong.
Blaire Grand Duke simply sees me as a trustworthy friend, or perhaps a business partner...
Not that I hadn't thought about it myself.
The fact that he proposed a "contract relationship" was certainly odd, but surely he wasn't aiming for some K-drama cliché that starts with a contract and ends with three children.
If that were the case, there could only be one conclusion: he thought I was the perfect candidate to shake off his unwanted fiancée!
And why was I perfect? Perhaps because he judged there was no romantic potential between us?
But I deliberately ignored the flood of thoughts that surfaced and answered as naturally as possible.
"H-ha. R-really?"
Yet the reality was so different that it made my demeanor feel terribly awkward.
It couldn't be helped. After all, I was now complicit in Blaire Grand Duke's deceptive scheme(?), deceiving everyone around us.
Ugh, so this kind of thing really does require nerves of steel to pull off.
"Ah, w-well, if that's the case, then I'm... I'm excited too...."
"Hehehehe! You two will make the most perfect couple! And did you know? The dresses and jewels that His Grace the Grand Duke is gifting to the Young Lady are the finest quality imported from the Imperial Capital!"
Of course they are. If I'm going to act, I might as well do it properly.
Speaking of which, it seems Blaire Grand Duke has chosen the New Year's Ball in the Imperial Capital as the debut stage for this first fake romance, so if that's the case...
'Don't we need a rehearsal?'
The question suddenly occurred to me.
As far as I knew, neither I nor Blaire Grand Duke had any particular talent for acting.
'Is this really going to be okay?'
Or rather, is it not going to be okay?
An odd sense of unease suddenly began creeping up on me.
And having learned through experience that I shouldn't ignore this type of anxious premonition, I immediately opened my mouth.
"Bonita."
"Yes?"
"Would you ask His Grace the Grand Duke if he'd like to have dinner together?"
"Of course!"
Right, given the circumstances, my homebody mode is on pause for now.
Once we meet and talk about something, a proper plan and countermeasures will surely come together.
With that thought, I slowly swallowed a refreshing glass of orange juice.
Completely forgetting that this world doesn't usually take my side.
...And sure enough.
Contrary to my hopes, I was unable to have a cozy(?) dinner alone with Blaire Grand Duke.
Why? Because we had a visitor.
"What? The Tower Master has come to visit?"
"Yes. I think it would be good if the Princess met with him as well."
What's this about? Could the beam projector already be finished?
But that shouldn't be possible... he promised to show me the intermediate results once development progressed to a certain point.
I hadn't received anything yet.
"Should I join as well? Could this visit be regarding the authentication of the tumblers and thermos bottles?"
"No."
Blaire Grand Duke shook his head at my question.
But before he could explain in detail, we arrived at the Reception Room where the Tower Master was waiting, so I had no choice but to greet this sudden visitor without understanding the reason.
"It's been a while, Your Grace the Grand Duke. And April Salt, the Young Lady."
"Hello, Tower Master! How have you been?"
Passing by Blaire Grand Duke, who gave a light nod, I entered the Reception Room and was finally able to get a proper look at the Tower Master's appearance.
Seeing the dirt smudged here and there on the bright-colored robes he always wore, it seemed he'd been to some rough place recently.
What on earth could this be about?
"Thank you for understanding my sudden visit."
"No need for such formality. I've had meals prepared in the dining hall—please, make yourself comfortable."
"Heh, this old man seems to be causing you considerable trouble. In my youth, I could go three days without a morsel and still be brimming with vigor."
What on earth was this about? Why the lengthy preamble?
Following Blaire Grand Duke across the room, I settled into the seat opposite him and waited for him to reach the heart of the matter.
After moistening his lips with tea, the Tower Master grandfather finally spoke.
"...The matter at hand, Your Grace. We have discovered that the peculiar power you contacted the Magic Tower about not long ago was used within the Imperial Capital."
"...What?"
By peculiar power, did he mean dark magic?
And they'd investigated it this quickly?
As I steadied my racing thoughts, his words continued.
"The traces were concealed with such care that we would never have detected it had the Magic Tower's mages not been exceptionally vigilant. We had assumed the power had already dissipated, and it has been quite some time since we last pursued any leads."
The Tower Master grandfather's face had grown heavy with anguish as he spoke.
Understandably so. Reading books on dark magic had taught me that such formidable power demanded an enormous price—tremendous sacrifice.
In other words, the use of dark magic meant that lives had been consumed to fuel it.
My own heart grew heavier in turn.
"...Have you determined where and how it was used?"
Having gathered his thoughts, Blaire Grand Duke posed the question in a measured tone.
"Yes. We identified the location, but could not trace the method of its application. However, the place where it was used was..."
The Tower Master grandfather glanced between me and Blaire Grand Duke before continuing in a graver voice.
"The Stefan Marquis Residence."
The Stefan Marquis Residence?
Already harboring suspicions about the marquis's disappearance, I found my expression growing grave as I turned to regard Blaire Grand Duke.
"Given the crowds gathered there, it was difficult to ascertain more. However, the likelihood of its involvement in Stefan Marquis's disappearance is quite substantial."
The certainty in his tone suggested there was more he was withholding.
As my suspicions crystallized into near-conviction, I nodded inwardly.
Yes, I'd thought it strange all along. Stefan Marquis could easily rebuild his position with merely a touch of humiliation—there was no reason for him to vanish so abruptly.
Yet my curiosity remained far from satisfied.
Why would Stefan Marquis become entangled with dark magic?
In truth, our faction was his greatest adversary, yet neither I nor Blaire Grand Duke had any connection to dark magic whatsoever.
Then perhaps...
'What if Stefan Marquis wasn't the victim of dark magic, but rather its caster?'
What was happening in this situation?
Before the aftermath of my previous ordeal had even fully settled, I found myself drawn into something far more complicated.
"Moreover, we happened to detect dark magic's aura emanating from someone."
"Who?"
"Lemeia Salt, who recently arrived in the Imperial Capital from the Salt Kingdom."
But the Tower Master grandfather's answer was something I could never have imagined.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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