Chapter 25
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I possessed the body of a villainess locked away in a desolate tower.
Chapter 25
"How much longer are you planning to stay in there?"
At the Blaire Grand Duke's ominous voice, I clutched my racing heart and slowly lifted my head.
"U-um, hehe...."
Was he very angry?
Well, I suppose I did pull his pant leg rather forcefully...?
As I hesitated, he set his expression sternly and commanded.
"Come out."
I wanted to come out too.
But I was terrified....
What if he was furious at my insane behavior and intended to kill me?
I shook my head vigorously, trembling all over.
"Ahaha, y-yes, here. It seems more cozy and nice than I expected...."
"Should I destroy the desk to make you come out?"
Why must he be so aggressive....
Unable to resist the pressure, I crawled out awkwardly and stood before him.
But I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze, so I simply hung my head low.
"...."
Then the Blaire Grand Duke called out to me again.
"Listen, Your Highness."
"I-I'm terribly sorry!"
Never mind—let me apologize first and take the initiative!
Besides, I had no other words to offer anyway.
By his logic, he had no obligation to help Salt, who had foolishly been deceived.
I felt deeply sorry that my stubbornness seemed to have changed his intention to refuse the envoy's unreasonable request.
Of course, the common people bore no fault in this matter.
But at the same time, the Blaire Grand Duke had no obligation to consider those people either. After all, they weren't even his own subjects.
I fidgeted nervously, continuing to avoid his gaze.
But then.
"...Sigh. There's no need to apologize."
"Pardon? What do you mean...."
As I slowly raised my head at his unexpected words, the Blaire Grand Duke, wearing what appeared to be a rather ill-tempered smile, asked arrogantly.
"Your Highness, do you perhaps think I'm some kind of kindhearted volunteer or patron?"
"No? Of course not."
That could never be the case. Not until the sun rises in the west....
I immediately shook my head.
Amused by my reaction, the Blaire Grand Duke raised one corner of his mouth and added smoothly.
"Consider this the true price for the Dam construction."
"Ah, um...."
"If you understand, you may retire to your chamber."
The Grand Duke gestured toward a small adjoining room beside him.
Under normal circumstances, he would have used his own bedroom while I occupied a separate chamber, but...
With the Salt Kingdom Envoy's duration of stay uncertain, I was currently using the room attached to the Grand Duke's expansive bedroom.
"Ah, yes."
I nodded my head as though I had been waiting for this moment.
The ease of this resolution, the way he simply let me go—something about it felt ominous, but...
'Let me rest for now.'
Perhaps from the tension of hiding beneath the desk, my steps toward my chamber felt heavy and sluggish.
Or perhaps it was because I could feel Blaire Grand Duke's persistent gaze boring into my back...
In any case.
"Sigh."
The moment I returned to my chamber, exhaustion crashed over me.
Was that why I simply threw myself onto the plush bed and closed my eyes?
Yes, this was truly paradise.
* * *
Q. Describe the feeling of living in a room attached to the Grand Duke's five-star hotel suite-grade bedroom.
A. I am simply overwhelmed with gratitude. I shall dedicate my entire life in loyalty, so please keep me confined to this chamber and raise me as you wish.
This answer was practically the genuine truth welling up from my heart.
The Grand Duke, despite technically occupying one bedroom, had perfectly guaranteed my privacy.
Because of this, from the moment I arrived at the Magic Tower until now, I had been able to enjoy myself by devouring the comic books I hadn't been able to read before.
Moreover, since only the Grand Duke's personal attendants accompanied us, Bonita was absent, so I didn't need to force myself into awkward conversation.
True freedom, that's what this was!
'How thrilling!'
Hehehehe.
As I laughed and flipped through the comic book pages, a sudden thought struck me, and I bolted upright.
"Wait."
Wasn't this the only moment when surveillance on me was at its absolute minimum?
The realization struck me like a flash of lightning.
'This is a perfect opportunity!'
Moreover, today the Grand Duke's schedule was packed, leaving him unable to deal with me.
"What are you planning to do today, Your Highness?"
"Me? I was just planning to stay quietly in this room..."
"That's hardly different from staying at the Grand Duke's Residence."
"Ha, haha... I suppose not?"
"Well then, I'll go meet with the Tower Master."
I retrieved the hammer I had stashed and tied to the bed frame, just in case.
Was today finally the day to use it?
An unexpected storm had swept in the moment we arrived at the Magic Tower in the form of the Salt Kingdom Envoy, and aside from that, the Grand Duke had always been present, leaving me no choice but to behave.
In the process, I had nearly forgotten my true purpose, but that simply wouldn't do.
I examined the hammer in my hand slowly, my eyes sparkling with determination.
'Even a stone bridge must be tested before crossing.'
Before proceeding with anything, I opened the door and surveyed my surroundings.
The empty Corridor was devoid of anyone—whether cleared for the Grand Duke's privacy or simply abandoned.
"Sigh."
Today, Blaire Grand Duke's afternoon schedule was packed with a meeting with the Tower Master, and all his aides would accompany him.
So if I handled everything (?) before the Grand Duke returned and simply pretended to be lounging around reading comics when he arrived, it would be the perfect crime.
But...
'Is that really okay?'
I'd come here determined to destroy the core, but now that I was about to act, the soul of a maxed-out office worker blocked my path.
'Causing unnecessary trouble only makes things harder for you,' it whispered.
I hesitated, then pulled a bag from beneath the bed, launching into fierce self-rationalization.
'Strictly speaking, this isn't sabotage—it's a plan to save the Magic Tower, isn't it?'
As long as the result was good, did the process really matter?
"I'll just call this the true price of the Dam construction."
Yet at the same time, I recalled the Grand Duke's unexpected kindness.
With my heart sinking at his simplest words, I couldn't even distinguish whether this was Stockholm syndrome or the suspension bridge effect.
'Get a grip.'
Kaian Blaire was a devastatingly handsome man, but he was also a real killer.
Moreover, in the original story, he was a supporting male character who became interested in Lemeia upon witnessing her purity.
Since the author had forced a match between him and Lemeia with barely any connection, the impact was minimal, but still...
If the original story's narrative force existed, there was no telling how he might change the moment he actually saw Lemeia.
Then I had to suppress this racing heart by any means necessary.
'Let me just focus on breaking the core and figure out the rest later.'
Having stopped my hesitation, I pulled out the maid's uniform I'd secretly packed in my bag and changed into it.
...And a dark mask to cover my face.
After finishing all my preparations, I cautiously stepped outside and slowly wandered through the Corridor, when I happened to catch my reflection in a mirror I passed.
'What, what is this?'
I hadn't noticed it while checking myself alone, but the sight was absolutely ridiculous.
"Sigh."
A maid holding a hammer while wearing a mask, no less.
At first glance, wasn't I practically screaming, 'I am a suspicious person'?
But I went ahead with my desperate attempt at denial anyway.
'Well, it should be fine, right?'
After all, this is the Magic Tower, and the Magic Tower is said to gather all sorts of people with all sorts of tastes.
Yes, that's right. Perhaps a masked maid would be considered just one of the many diverse preferences of this world, and no one would think twice about it—
Surely not.
'Okay, retreat for now.'
Disguises and infiltration really weren't my forte.
Judging that it would be impossible to reach the core's location looking this pathetically suspicious, I quickly turned around to leave.
And then I ran into someone.
"What are you doing here?"
Liam, frozen mid-gesture with one hand already extended as if to greet me.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org