Chapter 49
Chapter 49
====
Rick, leading the Argenta intelligence division, vehemently opposed Dielo personally investigating the servants below the third floor.
It was only natural.
It meant completely shedding the image of a 'weak-hearted head of the family' that Dielo Argenta had maintained until now.
"Move."
However, once it became clear that Magical Power had gathered in Dielo's eyes and he was on the verge of an emotional outburst, they cleanly stepped aside.
There was no way to stop him.
Who could stop a flame burning in a dry field?
But Dielo, who had lost his reason and was closer to his true nature, was angrier than expected, both coldly and fiercely.
"Most of the servants below the third floor are not traitors. But the news will surely leak out."
He told the intelligence officers before entering the space where the servants were gathered.
He only held a sword, with the scabbard nowhere to be seen.
"Then tell them this."
He whispered as he opened the door with the hand holding the sword.
"That I am that crazy about Krua."
He didn't care about the others.
That thought suddenly struck him. He didn't care how the others saw him now.
He had already shown himself to be weak enough, hadn't he?
Just one person.
'Dielo, I'll teach you.'
He thought that Krua just shouldn't see this side of him.
You want someone gentle like a lamb.
He was planning to change the situation this time.
He was going to let everyone know that Dielo Argenta was not only crazy about his bride, but that 'that Dielo Argenta' would lose his reason and run wild if anyone touched Krua.
So that if anyone touched Argenta, they would touch him, not Krua.
—Creak… Thud.
The tip of the sword pierced the doorframe first. Dielo pushed the large door open.
The Argenta people began to tremble at the sight of the head of the family, who seemed like a different person.
Of course, the spies mixed among them as well.
It's another dream.
There are many kinds of poison, but this one seems to be a mild one.
Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to dream like this all day and night.
—Tap.
I in the dream was looking at an old cell phone with a cracked screen.
That was probably the cell phone my cousin used eight years ago and then gave to me, I think.
Before I could change it to a new phone to celebrate my independence, I possessed this body.
The novel I had open was <The Three Duke Families>.
…The novel I possessed.
I should have read it to the end!
Since I was young, I had lived with my uncle's family, always mindful of their moods, so I threw this novel away because of the simple reason, 'My life is already miserable, why should I read a miserable novel?'
If I had known I would end up here, I would have read it all!
Regret washed over me, but it was just a dream.
「Krua is having another nightmare.」
I in the dream said.
She was clearly talking about the dream Krua of the original story had, the one where she was trapped in a burning place.
That dream, seeing it in person, the flames were bigger than I thought.
There was also an unsettling sound of the building creaking as if it would collapse soon.
The black-haired boy in the middle of it was more filled with despair than I had imagined.
「Why is he trapped?」
I in the dream clicked my tongue and was looking at the story about that boy.
[The boy was filled with despair.
'I can't do anything.'
'The flames are too strong. The way out is blocked.']
I was glancing at the contents of the book when I in the dream said.
「But he should try at least once.」
Yes, I think I said something like that.
「If you're about to die anyway, you should try anything before you die. It's better than dying without doing anything.」
That was true.
After that, I cheered for the boy, but it was impossible to reach the character in the book.
—Flash!
At some point, the scene in the dream changed.
This time it was Krua's memory.
'Useless thing!'
To Duke Alloze, who invariably revealed his true nature, Krua Alroze of the original story seemed to have a glimmer of hope at first.
'He's still my father.'
Thinking that way. Thinking that he would at least do the basics.
That feeling was so vividly conveyed that my heart ached.
Because I knew how much pain the affection that seemed to be given but wasn't actually given could cause.
'If it weren't for the money your father lent me, you wouldn't be here.'
I remembered that tiresome phrase I had heard until just before I became independent.
'You should be grateful you have a roof over your head!'
A phrase I had heard since I was a child.
I had never thought of that roof, under which I had been mindful of their moods for over 20 years, as my home.
I tried to comfort myself by saying that it was okay to not have a family.
While waiting for the day I could become independent.
But Krua seemed to be a little different from me.
Instead of giving up on the affection that seemed to be given but wasn't actually given early on, she craved it even more.
She waited for her father to see her as his daughter, even for just a moment.
The thought of wanting to catch her father's eye gradually became twisted and spread to tormenting people.
Thanks to that, she also earned the nickname of a villainess.
'Krua Alroze, the head of the family is calling for you.'
Then, Duke Alloze finally summoned her.
'Father?'
Krua, who had been summoned, had a glimmer of hope.
Hoping that she might be scolded for 'Why are you doing this?'
She wanted to hear those words, 'Stop it.' Because then she would have been willing to return to being a good daughter.
But Duke Alloze, who had summoned her, drove a stake into her heart.
'You will become Pero.'
'Pardon?'
Krua craved her parents' affection in a twisted way, but she was not a fool.
'I will carve the name directly on your back.'
Each word sharply scratched at Krua's heart.
There was no affection for her in Duke Alloze's eyes.
It was just the gaze of someone looking at a tool they had found useful.
'Tie Krua up.'
And the moment the name was engraved on the back of her neck, along with a distant pain, she abandoned all affection and hope for her father.
Feeling the pain of her heart and the world breaking apart.
The despair and disappointment at that time seemed to consume her heart.
This is really a nightmare.
The moment I thought that, I felt my consciousness become clearer.
'…It seems like it will be a critical moment.'
The doctor's voice saying that was clearer.
'Krua.'
Dielo's voice calling me was also clear.
Is it a voice from reality?
—Bang!
I remembered the white smoke that had spread in an instant.
And Dielo, who had urgently pulled me into his arms.
…Is he okay?
'Krua…'
The voice, which trailed off as if worried, pricked at my heart.
This is not the time to be wandering in a dream.
The moment I thought that.
At that moment, a strange energy surged within my body.
This was the Water Manipulation Ability I possessed.
'…!'
The energy, which had been weak like a blocked stream, gradually became stronger, and soon a cool and refreshing sensation spread throughout my body.
It was as if it was moving to protect its owner.
Driving out the foreign substances mixed in the blood, and quickly spreading the antidote that had entered the body.
After all, blood is also water.
As long as it exists in the medium of water, it means that it cannot escape Alloze's control.
If Argenta removes poison with the Purification Flame, it seems that Alloze can do something like this.
'Good.'
I began to move the power to drive out the poison more precisely, following my instincts.
To eliminate the poison that had taken away my consciousness.
And after putting in some effort like that.
"Ah."
I woke up from my sleep with a short sigh.
"Madam?"
The surprised maid immediately approached me. She was one of the Argenta from the fourth floor.
It seemed she had been waiting for me to wake up.
"Liz."
I think that was her name. Liz nodded at my voice.
"Yes, it's Liz, Madam."
But it seemed that Liz was the only one by my side.
"Where are the others?"
There should be many people around normally.
The figures of knights could be seen through the open doorway, perhaps because fresh air was needed.
But there were fewer of them than usual.
"Right now…"
It was when Liz lowered her head with a troubled face.
Someone quickly approached the door.
A face that had lost its smile, despite having the nickname of a cheerful madman.
It was Rick.
"Madam, have you woken up?"
With a serious face, he knelt on one knee in front of the door.
If that person's face is stiff, then something really serious must have happened?
I widened my eyes.
