A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 39

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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39.

“I finished most of the healing last night.”
That was when Eston spoke.
Strange. Yesterday, every time I spoke, my throat felt like it was tearing apart, yet now it was perfectly fine.
“Where did you injure your throat so badly? It looked like scratches from fingernails…”
“…”
“The capillaries in your eyes were completely burst, and the inside of your throat was severely swollen. It seemed like you were having difficulty breathing. Do you perhaps have a metal allergy?”
True to her nature as a healing ability user, she had pinpointed the cause of my ravaged throat with remarkable accuracy.
Though I never would have guessed that some madman had strangled me.
At her question, the events of yesterday came flooding back, one after another.
‘…It was quite the spectacle.’
Not only did I face Male Lead 4, but I encountered Male Leads 1, 2, and 3 all in one place.
Perhaps it was fortunate that I lost consciousness at just the right moment.
“Our young lady doesn’t have a metal allergy, though…”
The Butler answered in my stead, as I was lost in thought.
“Young lady, did perhaps the necklace you were wearing have some sort of problem?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
I shook my head.
“I hadn’t worn one in a while, so I must have unconsciously scratched at it because it felt constricting. As for the swelling…there were flowers at the ballroom.”
“Ah.”
Fortunately, everyone seemed to accept my excuse.
“This old man’s heart nearly stopped! How can you be so delicate…The Duke was very worried as well.”
The Butler pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed his eyes while oversharing.
I responded with indifference.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, so much so that he even ordered that your meals be prepared exclusively with nutritious dishes suited to your needs from now on.”
“I see. So where is Father right now?”
“Pardon? He had business today, so he went out…”
‘As expected.’
I hadn’t held any expectations, so there was no disappointment.
If the Duke had truly been worried, he would have come to check on the condition of his daughter who had collapsed and returned from the Imperial Palace.
Not simply ordered some meals prepared and then rushed off to his own affairs.
‘…Still, is he perhaps better than me after all?’
At least he sees to it that meals are provided.
Some parents don’t even know whether their children are bleeding, their bones broken, or fevered and bedridden.
‘Not knowing is perhaps a mercy.’
Better than knowing and looking at them with disdain, as if to say, ‘So what do you expect me to do about it?’
The thought of it dampened my spirits considerably.
“…What about my brother?”
“The young master also entered the Imperial Palace early this morning.”
Still, I managed to glean one useful piece of information from the Butler’s unsolicited commentary.
‘So Ethan didn’t go running his mouth to the Duke about this.’
I had expected him to rush off and confess everything—that I’d caused a scene at the ballroom, that it looked like I’d gotten into a fight.
But he hadn’t done that.
‘Well, I suppose it would be difficult for him to say anything when no one’s come forward to claim I hit them.’
Perhaps Ethan’s suspicions were justified in their own way.
After all, Edith Blake’s past conduct would naturally lead him to such conclusions.
Of course, that didn’t mean I understood him.
In the meantime, the Butler and Eston were having a quiet conversation.
“But if you said there was nothing wrong with the young lady’s body, isn’t she collapsing far too frequently? It wasn’t this bad before….”
“Ah. I actually have something to tell you about that. So, would you mind stepping out for a moment?”
At Eston’s words, the Butler looked flustered and pointed at himself.
“Me? You mean me?”
“Yes. It’s something that can only be discussed between women….”
“Bah, come now! I have a duty to carefully examine the young lady’s condition!”
“Then you’re planning to see the young lady completely naked? You haven’t seen her that way before… That’s rather suspicious of you, Butler.”
“Ah, no! No, young lady! That’s absolutely not what I meant… I’ll wait outside the door!”
The Butler, flustered by Eston—who was far younger than me—hastily fled the room.
When Nancy also left to fetch refreshments, silence descended upon the chamber.
I regarded Eston with surprise, impressed at how quickly she’d expelled the Butler.
“…You’re quite skilled at that.”
“I learned it all from the Princess.”
It wasn’t a particularly pleasant thing to hear.
Eston got straight to the point.
“Did you use your ability at the Imperial Palace?”
“…How did you know?”
“The trauma wasn’t severe enough to cause you to collapse.”
The trauma wasn’t severe, but I had suffered a serious psychological shock.
However, I didn’t have time to reveal that before Eston’s next question came.
“Young lady, did you know you lose consciousness every time you use your ability?”
“Did I?”
Now that I thought about it, I suppose I did.
After purifying Eston’s brother Theo last time, I had collapsed as well.
But in the meantime, so much had happened—being chased by the Infected, confronting Dylan in a battle of wits.
“Isn’t it just a matter of stamina?”
“If using an ability once drained your stamina that much, all the Awakened in combat would already be dead.”
She had a point.
Eston cast a sidelong glance, his expression deliberately coy as he continued.
“I was curious about late manifestation after secondary awakening—it’s so unusual. So I looked into it, and while rare, it does happen. But there was one common thread.”
“What is it?”
“The awakened individual fails to consciously recognize their psychological awakening.”
I didn’t quite understand.
I tilted my head in confusion and asked for clarification.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well… using an ability is exactly like moving your arms. When your brain sends the command, you can control it freely.”
Eston swung both arms up and down as he explained.
“But you’re unconsciously convinced that you don’t have arms, or that they won’t move even if you do.”
“…”
“Then naturally, your control becomes clumsy, and you end up exerting far more force than intended, right?”
“Ah…”
“In simple terms, every time you use your ability, your body is overloaded.”
Eston shrugged and concluded his explanation.
‘I unconsciously believe I don’t have an ability?’
It was a remarkably plausible theory.
Even when I lived in the modern world, I had never once thought of myself as an awakened one.
Perhaps that’s why I always cry out “Purify” before using my ability.
Perhaps that’s why severe vertigo and nausea accompany its use.
Perhaps that’s even why green light continues to leak from my palms for a while after purification.
“I suspect this might be a side effect of late manifestation… I’d recommend being cautious until you grow accustomed to it.”
“…”
“You are doing self-purification, aren’t you?”
I wasn’t doing it at all.
At my somber expression, Eston’s brows furrowed instantly.
“The Purifier isn’t an awakened one? You seem invincible against miasma, Your Highness.”
“I’ll do it. It’s not difficult…”
“Please refrain from using your ability when I’m not around.”
“Why?”
“You could lose consciousness and something dangerous might happen. Someone could target you… and you said you wanted to hide the fact that you’re The Purifier, didn’t you?”
She shot the words at me with a sullen expression.
At those words, my eyes widened.
Thinking of the past days when we would growl at each other the moment our eyes met, this truly was remarkable progress.
Since that dream, the hollow ache in my chest that had lingered like an open wound had grown slightly warmer.
“…Thank you.”
I offered my gratitude sincerely.
“For teaching me the layout of the Imperial Palace. Thanks to you, I found my way without getting lost.”
“…”
“I never expected you to care for me like this.”
I chuckled, adding the comment playfully.
Suddenly, Eston’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
“I-I was merely accepting the Young Lady’s deal! Since you allowed me and Theo to live at the Duke’s Residence…”
“Well, I suppose that’s true.”
“I-I’ve taken out insurance of my own, you know!”
“I heard you.”
“Y-You see, I have leverage on the Young Lady too…!”
“Get out.”

***

After Eston departed, Nancy returned, carrying the delicious aroma of fresh baking.
“Miss, do try these muffins. I’ve just pulled them from the oven.”
I had been lost in thought at the table before the bay window, and I suddenly snapped back to attention.
“Ah. Thank you, Nancy.”
“And here, today’s newspaper.”
She set down a folded stack of papers beside the tray bearing tea and muffins with quiet grace.
I immediately unfolded it.
I had taken to perusing the newspaper regularly of late.
There were far too many events that never appeared in the novel, and I felt it prudent to understand, at least in broad strokes, how this world functioned.
Just as all human societies share common threads, the news here resembled that of my own time—predictable and repetitive.
“Huh…!”
Yet today, a headline of remarkable intrigue dominated the front page.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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