A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 43

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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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43.

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As if yesterday’s clear skies had been a lie, rain fell drearily throughout the entire day.
“There’s no point going out….”
I reclined against the sofa, sipping the hot chocolate Nancy had brought while murmuring to myself.
Three days since the heroine was kidnapped.
Her whereabouts remained shrouded in mystery.
Because of that, I felt a creeping sense of urgency—shouldn’t I be searching for her soon?
‘Well, even if I stay put, the male leads will find her on their own….’
The problem was that everyone except Male Lead Four still didn’t know about it.
“They’re hiding it within the Imperial Palace….”
I recalled the information I’d obtained from Male Lead Four.
It was only natural that the Imperial Palace would conceal The Purifier’s absence so carefully.
The people here harbored a blind faith that even if a catastrophe like a Gate occurred, they could simply “purify” it.
The Awakeners, who constantly lived under the threat of runaway incidents, were no different.
But if that one and only savior had vanished.
And especially if it were revealed that she’d been kidnapped by some faction, it would cause tremendous upheaval.
“But… what about her being in a coma?”
Lost in deep thought, I suddenly furrowed my brow at another detail that surfaced.

― You know The Purifier suddenly disappeared after the Tollen Gate incident, right?
― Did you know that The Purifier didn’t actually vanish, but was in a coma?

How much must I have dreaded recalling that day to only remember this crucial detail four days later?
“If I’m going by the symptoms alone, it’s the same as mine… Surely the heroine’s soul didn’t swap bodies too—that would be absolutely ridiculous.”
Words have a way of becoming reality.
The mere thought of such a horrifying possibility made my skin crawl, so I quickly shook my head and muttered, “Ugh, no way.”
Even thinking about it rationally, the probability was slim.
I had no idea why or how I’d possessed this body in this damned novel, but regardless, I’d entered a hollow shell—a body whose original soul had vanished.
‘So when the real Edith Blake died, her soul disappeared. And in that gap, I was able to seize this body.’
That was the only reasoning I could wring out of this absurd situation.
But the heroine hadn’t faced a crisis severe enough to warrant death, unlike Edith Blake.
So there was no opening for another soul to claim her body.
“Whether she’s in a coma or whatever, I need to find her.”
I gnawed at my nails as I solidified my resolve.
The heroine needed to return to her rightful place quickly.
Only then would those obsessed with her stop turning their attention toward me.
‘Especially the male lead number four!’
I’d left behind a warning that I had evidence of his rampage, but I knew it was only a temporary measure.
Without even checking, I could vividly imagine him seething with resentment toward me.
“…He won’t remember what I purified, right?”
It had happened so quickly while he was caught off guard, and I’d struck him hard with the stool, so an ordinary human would naturally have no memory of it.
But he wasn’t an ordinary human, so I couldn’t be certain.
If Serge somehow spread word that I’d awakened.
Or worse, if he discovered that I was The Purifier…
“…Sigh. For now, I need to avoid running into him at all costs.”
Thus, two objectives crystallized.
Avoid any encounter with the male lead number four at all costs.
And quickly find the heroine to redirect those male leads’ attention toward her instead.
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
“Miss, it is I.”
“Come in.”
The visitor was the Butler.
I granted him entry, puzzled by the intrusion.
The Butler entered the room and delivered a rather unexpected message.
“Miss, the Duke has sent word that he will return in thirty minutes.”
“Is that so?”
I was simply bewildered.
Until now, neither the Duke nor Ethan had bothered informing me of their comings and goings.
‘And what exactly am I supposed to do about that?’
As I stared blankly at the Butler with that unspoken question, he let out a sigh.
“However, he will be arriving with a guest, so he has asked that you greet them upon his arrival.”
“A… visitor?”
“Yes.”
“Who on earth is coming?”
“I’m not entirely sure either…”
I nearly furrowed my brow before catching the Butler’s meaningful glance and restraining myself.
‘Well, perhaps it’s royalty or something.’
This had never happened before.
What sort of distinguished guest warranted such a formal reception?
‘The life of a Duke’s daughter is quite exhausting, it seems…’
I, who had spent several days idling about under the pretense of illness, nodded with a somewhat guilty conscience.
“Understood. I’ll prepare myself and come down at the appointed time.”

Moments later.
With Nancy’s assistance, I completed my preparations and made my way to the First Floor.
“Welcome, Miss!”
Whether by the Duke’s orders or not, the servants stood in neat formation along the Entrance Hall in pristine attire.
Their sharp, synchronized bows felt somewhat burdensome.
The marble floor gleamed so brilliantly it appeared slippery—they had even finished cleaning.
‘Who could possibly be arriving to warrant all this fuss?’
Following the Butler’s guidance, I stood demurely before the entrance doors.
Clop, clop!
Soon the sound of a carriage accompanied the bustle outside.
I quickly erased the somewhat bored expression from my face and straightened my posture.
The doors swung open!
The Duke entered.
“Duke, you’ve arrived!”
The servants’ voices rang out once more in unison.
I smiled awkwardly and approached the Duke alongside the Butler.
“Father, you’re here?”
“Indeed.”
“But then, what sort of guest…”
I was about to ask why there was such a fuss over this visitor when—
A figure stepped through the threshold, and I froze entirely.
Jet-black hair and uniform that seemed to darken the very light around them.
Eyes like an abyss, their irises gleaming with an inorganic, reptilian coldness.
A white bandage wrapped conspicuously around one side of the forehead.
“Well, well—how have you been, Princess?”
Male Lead 4.
Serge Belnak raised one hand toward me with a spectral smile.
‘…Insane.’
He couldn’t possibly have used his ability, yet my breath caught in my throat.
‘Why is he here…?’
It hadn’t even been half a day since I decided to avoid him at all costs.
And of all places, I had to encounter him inside my own home.
My mind stuttered as if I’d hit a lag spike.
And on top of that.

79%

It had been days since I purified him—what was this vertical spike in the reading?
“Greet him, Edith Blake. This is Grand Duke Belnac. Your Highness, this is my daughter.”
“The Princess’s reputation precedes her. I’m well aware of it.”
“Aha… What are you doing? Come, pay your respects.”
The Duke, who had been making small talk with the Grand Duke quite familiarly, glared at me.
I, who had been staring blankly above his head, finally snapped back to attention.
“Hello… Your Highness, Grand Duke. I am Edith Blake.”
I should have smiled, but no smile came.
With my lips trembling and convulsing, I barely managed to finish speaking when the Grand Duke tilted his head and let out a soft chuckle.
“We met four days ago, yet why are you greeting me so stiffly?”
“….”
“Be at ease like you were then. Princess.”
“Like I was then…?”
The Duke looked bewildered, his gaze alternating between me and him.
“Your Highness, did you perhaps meet my daughter separately at the Ballroom?”
“Well. Was it merely a meeting? We had quite a bit of fun together back then….”
“That, but―!”
Stop, please!
I hastily cut off his nonsense and asked.
“Grand Duke Your Highness, what brings you here?”
For some reason, the answer came from the Duke.
“…Tsk, you careless girl. If it weren’t for the Grand Duke Your Highness, you wouldn’t have even known you’d lost your earring!”
“An earring… me?”
“Yes. Fortunately, His Highness happened to find your earring.”
“It’s not mine.”
Without time to think deeply, I reflexively denied it.
‘Father! Please, just let this pass this once…!’
And I desperately sent a signal for help with my eyes to the Duke.
“I apologize for the trouble, but I haven’t lost anything….”
“I checked it myself—what do you mean it’s not yours? It’s the gift your father gave you on the day of the banquet!”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
The Duke hadn’t noticed my signal at all, and the world before me went dark.
‘Truly… the people in this household are utterly useless.’
A scoffing laugh grazed my ears.
“Ah! Rather than this, shall we head to the Reception Room, Your Highness?”
Oblivious as ever, the Duke was fawning over the male lead with excessive courtesy.
That was the moment.
“Hmm… Duke, I would prefer to receive my thanks directly from the Princess.”
From him came words like a bolt from the blue.

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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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