I Cured the Mastermind and Failed to Run Away - Chapter 29
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Episode 29
Luvelin’s gaze drifted toward Chedwin’s cheek. To anyone unaware, it would have seemed he’d scraped it during Swordsmanship practice or perhaps in a struggle with a Demon Beast in a Contamination zone. But Luvelin knew the truth of it all.
‘He must have scratched it when he fell during Purification.’
The moment her eyes found that mark, Chedwin quickly brushed his knuckles across the wound, concealing it.
Yesterday’s incident surfaced in her mind unbidden, and Luvelin abruptly turned her gaze elsewhere.
‘Chedwin doesn’t even know it was me who kissed him yesterday!’
No—that wasn’t a kiss. It was treatment. Medical care.
“There were several Contamination incidents throughout the Capital yesterday.”
Since he clearly wanted to drop the subject, Luvelin didn’t press further and simply nodded in understanding.
Chedwin looked far better than he had the day before.
“Your complexion seems particularly good today.”
She couldn’t let on that she knew he’d received Purification yesterday, so she steered the conversation.
“Is that so.”
“Yes! Much better, really.”
Luvelin nodded emphatically, her meaning clear: he should seek regular Purification treatment.
“……Good to hear.”
Chedwin murmured the words, his eyes slipping downward. Whether from embarrassment or something else, he raised the Tea Cup to shield half his face as he drank.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
Well, at least he’d grasped that Purification improved his appearance—that was what mattered.
“And you weren’t injured yesterday?”
“Pardon? Me?”
“There were various incidents. I was simply wondering if you came through unscathed.”
“Ah, yes. Nothing happened to me.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
Chedwin accepted this without further question. Luvelin released a quiet breath of relief and took a sip of her tea.
“But what brings you to visit me today?”
They’d encountered each other by chance outside before, but this was the first time Chedwin had come directly to the Estate.
‘He doesn’t seem to have realized I was the one who performed Purification at the Commoner Purification Center yesterday.’
If he had, rumors would surely have spread that the Commander was seeking him out to offer his thanks.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
Chedwin set down his Tea Cup, which he’d barely touched.
“Are you still visiting the Temple regularly?”
“Yes, that’s right. I make periodic visits to offer prayers.”
Don’t make any mistakes like last time. Don’t let yourself be drawn in. And above all, don’t get excited.
This is someone else’s matter. Someone else’s matter.
Luvelin repeated the words to herself like an incantation, steeling her mind.
Her father and brother hadn’t found out, and the guild members from the Temple had handled the aftermath perfectly—there was no way it could come to light.
“But why do you ask?”
“Forgive me a moment.”
Chedwin raised one of his large hands and positioned it in the air as though to obscure the space near her eyes.
“Your Grace?”
What was he doing?
His palm wasn’t directly covering her eyes, but it blocked her view of his face.
As Luvelin tilted her head to peer past the barrier of his hand, he spoke.
“Just a moment.”
Why was he suddenly obscuring his face? Was he displeased with her appearance?
No. She’d made a pact with herself not to be drawn in today. She’d remain curious but say nothing. Premature judgment and hasty excitement were absolutely forbidden.
“Your build is quite similar.”
Chedwin slowly lowered his hand. Their eyes met at last.
“Similar to whom?”
“Someone I met yesterday.”
Pfft—
She nearly spat out the hot tea in surprise, managing at the last instant to force it down her throat.
So that’s what he’d been doing—comparing her silhouette to the veiled figure from yesterday.
“S-someone you met yesterday?”
Luvelin forced a smile. Since she hadn’t told him anyone’s name, she couldn’t pretend to know about someone being purified.
“If she has a similar build to mine, then you must have met a woman yesterday, Your Highness.”
“Luvelin.”
“Yes?”
“If you don’t mind, may I ask what you were doing yesterday?”
She’d deliberately changed her gait and voice yesterday. She’d covered her face with the Veil, tied her hair back tight—yet somehow he found her based on build alone and asked her this. It made no sense.
‘Wasn’t it enough that Mila belittled me in front of Chedwin, calling me a 10th Grade Purifier?!’
He wouldn’t know that the Purifier she’d met at the Victory Banquet and the one she’d met at the Commoner Purification Center yesterday were the same person. That must be confusing him right now.
Unlike before, Luvelin had steeled herself and now concealed her agitation cleanly, opening her mouth with composure.
“Yesterday? Well, what time yesterday are you asking about?”
He’d asked about yesterday, but if she immediately gave him the answer he wanted, she’d mark herself as someone who’d been prepared.
‘I’m a noblewoman too. Since childhood I’ve played tea parties instead of dollhouse games!’
Of course, she’d stopped attending parties after being known as a 10th Grade Purifier, but hiding her true nature was a skill she’d perfected.
Luvelin answered, appearing to recall, her expression thoughtful.
“I was at the Estate in the morning. After enjoying tea time, I went to the Temple to pray. My patroness accompanied me. I returned rather late and didn’t go out again. ……But why are you asking me this? Did something happen yesterday?”
Since she always used the Temple to access the Commoner Purification Center, her Alibi was flawless.
“It’s a rather personal question—I was simply curious about your day. Still, it must have been reassuring to have your patroness with you. Was that the same attendant as always?”
“Yes. She always accompanies me whenever I go to the Temple.”
“Always together.”
His tone was light, but Chedwin wasn’t smiling.
“Is the private prayer chamber pleasant? I heard the priests guard the door so one cannot leave.”
“Yes. Thanks to the priests who guard it, there’s no danger.”
Even to a question whose intent was unclear, a perfect answer was ready.
Finding no gap in her flawless Alibi to probe, he tapped the armrest of the sofa lightly.
“I apologize for inquiring about a lady’s schedule without permission.”
“If your curiosity has been satisfied, I’ll forgive you.”
“I’m grateful for your gracious consideration. Luvelin, might I ask one more thing?”
“If it’s something I can answer.”
“Have you ever seen someone wearing Devotee Robes at the Temple, their face concealed behind a Veil?”
This was the moment when Karl’s advice—to always wear Devotee Robes when going to the Commoner Purification Center in case someone investigated—finally proved its worth.
He’d said the Temple was the most awkward and difficult place to investigate, so if she redirected attention there, it would make things easier.
“I’m not sure. I only use the private prayer chamber, so I wouldn’t know.”
Luvelin rang a silent bell of victory within herself, meeting his words with easy confidence.
“If you’re looking for a devotee, it would be faster to ask the Temple directly.”
“That would be nice, but as I mentioned before, I’m not on good terms with the Temple.”
Right. After dragging all those troublesome priests into Contamination zones, everyone avoided Chedwin on sight.
Since the Temple seemed unlikely to cooperate with Chedwin, this worked out well.
“I don’t know the priests well enough to be of help, I’m afraid.”
The taste of sweet victory.
Last time she’d panicked and lost her composure, but today—after tasting failure—was different!
“You’re misunderstanding something, but the person I’m looking for isn’t actually a devotee.”
“Pardon?”
“She wore Devotee Robes, but I doubt she’s actually a devotee.”
As Luvelin tilted her head, her hair fell in a cascade along her rounded shoulders.
“Because she probably attended my Victory Banquet as well.”
A chill ran through her.
The Tea Cup nearly slipped from her fingers.
The tea that had tasted sweet just moments before suddenly had no flavor at all.
Why was he suddenly bringing up the Victory Banquet?
“The Temple’s representatives didn’t attend on the first day of the Victory Banquet, so she definitely isn’t a devotee.”
“I’m sorry—why are you suddenly talking about the Victory Banquet?”
“That tall blonde with short hair you mentioned witnessing.”
The tips of Luvelin’s fingers turned white as she gripped the Tea Cup.
“I thought she might be the same person I met yesterday.”
How did he arrive at such a conclusion?
She’d distinctly reported seeing someone tall with blonde hair cut short.
He wouldn’t have seen her hair color through the Veil yesterday, but since she’d tied her hair up in a twist, he would’ve known it wasn’t actually short.
Moreover, he’d seen with his own eyes that her height was small—so how could he be certain she was the same person from the Victory Banquet?
‘Did he not believe my account from the start?’
No. That day, Chedwin had certainly seemed to believe her.
“Was it the same person? Tall, with blonde hair? Did you see their face?”
“Not exactly.”
“Then how can you be certain?”
Chedwin leaned back against the sofa, drumming his interlaced fingers lightly.
“The feeling was the same.”
“I’m sorry?”
What was he talking about now?
“I can’t explain it in words, but it felt exactly like what I sensed on the Balcony back then.”
Was he referring to the sensation during Purification? But surely each Purifier’s touch felt different.
‘I’ve never undergone Purification myself, so how would I know?’
If Purifiers truly did have distinct sensations, she would need to be careful.
“I’ll admit I’m puzzled too, since the appearance you witnessed differs from what I saw.”
“The appearance was different? Then wouldn’t that be a different person?”
Luvelin scrambled to find some way to undermine his certainty.
“No. That much I’m sure of.”
But her attempt crumbled immediately.
“Then one of the two appearances—either from the Victory Banquet Balcony or from yesterday—must have been a deliberate disguise.”
If she kept pushing clumsily along only one line of defense, he might grow suspicious. This time, she held her silence.
‘This conversation is far too dangerous for me.’
Every word and gesture Luvelin offered might accumulate into the moment Chedwin arrived at certainty.
“I see. Since I didn’t see this person myself, if you say it’s so, then it must be true.”
Luvelin, resolved not to be rattled today, nodded with measured calm.
Now she needed to silence that mouth of his.
“But Your Grace, did you realize you came to see me only to spend the entire time discussing another woman?”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Torryy
She’s actually doing pretty good from her end. The only thing that is giving her away is the fact that normal purification doesn’t work on him… And the more she’s trying to maneuver out of this, the more he’s catching up to her.