I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 104

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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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Chapter 104
Luciana pouted her lips slightly.
“That’s true, but you never know what might happen, do you?”
“What do you mean.”
“What if, against all odds, someone discovers your secret? That you’re an incomplete Divine Incarnation?”
“Then I’d deserve the consequences.”
“But if rumors spread before that happens? I’m already marked as a False Divine Companion….”
She bit her lower lip mid-motion, as if catching herself.
“…And there’s one more reason.”
“What reason.”
“Since we’re on the subject of False Divine Companions….”
Luciana felt her heart flutter with unease.
Part of it was genuine concern for Edward, but deep down, there was something far smaller and far more selfish stirring.
If he became a complete Divine Incarnation….
‘…He might not need the strength of a True Divine Companion as much.’
She hadn’t heard any news yet of the Temple acquiring new experimental subjects.
But in the original story, the heroine remained in the Capital throughout the later chapters, and there had been multiple occasions when she and Edward occupied the same space, even if they never met directly.
‘So it’s possible this time too.’
She might stumble upon the heroine in the Capital by sheer chance.
Even if the original story had deviated, what if—just if—by some slim possibility….
‘What if some binding force causes their eyes to meet?’
Now Luciana found herself greedier for Edward than ever.
She still intended to save the heroine, to help her live a happy and peaceful life instead of becoming a test subject, and if she wished it, she’d gladly introduce her to an excellent man—but….
‘His side….’
She didn’t want to abandon her place there without even trying, telling herself it was never meant to be hers in the first place.
Even if it meant being called unscrupulous or selfish, she couldn’t help it.
But without even attempting to fight for it, she’d already been captivated by his face, by his body, by the wanton things they did together….
‘No, actually.’
None of that mattered.
He was too precious to lose without a fight.
A man who extended his hand at the most crucial moments, who had been gentle enough to ensure she never came to harm.
A man who was afraid of losing her, who found joy in nothing but taking complete responsibility for her.
“I know you still don’t trust the Ritual.”
“Right. I don’t trust the Ritual—not you.”
Edward seized the opportunity to make it clearer that he wasn’t blaming her, when—
“But….”
“But?”
Luciana drew a deep breath.
And spoke from the depths of her honest heart.
“…I want to take responsibility for you too.”
…….
“Even if your dark hair—or golden hair—turns white as frost.”
“Luciana.”
She meant every word of it.
Not just being protected. Not just always being kept safe.
She wanted to protect Edward in her own way, to take responsibility for him.
“But for that to happen, even if I’m false… I need to be able to fully purify you with my Holy Power alone, don’t I?”
…….
“That’s why I want you to undergo the Ritual. Because if you become a complete Divine Incarnation, it might be possible.”
…….
“And ultimately—that way, even if you meet your True Divine Companion, I can face them fair and square, can’t I?”
“Fair and square?”
“Yes. I’ll compete fairly with a True Divine Companion and win you over.”
She spoke even of her selfish heart without regret.
Because she needed Edward, who distrusted the Ritual, to understand.
“…And I can’t stand watching you be threatened by some ragtag lot of nobodies!”
Luciana clenched her fist and cried out.
“They see an opening and suddenly you’re a hero, but the moment you show the slightest weakness, they act like—like—!”
And then his lips were on hers, stealing her breath.
Mmmh—!
Afraid the magic circle might get damaged, she hurriedly tapped Edward on the shoulder, and he immediately lifted Luciana and pressed his back against the corner wall.
Then he showered her small, chattering lips with kiss after kiss.
Because of the confession Luciana had just made, it felt as though his brain might melt at any moment.
His nose stung, and heat flooded his head.
‘That she wanted to take responsibility for him.’
With this small body and these hands, she wanted to take care of him.
Just that alone was enough to make his reason scatter to the winds.
But the words she’d whispered after that had blanked his mind entirely.
‘That she wanted to compete fairly with the true Divine Companion she’d never even met, to claim him as hers.’
That she desired him that much, that she was jealous of a true Divine Companion whose face she didn’t even know….
True, false—such distinctions meant nothing to Edward.
Even if a true Divine Companion appeared from somewhere, he would refuse them, insisting they were not his mate.
Because he was false, after all, and a false creature could never have a true Divine Companion.
Yet Luciana had been worrying about it all along.
On the surface she acted brazenly, but in truth she cared deeply about it.
‘…Adorable.’
This small thing wanting to take responsibility, wanting to be jealous, wanting him so desperately….
‘So adorable he might die from it.’
No matter how many times he experienced her loveliness, he could never grow accustomed to it.
It was utterly unbearable.
“D-Your Grace, ah….”
At Luciana’s call, Edward knitted his brow.
“Now that I think about it, I don’t like the title.”
……
“In such a moving moment, ‘Your Grace’ is too stiff and formal. You called me by my name just now.”
“That was because I was shocked….”
“Anyway.”
He wanted nothing more than to keep kissing her, to love her even more, but….
Forcing himself to pull away, Edward gently cupped Luciana’s cheek.
Then, savoring the soft feel of her skin, he murmured.
“Do as you like, Luciana.”
“…Really?”
“Yes.”
At his murmur and the soft kiss to her cheek, Luciana’s face lit up.
* * *
“Done!”
Clap!
Luciana clapped her hands and surveyed the completed magic circle with satisfaction.
She’d drawn it with a protractor and ruler to ensure every angle was perfect, and looking at it again, it was flawless.
‘Though it does look a bit frightening.’
The blood-red magic circle looked sinister, like a demon-summoning array, but its power would be unmistakable.
Soon the Sacred Stone at the center hummed, signaling that everything was ready.
‘That was the hardest part to obtain.’
She’d managed to find everything else easily enough, but the Sacred Stone, being property of the Temple, had been extraordinarily difficult to procure.
Fortunately, once she’d squeezed Gemini, it had simply popped out on its own.
Though she’d been startled when all manner of syringes had tumbled out along with it, as if his pocket were some magical bottomless bag.
Now the only thing left was….
“Come on. Let’s get you inside and lying down, Your Grace.”
Getting this handsome man lying in there.
Edward, who had been watching Luciana fuss about the whole time, smiled quietly.
And answered playfully.
“Which Duke?”
……
“There should be only one or two Dukes in this Empire.”
There’s only the two of us here, so isn’t there only one Duke—you?
Rather than say so, Luciana rolled her eyes.
She knew exactly what he was doing—whining that the title was too stiff.
Still, the way he stood at a distance from the magic circle seemed somewhat uneasy.
‘Did he change his mind again?’
Then again, this was the man who’d fought a cold war with her because he couldn’t trust the ceremony itself.
The thought struck Luciana, and she felt a flutter of urgency.
If this failed, the next attempt would be far more difficult.
‘Finding another Sacred Stone would be incredibly hard!’
So Luciana decided to humor him, drawing out her most coaxing tone.
“Yes, Your Grace—sole Divine Incarnation of the Golden Dragon of the Empire, Slayer of Monsters, and Savior of the Continent….”
“Don’t forget his face. You like it, after all.”
“…and possessing such a handsome visage, Edward le Teseron.”
Only then did those reptilian red eyes, which should have been sharp and fierce, soften with surprising gentleness.
Luciana met that gaze with a smile of her own.
And she pointed at the Magic Circle with a stern look, warning him against any foolishness.
She was in a hurry herself, too impatient for coddling.
“Will you go in now?”
He tilted his head.
“There?”
Now, feigning complete ignorance, Edward’s head inclined with an almost adorable curiosity.
‘If any other man acted like that, I’d want to hit him.’
The platinum-haired beauty, when he played dumb like this, was most lov—
‘—able.’
She’d nearly been enchanted despite herself.
Luciana deliberately shook off her longing and scattered her idle thoughts, then answered.
“Yes. If you lie down on the Sacred Stone, it should work perfectly.”
At her words, Edward’s smile deepened.
There was a reason his demeanor had shifted again.
‘She said it would work….’
He would have liked nothing more than to let her do exactly as she wished.
In truth, it felt as though he could tear down the Empire itself if she asked.
But then the newly completed Magic Circle emanated such an ominous aura that the thought gave him pause.
‘What if this Ritual has side effects?’
In the actual process of making him a Divine Incarnation, terrible side effects had erupted constantly.
If the side effects came only to his own body, it would have been acceptable.
But….
“Aaaah, krraaaagh!”
“Blood—run! Noooo!”
Remembering the children attacking researchers as they suffered from side effects, Edward’s chest turned cold.
‘What if Luciana is hurt?’

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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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