I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 5

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

Episode 5
The bewildered Soldier stared blankly, mouth hanging open.
Lucy was equally astonished.
‘Is he really this direct with everyone? What a terrible personality.’
Well, granted—he did treat everyone besides the female lead poorly, that much was accurate.
But now she felt the reality of his nature all over again.
…Though come to think of it, if he looked at the situation honestly, something had to seem off to him.
‘Why is he helping me?’
Knowing the male lead’s rotten temperament, she only grew more uneasy.
Lucy’s fists clenched with tension.
“Hmm.”
A low, rumbling laugh echoed from within the Armor.
Edward then tilted his Helmet slowly toward the guard.
For a moment, it struck Lucy as surprisingly innocent—a gesture that didn’t match his bulk.
“You look young.”
“Yes? Yes, sir! I only just enlisted….”
“And at your age, your ears are already clogged?”
“….”
“Shame. Want me to clear them out for you?”
As he spoke, Edward’s hand drifted naturally to the sword at his hip.
As though his intentions were purely benevolent.
“To have an Incarnate clear your ears in person.”
“….”
“Your house should take it as a great honor.”
And on top of everything, such overflowing narcissism….
Shing.
A sharp blade slid slowly from its sheath.
The horrified Soldier let out a strangled yelp and stumbled backward.
Lucy’s mouth fell open in admiration.
‘So that’s what his foul personality is useful for….’
Picking fights with other people.
Go on. Go win!
Of course, there was no need to cheer him on.
A mere Temple guard versus the continent’s sole dragon Incarnate, a Duke, a savior, and all the other titles besides.
The victor was already decided.
“I-I apologize for my rudeness….”
“As long as you understand.”
“….”
“Go find a physician at once and have your hearing checked.”
“…I will keep it in mind, sir.”
Eyes downcast, the Soldier backed away at tremendous speed and vanished.
Edward made a satisfied sound and began walking with heavy, deliberate strides.
Throughout all this, Lucy remained docile in his arms, her eyes darting to follow him.
And she found herself staring directly into those crimson eyes looking down at her.
‘Oh no.’
She quickly averted her gaze, cold sweat beading on her skin.
Had she held that eye contact a moment longer, he might have offered her the honor of having her eyes torn out personally.
‘I don’t know why he helped me, but….’
I need to stay still, invisible, ornamental—and then slip away….
“Your name.”
“….”
That’s what she’d been thinking.
“…Me, sir?”
“Do I need to ask twice?”
“Lucy! My name is Lucy!”
She answered quickly, and from within the Armor came that sound again—a low, satisfied hum. The sound a contented cat might make.
‘A cat.’
It was an absurd comparison for something so enormous, yet it was the first thing that came to mind.
“Why were you there?”
“Well….”
“What’s that matter?”
Wait—what doesn’t matter?
‘Either he’ll kill me or hand me over to the Temple?’
The incomprehensible conversation sent Lucy’s thoughts spinning in circles.
‘He saved me from danger just now, sure.’
But if she upset him, there was no telling what would happen.
‘He’s the kind of romantic lead who’s sweet only to his heroine and treats everyone else like dogs.’
Never mind that in the original story he never even properly met her before his personality went downhill.
How grating must her presence be to a man like that?
One wrong answer and she might find herself treading the yellow springs.
‘I need to keep my wits sharp and think of a way out.’
As Lucy broke into a cold sweat, desperately clutching what remained of her stamina and her willpower that screamed for unconsciousness,
Edward gazed intently at the small creature—no, the woman cradled against his chest.
In truth, Edward was in an excellent mood.
‘When was the last time I felt this relieved?’
As the pounding headache and weakness ebbed away, he found himself growing more magnanimous than usual.
So much so that he would have dismissed another man with a blow, yet here he was offering to have the fellow’s ears pierced and send him on his way.
‘What could this be?’
The Temple ringing the emergency bell and deploying people to search. Anyone could see the desperate escape written all over it.
But more than anything, that sensation when she touched him.
This was….
‘Quite the important test subject, it seems.’
Edward narrowed his eyes behind his armor’s gaze and tightened his grip on Lucy’s waist.
“Hic!”
……
The woman who had hiccupped quickly rolled her eyes to study him.
For a moment he thought her dark eyes gleamed with a strange light.
“You… you are Edward, Duke, are you not?”
……
“The sole Golden Dragon Incarnate of the Empire, slayer of demons, savior of mankind….”
“And what of it?”
“I’ve come with good news, my lord.”
It sounded like the patter of a charlatan, but Lucy had agonized over this answer.
‘Humor him and survive.’
If the male lead abandoned her, she’d only end up back in the Temple’s clutches.
But she couldn’t let him hand her directly over to the Temple either!
So that left only one option.
‘Get ahead of him.’
She had to make the male lead take her with him, by any means.
‘I’m not asking for much.’
At least as far as the Temple’s gates. Better yet if he’d take her beyond the Capital.
‘Wasn’t the Duchy in the North?’
If she could slip along as he traveled north….
‘I could escape the Temple’s reach.’
The moment understanding struck,
her frantically spinning mind shifted into overdrive toward survival.
“Lately you’ve had headaches and your whole body aches, haven’t you?”
“Hmm.”
“You receive Purification and the Murky Qi should settle, yet it seems to rage instead, and your mood grows foul, does it not?”
“Mm.”
“And that’s why you act like a dog, or rather, throw tantrums at everyone around you, isn’t it?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Lucy did her best to smile brightly up at Edward.
“You have found the very one who can help you.”
“You found me. I didn’t find you.”
“Fate brought us together, for I hold the answer! Hehe!”
The more she spoke, the more she sounded like a charlatan pushing fake jade panels and pyramid schemes.
But now that she’d started, backing out would only breed suspicion.
“Parasite. You really didn’t steal the bread?”
“My lord, I assure you, I did not. Where would you find an honest Parasite like me?”
“Hmm….”
“You seem tired these days. Shall I give you a massage?”
Lucy’s mind drifted to her time in the Shelter.
If you were going to be shameless, you had to see it through to the end.
If they caught you skimming Rations, you’d be beaten half to death and cast out.
“There, I’ve made the excuse. Now take it and eat quickly.”
“Thank you, sister….”
“If you’re grateful, then pray our sisters come back soon.”
The memory of dividing the stolen food among children in similar circumstances came back to her in vivid waves.
‘That memory has no use for me now.’
Lucy shook her head, banishing the recollections of her past life, and deliberately fixed her expression into shameless brazenness.
Even as her mind threatened to collapse at any moment, she forced out the words.
“I see you haven’t found your true mate yet.”
“My true mate?”
“A mate who cares for the Duke tenderly against those who oppose him, sleeps beside him, and offers comfort—in short….”
“A half mate?”
“Yes! Just as I thought—someone as clever as you catches on right away….”
“A grandiose way of saying ‘a half without a true mate.'”
If not for the Armor, that twisted smile would surely have slipped through.
‘Damn, I’m nervous.’
But she couldn’t back down now.
“Hehe! But don’t worry! I can help you find the Duke’s true mate….”
“My mate is already determined, as far as I know.”
Finally, it came.
‘My lifeline!’
Lucy braced her core and spoke boldly.
“My lord, that woman is a fake!”
Edward went rigid at her decisive words.
Lucy nodded with exaggerated emphasis.
Then, as if she understood everything, she patted Edward’s forearm.
“You thought it would be Sephina, didn’t you? But even after receiving Purification, you weren’t satisfied, were you? That’s right. The Temple keeps insisting Sephina is your true mate, but actually….”
“What did you just say?”
“Yes. It’s shocking, isn’t it? I understand completely. Sephina is a fake….”
“Before that.”
“Pardon?”
At the sudden question, Lucy’s eyes darted about in confusion.
Before that—what was it?
‘So it was….’
“…My lord, that woman is a fake?”
“My lord, you called me.”
The red eyes visible through the gaps in the Helmet narrowed with satisfaction.
“So now you belong to me?”

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