I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 67

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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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Episode 67
For a moment I wondered if his handsome face was simply creating a halo effect through sheer appearance.
But looking again, he was genuinely glowing.
“Your Grace?”
As I stepped closer, I could finally see what was causing the luminescence.
“This is….”
…….
Golden Dragon Scales covered Edward’s bare chest and shoulders in brilliant display.
While Luciana stood frozen, blinking rapidly, Edward’s mouth twisted into a faint smile.
‘She’s holding up better than I expected.’
It would be unsettling for most.
This was the first time the scales had emerged so prominently even for Edward.
But he remembered all too well how people had reacted the last time the scales appeared.
Gasping, the barely concealed revulsion, instinctively shrinking back to avoid contact.
The civilians they’d tried to evacuate had made such a fuss, covering themselves completely with helmets, again and again.
Of course, those close to him wouldn’t react that way, though it was partly because he’d grown tired of dealing with their excessive theatrics.
In any case, Luciana was seeing scales on him for the first time as well.
He had actually intended to show her only after they’d subsided somewhat.
“I want to see you too. I’m your True Mate, after all.”
“I want to see.”
The moment he heard Luciana’s bold assertion, he found himself granting permission without quite meaning to.
…But there was still some faith in his heart.
A faith that perhaps she wouldn’t mind even these scales.
She had never recoiled from the blood of Demon Beasts, never hesitated to touch him.
Edward swallowed the inexplicable tension along with a sigh.
“Does it hurt at all?”
Whether it was fortunate or exactly as anticipated was unclear.
Luciana approached without the slightest discomfort on her face.
Her expression held nothing but concern for him.
…….
While Edward felt a quiet wave of relief wash over him….
Luciana was genuinely worried.
Not out of fear or disgust, absolutely not.
‘I’ve seen far worse things than this.’
Compared to people screaming as rubble crushed them, or corpses torn apart by monsters with limbs scattered across the ground, these scales were simply beautiful.
The real problem was that she had no idea why this was happening.
She knew from the source material that Edward’s body would partially transform like a dragon when he became excited or when Corruption accumulated too heavily.
‘But he’s been receiving Purification steadily lately.’
And every membrane had made contact during those sessions, hadn’t it.
Even though she’d only gone halfway, that contact had certainly occurred.
‘So it’s still not enough?’
…Had the standards for needing Purification simply risen because he’d been such a constant libertine?
As Luciana drove away the obscene images and somewhat annoying thoughts flickering through her mind, she placed her hand on Edward’s scaled arm.
Flinch.
Where she touched, the scales began to glow even more brightly.
“This is….”
“Let me be clear about one thing—it doesn’t hurt.”
“It doesn’t?”
Edward paused for a moment, then exhaled deeply.
Because even his physicians had no solution for this.
“As I understand it, when this phenomenon appears on you, Your Grace, it’s because Corruption has accumulated….”
“…There’s also the opposite case.”
“The opposite?”
As Luciana’s eyes widened, Edward gathered his thoughts.
Then, as if coming to a decision, he swallowed and opened his mouth.
“…Sometimes, when the Assimilation Rate of an Incarnation becomes too high.”
“Assimilation Rate?”
“A measure of how close you’ve become to the dragon. When it rises too much….”
…….
“It’s also a phenomenon that occurs.”
At those words, Luciana’s eyes widened further.
She couldn’t tell if that was good or bad.
But…
“An ordinary Incarnation would dissipate quickly.”
An ordinary Incarnation.
Those words made her bite down hard on her lower lip.
Luciana’s gaze drifted quietly to Edward’s forearm.
Edward swallowed a sigh.
What he’d just said amounted to admitting his own incompleteness—something he’d been taught never to voice to anyone, not even his closest advisors.
As a Incarnation who was always flawless and whole, he’d had those lessons carved into his bones since childhood.
Though now, those who’d taught him were either buried or locked away as relics of the past.
‘Still.’
He hadn’t hidden it because he wanted Luciana to stop worrying without needing an explanation.
Part of him even believed he’d already escaped the influence of the previous Duke and Duchess.
Once the words left his mouth, he found it easier than expected.
He’d thought it would feel uncomfortable to speak this way in front of anyone but Luciana.
‘Surprisingly… it’s not so bad.’
Perhaps because her reaction wasn’t as theatrical as his outer circle’s would have been.
The way Luciana’s worried expression deepened as she carefully reached out to stroke his forearm—it wasn’t unpleasant at all.
‘No, actually…’
It almost felt like an opportunity to win her favor by appearing vulnerable.
Even since the wedding, he’d been consumed with duties and hadn’t spent nearly as much time with her as he’d wanted.
Just today, he’d left her alone in bed to hunt a demon beast and had only just returned.
If this continued daily, how could they ever truly enjoy their marriage? He’d be reduced to standing in the darkness each night, watching her sleep, his only solace.
Edward’s mind raced suddenly.
Everyone except Luciana believed he was injured.
Ordinarily, for the sake of the Duke’s reputation, he’d correct that misunderstanding at once.
‘…But with this excuse, I could stay secluded for a while.’
He could reveal his restored vigor later, couldn’t he?
Better yet, he could use this opportunity to root out those ambitious enough to scheme openly now that they thought him weakened—and spend the time with Luciana besides.
Though the latter purpose was far stronger than the former.
‘An excellent idea.’
Edward’s smile grew noticeably brighter as he decided.
“Don’t worry about it!”
Luciana, who had been staring at the raised scales along his forearm, suddenly clenched her fists and her eyes blazed to life.
Edward had barely begun to furrow his brow and ask what she was thinking when—
“You remember your promise? I’ll make you a Complete Incarnation, I swear it!”
“Wait. Luciana…”
“Just trust me!”
Before Edward could grab her, Luciana kicked away his attempt to keep her close and bolted from the room—only to skid to a halt and rush back.
“By the way, where do I get the budget that’s been allocated to me?”
“That, you can ask Rozendale about… Luciana?”
“Understood!”
And with that, she shot out the door again.
* * *
To be honest, Luciana was in the depths of self-reflection.
‘I’ve been far too complacent.’
Seeing Edward gleaming like that had brought her sense of crisis rushing back.
She’d been so wrapped up in the sweet, sinful pleasures they’d shared that she’d forgotten the promise she’d made to him.
Given that he hadn’t once pressed her to fulfill it, he’d clearly forgotten too.
‘Regardless, I need to do what I promised.’
Making Edward a Complete Incarnation mattered for other reasons too.
If he remained an incomplete Incarnation, the continent would struggle against the ever-spreading demon beasts.
‘Since I’ve already gotten close to him, I might as well save the world while I’m at it.’
Two birds with one stone, after all.
Besides, she knew all too well how horrifying a world overrun by demon beasts could be.
‘First, I need to secure a budget from Rozendale and gather the materials.’
It would be difficult work.
Rozendale was the one person who had stood against her before.
Luciana still hadn’t won her heart.
‘It’s a bit more challenging than it is for other people.’
Since the wedding, Luciana had seized every opportunity to praise Edward before Rozendale, yet the woman’s demeanor remained lukewarm.
She’d been certain that was the strategy that would work.
Rozendale, it turned out, was a formidable woman—and a difficult one at that.
‘In books, they usually give in after just a little coaxing and compromise.’
This, alongside Edward’s own resistance, was doing something to drive home a hard truth: this was no longer fiction. It was real.
‘But still, my budget is mine to spend regardless.’
Besides, if she framed it as something for Edward’s sake, Rozendale wouldn’t be able to refuse.
Once the Incarnation ceremony was complete, Rozendale would have no choice but to trust her.
With that conviction propelling her forward, Luciana arrived at the Duke’s Study, where Rozendale was attending to her duties.
Before she could even knock on the partially open door—
“That’s how His Grace’s attitude appears to me.”
At the words that suddenly spilled out, Luciana froze mid-motion.
It was Rozendale’s voice—calm, composed.
“Would you demand responsibility or duty from a puppy you were raising, Rozendale?”

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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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