My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 166
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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 166
* * *
At the border between Yalden and Ramas, I spotted a carriage standing alone on the vast plain.
‘That’s it.’
Inside would be waiting the retainer Yoanna Friedrich had sent.
I exhaled in relief. Thanks to traveling without rest since parting with Raphael, I had managed to arrive on the promised day.
“Pardon me.”
As the Coachman opened the door, I slipped inside quickly.
A man sat within. His bearing was so impeccable that I could have mistaken him for a statue brought to life.
‘He must be one of Yoanna’s subordinates.’
I took the seat across from him and offered a greeting.
“Thank you for coming to meet me.”
The man said nothing, merely scrutinizing me from head to toe. His gaze was disapproving. Yet perhaps buoyed by the joy of finally joining Yoanna’s ranks, I felt no offense.
“Are you Kanna Adis?”
Once his observation was complete, the man finally spoke. I smiled as I answered.
“Yes, that’s right.”
The man nodded slightly.
“I’ve heard much about you. I am Alexei Friedrich.”
Friedrich?
Friedrich—wasn’t that the royal family of Yalden? And if this was Alexei Friedrich…
‘He’s the Crown Prince of Yalden.’
As I hastened to offer a proper bow, Alexei raised his hand to stop me.
“Never mind. Don’t bother with such formalities.”
“My apologies. I never imagined Your Highness would come to meet me personally.”
It was a reasonable assumption—Yoanna Friedrich had said she would send one of her retainers.
“I planned to come from the start. The fewer people who know about spiriting away the daughter of Adis, the better.”
He muttered this with a hint of irritation.
“If something goes wrong, it could spark open war with Adis. We must be careful. This is classified information of the highest order.”
“….”
I sensed that he viewed me with displeasure.
“Yoanna Friedrich has provided you with a new identity, I understand. What is your new name?”
“Tatiana. Tatiana Evgeniya.”
“A typical Yalden name. It would be unfamiliar to those of the Empire. Are you satisfied with your new identity?”
It wasn’t concern—it was mockery.
He truly dislikes me, I realized anew, and nodded.
“Yes. It’s fine.”
“From this moment forward, I shall treat you as Tatiana Evgeniya, a commoner of Yalden. Do you agree?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll drop the formality.”
He immediately shifted to casual speech.
“Listen carefully, Tatiana. Only I, my sister Yoanna, and Her Majesty Queen Ekaterina know of this matter.”
Alexei Friedrich interlaced his fingers and rested them upon his knees.
“Without Her Majesty’s consent, this would never have proceeded. Consider her favor a great honor.”
Kanna Adis listened to his words without expression. And she understood.
This was no simple act of goodwill from Yoanna. The Queen of Yalden wanted something from her. That was why she was helping so unreservedly.
“Is there some task you wish to entrust to me?”
At her question, Alexei Friedrich regarded her with an enigmatic gaze. Then he posed his question bluntly.
“Why do you think that?”
“If Her Majesty and the Crown Prince himself would intervene directly, then surely the matter is of considerable importance.”
Alexei Friedrich let out a hollow laugh—not from amusement, but as if intrigued by her words.
“True. But did you not rescue Yoanna’s maidservant?”
“That was a kindness Princess Joanna repaid me for.”
“Would it not be easier to believe this is merely an extension of that favor?”
Kanna Adis’s lips curved upward.
“It would be easier, certainly.”
I had seen gifts given freely conceal monsters more than once.
Kindness without price did not exist in this world.
Kanna Adis met Alexei Friedrich’s gaze directly and spoke.
“Your Highness, as you can see, I am weak. I have nowhere to belong. Yet I will not surrender my right to choose my own path forward. So please, tell me what you truly want from me.”
Alexei Friedrich uncrossed his legs and straightened his posture. A faint embarrassment crossed his features.
“Forgive me. I apologize. I was arrogant.”
It was Kanna Adis who was startled by his sincere apology. Alexei Friedrich continued.
“What I desire from you is….”
* * *
Crash!
The sound of a glass shattering into fragments rang out. The Emperor’s eyes flew open.
“What have you done, Empress?”
“What are you doing, Your Majesty!”
The Empress glared at her husband and shrieked with piercing fury.
“Did you not promise to obtain medicine! Medicine!”
The Empress was half-mad. Her skin, scratched raw from constant clawing, was inflamed and bleeding, and her nails were cracked.
At the horrifying sight, the Emperor’s expression twisted in disgust.
“Empress, I am no god. I do not possess the power to resurrect the dead!”
Kanna Adis had died. Who could have foreseen that she would take her own life so suddenly?
Had I known, I would never have made such rash promises!
“Search the entire Continent if you must and obtain the medicine!”
“Empress!”
“Did you not receive investment capital!”
The Emperor clenched his fists. He gritted his teeth and turned away. Damn it, curses swirled in his mind.
“It is not only Marquis Mercy. The central nobility—all of them—invested vast sums in Your Majesty’s national project! Through that, did you not acquire several times the Royal Family’s fortune!”
So you must pay the price for that.
“If you cannot obtain the medicine, I will tell Marquis Mercy to reclaim his investment!”
“How dare you be so heartless!”
The Emperor slammed his hand on the desk and rose to his feet.
“I am the Empress’s husband! Will you not be satisfied until you drag me to the very bottom?”
“And I am Your Majesty’s consort! Your wife!”
The Empress appealed through tears.
“Yet how can you simply let go like this! I too am your woman. Once, Your Majesty cared for me…!”
The Empress bit her lip.
Had pain driven her mad? She nearly spoke words she absolutely did not wish to utter.
“Yes, I will drag Your Majesty to the very bottom! So please make the promise!”
As the Empress departed, only desolation swept through the chamber like a tempest.
The Emperor collapsed weakly onto his throne.
What was he to do? Kanna Adis was dead. No physician could cure the Empress!
“Your Majesty, are you well?”
The Emperor lifted his head. His lover, Teresa, touched his cheek with a pitying expression.
“Your complexion seems troubled.”
“…Teresa.”
He sighed and buried his face in her shoulder. In that moment, her distinctive languid and sweet fragrance enveloped him completely.
Ah, yes. This was it.
He nestled into Teresa’s embrace.
The Emperor adored this fragrance. Teresa’s scent—this aroma that seemed to wash away all worries and cares, this fragrance that drew him into a hazy dream—he loved it beyond measure.
Teresa gently stroked the Emperor’s hair and whispered.
“If there is a burden weighing on Your Majesty’s heart, please share it with me. I wish to be your strength.”
Her voice, tender as always. The Emperor’s eyes grew distant. He spoke as if murmuring.
“The Empress keeps demanding I produce medicine. I know not what to do.”
“I see, my pitiful majesty. My Luke.”
Teresa pressed her lips to the Emperor’s forehead.
“Perhaps I may be able to help you, Your Majesty.”
“You?”
“Yes. I recently met a most excellent physician. When I described the Empress’s symptoms to him, he gave me this medicine.”
Speaking sweetly, she placed a glass vial in the Emperor’s hand. He grasped it without thinking, then tilted his head.
“A physician? Who?”
“A woman of exotic appearance. She said she came from the Eastern Continent. Her medical skill is said to rival that of Lady Kanna Adis.”
“How suspicious. I cannot give medicine made by someone of unknown identity to the Empress.”
Then Teresa’s lips curved upward.
“It is fine, Your Majesty. Trust me.”
“But….”
“As for her identity, Your Majesty can simply create one. You are the strongest man in this realm, are you not?”
Teresa grasped the Emperor’s cheek and gently brought her lips to his. At the touch, the sensation of soft skin made his mind melt away.
The Emperor pulled Teresa into his embrace. Her fragrance grew even more intoxicating. That enchanting scent burrowed into his nostrils and gradually consumed his mind.
Teresa whispered.
“You will do this for me, won’t you?”
The Emperor nodded blankly.
His eyes were like those of a scarecrow lost in fog.
“I will.”
* * *
“Sister!”
Kalen ran across the beach. He ran frantically, again and again.
“Sister, where are you?”
Where could she be? Anxiety burned through his limbs like fire.
“Sister!”
I had to find her quickly. I had to hurry.
“Where are you, Sister?”
If I didn’t find her at once, something terrible would happen.
Something truly terrible.
Suddenly tears welled up and burst forth. Kalen ran across the beach, crying.
“Sister, please answer me!”
And finally, I found her.
Kanna Adis, sitting alone on the sand.
The moment I spotted her, relief overwhelmed me and I let out a sob.
I found her. I found my sister!
Kalen rushed toward her with all his strength.
Thank goodness. I found my sister, I found her, so now I just need to hold her tight. And I need to take her somewhere safe.
Anywhere, it doesn’t matter where, as long as it’s safe.
But strangely, Kanna Adis did not draw any closer.
I was running with all my might, yet the distance refused to close. Instead, it only grew wider.
“Sister!”
Then Kanna Adis smiled faintly. And she raised a sharp dagger.
In that instant, Kalen screamed.
No! Don’t do this!
But suddenly all strength drained from his body, and he couldn’t even move his lips. His limbs grew heavy as if weighted with lead.
All I could do was watch.
“Rather than that.”
Then Kanna Adis whispered. She smiled like a crescent moon.
“I would rather die.”
Splash! Blood sprayed like a fountain. It drenched Kalen’s face.
“No!”
He screamed and jolted upright.
“Gasp, gasp, gasp.”
Kalen gasped, drawing in ragged breaths.
It was a bedroom. Not a beach.
A bedroom.
Not a beach.
He wiped his face with his hand. It was streaked with tears.
“Was that a dream?”
He had just endured a terrible nightmare—one where his sister took her own life.
“Where did the dream begin?”
Yes, it had to be a dream. His sister couldn’t possibly be dead.
“Yes, it was just a dream.”
Thank goodness. He was grateful it was only a dream.
He made his way to Kanna’s Room. Though he knew it was late at night, he couldn’t help himself. He stood before Kanna Adis’s bedroom door and knocked softly, speaking through it.
“Sister, it’s Kalen.”
Several seconds passed.
“What is it?”
Kanna Adis’s voice came from within. Only then did Kalen feel completely reassured. His legs gave way beneath him, and he collapsed to the floor.
His sister had answered him.
His sister was alive, and she had answered him.
Tears welled up again. Kalen hastily wiped them away and pushed himself to his feet.
“I apologize for the late hour. May I come in?”
“I’m going to sleep. Come back tomorrow.”
Her voice was curt, sharp as always—thorned and cutting. Yet it was more noble and beautiful than the voice of any god. At last, his suffocating chest seemed to open and breathe freely.
“Yes, Sister. Sleep well.”
I’ll visit again tomorrow.
Kalen turned to leave with a smile, and in that moment, his eyes met those of a Maid standing across the corridor.
‘Why is she looking at me like that?’
The Maid’s eyes were wide with terror, as though she had witnessed a ghost.
“What is it?”
“Lord Kalen? What are you doing right now…?”
“I came to see my sister.”
“Pardon? K-Kanna Adis, you mean?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
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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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