My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 182

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

Chapter 182
* * *
I had no intention of fighting Ju-hwa.
Rather, I wanted us to get along. If we became friends, we could become soulmates.
We needed no words between us. We didn’t need time to understand each other. A glance, an expression—that was enough.
Ju-hwa and I knew each other intimately.
We knew each other’s bodies, hearts, the lives we’d lived—there was nothing we didn’t know.
‘That’s why I know Ju-hwa will never be my friend.’
Ju-hwa would know it too.
Kanna Adis does not forgive those who harm her, and she always takes her revenge.
‘Yet she still tried to kill me.’
I closed my eyes.
Ju-hwa intended to fight me. Probably, with her life on the line.
Using Yeon-woo to kill me this time was merely a taste of what’s to come.
Moreover, Ju-hwa is not alone. She stands with the Black Apostles.
That fool is recklessly wielding alchemy while fracturing the very world itself.
I exhaled a laugh that sounded like a sigh.
‘My peaceful days are over.’
Now that they’ve discovered that ‘Tatiana’ is me, they will continue their schemes—puppets like Yeon-woo and all.
‘The people around me could be hurt.’
There were many precious people beside Tatiana Evgenia.
Queen Ekaterina, whom I respect; Princess Joanna, who is like a friend; Prince Lorenzo, like a younger brother; and Alexei.
“I don’t want to part from them.”
I murmured sadly.
First, I should tell Alexei about this. He has the right to hear my story. We genuinely care for each other, after all.
If he says he wants to stay with me even knowing the danger…
Then I, too, will be willing to face that danger and consider a future with him.
* * *
Early the next morning, Claude came to find me.
“Miss, let’s have a word, shall we?”
“Who are you?”
“Don’t play dumb now. You told me to get lost.”
Claude’s expression darkened, but I tilted my head calmly.
“You must have mistaken me for someone else. There are at least three people in this world who look alike.”
“Good heavens. You’re going to keep this up to the end?”
“I’m Tatiana Evgenia. Pleased to meet you.”
“You should have said that before telling me to get lost.”
“I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”
As I brazenly played innocent, Claude finally let out a deep sigh.
“Very well, Tatiana Evgenia. In any case, I’m glad to see you alive and well.”
“….”
“And I must say, it was a most fantastic escape. Everyone was thoroughly deceived.”
For once, I couldn’t bring myself to feign shamelessness. I pressed my lips together, feeling a twinge of guilt toward him.
“Now that we’ve exchanged pleasantries, allow me to proceed to the main matter.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“This morning, Claude Azel and the Adis Knights ascended to the Royal Palace.”
“….”
“And I intend to remain here to assist Claude Azel. Of course, he himself refuses to accept that he is Claude Azel, but….”
I let Claude’s words go in one ear and out the other.
Orsini had gone to the Royal Palace?
‘Leaving me behind?’
The man who threatened to torment Alexei and Lorenzo the moment he stepped away from my side—he simply left?
‘What is he scheming?’
Suddenly, yesterday’s Orsini came to mind.
He had arrived reeking of thick blood, dragged me about as he pleased, then pushed me away and fled like a coward.
‘Now that I think about it, something was distinctly off yesterday. What happened with my doll?’
I had intended to ask about it anyway—what Ju-hwa had done with my doll. But he left before I could.
‘…Then if I flee from here again, could I hide?’
Should I abandon the name Tatiana Evgenia and run away? Just this once, I would use alchemy for my own convenience.
If I hid somewhere unknown to Orsini, Claude, Ren, or the Black Apostles, and started anew….
‘…But if I’m caught, I run again, start over, get caught again, run again….’
Three years ago, I chose escape. My mind had been cornered to that extent.
But not now.
At least, I was no longer standing at the edge of a cliff. And there were people I wished to protect.
“Ren will ascend to the Royal Palace with me. Did Ren agree to accompany Claude Azel?”
“He said to obtain your permission. He said the client’s wishes are paramount.”
Claude smiled wryly.
“However, as I am bound to pursue Claude Azel’s shadow, I would be grateful if you would simply grant permission out of pity for my plight.”
I pretended to deliberate for a moment, then consented.
“Very well.”
There was no reason to refuse, given that Claude had already discovered my identity.
“I am in your debt, Tatiana.”
* * *
And so I ascended to the Capital once more.
When I arrived at the Royal Palace after several days of travel, I was quite startled by the unexpected throng of people.
Dignitaries from various nations had gathered as though some grand event were being held at the Palace.
“What is happening?”
An international event of this magnitude should have reached my ears by now, shouldn’t it?
“You mean to say you were unaware? Crown Prince Alexei’s betrothal ceremony is taking place.”
“….”
Kanna turned her head slowly.
What had she just heard?
She appeared completely unaware, while Claude seemed taken aback. He quickly corrected himself.
“…or so I’ve heard, but truthfully, I’m not entirely certain myself.”
“Tell me.”
“No, I really don’t know much about it.”
Ren, who had been watching with a displeased expression, interjected.
“Listen here, employer. You say you’re Crown Prince Alexei’s mistress and the Royal Physician. How is it that even a mere mercenary like me knows what you don’t?”
“….”
“Crown Prince Alexei of Yalden is betrothed to Princess Amelia of the Aslan Empire, is he not?”
It felt as though a hammer had struck her head.
Kanna’s mouth fell open in shock. Yet no words came, and she closed it again.
‘Betrothed? To Amelia? Alexei?’
It was impossible. It couldn’t be.
Such a thing couldn’t happen so suddenly, could it?
In that moment, she recalled what Sergei—the brother of the Lord of Britzk, who had died not long ago—had said.
“His Highness will be betrothed soon, or so I heard.”
Kanna swallowed hard. She was so shocked that the tips of her fingers had gone cold.
Kanna said nothing to them and moved away. After asking a servant to give Ren and Claude her adjacent cabin, she entered her bedroom alone and collapsed onto the chamber.
She sat heavily on the bed.
‘I see.’
She stared quietly at the wall.
Very slowly, her muddled thoughts began to organize themselves.
‘Orsini didn’t come here solely because of the Black Mist.’
He had come to attend Princess Amelia’s betrothal ceremony as the representative of House of Adis.
‘They all conspired to deceive me.’
Queen Ekaterina, Alexei, Yoanna.
Everyone around her—the royal court, the people of Britzk Territory—had kept this hidden with meticulous care.
Whose decision it was seemed obvious.
It had to be Alexei’s.
That was when the window flew open and a man leaped into the room.
“Tatiana, why did you arrive so quickly?”
Alexei’s hair was disheveled. He must have rushed over the moment he heard of her arrival.
Kanna looked up at him quietly, then lifted the corners of her mouth.
“Congratulations on your betrothal, Crown Prince.”
“Tatiana!”
Alexei called out her name loudly, as if to reject her congratulations. He approached and grasped her hand firmly.
His hand was trembling.
“Tatiana, it is only you whom I love. So please, do not misunderstand.”
“Your Highness, I harbor no misunderstandings whatsoever.”
Alexei’s face brightened at those words.
“Then our relationship remains unchanged?”
“No.”
“What?”
“You’re becoming engaged soon, so naturally I must end things with you.”
Alexei’s lips trembled. His grip on Kanna’s hand tightened with sudden force.
“End things?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mean that? How can you say something so cruel?”
“Cruel?”
“Royal marriages aren’t born from love. They’re transactions for the sake of the realm, nothing more. This marriage means nothing to me.”
Alexei spoke with earnest desperation, his face grave.
“I promise you. I will take you as a concubine and give you heirs.”
A concubine?
Was he saying he would take me as his second wife?
“I will make our children the next rulers of this realm. I will have no relations with Princess Amelia. I swear it upon my name.”
The Emperor of the Aslan Empire came to mind.
That man who loved only Concubine Teresa throughout his life. The Emperor’s devotion was a legendary tale.
‘Yet even that Emperor kept Teresa as a concubine. He took the daughter of a powerful house as Empress.’
Alexei was right.
Royal marriages were commerce, transactions. There was no room for love to slip through.
“Tatiana, please.”
Fear twisted Alexei’s face. Sweat gathered in his palm where he gripped Kanna’s hand.
“Please, just this once, understand my position. Just this once, give way. Then I’ll spend the rest of my life yielding to you.”
“I refuse.”
“Tatiana!”
“It would have been better if you’d told me about the engagement beforehand. I regret learning of it this way.”
“If I had told you!”
Alexei’s voice erupted in frustration.
“If I had told you, you would have abandoned me! Just like you’re doing now!”

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