My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 197
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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 197
* * *
I had originally planned to return to Adis immediately, but my plans had changed.
“Seon-hee’s records are still in the Divine Temple?”
“Yes.”
I heard something unexpected from Raphael.
“The old Divine Spirit has been keeping them.”
The old Divine Spirit—my biological father. It seemed he had preserved traces of Seon-hee.
‘Come to think of it, Father also left behind Seon-hee’s letters.’
The Black Apostles. I had decided to stop running from them, those who clung to me so persistently.
To do that, there was a problem I had to face.
Seon-hee.
‘Since Seon-hee was a Black Apostle.’
I had to learn about her. How she came to this world, who summoned her here, and what their purpose was.
She was likely the same person who had drawn Ju-hwa into this world.
So my plan was to go to the Divine Temple first, secure Seon-hee’s records, and then return to Adis. I had arranged my priorities accordingly.
‘But will I even be able to return to Adis?’
Now that I thought about it, hadn’t Orsini declared a severance just days ago?
“I will never see you again.”
He had spoken as though making some grand resolution, then vanished—that fool.
‘But did that idiot choose death because of me?’
Alexandro’s words flashed through my mind.
Could it be true?
If it really were true, then Orsini would…
‘No.’
I shook my head vigorously. This was no time to be consumed by such useless thoughts.
In any case, Orsini had said he would never see me again. So perhaps he would refuse my return to Adis.
‘But fortunately, I have Kalen.’
* * *
“Welcome back, Sister.”
When I returned to my room, Kalen rose from where he had been waiting.
Except for his hair, which had turned completely white, he was the Kalen of old.
His hair was swept back immaculately, his cravat tied with perfect precision. Anyone would have recognized him as nobility among nobles.
“I still can’t believe that was Ren…”
At my murmur, Kalen raised an eyebrow slightly. Then, tilting his head at an angle, he spoke.
“So, are you disappointed?”
In that instant, I was startled. Kalen’s face had transformed before my eyes.
“Do you prefer Ren?”
Like donning a different mask, Kalen vanished and Ren emerged. Ren’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“Seems you have a taste for rough men, don’t you, Client?”
Kanna Adis found herself at a loss for words. Perhaps it was his impeccably groomed appearance paired with that slanted remark that made her feel oddly unsettled.
“Both are true. I’m simply acting as Kalen Adis because that appears to be the person you need right now.”
He tapped his tightly knotted cravat with a light touch.
“Ren or Kalen Adis—whichever you prefer, I shall become. Simply choose, and I will adapt accordingly.”
“Is that something you can just switch on and off? How convenient.”
“Consider yourself blessed. I assure you, I’ll never bore you. Especially….”
Ren laughed with unmistakable suggestiveness.
“At night, things would be quite fascinating.”
“….”
“If you’re curious, I could demonstrate.”
“Kalen.”
In an instant, the impudent playfulness vanished from his face. The composed Kalen Adis returned, offering a courteous smile.
“Yes, Sister.”
“….”
“If I was disrespectful, I apologize. Please forgive me.”
The madman.
It wasn’t an act—he had truly lost his mind.
‘He does seem rather pitiful, though.’
Now that she thought about it, he’d been somewhat unhinged even before falling from the Cathedral Spire. He’d said he’d been half-mad since then, seeing his own delusions.
‘It was certainly traumatic enough.’
He’d witnessed a suicide right before his eyes.
He’d already been slightly fractured then, and after throwing himself from the Cathedral Spire and surviving, he’d fractured further.
Thus he’d ended up with a psyche that was essentially split in two.
‘There probably isn’t even a psychiatrist in this place.’
So why had he committed that insane act of trying to lock her away on an island?
It was all his own doing. Even as she thought this, she couldn’t help but acknowledge that Kalen had paid a corresponding price for it.
“As you said, what I need right now is Kalen Adis. Keep Ren locked away for now.”
“Yes, Sister.”
“As I mentioned, I’m returning to Adis.”
“Yes, I shall return as well.”
“You go first.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m stopping by the Divine Temple first. You head back to Adis ahead of me.”
Kalen Adis’s face hardened instantly. His expression became utterly blank, devoid of any warmth.
“That won’t do, Sister.”
He spoke gently, yet his eyes gleamed with predatory sharpness.
“I revere you, but I don’t trust you. There’s no guarantee you’ll actually return to Adis, is there?”
“….”
“You granted me your company. In exchange, I’ve become a dog willing to lick filth if you command it.”
His tone was soft, yet somehow it sounded like a threat.
“Beasts require feeding, sister. Do you know what happens when a dog starves?”
I’d anticipated this, of course.
Since it was an expected response, I felt no particular surprise.
‘At least he’s improved from before.’
He wouldn’t resort to that madness of confining me to the Island again, but his peculiar obsession would never truly vanish.
Fortunately, I knew how to manage this lunatic.
“Kalen.”
“Yes, sister. What is it?”
Kalen responded obediently, his expression so docile it was hard to believe he’d just uttered such dangerous words.
“I’m exhausted.”
“What do you need?”
“Would you give me a foot massage?”
Silence fell.
After a moment, Kalen answered swiftly.
“Of course. I’ll fetch warm water. Please wait here.”
While I sat on the sofa sipping wine, Kalen returned with a basin of warm water. He knelt before me.
“I’ll remove your shoes, sister.”
“Go ahead.”
I gave a casual reply, leaning back against the sofa cushion. I watched him with leisurely amusement.
The sight of Kalen Adis—dressed impeccably enough to attend a noble council at this very moment—kneeling like a servant to remove my shoes was quite the spectacle.
I gazed at his broad shoulders, visible beneath the snug shirt, and offered advice.
“Roll up your sleeves. You’ll get them wet.”
“Thank you for the suggestion.”
Kalen answered seriously, unfastening his cuff buttons with a soft pop. As he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, defined musculature rippled across his forearms.
He then submerged my feet in the warm water and washed them carefully. Afterward, he dripped a few drops of rose-scented oil onto my insteps and spread it with his palms.
“Your feet are also quite… beautiful, sister.”
Kalen caressed my now-glistening feet with the tenderness one might show a precious gem, the oil making them shine.
“In fact, from your head to your toes, there’s not a single part of you that isn’t beautiful.”
His calloused fingers pressed into my insteps, applying pressure, then traced upward along my ankles. Red marks from his touch lingered in their wake.
Staring intently at those marks, Kalen asked.
“Does it feel good, sister?”
“Not bad.”
I replied with indifference.
“Now do you understand? This is your role, Kalen.”
Instead of answering, Kalen gently brushed his thumb across my pink toenails, speaking as though entranced.
“Your toenails are like peach blossoms, sister. They’re so beautiful.”
“Are you listening to me?”
“Yes, of course. You’re right, sister. This is my role.”
“The reason I keep you by my side is to have you wash my feet.”
“It’s a role I cherish deeply. If you’ll permit it, I wish to wash your feet for the rest of my life.”
“Don’t writhe like a tongue in a mouth, Kalen. Your tongue only speaks lies anyway.”
“That’s not true.”
“Prove it.”
As I lifted my foot, he bowed his head as if he’d been waiting for this very moment.
His warm breath fell upon my foot, and goosebumps rose across my skin.
The ticklish sensation made me reflexively pull my foot back, but his grip around my ankle was unyielding.
The next instant, a warm, moist sensation descended.
Starting from my toes and crawling up the arch of my foot to my ankle, I felt the slow, tender caress of his lips and spoke with composure.
“Good. That’s how you use it. Not to contradict my opinions, but to serve me—to wash my feet.”
I tapped his chin lightly with my toes, and Kalen lifted his head. Our eyes met. He licked his parched lips with his tongue.
“I was wrong.”
“Indeed.”
“Forgive me. I won’t do it again.”
“I’m glad you’ve come to understand, even if late.”
I submerged my foot back into the warm water with a splash.
“I’ll return to Adis within a week at most. Go ahead and wait for me there.”
“Yes. I’ll trust in you and wait, Sister.”
“If Orsini tries to prevent my arrival…”
“I’ll kill him.”
“…No, you don’t need to go that far. You convince him instead.”
“Understood, Sister.”
Yes. That was it.
I had finally obtained the answer I wanted.
‘This madman. To handle him, I have to be mad myself.’
While you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes into you. Recalling that ancient aphorism, I laughed at myself.
‘I suppose I’m the same now.’
I leaned back against the sofa and closed my eyes.
With Kalen under control, I could now relax and enjoy a foot massage. Though the hem of my skirt was getting wet, so I lifted it slightly.
‘Ah, refreshing.’
Kalen’s massage skills were quite refined—my knotted muscles unraveled, and my body grew languid.
I added in a drowsy voice.
“And investigate Concubine Teresa in the meantime. Thoroughly.”
“Yes, Sister.”
“You’re really good at this. Skilled hands.”
“Thank you for the praise. Are you very tired?”
“Yes.”
“Please rest. I’ll relieve your fatigue.”
“Yes…”
Though I said so, I had no intention of sleeping. I simply wanted to rest in the darkness.
Once I opened my eyes again, I wouldn’t be able to rest so peacefully.
I closed my eyes slowly.
How much time had passed like this?
“Sister, please….”
Kalen whispered something in a voice that sounded as though he were burning.
Instead of answering, I remained silent with my eyes closed.
Kalen’s touch felt truly wonderful.
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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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