My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 3

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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 3
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Splash!
The shock of cold water cascading across my face jolted my eyes wide open.
“Miss, why aren’t you getting up? What are you doing?”
Half-asleep, half-awake, I blinked groggily as consciousness returned.
The first thing that came into focus was an ornate, lavish ceiling, and pristine white silk canopy draping elegantly overhead.
‘I really did come back.’
This wasn’t Korea. This was the bedroom of the Valentino Duchy Family. Damn it.
‘But what the hell just got poured all over my face?’
“Miss, I said get up! Aren’t you listening to me?”
Ah, it was her.
The moment I spotted the maid standing beside the bed holding a water pitcher, everything became clear.
This maid had been waking up Kanna—or rather, Lee Ju-hwa—by either splashing water from that pitcher, yanking the blankets away, or occasionally even slapping her cheek.
Lee Ju-hwa had never resisted, never complained, just endured it all.
All to stay in the Duke’s good graces.
The maid had worked for the Valentino Family for years, and Lee Ju-hwa feared that any misstep could result in damaging rumors spreading through the household.
So Lee Ju-hwa had simply borne it, again and again.
‘Lee Ju-hwa, you were such a fool.’
I wiped the water from my face with my hand.
“What’s your name?”
The maid flinched, clearly taken aback by the unexpected question.
‘Of course I know her name.’
From the memories of Lee Ju-hwa’s life in this body, I knew the maid’s name was Mary.
She was in her forties, a seasoned veteran who had worked for the Valentino Family for many years and earned the trust of many.
“My name is Mary Goldian, Miss. Have you suddenly forgotten? What’s wrong with your head?”
Mary quickly answered with renewed confidence and pressed on.
“Stop talking nonsense and get up at once! It’s time to pay your respects to the Madam!”
Paying respects…
A sharp headache suddenly split through my skull. Paying respects, she said.
‘Right. Now that I think about it, the Duke’s stepmother was living here in this mansion.’
Josephine, the current Duke Sylvain’s stepmother.
She demanded that her daughter-in-law, Kanna Adis, pay her respects three times a day—morning, noon, and evening.
‘This is insane. Not just in Korea, but even in this world, it makes no sense.’
Yet Lee Ju-hwa had faithfully complied all this time, hoping that one day she might catch the Duke’s eye.
But now, I had no intention of doing any such thing.
“I’m not going.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said I’m not going. Damn these respects.”
“Miss, what do you mean—!”
“Who do you think you are, girl? I am the Duchess of the Valentino Duchy Family and the mistress of this estate. So you will address me as ‘madam.'”
Mary’s face froze. She looked as though she doubted her own ears. This was nothing like the ‘Kanna Adis’ who always wore a forced, simpering smile and desperately sought others’ affection.
‘What? Did she eat something strange?’
But soon Mary’s lips curled upward. So she wanted to play at being a noblewoman, did she?
Yet no one treated Kanna Adis as a noblewoman.
Who was Kanna Adis? A duchess in name only—a nonentity to her own husband, the Duke of the Valentino Duchy Family.
That was not all.
Kanna Adis possessed the black eyes and black hair that symbolized the ‘Black Fog.’
Long ago, the Black Fog had appeared suddenly one day and consumed the entire Southern Continent, reducing it to ruin.
Because of those ominous colors, Kanna Adis had been the target of whispers and scorn since childhood.
No wonder even her own family had treated her like filth!
“The true mistress of this estate is Josephine. She alone is my madam.”
Even after such blatant insult, she would just laugh nervously and scratch her head, just as she had for years.
But contrary to expectation, Kanna Adis said nothing. She simply stared, then suddenly thrust out her hand.
“Give it to me.”
“Pardon?”
“That vase. There’s still water in it, isn’t there?”
Kanna Adis took the vase from Mary’s hands and checked how much water remained inside. And then—
Splash!
“You insolent wretch.”
Drip. Drip.
Water droplets fell from Mary’s face.
Though her face was soaked, Mary could not comprehend what had just happened to her.
No—she could not believe it.
“You need a proper beating to come to your senses. You there—go fetch the cane.”
Kanna Adis spoke to the maid watching from outside the door. When the startled maid hesitated, she raised her voice sharply.
“Why aren’t you moving? Do you want to be beaten too? If you don’t bring it this instant, you’ll be first!”
“W-wait, please!”
Moments later, Kanna Adis took the cane from the maid and spoke to Mary, whose face remained blank with shock.
“Roll up your skirts.”
Mary’s face turned ashen.
How dare Kanna Adis, of all people, do this to her—someone who had served the Valentino Duchy Family for so long!
“What is the meaning of this, miss? Have you forgotten who I am?”
“….”
“I have the madam’s trust, and I have served this estate for many years…!”
“You are a maid.”
Kanna Adis cut off her words coldly.
“A deranged maid who dared to splash water on her mistress’s face. That is exactly what you are, Mary.”
“But….”
“And I am the mistress of a house with the authority to discipline such a maid—the Duchess of the Valentino Duchy Family. By that authority, I command you: roll up your skirts.”
“B-but…”
“If you don’t walk, I’ll have the other maids whipped as well. And I’ll hold the butler accountable for failing to properly discipline the servants.”
“…!”
“Will you take the beating alone, or together with every employee in this mansion?”
Mary Goldian’s face drained of all color. Even the other maid who had brought the switch to me trembled with fear, her eyes darting nervously.
A moment later, Mary Goldian lifted her skirt with trembling hands.
‘She’s absolutely terrified.’
Well, it made sense—suddenly transforming into someone else and threatening to wield the switch would frighten anyone.
I tilted my head slightly, regarding Mary Goldian with a crooked smile.
I thought perhaps this was enough and I should let her off, but…
“When you punish someone, you must do so decisively, Ju-hwa.”
I’d never regretted following Mother’s advice, so I would do the same.
I raised the switch and brought it down in one fluid motion.
Crack!
“Agh!”
Just one stroke.
But it was devastatingly strong. A vivid red welt immediately appeared across her calf, and Mary Goldian’s body staggered.
The first blow delivered shock.
Crack!
“Aaaahhh!”
The second brought pain.
And the third…
“I-I’m sorry! I was wrong!”
An apology tumbled out.
As Mary Goldian wrung her hands in supplication, I lowered the switch.
“Wrong about what?”
“F-for daring to splash water on you, Miss…!”
I smiled wickedly.
“That’s not all, though. You’ve slapped me awake before, haven’t you?”
Lee Ju-hwa—this fool just laughs and goes about her day, so people don’t take her seriously.
No matter how much she’s tormented, she only smiles. Even a worm writhes when stepped on, but she offers no resistance whatsoever, simply enduring everything.
Just like the old me… before I possessed Ju-hwa.
“I-I’m sorry, Miss.”
“Miss?”
As I tilted my head quizzically, Mary Goldian flinched and her shoulders trembled.
“N-no! Madam! I’m sorry, Madam! I won’t do it again!”
“You’d better not. If you act so insolently again next time, it won’t end with just three strokes.”
I tossed the switch aside and gestured dismissively.
“Get out.”
Mary Goldian rose to her feet with a sob.
Though she feigned dejection, slumping her shoulders, a fierce animosity radiated from her back.
‘Of course a single beating couldn’t change anything.’
After they left, Kanna Adis sank onto the sofa with a weary sigh.
Ju-hwa. Ju-hwa. Lee Ju-hwa….
‘Lee Ju-hwa. I crafted your life quite beautifully.’
Admission to a prestigious university, a career as a traditional medicine doctor, even a perfect boyfriend.
‘Yet you’ve twisted my life into something far worse.’

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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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