My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 313
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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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Special Side Story Episode 1
1. Claude (1)
“Hey there, Claude.”
One day, Duke Orsini Adis came to visit me.
“Are you really planning to stay buried in this countryside?”
I scratched my cheek and let out a nervous laugh.
“If not me, who else would serve Alexandro Adis? I have no choice, really.”
My name is Claude Azel.
Once a promising knight of House Adis, I now live in a small coastal village.
Perhaps he pitied my circumstances? The Duke himself had made the journey here.
“Stop that and return to the Capital. The position of Knight Commander is vacant. Take it.”
“Oh, so you’ve come to scout me? Well, it’s not easy to find talent like mine, is it?”
“Shut up and tell me—yes or no?”
“Hmm.”
I pretended to consider the offer for a moment.
Pretended—that’s the key word. It was merely a courtesy, acknowledging the Duke’s effort in coming all this way.
My answer had already been decided.
“I’m afraid I must decline.”
And I let tears stream down my face.
“Sob, sob… what a shame. Knight Commander of House Adis? The salary is ● times what I make now, and I’m throwing it away? Waaah, my life is ruined!”
“What? Are you crying?”
“How could I not? I’ve just turned down the position of Knight Commander of House Adis! Waaaaah, it feels like the world is collapsing! My pathetic, wretched life!”
Of course, I was laying the groundwork. This man has a violent temperament, and if rejected, he might beat me in frustration.
“But I cannot accept. Sob, sob… Alexandro Adis is here in this countryside, after all. Sob… If I don’t serve that poor widower, who will? Sob, sob, sob…”
The act worked. Duke Orsini took pity on me.
“A grown man blubbering like this. Idiot.”
Ah, this is his unique way of offering comfort.
“Though it is a shame. That insensitive bastard probably doesn’t even pay you a decent salary.”
And with that, he raised my wages. Wow, what a windfall!
I simply accepted without a word.
“Sob, sob… Thank you. After all, only you care about me, Duke.”
Then I covered my pants pockets with my jacket. I couldn’t let it show.
Because in this pocket is my checkbook.
Blank checks that Alexandro Adis had given me, saying, “Use them however you like.”
“Stop chasing after that man’s shadow. He probably treats you like nothing more than a dog following him around. Why are you so loyal to him?”
Well, because he gives me blank checks outright! I swallowed those words and wept dramatically.
“What can I do? Sob, sob… I am his dog, after all.”
A truly successful salary negotiation.
* * *
The day after Duke Orsini left.
“The Lord of Paelon has sent you a gift!”
A messenger had arrived from the Lord’s Castle.
Specifically, for my neighbor—Alexandro Adis.
“My goodness, what is this?”
Three exquisitely beautiful golden koi fish. To think he would gift such precious creatures!
“You had a pond constructed in your garden not long ago! Upon seeing it, he sent these as a gift!”
Indeed. Lately, Alexandro has been quite devoted to cultivating his garden, and recently he even excavated and created a pond with his own hands.
It appears the Lord of Paelon, having witnessed this, sent the koi as a gift.
“How troublesome. Send them back.”
“I’ll raise them! I can take care of them!”
“Send them back.”
“Absolutely not! I’ve already named them! This one is Robin, this is Elizabeth, and this is Jonathan!”
“…Which is which?”
“This one is Robin, this is Elizabeth, and this is Jonathan!”
“….”
“You can’t tell them apart? Try to find which one is Jonathan.”
“…That one?”
“That’s Elizabeth.”
“….”
“Why can’t you tell? Do you have some sort of facial recognition disorder?”
“Be quiet.”
I laughed with delight. I was in such good spirits. How could I not be? Alexandro finally had a friend!
“It seems the two of you have grown quite close. Have you become friends?”
“Friends? We merely play chess together occasionally.”
“Ah, so you’re chess companions then. Aren’t chess companions still friends?”
He glared at me with a look that said to shut up. Very well, I should obey.
Though after maintaining silence for about five seconds, I opened my mouth again.
“Alexandro.”
“What?”
Alexandro seems truly content these days.
He’s gained a friend, and he’s found a hobby.
So what could he possibly need now?
“Shall I introduce you to a lovely woman?”
“I have a lover.”
“Don’t lie. A man with a lover wouldn’t go around without combing his hair, and dressed like some shepherd from a ranch, would he?”
“Mind your own business.”
“I manage my own affairs quite well, thank you.”
By God’s grace, I was blessed with a handsome face, so I’ve never lacked for female attention.
Though admittedly, such encounters have always been fleeting.
“In any case, I won’t take responsibility if you grow old and die a bachelor. Even if you beg me to visit on holidays, I won’t come.”
“Don’t indulge in such peculiar delusions about me. It’s distasteful.”
Well, even so, it’s quite the remarkable progress compared to before.
Until recently, you were living like discarded waste with an expiration date, but for some reason, you’ve seemed to regain your vitality these past days.
In comparison to that, now— look there. Aren’t you watering the flowers?
“Oh, isn’t that where Kanna Adis planted the flower seeds she gave you?”
“Yes.”
“The flowers have bloomed?”
Just a short while ago they were mere sprouts, but now when I see them again, the petals have unfurled beautifully.
“Perhaps because they resemble Kanna Adis, they’re quite lovely.”
At that, Alexandro Adis fixed me with a steady gaze.
“So you find Kanna beautiful, it seems.”
“Of course! Not merely beautiful, but extraordinarily beautiful.”
“…I’ve never heard you praise someone like that before, Claude.”
“Ah, well, my aesthetic sensibilities are rather refined. There aren’t many women who strike my eye as beautiful.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to her?”
“Of course.”
I nodded without hesitation.
“Honestly, had I met the lady elsewhere, I would have made an approach or two. Ha ha.”
This was half in jest. However.
Alexandro Adis’s expression darkened considerably.
Wow, this is an expression I’ve never seen before. How should I describe it? It seems almost… irritable?
“Why? Is it wrong for me to like Kanna Adis?”
“It is.”
“Why?”
“It’s beyond your reach.”
“Then why? Please explain to me why I’m unsuitable.”
“Rather, I should ask you. What makes you think it’s possible?”
“Well, because I’m quite the decent man?”
“That’s not even amusing…”
Alexandro Adis spoke slowly, his eyes dropping to a frigid temperature.
“A milk-reeking whelp.”
“…”
Pardon?
What reek?
While I stood stunned by such brutal words, Alexandro Adis rose and departed.
It seems he misunderstood, thinking I harbored romantic feelings for Kanna Adis as a woman. But setting that aside.
Am I really so unworthy? Enough for him to reject me so decisively?
I regard Alexandro Adis as a father figure. The man who took in this orphan and raised me. He is my master and my lord. And yet…
What am I to him, truly?
The next day, nursing my wounded pride, I resolved to defy him for the very first time.
“Let’s see how well I can live without some wet-behind-the-ears brat around!”
I left that note behind and departed for the Capital.
To House Adis.
Where Kanna Adis was.
* * *
I arrived at the Adis Mansion a few days later.
“It has been quite some time, Miss Kanna.”
“Sir Claude, what are you doing here?”
“Ah, well, you see…”
I slumped my shoulders and confessed everything truthfully.
“My goodness.”
Miss Kanna looked startled at first, but then burst into delighted laughter.
“Really? He actually said that to you?”
“Yes. He made this terrifying expression and called me a wet-behind-the-ears brat.”
“Kyaa!”
What is this reaction? Miss Kanna seems to be enjoying this immensely.
But soon she cleared her throat and spoke sternly.
“This isn’t some runaway teenager situation. What is this? If you have grievances, you should resolve them through conversation.”
“Conversation? Miss, do you truly believe it’s possible to resolve matters through conversation with Alexandro Adis?”
“…Well, it would certainly be difficult.”
“Ah, I give up. I might just stay here permanently.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because Alexandro Adis has no need for me anymore.”
Only after saying this did I realize it was the truth.
Ah, yes. That’s right.
Alexandro Adis has retired now.
Someone like me—a mere attendant knight—would no longer be necessary… Tch.
“Sir Claude, why would you think such a thing?”
As I grew dejected, Miss Kanna offered me comfort.
“I assure you, that man genuinely cares for you. Otherwise, he would never have kept you by his side all these years.”
It is you who are mistaken, Miss.
The only person who truly matters to him is you alone.
As for why he treasures you so, I myself do not know. However, I have two theories.
First, perhaps Alexandro Adis loves a woman named Seon-hee, and thus protects you, her daughter. It’s quite a plausible theory.
The second theory is that, in truth, Alexandro Adis might actually…
Hmm.
I shall refrain from commenting on that.
* * *
“Sir Claude, I see.”
It was when I was sparring with fellow knights at the Training Grounds after so long.
“It has been a long time, Claude Azel.”
A gentleman with pristine silver hair swept back elegantly approaches—or rather, a demon masquerading in a gentleman’s guise draws near.
None other than Kalen Adis. Among all the people I know, he is the most dangerous.
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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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