My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 325

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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 13
2. The Libertines of House Adis (9)
“This Newspaper Company has crossed the line!”
“Why does the Duke allow this Newspaper Company to persist?”
“Why? Has House Adis ever cared about public opinion in the first place?”
Lucy was weaving a flower crown in the Garden. It was for Julian, who had been ailing and listless.
‘Ah, the vassal lords.’
The retainers of House Adis’s vassal families were passing through the Garden. Since they were uncomfortable to be around, Lucy quickly hid behind a tree.
“To be honest, I don’t think everything the Newspaper Company says is wrong. Isn’t the position of heir still vacant?”
“Lord Orsini should follow the example of the previous Duke. Do you know how many children Alexandro Adis had fathered by the time he was Orsini’s age? Four children, no less!”
“And it even increased to five afterward!”
“Truly remarkable fertility, wouldn’t you say?”
“A house lord ought to be that prolific!”
I wasn’t sure what it was all about, but the vassal lords seemed incredibly angry. Was the matter of an heir really that important?
“Still, it’s fortunate that there isn’t a complete absence of an heir.”
“Ahem. Mind your words. Lord Kalen hasn’t acknowledged him yet, after all.”
“Acknowledged or not, who can deny it? Anyone can see the boy is Lord Kalen’s son. He’s the spitting image, and they say he even has his father’s talents.”
“Indeed, we should be grateful for his existence at least.”
Once the retainers had finally passed, Lucy rose from her hiding place.
‘Is Julian really Uncle Kalen’s son?’
Well, they did look remarkably alike.
Lucy picked up the flower crown and went to find Julian.
“Julian, are you asleep?”
“…Mother.”
Ah, he was talking in his sleep.
“Mother….”
What should I do?
How pitiful. Lucy’s eyes grew misty with tears.
“I also… lived apart from Mother. So I understand how you must feel right now.”
“….”
“Be strong, Julian.”
I placed the flower crown gently upon the child’s head as he breathed in ragged, fevered gasps.
As I was leaving after comforting him, I ran into Isabel.
“Little one, what are you doing?”
“I was just visiting Julian.”
“Is that so? But Lucy, when are you going to stop carrying around that teddy bear doll? You’re not a child anymore.”
“I, I am a child, though.”
I mumbled my protest and walked alongside Isabel.
“By the way, Sister. I overheard the vassal lords talking. They say the newspapers have been criticizing House Adis quite harshly lately. They seemed worried about it….”
“Hmm. Is that so? I see.”
Isabel yawned languidly, her disinterest evident.
“Yes. Father was worried about the succession. He said that when he was Orsini’s age, he already had four children, and that I should follow his example.”
“Pfft. Well, Father may not look it, but he was certainly active in that regard.”
Isabel laughed brightly and ruffled Lucy’s hair.
“Don’t worry about such trivial matters, little one. I’ll handle the succession issue with my darling whenever the time comes.”
“Ah, yes… Four?!”
“I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”
With that, she hummed a tune and walked ahead. Following behind her, Lucy tilted her head in confusion.
What was that? What did I just hear? It felt like I’d just heard some kind of bombshell announcement?
That was when it happened.
“Is it true?”
The sound of maids huddled together squealing reached her ears.
“My goodness, how could such a thing happen!”
“Who did it? Has the culprit been identified?”
“Could it be Kalen…?!”
What’s going on? What happened to Kalen?
Lucy and Isabel approached the maids.
“What did you just say?”
“Oh, Miss!”
“What’s the matter?”
The maids exchanged glances with one another. When none of them spoke, Isabel’s expression darkened.
“If you don’t want to be punished, speak up now. What were you just saying!”
“W-well…”
The oldest-looking maid opened her mouth.
“We just heard the news.”
“So what is this news?”
“She’s… dead…”
“What?”
“El Andois… she’s dead, they say.”
The expression drained from Isabel’s face. Lucy nearly dropped her teddy bear.
“And… it’s suspected she was murdered.”
* * *
Kanna extracted the key from Raphael’s pocket.
Success!
The moment she thought this.
“Please return it.”
With a voice fractured like the lingering heat, Raphael spoke softly.
“The key. Please return it.”
He extended his hand. A clear demand.
Kanna shook her head.
Raphael knelt before her, lowering his head as he spoke.
“Please, return the key to me.”
“Raphael, I’m begging you. Stop this and let me go. I have no intention of dying, I’m telling you!”
Raphael slowly—very slowly—lifted his gaze to meet hers. I worried he might be angry, but—
“Is that so?”
Fortunately, his expression remained serene. As it always was.
He rose to his feet. The moment he stood before her, he seemed impossibly large.
“I ask one final time. Since you cannot keep that key hidden from me regardless, please surrender it willingly while I am still asking so politely.”
Was this a threat or a plea? Confronted with an expression I’d never seen before, Kanna swallowed hard, her spine tingling with dread.
Yet when she still refused to hand it over, Raphael exhaled a low sigh.
“…According to Silvien’s account—”
After a brief silence, Raphael murmured.
“There exists a method to break free completely from hypnotic suggestion.”
“I’ve already broken free from it!”
“That is merely your delusion. You have not escaped it completely. I can see it with my own eyes.”
Raphael countered gently.
“According to Silvien, inflicting physical pain can shock one awake from the hypnotic state.”
“….”
“And Silvien’s words are invariably correct.”
An ominous premonition flooded through me. Surely not….
“-!”
Raphael seized her body and draped her across his lap as though she were a small child. Kanna thrashed desperately.
“What are you doing?!”
“I apologize in advance. I am truly sorry.”
Smack!
His broad palm came down against Kanna’s backside.
“…!”
Kanna’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t even scream. It hurt. It was shocking. Most of all, it was so humiliating…!
Smack!
But there was no time to recover before his hand fell again.
My mind went blank. I wasn’t some younger sister being scolded by an older brother! No, more than that—
“Raphael, it hurts!”
It hurt so much!
Really, truly, genuinely hurt so much!
“Your vital force will…help with this.”
He exhaled the words like a sigh.
I couldn’t respond.
Before I could even gather my wits, a torrent of searing vital force flooded through me. In that instant, another smack landed.
“….”
How much time had passed? At last, it came to an end.
By that point, I had completely exhausted myself, my body limp and drained.
Raphael straightened my rumpled clothes and gently lifted my prone form, laying me properly on the bed.
“Are you alright?”
Alright? How could I be?
Raphael now wore an expression of remorse, and I found that gap between his words and his nature terrifying. And yet—
‘So it’s true.’
Now I understood completely.
‘The suggestion hadn’t fully disappeared.’
Only a fragment remained, barely perceptible.
‘It wasn’t entirely gone.’
Because even if I had run away temporarily, there would have been no reason whatsoever to board a ship.
The very act of boarding that ship and departing was the influence of the suggestion that lingered within me.
“The suggestion has now been completely lifted.”
“So? Should I thank you?”
“I will atone with my life.”
“Is that so?”
My lower back still burned with heat.
Having my backside struck like a child for the first time in my life, I lashed out in anger.
“Then enter the World Tree. Go inside and wait. Don’t you dare come out unless I tell you to.”
“Understood.”
“Whether a year passes or ten years or a hundred years—don’t come out. Not until you’re nothing but bleached bones—!”
In that moment, my voice lost its strength.
That’s right.
That was the kind of person Raphael was.
“Understood.”
Raphael answered obediently and rose to his feet.
“I will wait inside the World Tree.”
“….”
With those words, he turned to leave.
I realized then that he truly would do exactly as I commanded. He would wait until my flesh rotted away and only white bone remained.
“…Wait there.”
In any case, thanks to Raphael, the suggestion had been lifted.
If he hadn’t done this, I truly would have found some way to end it all.
“Raphael, it’s fine. Stay there.”
I rose from the bed, unlocking the restraints with a key.
“That’s enough. I’ve awakened from the suggestion because of you.”
“Yes.”
“What happened today is a secret between us two. If you tell anyone else—”
“What secret?”
I was startled!
Kanna started in surprise and turned her head. Silvien Valentino was entering as he opened the door.
“What secret are you talking about?”
He approached with a captivating smile.
“Wouldn’t it be nice if I knew that secret too?”
* * *
El Andois’s body had been discovered. The location was the lower bank of the River that cut through the Capital.
Orsini had entrusted her autopsy to the medical examiner.
“Your Grace, the autopsy results have come in.”
And today, the results arrived.
Orsini received the documents. He found the section he was looking for.
[It is estimated that she was already deceased before drowning in the water.]
How El Andois had died.
[It is estimated that strong pressure was applied to the neck, causing the cervical vertebrae to fracture and resulting in death.]
Her neck was broken?
Orsini’s brow furrowed. Why? Had someone strangled her? Who on earth could it have been?
It was then.
“Y-Your Grace.”
Kalen’s secretary, Rodrick, approached. He seemed to have made a firm decision about something.
“I have something to tell you.”
“Later.”
“S-Sir, it’s important!”
Rodrick spoke with determination, his voice firm.
“Kalen has purchased an Island!”

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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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