My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 338

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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 25
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“It is an honor to meet you, Young Lady of House Adis.”
Count Ludrick Elbiso had come to call.
“Your sudden visit has caught us quite off guard, and I am grateful for your willingness to meet with us on such short notice.”
The visit was indeed as abrupt as he claimed, surprising not only Kanna Adis but Chloe as well.
“He will soon be your betrothed, so do receive him warmly. Yes, a stroll through the Rose Garden would be lovely.”
“I apologize for arriving without notice. Last evening, I heard that you were considering the matter favorably, and I was so delighted that I simply… came at first light.”
I was terribly nervous.
Perhaps it was because I had almost no experience having a proper conversation with others—let alone with a strange man. I had no idea what to say.
“Do you often take walks through this garden, Young Lady of House Adis?”
Fortunately, Ludrick Elbiso guided the conversation forward.
“It truly is a beautiful garden. I had heard rumors of the Rose Garden’s splendor, but it exceeds all expectations.”
“Ah… yes.”
“Do you perhaps have a fondness for roses?”
It would be impolite to let him do all the talking. I stretched my response as long as I could manage.
“Yes. I do love roses. I am particularly fond of the red ones. And I adore their fragrance as well.”
“I see. Might I be permitted to bring you a bouquet of roses along with a gift on my next visit?”
“A gift?”
“Yes. Since you have been so gracious in understanding my rudeness, I should like to express my gratitude with a gift.”
“…”
A gift…
That word brought back the dream I had earlier today. The dream of Orsini presenting me with a bottle containing centipedes.
“It’s a gift.”
Ever since the centipede incident, I had developed an aversion to the very word “gift.”
After that day, Orsini sent me gift boxes several times, but I never opened them—I simply discarded them.
There was no doubt something bizarre inside, so why bother?
I had no desire to see it with my own eyes.
‘I owe my hatred of gifts entirely to Orsini…’
It had been a truly horrifying experience.
Not because of the centipedes themselves. I was not particularly afraid of insects, so the gift itself was not frightening. Living in the Basement, I had encountered all manner of creatures and rodents, and in my loneliest moments, I had even found their presence oddly comforting.
What I found truly horrifying at the time was Orsini himself.
The clarity with which I felt his malice had dealt me a tremendous shock.
‘Indeed, I heard that Orsini hunted down centipedes one by one and bottled them himself.’
Without sending servants, he personally combed through the Forest Swamp.
A nobleman’s son, with his own hands.
He had devoted an almost manic diligence to searching the forest and collecting centipedes in bottles. The entire endeavor had taken him a full day, I was told.
How much must he have despised me to go to such lengths?
And so Orsini, undeterred by the effort, had filled a bottle with centipedes, wrapped it beautifully, and presented it as a gift.
Thanks to that, even the word “gift” had begun to feel repugnant to me. And yet…
“Young Lady of House Adis, is there anything you would like as a gift?”
“….”
It was an extraordinarily tempting proposition.
Especially since I was already short on funds for my escape.
‘Perhaps I could delay my departure and accept a necklace as a gift? It’s a common birthday present among noble ladies, so it wouldn’t seem suspicious.’
“I think I would like to receive a necklace.”
The moment the words left my lips, I regretted them.
I shouldn’t have said that….
A pang of conscience struck me. After all, I would have no use for an engagement anyway.
But then, wouldn’t that mean I’m using this person?
‘That’s right—this man wants to marry me…. Using someone like that would be wrong. I can’t do it.’
I gazed up at Ludrick Elbiso thoughtfully. The boy who had arranged this betrothal. That could only mean he wished to spend his entire life with me.
“Do you truly wish to marry me, Count Elbiso?”
“Of course. What sort of person arranges a betrothal in jest?”
But why?
I have black hair and black eyes.
People regard me as though I were a plague. Or they refuse to acknowledge my existence altogether.
Even he does.
Even Duke Adis avoids meeting my gaze directly….
‘So why does he wish to marry me?’
Yet I held my tongue. Though I was curious about this unprecedented kindness, I had no desire to ask. It all seemed false anyway—utterly unconvincing.
I brushed away my shallow curiosity and smiled.
“Please forgive me, but let us forget about the gift for now.”
“Pardon? Why is that?”
“I shall think on it more carefully and tell you later.”
Of course, that day would never come.
In a few days, I would vanish from this house. And after the hunting tournament, I would never see this boy again….
“….”
Yet was it merely my imagination?
I tilted my head and glanced behind me. Behind me lay only roses in full bloom beneath the sunlight.
No one was there. Only Ludrick Elbiso and I occupied the Rose Garden.
So why did I feel such an unsettling chill?
As though someone were watching me with murderous intent….
* * *
Several days had passed.
“Young Master Orsini, what shall we do about your meal?”
The Maid’s voice came from beyond the door. Orsini, sprawled across the sofa, replied.
“Bring it here.”
“I’ve heard that Miss Kanna Adis takes her meals alone in the Basement.”
“Prepare mine in my room.”
“Understood, Young Master Adis.”
It had already been several days.
Orsini hadn’t set foot outside his room once.
“Orsini, why on earth have you suddenly refused to leave your room?”
Concerned by his self-imposed seclusion, Chloe had even come knocking on his door last night.
“Are you waiting for someone to visit while I’m away? Who exactly are you waiting for, Orsini!”
Yet Orsini remained unmoved.
How many days had it been now?
Seven days, or was it eight today?
The moment I realized I was counting the days, a profound sense of humiliation seized me.
“Damn it. This is ridiculous.”
The boy laughed bitterly, uttering a crude curse.
It had already been eight days.
Eight days had passed since I left that note, yet Kanna Adis had not come to retrieve the necklace.
[I’ll tell her everything.]
Two days ago, I even had a servant deliver a threatening note. Still, Kanna did not come. She didn’t even send a reply.
Instead, only infuriating news reached me.
“Sister promised to give her handkerchief to Count Ludrick Elbiso at the hunting tournament!”
This morning, Isabel had come and prattled on about it carelessly.
“Sister was embroidering so carefully! She must really like that man!”
I gripped the necklace’s cord so tightly it nearly snapped. My teeth ground together audibly.
Isabel’s words were true.
Remarkably, Kanna Adis truly seemed intent on marriage.
Not long ago, the two of them strolled together through the Rose Garden. The sight of her clinging to that man, laughing and flirting shamelessly, was utterly revolting.
When I witnessed her giggling at him and demanding he buy her gifts, I felt murderous rage.
“That damned thief…”
Where does she get off pretending to be a respectable woman and acting coy?
A thief—a thief who stole the necklace my stepmother treasured most!
To hide such a nature and attempt marriage was madness.
Wasn’t that fraud?
That idiot Ludrick or whatever his name was—he had no idea what kind of woman Kanna really was, did he?
A girl who goes around stealing would only bring scandal to House Adis through marriage. She would surely tarnish the family’s honor with her shameful deeds.
And that was acceptable?
Orsini sprang up from the sofa.
“That cannot be allowed.”
No. I could not let it happen.
Absolutely not.

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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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