My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 340

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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 2, Chapter 7
Under normal circumstances, I would never have answered Orsini’s question.
But now….
“A necklace.”
I needed to erase the word “fleeing in the dead of night” from his mind. So I answered quietly.
“I wanted to have a necklace.”
….
“That’s why I was saving money.”
Surprisingly, Orsini was listening intently.
He hung on my every word, his expression so focused it almost seemed reverent.
“I wanted a very expensive, beautiful necklace. Something like what the Duke gave to the Duchess… a national treasure-class jewel. That’s why I was saving money.”
I waited for his reaction with my eyes lowered.
Would he believe it?
Please, he had to believe it.
…But why wasn’t he responding?
Just as anxiety began to creep in, a low voice finally emerged from Orsini.
“So you asked that bastard to buy you jewels?”
….
I furrowed my brow. What was he talking about?
Ah, that bastard—surely not.
‘Ludrick Elbiso?’
Could he have overheard me asking for a necklace as a gift in the Garden? How on earth?
“You’re more materialistic than you look. You want such jewels, so that’s why you’re trying to marry that bastard?”
Orsini began to mock me with cutting disdain.
“Because you think if you marry him, you’ll receive precious jewels as gifts like the Duchess does?”
Like a boy who had finally found the missing puzzle piece and completed the picture, his eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
“Unfortunately, that bastard can’t buy you jewels of that caliber.”
“What?”
“Don’t you know that a national treasure-class jewel costs more than an entire castle? Do you really think the Elbiso Count Family could afford such an enormous sum? Of course, the pittance you’ve saved is equally impossible.”
Orsini jingled my coin purse mockingly.
“The Elbiso Count Family is drowning in debt. That’s why they want to marry you.”
….
“After all, you’re the eldest daughter of Adis, and you have serious flaws.”
He looked me over with contempt and laughed.
“Won’t they be given a dowry substantial enough to offset those flaws?”
….
“It seems the Elbiso Family plans to pay off their debts with the dowry that comes with you.”
I see.
So that was the reason after all.
I accepted it readily. It was a reason I could understand.
That’s right, of course.
Of course there would be circumstances like that.
“Ludrick Elbiso has no money. Even if he died and came back to life, he couldn’t buy you jewels like that. …Unlike me.”
I let Orsini’s words go in one ear and out the other, releasing a sigh.
Still, I felt somewhat disappointed.
I had thought perhaps I’d met someone who didn’t hate me. But surely he was just suppressing his disgust beneath the surface.
I hadn’t really expected anything, but still….
“…Are you listening to me?”
At that moment, Orsini, clutching a pouch of gold coins, approached until he stood before me. I stared down at the tips of his shoes.
“I asked if you’re listening.”
“….”
“Hey.”
That was the moment.
Orsini seized my chin as if to snatch it away, then yanked it upward roughly. Forcing my gaze to meet his, as though dragging me away from my desperate attempts to escape.
Our eyes met.
Eyes burning crimson like molten lava….
“Does your body feel like it’s rotting whenever our eyes meet?”
Was he angry? Orsini’s lips trembled as he stared down at me with crushing intensity.
“Let go….”
When I tried to force my head down, Orsini’s grip on my face tightened.
“No, let go! It hurts!”
As I whimpered, only then did Orsini’s grip loosen.
I didn’t miss the opportunity—I struck his hand away. Then I lowered my head again, staring at the floor. Stubbornly, as if I would never meet Orsini’s eyes again. Never.
I never wanted to meet Orsini’s gaze again, not even by accident.
That’s right. Never again.
“I really hate you….”
In that instant, I saw the boy’s limp fingertips tremble slightly.
I spat the words out once more.
“Really, I hate you….”
At those words, Orsini clenched his fist.
Was he going to hit me?
I tensed. Orsini had frequently thrown punches when he was seven or eight years old.
But from around eight years old onward, as if judgment had developed in him, he no longer resorted to physical violence.
‘That’s right. He’s finally reached an age where he can think about his pride.’
But what good is that against his nature?
He simply stopped hitting me. Orsini tormented me through every other means imaginable.
Besides, with no one watching now, he might abandon all pretense of dignity and resort to his fists.
I glanced sideways at the box placed beside my feet. It was a sewing kit. The box containing cloth, thread, needles, measuring tape, and the like also held sharp scissors.
If Orsini tried to hit me, I could counterattack with those scissors….
‘No, he’s not an opponent I could defeat with mere scissors.’
However, I do have a self-defense compound in my pocket.
An alchemical preparation.
I’ve never tested it in actual combat before, but it would likely cause excruciating pain as the flesh melts away upon contact.
‘No, I can’t.’
Yet Kanna Adis made a rational decision.
I’d be running away soon anyway. Until then, I should keep my head down.
Creating unnecessary trouble could ruin everything. It was better to accept the blow and be done with it.
Just as I steeled my resolve.
“…Make me a handkerchief.”
Orsini uttered words I hadn’t anticipated. His voice carried the weight of something being forcibly suppressed.
“I need a handkerchief right now, so make one. In exchange, I’ll pretend I never saw you steal that necklace.”
A handkerchief?
Suddenly?
I glanced down at the embroidery frame I was holding. Come to think of it, I am making a handkerchief right now. He must have said this after seeing it.
…But why would Orsini make such a request?
I couldn’t comprehend it at all.
Yet it didn’t sound like a jest, so I asked quietly.
“You’re saying if I make you a handkerchief, you’ll cover up the necklace theft?”
“Yes.”
“….”
It was deeply suspicious.
However, Orsini doesn’t speak in jest.
He’s an insufferable wretch, but Orsini always keeps his word.
‘Why on earth?’
Overwhelming curiosity surged through me.
Perhaps because of that, I momentarily forgot my resolve never to look at him and lifted my gaze to meet his face.
The instant our eyes met, the boy shot me a look as fierce as flames.
I found that gaze utterly unbearable.
It’s because you always look at me that way that I don’t want to see you.
Your eyes look like they could incinerate me on the spot.
I swallowed those words and asked instead.
“Really, just making a handkerchief is enough?”
After a long pause, Orsini answered.
“Yes.”
What could the reason be?
I was curious.
I considered asking further….
‘No, forget it.’
I didn’t want to exchange any more words with Orsini. What did the reason matter anyway?
‘Fine, I’ll just make it.’
I adjusted the embroidery hoop and needle in my hands. The fabric was plentiful enough, after all.
“….”
But.
My fingers tensed against the needle.
Making a handkerchief for Orsini wasn’t particularly difficult work, and yet.
‘I don’t want to….’
Make a handkerchief for that man?
I truly despise it. It’s abhorrent.
My mind understood the logic—that doing so would be advantageous—but my hands, my body, my very heart vehemently refused.
The mere act of creating something for Orsini felt like an unbearable humiliation.
“I won’t.”
I finally spoke with conviction and set down the needle. I knew I was being irrational, knew this was an unwise decision, but.
“I refuse.”
Fourteen was far too young to be rational or wise.
“I will never make a handkerchief for you. Never.”

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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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