My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 53

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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 53
Inside the carriage Silvien had prepared, a new dress awaited me. After changing into it, I asked him directly.
“What is this about?”
“About your sleeping draught, Miss Kanna.”
Silvien wasted no further time with pleasantries. He produced a vial of sleeping potion from his coat.
“According to an expert’s assessment, it possesses remarkably potent efficacy.”
“I doubt that. It didn’t work on you, so I’m not confident in its reliability.”
“I am an exceptional case. Please consider me an exception.”
Silvien smiled, though his eyes remained frozen with cold indifference—hardly a smile at all.
“Is Lucy Adis in good health?”
….
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
Did Silvien know that I had healed Lucy Adis?
“I hear Princess Amellia’s condition has improved considerably as well.”
“…We’ll have to wait and see. I cannot be certain yet.”
“Moreover, the Empress herself has grown dependent on your medicines.”
This time, I was genuinely taken aback.
This was classified information known only to a select few. How could Silvien possibly know about it?
‘Could he have planted informants?’
The cunning bastard.
In any case, since he already knew, there was no point in denying it. And now his intentions became clear to me.
“Is there someone you wish me to heal?”
“Indeed. Are you familiar with the Debor Trading Company?”
“Of course.”
Count Raphael Debor.
The legendary figure who first discovered the Eastern Continent—surely his trading company was renowned across the continent?
Count Debor had secured exclusive trade with the Eastern Continent, and through this monopoly, he had swiftly become one of the wealthiest magnates on the continent.
“I was an early investor when the Debor Trading Company was established. Therefore, when problems arise within the company, I seek solutions.”
He continued with measured gravity.
“Most sailors who voyage to the Eastern Continent are returning afflicted with a mysterious plague.”
“A mysterious plague?”
“Yes. The pain is so severe they cannot sleep. However, when your sleeping draught was administered, they fell asleep immediately and showed signs of recovery.”
Of course they would. I nodded in understanding.
There were no proper sleeping medicines in this place.
‘What they call sleeping medicine is merely toxic herbs that cloud consciousness or narcotics. Such things harm the body and provide no genuine rest.’
But I could create a sleeping draught without side effects. Using kelp and rhodiola with sleep-inducing properties, I had amplified their efficacy through alchemy to extraordinary levels.
Therefore, upon waking from my draught, one’s vitality would be restored and the mind would be clear.
“You mentioned a mysterious plague—what are the symptoms?”
“According to the physician, it resembles syphilis.”
Syphilis? That was a venereal disease.
How were they treating syphilis in this era?
Kanna Adis recalled the answer and hurried to ask.
“Then they must be undergoing mercury treatment?”
Mercury. She was certain they must be receiving that dangerous treatment.
“No.”
But the answer that came was unexpected.
“Since we began trading with the Eastern Continent, countless sailors have fallen ill. Each time they received mercury treatment, yet not a single one recovered.”
This too was unexpected.
If it were syphilis, mercury treatment should certainly show results. After all, mercury possessed sterilizing properties regardless of everything else.
‘The problem is that mercury cures syphilis but inflicts another disease instead.’
At that moment, Silvien Valentino, who had been staring intently at her, asked casually.
“I heard that you also discouraged the use of mercury ointment when treating Princess Amelia.”
How on earth did he know that?
‘This is creepy.’
For him to know even such things, Silvien Valentino must surely have planted informants throughout the city!
Kanna Adis felt displeased but admitted it readily.
“That’s right. I’m skeptical of mercury treatment.”
“What’s your reason?”
“Did you know that my hobby as a child was alchemy?”
“Of course.”
At that answer, Kanna Adis was startled again.
‘What? How do you know everything? Is there anything you don’t know?’
I thought he wouldn’t care about me at all, yet here he was.
“When I returned home this time, I decided to resume that hobby. I tried to create a cure using mercury, but… all the experimental mice died in a rather incomplete manner.”
Kanna Adis offered the lie she had prepared in advance.
“The disease I originally intended to treat did heal, but in exchange, they contracted another illness. The mortality rate was extremely high, so I learned that mercury was dangerous.”
Silvien Valentino gazed at her in silence.
He said nothing, yet she could sense his admiration for her. At that unfamiliar reaction, Kanna Adis felt deeply uncomfortable.
‘What… why are you admiring me?’
Could it be that you held the same thoughts?
‘But it would be difficult for someone of this era to distrust mercury treatment.’
Nevertheless, if he were skeptical of mercury treatment, then Kanna Adis should have been the one admiring Silvien Valentino instead.
After a moment, Silvien Valentino continued slowly.
“If it were syphilis, mercury treatment would certainly have shown results, but the outcome was not so. For that reason, I believe the sailors’ illness is not syphilis but some other strange disease.”
Kanna Adis stroked her chin thoughtfully.
Sailors traveling to and from the Eastern Continent. Syphilis. Mercury treatment with no effect.
‘Somehow, I think I know what disease it is.’
But since she wasn’t certain, she should hold her tongue. Kanna Adis asked shrewdly.
“If I were to treat the sailors, what benefit would there be for you?”
“In exchange, I would grant you whatever you desire.”
It was an enticing proposal that made my eyes light up.
“You’ll grant me whatever I wish for? Anything at all?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re giving me such a definitive answer without even knowing what I might ask for?”
“….”
“What if I made an absolutely outrageous request?”
Silvien’s lips parted as if to answer immediately, but perhaps he reconsidered midway—he closed his mouth instead.
Then, quite suddenly, he leaned forward.
‘What… what is he doing?’
In an instant, the distance between us shrank dramatically.
I nearly recoiled, so I braced my back rigid against the chair.
“Surely you’re not worried, Miss Kanna Adis?”
Was it amusing or ridiculous?
Those piercing blue eyes fixed directly on mine.
His gaze seemed to peer into the very depths of my being, and my mouth went dry. Before I knew it, I swallowed nervously.
“Or perhaps you harbor a wish beyond my capabilities?”
In that moment, the tip of his knee brushed against mine. That fleeting contact sent a shiver racing down my spine.
“I’m quite curious what that might be.”
As Silvien whispered those words, he exuded an almost insolent arrogance. I desperately wanted to counter him, but—
“….”
I had no words to offer in return.
He truly could grant anything.
At least in the Aslan Empire, across the Western Continent, indeed in this entire world, there was nothing he could not accomplish.
Satisfied with my silence, Silvien withdrew. He reclined leisurely against the backrest, a languid smile playing on his lips.
“Do not worry. Even if it were a wedding night, I would gladly oblige.”
“…I don’t need anything like that.”
“Ah, of course you wouldn’t.”
He didn’t believe me at all.
Indignation welled up in me, and I spoke with bitter sarcasm.
“Please refrain from such dreadful remarks, Your Grace. A wedding night? I have no desire for such a thing, and the mere thought of it makes my skin crawl.”
“Is that so? I had thought you were desperately hoping for it, but it seems I was mistaken.”
“….”
Suddenly, memories of Ju-hwa flooded back. The memory of her throwing off her clothes and rushing at me not long ago.
‘I don’t care! That wasn’t me!’
I shamelessly pushed that memory aside.
“I want a divorce.”
At those words, Silvien raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Whether you persuade my father or pressure him—make the divorce happen.”
“Of course.”
“….”
She said the words, but she didn’t seem to believe them. Kanna exhaled a sigh and shook her head firmly.
There was no point insisting it was true—it would only wear out her voice.
‘Of course he wouldn’t believe me. Not after everything Ju-hwa has done.’
Looking back over the past seven years and all the schemes Ju-hwa had orchestrated, it was far more reasonable to doubt than to trust.
“Let’s draw up a contract. I’ll agree to whatever you ask of me.”
“Very well.”
And with that, the conversation ended.
She turned her gaze toward the window, watching the world beyond the glass. Silvien lifted his newspaper and began to read.
“….”
I endured in silence, pretending to know nothing, continuing to hold my ground.
‘I can’t take this anymore.’
Kanna subtly shifted her knee away from where it had been touching Silvien’s.
It felt like I’d lost some unspoken battle of wills, but what could I do? The proximity was uncomfortable.
Yet Silvien simply turned the page of his newspaper as if he hadn’t noticed anything at all.
‘Did he not feel it touching him?’
Was this man unexpectedly insensitive?

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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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