My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 77
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 77
* * *
The transformation in Kalen that followed was remarkable.
He became as docile as a tamed beast, and at times seemed almost obedient. He appeared willing to grant Kanna’s every wish without question.
Because of this, broaching the subject of the perfume business proved remarkably easy.
‘Still, I mustn’t let it show that I’m trying to use him.’
Fortunately, I had a suitable pretext.
The Empress—that greedy woman whom all the Empire acknowledged as such—would serve as my excuse.
“Kalen, smell this fragrance.”
As we strolled through the Garden together, I extended my wrist toward him.
“What do you think?”
“It’s a beautiful scent.”
“You’re not just saying that, are you?”
“No. It’s something I’ve thought all along. Haven’t you always carried this fragrance about you?”
“I created this perfume myself. Not just this one—I can make several other fragrances too.”
Then I released a worried sigh.
“But the Empress has taken quite a liking to my perfumes.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. But because she holds such an exalted position, it seems to bother her that she must ask for them each time.”
“Surely she hasn’t demanded the formula?”
No, she hadn’t.
She wasn’t foolish enough to act so unreasonably when she was in a position to receive medicine from me.
Yet I didn’t explicitly deny it. Instead, I said this:
“I don’t have the strength to protect this fragrance.”
I let those words fall heavily, my shoulders drooping pitifully.
‘This should make it appear as though the Empress is coercing me for the formula.’
I hadn’t spoken a single lie. I had merely acted in a way that suggested it.
“Your Majesty would never dare such a thing.”
Fortunately, Kalen fell for it.
“From now on, no one—not even the Imperial Family—shall take what is yours.”
And if Kalen was as wise as I believed, he would devise the perfect method to prevent the formula from being seized.
“Sell me the formula. I will purchase it.”
“What?”
“And tell the Empress that it’s a perfume the House of Adis has been developing.”
“But the Empress is so fond of this fragrance. I don’t want to cause you trouble.”
“She won’t go to such lengths to obtain it if it means making an enemy of me. Besides, I’ll make it widely available so there’s no need for her to seize it. You needn’t worry.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying you’ll sell this to people?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Well, since it’s come to this, I hope it sells well.”
Then I smiled once more, a melancholy expression crossing my face.
“I wish that profit could be of some help to House of Adis. I’ve always been nothing but a burden, so I want to be useful in any way I can.”
“Please don’t say such things.”
Kalen rejected the notion entirely, as expected.
“I’m not undertaking this venture for the sake of profit. So please don’t misunderstand. I intend to give all the proceeds to you, Sister.”
This was an unexpected windfall. Her maximum goal had been to secure roughly half the revenue for herself, yet he was offering everything!
‘How perfectly it worked out—poisoning myself while squeezing out tears for effect.’
Kanna hesitated several times, wondering if this could really be happening, but she never uttered a word of refusal.
“Thank you, Kalen.”
Yes. Smiling for you is so exhausting—you’d better prove useful for at least this much, Kalen.
Kanna’s eyes were as parched as a desert. Yet she lifted the corners of her mouth. She smiled.
“You’re all I have. My brother Kalen.”
It was a devastatingly sweet smile that intoxicated Kalen with its deception.
* * *
Isabel couldn’t believe this reality.
‘How could Kalen do this to me?’
The Adis Trading Company had recently launched a new product.
A fragrance. An enchanting perfume unlike anything ever encountered before.
Within days of its release, it sparked a sensation, and rumors even circulated that the Empress had purchased it in bulk.
Now, a week after the fragrance’s debut, it was impossible to find anywhere in the Empire.
It had all sold out.
Every last bottle of that expensive luxury item!
Given such a response throughout the Empire, it would soon become a sensation across the Western Continent as well. The Aslian Empire had always been the trendsetter for the entire continent.
Up to this point, there was nothing wrong. In fact, it was something to be proud of.
Kalen Adis—everything he touched turned to success. Thanks to him, despite being the second son, his twin brother remained the leading candidate as the family heir, and he had succeeded once again.
But this was the problem.
‘Why is the fragrance named Kanna?’
Some speculated it derived from the Kanna flower, while others guessed it borrowed the name of his sister, Kanna Adis of Valentino.
And the other name that kept being mentioned was.
“By the way, isn’t Miss Isabel Kalen’s twin sister?”
“Indeed. Why didn’t he name it after Miss Isabel?”
“Perhaps because the fragrance was inspired by the Duchess of Valentino, Kanna Adis.”
“She is quite beautiful, after all.”
Recently, Kanna had been gaining considerable favor among the ladies of High Society.
Prince Casil, that ruffian who had assaulted and harassed countless women, had received severe punishment because of Kanna. As a woman, one could only cheer for such an outcome.
“When will the next Kanna fragrance be released? I’m so disappointed I couldn’t buy it this time.”
“Should we ask the Duchess of Valentino for a favor? Perhaps we could obtain one somehow.”
Everywhere in High Society, all anyone spoke of was Kanna, Kanna, Kanna.
And each time, Isabel found herself compared. Especially by Kaleina Merci, the daughter of the Merci Marquis House, who had always been her rival and never missed an opportunity to mock her.
“But why is there no fragrance bearing Miss Isabel’s name? It’s obvious, isn’t it? Miss Isabel simply hasn’t provided Lord Kalen with sufficient inspiration.”
That wretched woman, Kaleina Merci!
But there was simply no way to refute her words.
Everything she said was true.
‘This is too much. I never created anything under my own name until now!’
However, the worst situation unfolded after that.
“What? Kalen, what did you just say?”
“I plan to escort Kanna Adis to Prince Argon’s birthday gala.”
Prince Argon had held his birthday celebration for the first time in ages.
Isabel, as always, had requested Kalen’s escort, but his answer was a refusal.
“You’re escorting Sister Kanna? Not me?”
“Yes.”
“Then what about me?”
Alexandro was still in Venice, and Orsini had gone to some island on Black Mist business.
In other words, only Kalen remained.
“Ask Eric.”
Eric was Chloe’s maternal cousin and the eldest son of the Sillon Count Family, making him Isabel’s cousin. He was a reasonably acceptable choice. However, he was far beneath Kalen in standing.
“No. Kalen is here, so why should I ask Eric?”
All the accumulated sorrow erupted at once.
“If you escort Sister Kanna, what will everyone think of me?”
Isabel cried out through her tears.
“Of course they’ll think you care more about Sister Kanna than me! Are you trying to humiliate me?”
But Kalen regarded her with cold, unmoved eyes. In fact, the contempt he had been suppressing seemed to burst forth openly.
“Then does that mean it’s acceptable for Sister Kanna to be humiliated?”
Isabel fell silent.
“And no one will disrespect you, Isabel. You’re surrounded by people who cherish you. But Sister is different.”
Kalen spoke with absolute conviction.
“She has only me.”
“…”
“This conversation is over. Leave.”
In the end, Isabel buried herself in her chamber and wept bitterly.
From childhood until now, she had never been denied anything—not even a single doll. For Isabel, this was a profound trial.
‘If only Sister Kanna didn’t exist, I wouldn’t have lost the escort, and my name would be on the fragrance.’
Kanna had taken everything that should have been hers.
‘Ever since Sister appeared, everything has fallen apart.’
If not for Kanna, she would never have poisoned Lucy’s tea. Kalen would never have discovered it, and she would never have faced his contempt.
After weeping for a long time, Isabel finally rose from her chamber as night fell.
‘I can’t just accept this.’
If things continued this way, Kanna would gradually steal everything that belonged to her.
Kalen’s affection, the escort, and even the fragrance’s name.
All of it should have been hers from the beginning.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————