My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 88

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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 88
Peaceful days followed in succession.
I enjoyed this long-awaited tranquility, occasionally venturing out with Lucy or conducting research in the Research Laboratory.
Then an invitation arrived.
‘An invitation addressed to me—such a day has finally come.’
The sender was Layla Everdin, the Marquess’s Daughter.
She had sent the invitation along with a brief letter.
‘A tea party with the theme of making new friends?’
Each guest was to bring a close friend and introduce them to the other young ladies of the nobility. She wrote that she wished to become my friend going forward, and thus extended this invitation, earnestly requesting my attendance.
Most notably.
“The dress code is black, Lea. What do you think?”
“How intriguing. Could it be a new trend?”
“Perhaps, or perhaps not.”
“Pardon?”
“Either way, it matters little. I’ll wear it. Prepare it for me.”
“Very well.”
“You can commission El Andois for it.”
El Andois.
That designer, coveted by every noblewoman, had now become my exclusive designer.
Of course, it was not without cost.
‘I’ve heard rumors that Kalen paid an astronomical price.’
Some said he received a castle in the provinces, others claimed a modest resort, and some even whispered that Andois had become Kalen’s mistress.
‘Rumors are always exaggerated, after all.’
What was certain was that Kalen had spent enough gold on Andois to ensure she need never design for other nobles again.
Kalen’s behavior struck me as absurd.
The same Kalen who once treated me as a mere maid.
The same Kalen who had locked me in the Basement for days, gifting me the prospect of death itself—had changed so drastically.
‘Kalen, no matter how consumed by guilt you are, this is excessive. You’re acting as though bewitched by something.’
I couldn’t fathom what had enchanted him, but while he remained under its spell, I intended to extract every advantage possible.
‘Until I discard him, he’ll prove most useful.’
I smiled with satisfaction.
“And I should visit Her Highness Amelia again soon. Prepare for my departure.”
It would be good to check on the prognosis of her skin condition and indulge in some pleasant conversation.
I rose to my feet.
* * *
Days later, I attended the tea party.
“Welcome, Duchess of Valentino. Thank you so much for accepting my invitation.”
Layla Everdin approached with a welcoming smile. But her eyes widened in an instant.
“Oh my? Were you unaware the dress code was pure white?”
Indeed, every noblewoman at the Party Venue wore a pristine white dress.
Like the sole black swan among pristine white ones, only she wore a black dress.
Yet Kanna Adis responded with composure.
“The invitation specified black, if I recall correctly.”
“Oh my, surely not. This evening’s dress code is pure white.”
When Layla Everdin feigned innocence, Kanna Adis produced the invitation she had prepared. The Marquess’s Daughter examined it carefully, then arranged her expression into one of apology.
“Dear me. What shall we do? It seems my maid made an error.”
“Your maid?”
“Yes. I have a maid who handles the invitations, and it appears she mistakenly wrote black.”
“How peculiar.”
Kanna Adis glanced around the room.
“Is it truly possible for such a mistake to occur only on my invitation?”
“I shall reprimand her severely, so please find it in your heart to forgive this oversight, madam.”
At that moment, the Marquess’s Daughter standing beside her laughed melodiously and interjected.
“Indeed, Duchess of Valentino. It’s hardly a grave mistake, is it?”
From that point onward, noble daughters began gathering like ants swarming toward honey.
“The black dress suits you wonderfully.”
“Quite right. A white dress would surely not have become you.”
“Since it’s a color that flatters you personally, there’s no reason to take offense.”
Kanna Adis suppressed a hollow laugh and listened silently to the cascade of words. Then it happened.
“What is all this commotion?”
It was a familiar voice. The daughters who had crowded around Kanna Adis parted to the side as a woman approached.
It was Princess Lilienne.
“Your Highness, we pay our respects.”
“Oh my, Duchess of Valentino.”
Princess Lilienne opened her fan with a sharp snap, feigning surprise.
“A black dress, I see.”
There it was. Kanna Adis realized that Princess Lilienne was the one who had orchestrated this entire affair.
“How did this happen? Why is only the Duchess of Valentino wearing a black dress?”
“It appears my maid made an error, Your Highness.”
“Reprimand her severely.”
Princess Lilienne snapped at Layla Everdin with evident displeasure.
“Is there anyone in the Empire who doesn’t know how inauspicious black is? Black is calamity and misfortune. It is a symbol of ill fate that one must never approach, yet to convey such a dress code…”
On the surface, it seemed as though she were defending Kanna Adis, but every word was designed to cast her down and tear her apart.
As expected, Layla Everdin’s face, along with those of the daughters around her, brimmed with delight.
“Your Highness speaks truly. The mere sight of black makes me feel ill… I can only imagine how wretched the Duchess of Valentino must feel wearing such a color.”
“Ah, I think I would wish to die.”
“I would sooner walk about naked than bear black upon my body.”
Laughter and mockery poured forth without cessation.
“By the way, did the Duchess come alone?”
Princess Lilienne tilted her head with apparent curiosity.
“You understand the purpose of this gathering, don’t you? It’s a party where we introduce new acquaintances to one another.”
“Of course, Duchess. You must have brought a friend as well?”
Layla Everdin pressed eagerly, though she had clearly watched her enter alone. Still, she feigned curiosity, glancing around as if searching.
“Please introduce us to your dear friend, Duchess.”
“Yes, I’m truly curious.”
“Surely you didn’t come alone?”
“How could that be? As the mistress of the Duchy of Adis, you can’t possibly be a friendless recluse.”
I knew this tea party’s true purpose had nothing to do with introducing friends. From the start, it was orchestrated to dismantle and expose me.
I stared directly at Princess Lilienne.
‘You certainly do live earnestly.’
I could understand her life. Princess Lilienne was simply working hard to do what was necessary for her own future.
‘Then again, my position must be desperately important to her.’
The status of Duchess of Valentino.
Recently, rumors had circulated that I had grown close to Silvien Valentino.
Perhaps because of this, Princess Lilienne seemed determined to find some flaw in me by any means.
‘Well, it’s commonplace here.’
High Society was a battlefield for noblewomen. A battleground where aristocratic ladies wielded tongues, connections, and gowns as weapons, measuring their power against one another.
From Princess Lilienne’s perspective, I was an enemy, and attacking an enemy was only natural.
But I found all of this truly tedious. I harbored not the slightest attachment to the status of “Duchess of Valentino,” so I lacked even the will to fight.
When survival itself was already a struggle, did I really have to navigate these exhausting mind games one by one?
That’s why I had prepared something to end it all in one decisive blow.
“My? Duchess, why haven’t you said a word this whole time?”
At Princess Lilienne’s question, the young ladies around us burst into laughter.
“Could it be that you truly have no friends to invite?”
Giggle, giggle, giggle! Cackle, cackle! Ha, ha, ha! Raucous laughter assaulted my ears.
“Poor Duchess. Well, I do understand. After all, who would want to associate with the Duchess….”
That was when it happened.
“Princess Amelia Isaberk, Your Highness!”
In an instant, the atmosphere froze solid. As everyone’s mouths snapped shut, only the sharp tap-tap-tap of approaching heels echoed through the hall.
“Did the Marquess’s Daughter invite her?”
Princess Lilienne’s piercing gaze shot toward Layla Everdin.
“N-No, I….”
Layla stammered in a trembling voice. It couldn’t be—she hadn’t invited Amelia at all!
“Kanna.”
As Amelia approached with a radiant smile, the young ladies surrounding me instinctively retreated, backing away. It was as if she were a talisman that dispelled evil spirits.
“Sorry I’m late.”
“Your Highness, you’ve arrived.”
I greeted her warmly. And I caught a glimpse of Layla Everdin, completely dumbfounded, and Princess Lilienne barely maintaining her composure.
‘They never expected me to invite Amelia.’
Until now, Amelia had lived in seclusion to hide her skin condition, so they would never have imagined she would attend a social gathering like this.
“But….”
Amelia glanced around the room, her expression darkening considerably.
“What is this situation?”
Everyone was dressed in pristine white gowns.
“Wasn’t the dress code supposed to be black?”
“Ah, well, you see.”
I gazed at the Marquess’s Daughter with a sorrowful expression.
“I believe you should ask Layla Everdin, the Marquess’s Daughter, about that.”
“The Marquess’s Daughter?”
At that, Amelia’s gaze slowly turned toward Layla.

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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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