My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 98

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 98
Crying?
That vicious woman is actually crying?
Since our reunion, I had never seen a single tear fall from Kanna Adis’s eyes.
Even when imprisoned, she had snapped at me with fierce eyes, showing no weakness whatsoever.
Yet now, here she was, weeping so pitifully.
Why? It felt as though I had witnessed a secret I was never meant to see.
That viper, Kanna Adis, would never have wanted to show such a vulnerable side to anyone, not even in death.
But I had seen it anyway.
“Brother!”
Then, Kanna Adis suddenly bolted forward again.
But wait—brother?
“Brother! Seon-hong, let’s go together!”
She ran forward, spouting names I couldn’t possibly recognize. Unable to bear it any longer, Orsini moved to restrain her.
“Let go, please let me go!”
Kanna Adis stared at him as though he were a monster. She didn’t recognize him at all.
“Let me go home!”
Kanna Adis shook off Orsini and bolted forward once more.
“Don’t leave me behind. Don’t go!”
But her strength finally gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.
Orsini simply watched her.
The sight of someone desperately chasing after another, only to fail and eventually give up, sinking to the ground. Crying out to go home, yet unable to do so. Such profound loneliness etched into every movement.
I had never seen her look so utterly alone.
Orsini lifted Kanna Adis to her feet.
This time, Kanna Adis yielded without resistance, surrendering her weight to his strength and nestling into his embrace. Soon after, she seemed to drift into sleep, her head drooping as her breathing became steady and rhythmic.
Foolish woman.
“Mother….”
Why do you call for your mother? Why do you seek family?
You were born alone, woman.
Yes, you are alone. All you have ever had is a cruel stepmother, an indifferent father, insufferable siblings, and a cold husband. You lived that way your entire life.
And yet.
“Mother….”
“….”
Orsini gazed down at Kanna Adis. The rain streaming down her cheeks resembled tears.
“Orsini.”
Orsini lifted his head. Claude Azel had finally revealed himself.
“Has she been like this since the estate?”
“Yes.”
Orsini glared at Claude Azel as though he might kill him, then spoke.
“You saw nothing.”
“Of course. For the honor of the Duchess, if nothing else.”
Claude answered smoothly.
* * *
I must have fallen asleep like that.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying in an unfamiliar chamber.
I stared blankly at the narrow ceiling before letting my gaze drift to the fireplace crackling with warmth beside me.
“….”
Orsini sat slumped against the wall next to the fireplace, fast asleep.
What was the dream?
This moment right now?
Or… the moment I lost myself to madness?
Perhaps both were equally real.
I looked down at my own body. My dress, caked with mud, was still soaked through. Orsini had apparently just dumped me on the bed and left me to my own devices.
‘Well, it’s Orsini we’re talking about—that much kindness is practically generous for him.’
There was no chance he’d summon someone to change my clothes or wipe away the rain.
I approached Orsini and crouched down at the end of his outstretched legs.
Then I tapped the floor beside his legs with the tip of my finger.
Orsini slowly lifted his head.
Our eyes met.
“….”
The flickering crimson light of the flames melted across his skin. For some reason, Orsini seemed to have stopped breathing.
I held his gaze for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
“Quite the sight, aren’t I?”
“…Yeah.”
Orsini swallowed and lifted the corners of his mouth.
“I’m regretting I was the only one to see it. Everyone should have witnessed you raving like a madwoman.”
“You should have just left me alone. Then people would have found me soon enough.”
“I’m regretting that decision.”
Orsini sighed as he spoke.
“And now that you’re back to your senses, why don’t you do something about looking like a rat from the sewers? There’s a bath through the back door.”
“Right. Yeah. If you could find me some clean clothes, I’d be grateful.”
“…Damn woman.”
Leaving Orsini’s grumbling behind, I headed into the bath.
* * *
When I emerged from bathing, a dress hung neatly on the door handle.
It was the one Orsini had found for me.
‘Where did he even get this at this hour?’
I was curious, but I sensed that knowing would only add to my debt, so I simply offered my thanks.
“Thank you.”
I never thought the day would come when I’d say such words to Orsini. But gratitude is gratitude, so I spoke it plainly.
“I owe my life to you, Orsini.”
Orsini sat in a rocking chair, his gaze sharp and piercing as he studied her.
“Where are we?”
“An inn.”
“I see.”
I could understand why we’d come here.
If I awakened again and descended into madness, everyone would know—so this remote location made sense.
‘Yes, that’s right. It would have been terribly inconvenient. Orsini wouldn’t have wanted to witness such a spectacle.’
I sank down before the fireplace and warmed myself by its glow.
“Is this it, then?”
I muttered to myself, then laughter escaped me. Heh heh—I chuckled softly as I asked.
“The madness the villagers experience?”
“Yes.”
Orsini spoke quietly.
“Some of my Knight Guards have suffered the same affliction.”
“I see.”
“This island is not sane.”
“No, it certainly isn’t. It’s truly strange.”
I recalled the madness I had experienced.
‘It wasn’t madness so much as hallucinations.’
Auditory illusions. Visual phantoms. All manner of fantastical visions materialized before me, making me weep and laugh in turns.
Had I continued to chase those illusions, I sensed a pleasure akin to paradise would have awaited me.
‘I must have seen visions of returning home.’
Lying on a sofa, chatting idly with Mother and Father, playfully kicking at Seon-hong, stroking Toto, texting with my lover, sipping an ice-cold beer—
I would have laughed myself to sleep from sheer bliss.
I smiled bitterly.
“Orsini, didn’t you experience it?”
“No.”
“That’s strange. Some people experience it, others don’t….”
What could be the difference?
Could it be as Rachel said—that the Black Apostles are summoning malevolent spirits?
‘Malevolent spirits?’
The visions were shown, yet I sensed no malice within them.
If the Black Apostles were truly behind this, shouldn’t they compel people toward wickedness?
Intoxicated by illusions, they should be driven to plunder, commit crimes, or undertake deeds that benefit the Black Apostles themselves.
‘And each person saw different visions.’
Some flew like birds, others became fish swimming through the sea, and still others danced with scarecrows in the Rye Field.
Rather, hadn’t their moods been quite pleasant….
‘Wait.’
A sudden flash illuminated my mind. Could it be.
Could this phenomenon really be…?
“Who is this man you’re chasing after?”
Orsini asked abruptly, pulling me from my thoughts.
“What kind of fool makes you cry and chase after him like an idiot?”
“….”
My face flushed crimson. I could endure many things, but being caught in this was genuinely embarrassing.
Orsini’s eyebrows twisted at the sight of my reddened cheeks. Then he let out a disagreeable laugh and sneered.
“Brother, what the hell. This is infuriating.”
“Be quiet. Shut up.”
“And who is this Seon-hong? Who’s that?”
Seon-hong would be furious if he heard that name.
“Don’t concern yourself. Don’t take interest in someone else’s fantasies.”
“Fantasies?”
“Yes. I saw a fantasy. I wasn’t bewitched by the Black Apostles.”
Though I endured tremendous suffering, it allowed me to discern what was truly amiss.
I’m beginning to understand why I saw such a fantasy, and why madness spreads through the village.
That was when Claude burst through the door.
“Duchess? You’ve awakened.”
His arms were laden with my belongings—items I’d left at the Lord’s Estate, which he’d thoughtfully gathered.
“Claude Azel.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
I gazed into his bright sky-blue eyes.
Here I was, seeing fantasies and raving like a madwoman, yet he obeyed my orders without hesitation.
‘He listens far too well.’
I paused, choosing my words carefully.
Yet no words came.
I nearly told him not to follow orders that seemed objectively unreasonable, but I held back.
After all, such a thing wouldn’t happen again.
“Your timing is perfect.”
I rose from my seat.
“Claude Azel, there’s something I need you to do.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————