My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 59

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 59

 

Chapter 2. This role is not a choice but destiny.

 

Today marks the seventh day since returning to the manor through the Red Forest.

 

I finally made up my mind.

 

Today, I would definitely demand answers from Azel about everything.

 

“There you are. I was just heading to see you after hearing you were awake. How fortunate that we ran into each other.”

 

Early in the morning, as soon as I opened my eyes and headed to Azel’s office, we met in the corridor. Before I could even pretend not to notice, Azel approached me first.

 

“Did you sleep well?”

 

“…!”

 

Predictably, I faltered.

 

‘No, wait! This isn’t the time for this!’

 

However, today I had steeled my resolve.

 

‘Don’t give up, Elpis. Be brave. You can do this.’

 

While repeating encouraging words to myself, I lifted my head to look at Azel.

 

But the problem was meeting those mysteriously glowing red eyes. The moment our eyes met as he gazed at me tenderly, I was immediately speechless.

 

“Why, do you have something to say?”

 

“N-no… nothing.”

 

In the end, today was another failure.

 

‘No! This isn’t right!’

 

There was one thing I wanted to ask him.

 

‘Why can’t I speak! Why on earth can’t I say anything! Are you having some kind of problem? You don’t seem right in the head – did you hit your head or something? Why can’t I speak!’

 

That was exactly it.

 

In my opinion, Azel had definitely gone insane.

 

At that moment, Azel gave me an answer that confirmed my suspicions.

 

“Alright. Feel free to tell me whenever you remember, even if it’s later. Anytime is fine.”

 

“….”

 

One week since returning to the manor.

 

‘That bastard has really lost it.’

 

I was struggling with Azel’s completely changed attitude.

 

Of course, I had similar thoughts several times before, but this time it was real.

 

Moreover, I wasn’t the only one thinking this.

 

“No, I’m telling you it’s true! I saw His Highness doing that with my own eyes.”

 

“So what? Does that make sense? You expect me to believe that?”

 

“You have to believe it! Are you saying I’m lying right now? -Gasp?!”

 

“What? What’s wrong with you, -Huh!”

 

Just then, people who spotted us from afar hurriedly ran away. This was proof that they too had noticed Azel’s change.

 

‘More importantly, what exactly did they see to have that kind of conversation? Now I can’t even guess.’

 

There were so many things weighing on my mind that there wasn’t just one or two things bothering me.

 

‘How did it come to this….’

 

Anyway. I first noticed something strange the day after we returned to the manor.

 

That day was unusual from the morning, starting when we met at the stairs while I was going for breakfast.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Just. It looks dangerous.”

 

“The stairs…?”

 

The hand he extended in front of me, saying it was dangerous, was still vividly etched in my memory.

 

“…You’re joking, right?”

 

How many times had I gone up and down these stairs since coming here? Was this really happening?

 

But at the time, seeing me bewildered, Azel said exactly this:

 

“Your body probably isn’t fully recovered yet, so hold on and come down. I’m worried about you. Even if it’s troublesome, please do it for my sake.”

 

That hand we held together was my first crisis.

 

The second crisis came even sooner.

 

“Excuse me, what is everyone doing right now?”

 

“His Highness said he was moving rooms. We were moving his belongings.”

 

“But why so suddenly?”

 

“Well, I’m not really sure about that either….”

 

This happened on the very same evening. Azel suddenly moved to the room next to mine.

 

‘Of course, it’s his house so he can use whichever room he wants, but why specifically the room next to mine?’

 

Around that time, I thought something was going wrong.

 

The third crisis was even shocking.

 

“Wh-what’s wrong at this hour? Is something the matter?”

 

“Just. I couldn’t sleep.”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

Azel.

 

That Azel Viotz!

 

Had come to find me in the middle of the night saying he couldn’t sleep.

 

Has he really gone insane? At the time, my face turned red as a beet, and I had this thought a beat too late.

 

‘…Could he be a ghost? There’s no way Azel would act like this.’

 

After that, I really misunderstood and caused quite a commotion in the manor. The funny thing was that even the people who gathered after hearing my scream had the same suspicions.

 

“Ha! How foolish! You may have copied his appearance perfectly, but you don’t know His Highness at all. His Highness would never act like this! You, what are you really!”

 

“Shut your mouth while I’m being nice, Dekan.”

 

“…Your Highness? Uh, uhh- are you really His Highness?”

 

At this point, it was clear to anyone that Azel was acting strange.

 

However, the biggest problem was that these kinds of days had been continuing for a week. This was driving me crazy.

 

Just like right now.

 

“By the way, you look quite tired right now. Are you alright?”

 

“I just didn’t sleep well. It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry.”

 

Does this make sense?

 

Despite his sharper appearance, his voice toward me was unrealistically sweet.

 

‘How can he even pull off dark circles perfectly? Has he really gone insane?’

 

When a spoonful of decadent beauty was added to his characteristic artwork-like face, rather than diminishing his beauty, it enhanced it even more.

 

His appearance was more wondrous the more I looked at it.

 

“Why?”

 

Perhaps because I was staring too intently, he tilted his head slightly and asked. Even the angle at which he tilted his head was utterly cunning.

 

‘Is that jawline for real? It’s sharp enough to slice apples.’

 

This was my eighty-second crisis.

 

“Just because. You’re too handsome.”

 

Of course, having repeated this situation over 80 times already, I had my own coping methods.

 

As I pulled out the now-familiar carrot doll from my pocket, Azel’s gaze immediately fell on the doll. It was a doll that Linoa Marigold had personally made for me at my recent request.

 

“That doll again. I feel like I see it every time we’re together lately.”

 

“Carrots are good for your body. They’re good for your eyes and have antioxidant effects that help prevent aging, plus they help with immunity and heart health too.”

 

“But it’s a doll?”

 

“Even as a doll, it definitely helps with heart health.”

 

“A doll?”

 

As I waved the carrot doll while spouting nonsense, the effect immediately appeared. Simoer, who had spotted us at just the right moment, approached with a frown.

 

This was a promise between the two of us.

 

“Simoer, if I need help, I’ll wave the carrot.”

 

“…Why a carrot of all things?”

 

“No matter how urgent it is, I can’t carry around a real carrot every day.”

 

“No. That wasn’t what I meant?”

 

“There you are, Master.”

 

“What’s the matter?”

 

“The preparations for the task you instructed last time have been completed, so I came to report. If you’re planning to spend time with the young lady right now, I’ll come back later.”

 

“…No. Let’s go to the office.”

 

It was a moment when the shallow friendship between Simoer and me gained some real depth.

 

‘Thank you, Simoer. You bastard! You’re really the only one I can count on!’

 

Of course, Simoer’s expression upon noticing my gaze was nothing but sour.

 

Right then, Azel spoke to me.

 

“Sorry, but I need to go first.”

 

“Of course! It’s work, so you should definitely go! Don’t worry about me and handle your business comfortably! Oh, but just one thing before you go to the office.”

 

“Tell me. Do you need something?”

 

However, before sending him off, I still had something to say.

 

“I was thinking of going to the capital soon to get Arachne’s Thread. When would that be possible?”

 

As Gaspata had said, after resting a bit, I was already in perfect condition. Since Azel had suggested we take our time getting Arachne’s Thread, I had waited, but it seemed like now would be fine.

 

‘A week of rest is enough. There’s not much time left now anyway.’

 

“Since I’ll have to start preparing right after I return, it would be better to get the last ingredient as quickly as possible.”

 

The preparation I was referring to was naturally preparation for my independence.

 

But suddenly the atmosphere felt strange. No matter how long I waited, no answer came back.

 

“…Azel?”

 

The expression that momentarily appeared on Azel’s face was so cold that I unconsciously hesitated.

 

“Ah, that.”

 

However, his last expression must have been my imagination, as he was smiling before I knew it.

 

The strange thing, though, was that his smile was unnaturally forced.

 

“Sorry, but. If you don’t mind, it would be better to postpone the outing.”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s difficult right now. I told you, didn’t I? Let’s take our time preparing Arachne’s Thread.”

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