My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 81

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

Chapter 81

Riana Winsor’s family relationships were simpler than expected. Edward Winsor, her father and the master of this marquis estate, was Riana’s only family.

“What about her mother?”

“M-Madam passed away in a carriage accident when the young lady was little—”

“Good. That’s enough.”

After that, I asked in turn about my usual daily routine, hobbies, and social relationships.

Fortunately, I had chosen a quick-witted servant, so answers came back immediately without any delays.

“Since you have no assigned duties yet, you are slowly studying the refinements befitting a noble lady.”

“As for hobbies, until recently you enjoyed horseback riding, but you’ve grown tired of it lately and are taking a break.”

“Your social relationships are, uh… well, that is.”

However, the content of those answers wasn’t exactly excellent.

“That’s enough.”

“Y-Yes! Thank you!”

Thanks to this, it became even clearer that Riana Winsor was someone who idled around with nothing to do and had no friends.

“Next question. …What am I good at?”

At that moment, the servant’s lips hesitated.

No, was it just hesitation? For some reason, the servant couldn’t keep their gaze steady.

“Why are you reacting like that? Don’t tell me there’s nothing I’m good at?”

“N-No, that’s not it!”

“Then what am I good at?”

“You’re beautiful and! Wise—!”

“I get that I have a pretty face, but how exactly am I wise?”

“Wi-wi-wise and also beautiful, and also wi-wise… uh, that is, well.”

That answer was sufficient.

“…I see. That’s enough.”

So I was just a good-for-nothing with only a pretty face. No wonder I couldn’t do swordsmanship or magic, and apparently I had no other notable talents either.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“…Never mind.”

The atmosphere around me immediately became solemn.

Something surged up from within me, but it was still bearable. After all, what was most important to me right now was this.

I asked while barely maintaining a dignified facade, hiding my trembling voice.

“Is the current Crown Prince’s name Meclawel Agnes?”

However, the worst possible answer came back.

“Y-Yes, that’s correct!”

“…Have you ever heard of a Holy Maiden named Yulia?”

“…A Holy Maiden?”

“I misspoke. Have you ever heard of a cleric named Yulia?”

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that name!”

It was natural that this was before Ragnear usurped the crown prince’s position, but the fact that Yulia’s name wasn’t yet known to the world was seriously problematic.

‘This means we’re at the very beginning of the game.’

In this case, there was no way to know Azel’s whereabouts.

The tears I had been holding back finally burst forth.

“Are you kidding me right now…!”

“Y-Young lady?!”

I could feel the panic around me, but I had no time to worry about other people right now.

“If you were going to send me back, you should have sent me to his side! What am I supposed to do now!”

“Young lady! Why are you suddenly like this! P-Please calm down! Just calm down for a moment…!”

“Why does it have to be now!”

I knew that since I had fallen into an unfamiliar place, I had to somehow pretend to be okay. I also knew I should calmly assess the situation and find what I could do.

But right now, I absolutely couldn’t control these emotions.

‘You should have at least let me meet him! You should have made it so I could find him! How can this be! How can you do this…!’

Even if I ran out of this place right now, I couldn’t even find where Azel was.

Finally, my legs gave out and my body collapsed to the floor.

“Young lady?!”

Where are you right now?

If we meet again in this place, will you even recognize me?

…I should have asked these things before being forcibly sent away like this.

The reality where I couldn’t know anything felt overwhelming, so I ended up crying for a long time.

*

The maids of the Winsor Marquis Estate were so busy gossiping about their young lady, who had changed dramatically lately, that they barely had time to rest.

“Did you hear that? The young lady has been reading books lately.”

“Books? What kind of books? Romance novels?”

“No! Not that kind! I heard she’s been reading things like family genealogies and etiquette manuals?”

“No way! That’s impossible!”

Of course, this included Bel, the maid who had received an apology from Riana not long ago.

‘The young lady reading books.’

Bel hadn’t been at the Winsor Marquis Estate for very long, but even she knew how strange the current situation was.

“Ever since she suddenly broke down crying that time, she’s become a completely different person. Can a person really change that much overnight?”

…Indeed.

Bel completely agreed on that point. However, Riana’s changes weren’t limited to just this.

‘Since that day when she apologized to me, it felt like she was deliberately avoiding me more, worried that I might be scared.’

Not only that. Everyone who used to suffer under Riana was now enjoying unprecedentedly peaceful days.

For the past few days, Riana hadn’t caused trouble even once, and thanks to this, even such rumors circulated within the manor.

“Could she be sick somewhere?”

It was certainly a ridiculous rumor.

“You know… like she’s caught some incurable disease. People say humans change completely when they’re about to die.”

“N-No way. That can’t be!”

“But still, the way she cried asking ‘why now’ was strange too.”

Even so, the fear on people’s faces was real. They knew that if something happened to the young lady whom the marquis treasured like gold and jade, the consequences would be unmanageable.

‘…Young lady.’

Of course, Bel was equally anxious.

It’s just that her reason for worry was slightly different.

“Sorry for cursing at you. It might be hard to believe, but I didn’t do it on purpose.”

It was a trivial apology, but since it was the first apology she had ever heard from Riana, Bel kept thinking about her.

‘She’s really okay, right…?’

If Riana—no, if Elpis—had known, she would have been exasperated, saying it was all gaslighting.

Meanwhile, this news also reached the marquis’s ears.

*

“Riana did what?”

Earl Edward couldn’t believe the news he had just heard and asked again.

“Not only did she apologize to the maid, but she also directly ordered treatment? Riana, that child?”

“Yes, that’s correct. She seemed sincere when she said she would reflect and restrain herself, and she’s been quiet ever since. She even just reads books inside these days.”

Immediately, anger flared in the Duke’s eyes.

“You’ve grown quite old.”

“Your Highness?”

“How dare you flatter me with such ridiculous lies to my face.”

The flustered butler was momentarily at a loss for words, but the Duke’s anger was justified.

“What kind of child is she to do such things? You should speak sensibly.”

Just then, the aide who had been working nearby interjected.

“It’s true, Your Highness.”

“True?”

“I heard the exact same story. In fact… I ran into her in the corridor earlier and she greeted me.”

“…She did what?”

“…Greeted me. It was even a bow.”

No wonder he seemed out of it all day. The aide’s face was as pale as if he’d seen a ghost while saying this.

Though it might sound absurd, seeing how startled the Duke was upon hearing this showed that the aide’s reaction wasn’t strange.

“And she cried, they say.”

“Cried? Who?”

“The young lady, on the day she returned after meeting with Your Highness. She apparently threw herself on the floor and wailed loudly.”

Immediately, the Duke’s lips trembled.

Due to his busy schedule, he had been away from the manor continuously and hadn’t heard news about Riana.

‘…That child cried?’

So what I saw that day really wasn’t sweat after all!

Therefore, the shock the Duke felt was even more tremendous. But this wasn’t even the end.

“Though it may be presumptuous to say, the rumors circulating within the manor lately are quite serious.”

“Rumors? What rumors…?”

“Within the manor, there are rumors that the young lady’s health is of grave concern.”

“…What?”

“It’s just rumors!”

Then why are such rumors spreading in the first place!

The Duke nearly shouted that out loud.

“Perhaps it’s just ignorant children chattering about what they see. I merely thought that, just in case, it might be good to call a physician…”

“What they, see?”

What exactly did they see? The Duke’s eyes were already shaking violently as if an earthquake had struck.

“Y-Your Highness! Please calm down first-!”

That’s when it happened. The Duke hastily rose from his seat.

Creak- Thud! Bang!

Even as the luxurious wooden chair rolled across the floor, no one paid it any attention.

The Duke’s pale cheeks were already pitiable to behold.

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