🔊 TTS Settings
CHAPTER 09
A few days later, Count Inferna lost control of his rage and began hurling everything in his study.
Glass shards and broken, useless objects scattered messily across the floor.
All of this chaos had begun with my mistake—when I, swayed by Luna’s words, told the Count directly that I didn’t want to get engaged to the Second Prince.
“You just said… you don’t want what, exactly?”
“Well, I’m still young, and…”
The moment he heard my trembling voice, the Count’s grip on my shoulder tightened violently.
A groan escaped my lips from the pain bearing down on me.
“Hngh…”
“That will never happen. If you are of House Inferna, you will prove your worth.”
As if it were only natural for me to become the prince’s consort, the Count spoke smoothly—like it was simply the order of things.
Sure, if the game followed its original script, it would make sense. But this was about my survival. I had to turn the situation around.
‘The Count’s obsession with this engagement must also be part of the setting. There must be a way to change this…’
I couldn’t surrender just because of some pain. One death in my past life had been more than enough.
‘Think, Yoon Soobin. Anything—just remember something.’
No matter how hard I tried, the outcome stayed the same. Until now, I had only ever played the game from Roellin’s point of view. I didn’t know what Elufe had truly wanted in the original story.
From what I could tell, the Count was definitely forcing this engagement onto Elufe. But… what if that wasn’t the whole truth?
What if the two of them had worked together, and this marriage was progressing with full agreement?
‘Maybe I should match the Count’s expectations, at least a little. I can’t wreck the original plot if I want Roellin to have her happy ending.’
“Don’t you dare say such things in front of the prince.”
The Count’s cold expression bore down on me. I deliberately tried to make myself look younger—more innocent and helpless.
There’s a saying that even a hedgehog finds its own baby cute. Maybe if I could trigger his protective instincts, it would lower his guard.
“Is it really necessary that I become the Second Prince’s fiancée? We already have a brilliant older brother. If he becomes a great head of the family, then—”
CRASH.
Before I could even finish speaking, the Count threw a glass ornament that had been sitting on his desk.
The expensive glass shattered everywhere, but not a single shard hit me. It seemed he was making a point to avoid harming my body—perhaps because he still intended to present me as the future crown princess.
“A half-wit who can’t even use dark magic, becoming the next head? Don’t make me laugh.”
His voice trembled, as if barely holding back his fury. I was so stunned by what he said that my fingertips turned cold.
“Dark magic…?”
I’d heard somewhere that the Inferna family had an affinity for poisonous herbs, but I hadn’t known that their head actually used dark magic.
“So it’s true you hit your head at the Imperial Palace.”
The Count’s voice was laced with suspicion. My shoulders flinched involuntarily. I must’ve said something to make him doubt me—my stomach churned in anxiety.
“I only felt uneasy because it seemed my brother wanted to be the prince’s companion so badly. Our family already has honor and wealth, so I thought… maybe it wouldn’t be a big deal if he took my place.”
“You foolish child. Honor and wealth exist thanks to the sacrifices of those before us. But that’s not all we must pass on to the next generation—power is what matters.”
So that’s why Elforten talked the way he did. He was a mirror image of the Count. It was obvious from the Count’s face that he would never send Elforten to serve the prince.
Pluck.
Without warning, the Count pulled out a strand of my hair.
“Ack!”
As I clutched my aching scalp and frowned, the Count blew on the hair in clear dissatisfaction.
“Watch carefully.”
And in an instant, a second me appeared before my eyes.
Though I still wasn’t used to this body, I could tell the figure was exactly what I had seen in the mirror this morning.
It even moved naturally—so lifelike it startled me.
‘What if that version acts more like the real Elufe before I possessed her? What if people start comparing us…?’
While I grew anxious, the Count remained utterly calm.
“Your turn.”
Now holding a strand of his own hair, the Count stared at me with the expectation that I would naturally succeed with this strange dark magic.
So the real Elufe had been able to do at least this much, then.
“…Do you think I can really do it?”
“If you are Elufe Inferna, you absolutely can.”
His conviction terrified me. I hesitantly nodded.
This was how he treated me when he believed I was his daughter. If he found out I wasn’t—if he discovered the truth—I could really end up dead.
‘He could kill me and replace me with a fake created through dark magic, and no one would question it. I cannot let him find out I’m not the real Elufe.’
I rose from the sofa and mimicked the Count, breathing on a strand of my hair.
And unbelievably, a man who looked exactly like the Count appeared before us.
‘Is this really possible…?’
I was so stunned I couldn’t speak. But the Count’s disappointed voice snapped me back.
“Your duplicate is a failure. Who would believe a figure that can’t speak or move?”
Now that he mentioned it, the Count’s creation was sitting casually in the seat I’d just vacated, holding my teacup and smiling.
“Elufe, you’ll have to work a little harder,” the duplicate said mockingly.
I was too speechless to reply.
“With practice, you’ll get it. You need to concentrate and clearly visualize your subject. If your magic were stronger, one drop of blood would suffice. But at your level, you’ll need much more effort.”
So if you only know a person superficially, the clone will only mimic appearances. But with strong enough magic, even blood alone can create a near-perfect duplicate.
“There isn’t much time. I can’t spare you long. I’ll teach you a few more things. Next time, I expect perfect results.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“No one at the Imperial Palace will lift a finger for you. The only one who can save you… is you. Don’t forget that.”
As painful as it was to admit, the Count was right. The only person I could trust right now was myself.
“Now, watch carefully and follow along.”
While learning dark magic, I rapidly sorted through my thoughts.
If I refused the Count and failed to perform this magic, my second life would end right here.
For now, the smartest move was to go to the Imperial Palace—and prepare to escape.
‘Besides, if I want to watch Roellin be loved and feel satisfied by proxy… I need to stay a bystander.’
After thinking it through, I realized this life was already a lost cause.
In this story, I wasn’t even a third-party observer. I was a villainess headed straight for execution. So I’d better switch tactics—like a bat that flies with both sides.
At the palace, I’d emphasize that I wasn’t a villainess. And in front of the Count, I’d act like I was seducing the prince.
Step one: enter the palace and establish a reputation as kind and harmless, in contrast to the rumors. Then, when I’d built up enough strength, I’d escape.
Back then, I thought it would be that simple.
When I returned, Luna gave me a worried look, sensing my grim mood.
Maybe she felt guilty for encouraging me to speak up—she followed me around like a nervous puppy.
“Did the master not give his approval?”
“Luna… did you know I could use dark magic?”
It was an abrupt question, but Luna nodded right away, eyes sparkling.
She looked like she was recounting the tale of a great hero. It was clear how much she admired Elufe.
“My lady is a genius. The young master still hasn’t manifested dark magic, but you— you could use it from the moment you were born.”
“What? I used dark magic as a baby?”
Dark magic always required a price—like how I’d used hair to create a duplicate. Could a baby really use dark magic without paying any price?
“Even the late Madam acknowledged it. My lady is a prodigy.”
“Luna… aren’t you afraid of dark magic?”
This world already had ordinary mages. Being the personal maid of a dark magic user should be terrifying.
“I think it’s amazing that you can use it, my lady.”
Seeing Luna’s eyes sparkle, I realized—when she talked about my ‘truly beautiful self’ before, she must’ve meant the me who used dark magic.
“Have I ever shown you that magic before?”
Luna hesitated a bit, then nodded.
“…You once showed me my little sister back in my hometown.”
Luna had a younger sister the same age as me.
Her sister had a rare illness, and most of their living expenses went to medicine. Their mother struggled to manage it all alone. That was why Luna had started working as a maid so young.
But… how had Elufe shown her Luna’s sister back in their hometown?
‘If her sister was that far away, Elufe didn’t use hair… She must’ve used something else.’
Feeling uneasy, I furrowed my brows. Luna smiled faintly and gently brushed my hair.
BANG!
Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open with a thunderous crash.
