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Chapter: 38
It was Rafel.
As she approached, Bin explained the situation to her from beginning to end.
After hearing everything, Rafel spoke in a calm tone.
“Count Adelen. I apologize, but Sir Heather is currently carrying out the important duty of escorting distinguished guests such as yourself. If you have business with her, would you consider waiting until the party has concluded?”
“And who are you?”
Anyone influential in the capital would recognize the face of the Commander of the Imperial Knights.
However, the House of Adelen had guarded the far northern borders of Abert long before they were granted the lands of Serom. Because of that, they rarely left their territory and could easily be unfamiliar with notable figures of the capital.
That, of course, did not justify such rudeness as saying, “And who are you?”
“Rafel Isdon, Commander of the Imperial Knights. I happened to have official matters to discuss with Sir Heather. Would you kindly yield to me first?”
“I thought you said she couldn’t leave her post during her mission? Then why do you get to call her aside?”
“I need to convey matters directly related to that mission.”
“I also have something just as important to discuss. I arrived first, so you yield.”
“…Ha.”
Realizing words would not get through, Rafel let out a sigh.
The Rafel who had once seemed like a child now appeared incomparably mature standing before Isvino.
“Then how about this? The one who wins a spar gets to speak with Sir Heather first.”
Ah. I take that back.
Trying to settle things with fists because words won’t work—how childish… No, actually, I used to be like that too. Damn it.
“No thanks. You’re the Commander, aren’t you? If you have any common sense, you’d know I don’t stand even the slightest chance of beating you. And besides, I came first. Why are we deciding this with a match? Stop forcing it.”
“It is you—! No. Count, it is you who are being unreasonable. Between personal business and official duty, which holds greater weight? Surely you know the answer.”
“The one who came first.”
Wow. He really doesn’t listen.
Is this what people call the “complete package”?
Isvino had always been a bit crazy, but not to this extent. What happened to him?
“I’ll exercise my deep and generous understanding and accept that she cannot leave during her mission. But that should apply to you as well. Shouldn’t it?”
“…Ah. This is driving me insane.”
“Let me be clear. If I can’t, then neither can you. I won’t allow it.”
His eyes blazed as if he would cause a scene without hesitation.
His logic was nothing but stubborn nonsense, yet his determination was so unyielding that I saw no way to break it.
Rafel—who had been created from me—must have felt the same.
“…Do as you please.”
In the end, she was the one forced to concede.
* * *
“What the hell is that guy now?”
Rafel bit her lip anxiously.
Isvino Adelen. Because of him, her plan had fallen apart.
Her plan had been simple:
Under the pretense of giving official instructions, create a private moment, then stab the target through the heart.
Then, using magic to alter her appearance, she would return to the banquet hall pretending to be Irilin Heather.
When the lights dimmed for the second part of the party, she would disappear.
People would search for the missing Irilin Heather—only to discover her cold corpse.
That would secure her alibi as Rafel Isdon. There were witnesses who saw her call Irilin aside, so she could convince the Crown Prince she had merely performed her duty as Rafel Isdon.
Nowhere in her plan had there been room for an interference.
And so she had no idea how to overcome this obstacle.
“How long do you plan to stand there like that?”
“Until I can be alone with her.”
Even now, the nuisance clung to the target, practically pitching a tent in front of her.
Bin Ortega could have been overpowered easily by authority. Baek Mina might have been trickier, but manageable.
She had not anticipated another guardian.
Did the target even know?
That Isvino Adelen was actually after her life.
That she was being protected—unwittingly—by the very person who sought to kill her.
* * *
“How long do you plan to stand there like that?”
“Until I can be alone with her.”
“That won’t happen.”
“Why not? Once the mission ends, we’re free to do as we please, aren’t we?”
Bin froze at Isvino’s words, momentarily speechless.
Then he spoke.
“After the mission ends, she’s having dinner with me.”
What? We never agreed to that, did we? I shot him a look.
He leaned close and whispered in my ear.
“Just go with it.”
“…Why?”
“I don’t want you alone with that bastard.”
His blue eyes looked down at me, pleading.
And suddenly I remembered the bouquet from that night.
When he acts indifferent, he’s cold as ice—so why is he suddenly so honest about his feelings?
“Don’t stray from me.”
He no longer hid it. It was as if he had torn down the barrier.
The emotion laid bare was dizzyingly intense possessiveness.
“This won’t do.”
Isvino’s face went cold.
Up until that moment, Bin hadn’t even spared him a glance, his eyes fixed solely on me.
That was why Isvino’s hand reached me without obstruction.
“Hey.”
For some reason, the fear that crushed me then was greater than when facing Mona White, the strongest in this world.
His hand gripped near my ear.
A low voice pierced it.
“Give me back my body. Before I kill you.”
It felt as if my soul had been ripped from me.
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think.
“I told you. No unauthorized contact.”
“Ugh—let go! How dare you—how dare you do this to me! Let gooooo!”
In an instant, Bin subdued Isvino.
“Marquis Heather and Lady Heather are entering!”
A grand trumpet blast echoed through the hall.
The Marquis and his wife stepped forward in rhythm.
Then they noticed us.
Abandoning decorum, they rushed over.
“Irilin! What happened to your face? Did something occur?”
“Did something happen with the man Bin is restraining?”
Both looked deeply worried.
Beneath Bin, the veins in Isvino’s eyes bulged.
“What… Why?”
His voice came out hoarse.
Madness—and terrible loss—filled his eyes.
“Why are you looking at that thing like that?!”
“…Was that directed at us?” the Marquis asked cautiously.
“Everything you had—it was all meant for me! That thing is a fake!”
“Who exactly are you to say such things?”
“I am Irilin Heather, your daughter! That fake stole my body! Please, Father—give me back my place!”
“Bin! What are you doing? He seems unstable—escort him away at once! Irilin is trembling!”
“I was about to.”
Bin bound Isvino with a cord he normally kept tied to his scabbard—his movements practiced and smooth.
“Mental illness is like a cold of the mind. There’s no shame in seeking a specialist. I wish you a swift recovery.”
Even now, the Marchioness pressed Doctor Saint’s business card into Isvino’s hand.
“Bin! Don’t you dare! Why are you looking only at the fake when the real one is right here?!”
Still shouting, Isvino was dragged away.
He would likely be isolated in a guest chamber.
He’d be released tomorrow.
It wasn’t assault. Only physical contact.
But when he is released…
If he comes to demand his body back…
What then?
After living as Irilin, I had heard enough stories to be certain of one thing:
The original owner of this body would rather kill with her own hands than surrender it.
Consequences did not frighten her.
Even if it meant rotting for life in Abert’s underground prison for murder, she would do it.
There was nothing valuable enough to suppress the desire that defined her very being.
“My apologies. He appeared unstable, so I was keeping watch—but I failed to stop him in time.”
Rafel reappeared.
Strangely, she seemed almost… excited.
“No, it’s alright. But perhaps…”
“Yes. I am Rafel Isdon, Commander of the Imperial Knights. If you permit it, the young lady appears shaken. I would like to escort her somewhere quiet to rest.”
“Of course. Please do.”
The Marquis placed a hand on my shoulder and gently pushed me toward Rafel.
Still dazed, I was about to let myself be led away.
“No!!”
A voice snapped me back to awareness.
“Sis?”
“Honestly. Where have you been all this time? And now you show up screaming without an ounce of grace.”
Ah.
My sister.
