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Episode 3: It’s a Struggle Pretending to Be Human Every Day
Then, Lilibel came closer, waving her hands frantically.
“I-It’s real black magic! I heard the basics of black magic involve using shadows, but I never thought it was true!”
“Um, hey there…”
“Is it easier to use because it’s night? They say shadow magic can be used infinitely at night…!”
“Lilibel?”
“Ah! So you used that magic to save me!”
Lilibel, perhaps not even hearing my call, was busy chattering away, her face flushed bright red.
“Oh my goodness, you saved me. I’m so touched!”
‘This kid, she’s a bit strange, isn’t she?’
Shouldn’t one normally be afraid of black magic?
It was clear something was off about Lilibel’s common sense.
Trying to calm her excitement, I first grabbed her arm firmly and pulled her into an embrace.
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Stay still.”
Though the flustered girl tried to wriggle out of my hold, I had already extended my hand forward.
“You devil…!”
Because just then, I saw Hans, holding a dagger in his other hand, rushing towards Lilibel and me.
His gritted teeth revealed malice and urgency, his intent to kill me plain once more.
Finally realizing Hans was targeting her, Lilibel flinched.
After patting her back with my other hand to reassure her, I drew upon my magic.
‘Don’t hold it against me.’
This time, I precisely aimed at the shadows.
Just moments ago, I had considered trying to talk, but seeing how he refused to quell his murderous intent even after being overpowered, it seemed unnecessary.
‘I have no intention of dying again.’
“You…!”
Although it was my first time using shadow magic in this human body, it felt as easy as if I’d used it for ages. The shadow, spread out like a cloth, swallowed Hans whole.
“…!”
Hans disappeared into the shadow without even a scream.
Crunch, crunch… Ominous sounds echoed from within the shadow. There was no need to confirm his demise.
With him gone, only the dagger remained on the bedroom floor.
“Huh? What? Where did Chamberlain Hans go?”
Lilibel, who had slipped out of my embrace, looked around.
To change the subject, I picked up the dagger left on the floor.
“Lilibel, can you explain what happened? I still don’t really understand what’s going on.”
“Ah, yes! Actually, I came to the bedroom today to change the candles…”
Lilibel stammeringly explained the situation before I woke up.
‘So, I really did die.’
Unconsciously, I placed a hand over my chest.
My heart was now beating vigorously, unlike before. Even within, the magic power from my time as a demon surged.
It wasn’t at its peak level, but it was clearly not an amount a human could wield.
‘But my soul is still a demon’s. If a priest were to ever find out…’
A terrifying future of witch hunts flashed through my mind.
“Your Highness?”
“…It’s nothing. So, what next?”
“Ah, yes. Chamberlain Hans suddenly appeared, saying he was looking for a ‘stake.’ Then he confessed that… he had killed you with it.”
I wasn’t surprised Hans was the assassin. After all, he wasn’t the only one in the villa who wished for my death. I’d long known that the servants were conspiring to kill me.
The problem was the word ‘stake.’
It was unfamiliar to me as Dana, but to me, Asmo Dana the demon, it was well-known.
‘A tool typically used by curse-masters.’
I recalled the method of sending a curse by placing a stake or totem imbued with malice near the target.
‘Thanks to my magic, all the poison accumulated in my body has been neutralized. The curse should be the same.’
Weak poison or curses are like sandcastles before a wave in the face of powerful magic.
Although my constitution, weakened by long illness, hadn’t fully recovered, there shouldn’t be any lingering effects from the stake Hans mentioned.
So, there was no need to worry… but Hans’s statement about looking for it was troubling.
‘Did someone steal the tool? Or… is it still somewhere in this room?’
Perhaps I should have kept him alive a little longer.
Pushing my curiosity about the stake aside for now, I was about to ask about the situation outside when…
“Cough!”
A tickling sensation in my throat triggered a violent cough.
Lilibel screamed, her face turning deathly pale.
“B-Blood! You’re bleeding, Your Highness!”
What came from my mouth wasn’t saliva but dark, tainted blood.
Stunned by the sudden Hempotysis, I too was taken aback.
‘What is this… Could it be because of the magic?’
I hastily checked my physical state. Fortunately, my soul was fine.
Instead, I could feel magic power congealed near my lungs, including my stomach.
‘It seems like a recoil from excessive magic use.’
Like sore muscles the day after overexertion, it seemed my body hadn’t adapted to using magic for the first time.
‘A strong vessel is needed for powerful magic. If I were to lose control even once…’
The image of my body bursting like a balloon came to mind.
‘Gradually increasing usage might help my body adapt… but I mustn’t overdo it.’
I shook my head at the chilling thought.
“…Is it because you used black magic?”
“Well, yes, but it’s no big deal. My body’s just a bit unwell, that’s all.”
Lilibel seemed unconvinced for some reason.
She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and carefully wiped the corner of my mouth.
I refused, saying I’d do it myself, but she insisted I was bleeding too much and kept wiping.
After she spent a long time cleaning my mouth and clothes, I thanked her and pointed outside the bedroom.
“By the way, Lilibel, isn’t today the Head Maid’s duty day?”
“She’ll probably arrive in the morning. Since dawn is breaking soon… she’ll be here any moment.”
“Then, could you ask her to come see me as soon as she arrives? I have something urgent to discuss.”
Lilibel seemed curious about what business I could have with the Head Maid so early, but perhaps thinking it wasn’t her place to ask, she agreed and left the bedroom.
I straightened my disheveled nightgown and sat in the chair in the corner of the bedroom.
Since sleep wouldn’t come, I thought about what lay ahead.
‘I have no idea where to even start. To find the mastermind behind the assassination, I need to regain the freedom to leave the villa, while simultaneously hiding my demon nature…’
Most were problems I couldn’t solve immediately, but a few threads were within grasp.
‘First, I need the Emperor’s permission.’
My father, who abandoned me in this villa. I needed the imperial privileges he took away. Only with those could a human-like life be possible.
While formulating concrete plans, morning arrived, and the Head Maid entered the bedroom.
“…!”
The moment she saw me sitting in the chair, her eyes widened.
It was understandable—just last night, I was deathly pale, but now I looked perfectly fine.
Gesturing to the chair opposite me, I said,
“Sit, Head Maid Emma. We need to talk.”
Head Maid Emma—she was a servant who had cared for me for over a decade.
Her shock was brief; she offered a polite greeting and sat down.
“Has your health recovered?”
“More or less. This is the first time you’ve seen me looking so well, isn’t it?”
“I’m glad you’ve recovered.”
Seeing her stiff, mask-like expression was actually reassuring.
A workaholic who didn’t involve herself in politics or factions, focusing solely on her duties.
That was the characteristic of Head Maid Emma, dispatched from the main palace.
‘She probably noticed there are assassins in the villa. She just didn’t get involved because it wasn’t her duty.’
A machine-like person with no pity or contempt for me.
Put negatively, she was someone devoid of humanity, but it was precisely that nature that made her more trustworthy.
‘Considering when she was dispatched, she’s the safest person after Lilibel.’
Thus, she was the perfect candidate for the task I had in mind. Firm in my resolve, I spoke.
“Head Maid, the truth is, I was nearly assassinated today.”
“…I see.”
“Not interested?”
Only her eyebrow twitched slightly; she remained calm and composed.
“Guard duty is not part of my responsibilities. Shall I summon the Royal Guard? Or perhaps calling the Head Chamberlain would be better.”
‘That man is a suspect too.’
The Head Chamberlain, in charge of the villa, was one of the prime suspects. Leaving it to him would only result in evidence destruction.
“Never mind, pretend you didn’t hear that. I’ll find the evidence myself. Instead, I need you to make a trip to the main palace.”
“What is the task?”
“Simple letter delivery. As you know, I’m banned from entering the main palace. So, I need you to go in my place.”
“What could the content possibly be…”
I smiled brightly.
A special measure that could overturn the Emperor’s judgment that I had lost my usefulness.
That was…
“I’m going to advertise that I’m looking for a fiance”
“…Pardon?”
“I don’t particularly want to marry, but I need a husband now.”
Wielding my status as a member of the imperial family.
This time, even Emma couldn’t hide her astonishment, her mouth falling open.
