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chapter 07
Everyone turned their heads toward the sound.
Through the open door, the healing-type awakened person from yesterday walked in.
“Eston, why are you here…?”
“Why else? I came to treat the noble lady.”
The woman glanced at me.
The butler looked even more shocked than I was and asked,
“Treat? Didn’t you say she was fine yesterday?”
“Yes. But the young master specifically asked me to.”
“What do you mean…?”
“He said I should help the young lady recover her memories quickly. I don’t know what more I’m supposed to do though.”
She shrugged as if it was unfair.
Her attitude clearly showed hostility.
‘Looks like she really hates Edith.’
No wonder she acted strange yesterday too.
‘Isn’t she being too obvious just because I lost my memory?’
Seeing how she couldn’t hide her emotions, she didn’t seem very old.
Maybe around Nancy’s age—about 18?
Or maybe she had just awakened and thought the world was easy.
If the real Edith were here, she would’ve already clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Just then, the woman approached me.
“You tried it once yesterday, so you know how it works, right? I’ll begin again today, Lady.”
She reached out her hand without permission.
I quickly pulled my body back.
“What are you doing right now…?”
“What does ‘being stoned’ mean?”
At my sudden question, Eston frowned.
“…You’re not seriously asking because you don’t know, right?”
“I’m asking because I don’t know.”
“Ah, right. You said you lost your memory.”
With a mocking smile, she continued,
“The world is really unfair.”
“…”
“Some people can attempt murder and just say they don’t remember, and that’s the end of it. Meanwhile, others have to abandon their dying family just to treat that person.”
“Eston! How dare you say such nonsense to the young lady!”
The butler shouted angrily.
But Eston didn’t stop.
“The young master rushed out to calm things down in case a riot broke out. What did he do wrong, huh?”
“Eston Kenderson! Watch your mouth this instant!”
No, she shouldn’t stop.
I asked on purpose because I was curious.
The butler trying to block it was getting annoying.
“Butler. I’m fine, so please leave.”
He firmly shook his head.
“My lady, you don’t need to listen to such useless talk.”
“But wouldn’t it be better to know something if I don’t already know it?”
Eston added slyly,
“That’s right. If the young lady wants her memories back quickly, shouldn’t she know these things, Butler?”
“Enough! Eston, come with me—!”
The butler grabbed her arm and tried to drag her out.
I let out a deep sigh.
“…Sigh. Butler, didn’t I tell you to leave?”
“But my lady, this is truly something you don’t need to know—!”
“That’s for me to decide.”
My voice turned cold.
The butler froze and looked at me.
‘I was trying to act like a kind Edith since I lost my memory… why won’t he understand?’
I reached out and picked up a large perfume bottle from the dressing table.
It was heavy—felt pretty good in my hand.
“This is strange. I was fine just now, but since you won’t listen… I feel like throwing this at you.”
“M-My lady…!”
“Why do you think that is?”
I tilted my head innocently.
The butler flinched.
Even Eston, who had been mocking until now, changed her expression.
I lightly shook the perfume bottle.
“Last chance. Will you step outside, Butler?”
“…I will wait in front of the door.”
Finally, he listened.
He let go of Eston and bowed.
“Please call me immediately if anything happens.”
“Nancy, you go out too.”
“Y-Yes!”
The maid quickly left without a sound.
Click.
Silence finally filled the room.
“Alright. Let’s talk properly now, Eston.”
I gently put the perfume bottle back and smiled at her.
“When you say attempted murder… you mean me, right?”
“W-Well…”
Eston flinched like the butler earlier.
She looked at me like I was crazy and answered,
“…Who else would it be?”
“I told you twice already—I don’t know.”
I erased my smile and stared coldly.
She flinched again but soon raised her chin stubbornly.
“Who did I try to kill? That purifier my father mentioned yesterday? Are you close to her?”
“…No.”
“Then are you blaming me because your family is dying due to the gate incident?”
Eston suddenly snapped,
“If you hadn’t put the purifier in danger, that entire area would’ve been fine!”
“…”
“The people exposed to demonic energy would’ve all been purified too!”
“Ah… so that’s what this is about.”
I let out a dry laugh.
“So after the gate closed, the purifier just left without doing the job properly?”
“Would you want to stay after almost being killed because of you?!”
This was new information.
It wasn’t in the novel.
‘Right. She got rescued and fainted immediately, then was taken to the capital. No time to purify anything.’
The novel didn’t cover such small details.
Just like it never explained why the villain kidnapped the heroine.
But still—
‘Why are you taking it out on me instead of going to complain to Ruelin?’
Do I look easy?
Just because I lost my memory, you think you can blame everything on me?
Now that I understood the “stoning” situation, I muttered irritably,
“You sure have a lot of ways to vent your anger. Do you not care that I almost died too?”
“That’s because you first kidnapped the purifier with bad intentions—”
“Who said I had bad intentions?”
“…What?”
She looked stunned.
‘Exactly.’
There’s no proof Edith tried to kill her.
“I might’ve begged her because I desperately needed purification too. I heard Ezenia is important to me as well.”
“Hah… that’s…”
“You didn’t just hear one side and decide I’m a criminal, did you?”
My confident attitude clearly shook her.
She replied weakly,
“…You always hated the purifier! Not just me—everyone in the territory thinks so. Because of you, people exposed to demonic energy lost their chance to be purified—”
“The world really is unfair. Someone nearly dies in a monster’s jaws and gets blamed, while someone who didn’t even get a scratch and abandoned their duty gets sympathy.”
I threw her own words back at her.
Her eyes trembled.
“Instead of venting here, why don’t you go do some volunteer work?”
“Don’t speak carelessly when you don’t know anything! While you’re being treated like royalty here—!”
She suddenly stopped talking.
“…Ha. Forget it.”
She looked exhausted, as if talking to me drained her.
Then she bowed.
“I was rude beyond my place. Please forgive me generously.”
“…”
“Then I’ll begin the treatment.”
At that moment—
A strange, ominous energy suddenly rose from her body.
Then—
89%
The same number I saw above Ethan yesterday appeared above her head.
A dark smoke rose from her feet to her neck.
‘89%?!’
I was shocked.
‘She can’t use her power anymore.’
At the same time, I slapped her hand away as she reached out to heal me.
Smack!
“Ah…!”
“That’s enough.”
“My lady!”
She glared at me.
But I had no choice.
“It seems like you’re the one who needs treatment, not me.”
“What are you talking about? I’m perfectly fine!”
No, you’re not.
If she’s hired by a duke’s family, her awakening level must be high.
And she said her family is dying.
‘She’s been overusing her ability while exposed to demonic energy.’
I wanted to tell her to go to a purifier immediately.
But that would reveal my own ability.
After a moment of hesitation, I spoke,
“Get someone else to check your condition soon.”
“Hah! I’m a healer myself—what are you saying?”
“You’ve blacked out while standing recently, haven’t you? You feel dizzy often… and you’ve had nosebleeds too.”
She froze.
“H-How do you…?”
“You’re having a nosebleed right now.”
