WAV 27

chapter 27

A few days had passed.

Luckily, the duke hadn’t summoned me again since that day.

In the meantime, I didn’t step out of my room except to go to the study.

As the saying went, I lived quietly like a mouse, even eating my meals in my room—it was peaceful.

Although no matter how many books I searched, I couldn’t find a single clue about possession, and the heroine’s whereabouts were still unknown…

I found this half-measure of peace surprisingly comforting.

“I hope I don’t run into those male leads again…”

But had this cursed novel world ever gone according to my wishes?

“…A royal banquet?”

I looked at the butler who had arrived early in the morning with a puzzled expression.

In the novel, royal banquets were often held after fierce battles or the clearing of large-scale gates. They were meant to honor the awakened heroes for their achievements and celebrate victory…

Or so I thought.

“It’s probably just a scene where all the characters gather to praise the heroine.”

Or maybe a scene where villainous extras like Edith got their comeuppance.

Or a date with one of the male leads.

Anyway, it would be one of those three.

That’s why I was even more confused.

“Father and my older brother are enough. Why am I invited?”

“I’m not entirely sure… From what I know, this banquet was hosted by Grand Duke Belnak to celebrate the suppression of a large northern gate.”

“Belnak…?”

A strange feeling washed over me.

—Just being suspected by Grand Duke Belnak could mean being executed as the culprit.

It was the same name I had heard during my conversation with the duke a few days ago.

The names in this cursed novel were unnecessarily long, and I could barely remember them. That’s why I often had to ask who someone was.

Even if I didn’t know the name, I could clearly remember that there was only one person known as the ‘Northern Grand Duke.’

“…Male Lead 4!”

The final male lead who appeared after Edith’s death.

“Didn’t I have no real connection with him?”

Even as a noble, non-awakened individuals weren’t required to attend banquets. So external invitations were usually sent to the family, not the person.

I looked down at the envelope the butler handed me.

“To Edith Blake”

My name was boldly written.

Then I noticed the royal seal on the gold wax closing the envelope.

“Even though he’s the host, a grand duke using the royal seal…?”

I had a bad feeling about this.

I didn’t want to open it, but with the butler watching, I had no choice.

I carefully broke the seal with a paper knife and took out the invitation.

**“A toast to those who survive until the end.
To celebrate this victory, we will hold a banquet. You are requested to attend and honor us with your presence.

—Serge Belnak”**

The handwriting was strong, the words simple but unsettling.

“Those who survive until the end… Is he talking about me…?”

No, it’s just a common phrase for celebrating victory—I was overthinking.

“But the duke said this guy suspects me because of the heroine’s disappearance!”

Still, it didn’t feel right.

“Butler, do I really have to attend?”

“I think it would be best. The invitation was addressed to you personally…”

“What if I refuse because I’m still unwell?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I’ve heard that Grand Duke Belnak’s temperament isn’t very gentle.”

The butler looked genuinely worried.

I knew well enough that the male leads’ personalities were awful.

But seeing the butler go this far to warn me made me think that Male Lead 4’s nickname, ‘The Massacre King,’ wasn’t just an exaggeration by the author.

While I was lost in thought, the butler cautiously asked,

“…Miss, why do you look so troubled?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your expression is the same as when you search for a missing perfume or decoration…”

Sir, I’m feeling hopeless, okay?

I forced a smile.

“Then could you bring it to me now?”

“Oh, oh, no! I’m sorry, Miss! I just remembered something and… I’ll step back for now!”

The butler ran off in a fluster.

Click!

As soon as the door closed, I wiped away my forced smile.

Sigh…

I tried to recall what I knew about Male Lead 4, who I thought had nothing to do with me, and my head started to hurt.

“Serge Belnak.”

Northern Grand Duke.

The emperor’s half-brother, who seized power while the emperor was ill.

An S-rank awakened with the ability to control gravity.

Other titles included Massacre King, devil incarnate, gate slayer, monster hunter…

Because he appeared last, the author gave him many traits to make him memorable.

He earned the title ‘Massacre King’ due to his personality, as the butler explained.

Summary of his backstory (from the novel):

• Black hair and eyes like magic.

• Raised as a cold-blooded person, shunned and abused as a child.

• Awakened at 14 with gravity control and sent to fight large gates.

• Became grand duke due to his achievements but gained a terrifying reputation for killing indiscriminately.

• Once, his powers nearly went out of control, but the heroine purified him.

• Learning she stayed in the palace, he began to covet the palace…

In short, a monster who didn’t know emotions meets the heroine and learns love.

Whether Male Lead 4 actually learns love or something else didn’t concern me.

The important point: he suspected me because of Leellin’s disappearance.

And because I hadn’t died according to the novel, I had to attend the cursed banquet as a villain.

“…Wait.”

Suddenly, I realized something.

I opened my eyes wide and muttered,

“This… is the novel’s plot.”

Yes. After Edith’s death, the banquet hosted by Male Lead 4 was the next part of the story.

This meant, after I possessed this body, the novel’s events were finally unfolding as written!

“It’s not all bad.”

This banquet would be a dramatic reunion between Male Lead 4 and the heroine.

So the reclusive heroine (me) was bound to appear.

“Alright. I’ll attend and try to clear his suspicion first.”

It had felt uneasy that the heroine disappeared immediately after I possessed her body.

And I had only faced situations that didn’t appear in the novel so far.

“I need to see that the story is still following its course.”

Then, I would look for a way to get out of this villain role… and out of this house.

On the day of the banquet:

In the novel, the heroine, originally a commoner, would transform completely thanks to the palace maids she had befriended.

Cleaned, polished, masks applied, makeup done… basically, she became stunning.

“But why does it have to be me, not the heroine?”

I was woken up at dawn and roughly handled by the maids.

And surprisingly, the one in charge was the butler.

“Next, we need one hair removal cream, two natural clay masks, and one argan oil. That’s all!”

“Yes, sir!”

At his command, the maids moved with military precision.

I lay exhausted on the massage bed in a robe and asked,

“…Butler, do we really need all this?”

“Of course, Miss! You’re practically the star of today!”

“Why am I the star? He’s hosting the banquet.”

“Well… yes, but… ah, never mind!”

The butler suddenly ran out of the powder room.

Shortly after, he returned carrying a large velvet box.

“Miss, look at this.”

“What is it?”

Click.

He unlocked the box with an unusually excited expression.

When I opened the lid, my eyes widened.

A blue jewel, the exact color of my eyes, shimmered like sunlight on the sea.

That wasn’t the only surprise.

“This is the accessory set purchased by the duke for today’s banquet.”

“My father…?”