PWH C9

I sat in my room, bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window, and organized my thoughts about the dream I’d had last night.

Isabella Dunkeld, who was labeled an evil woman… If the contents of the dream were true, I was now convinced that behind every evil deed Isabella had committed lay a similar story.

Isabella Dunkeld was just an ordinary human. To be honest, I wanted to call her foolish… but since I was now using this body, calling her that felt like insulting myself, so I chose to call her simple instead.

The lingering effects of the dream hadn’t worn off. It felt as if the emotions Isabella experienced were still clinging to me.

I made the sign of the cross in an attempt to shake off the unpleasant feeling.

“Ah, my lady! Please be careful with that!” Jessie had entered my room just in time, bringing my breakfast.

“It’s morning blasphemy.”

“Why not do some morning exercise instead? Why such—” Jessie trailed off, shaking her head.

I sat at the table and began eating the breakfast Jessie had brought. The sandwich was packed with meat, which was satisfying.

“My lady, here’s today’s newspaper.” Jessie pulled a folded newspaper out of her apron and handed it to me. I took it and tilted my head.

“Do I normally read the newspaper?”

“Well… you usually don’t, but today there’s an article about the crown prince in it.”

According to Jessie, Isabella had shown an obsessive interest in the crown prince. On days when news about the crown prince appeared in the paper, Jessie always had to bring it to her, no matter what.

I slowly looked over the crown prince’s picture in the newspaper.

He was fairly handsome for a human. In fact, even if I extended the comparison to demons and angels, his looks would still hold up well.

But that was all.

In the Demon Realm, the higher-ranking demons were all beautiful. After living for centuries among the Demon Lords, how could I be impressed by mere human looks?

I pointed at the photo with a bored expression. “I liked this?”

“My lady! Referring to the crown prince as ‘this’ is blasphemy against the imperial family!”

I merely shrugged. If I was already committing blasphemy against God, what was a little imperial blasphemy?

“He’s not my type.” I made sure to tell Jessie.

“Well, since your memory isn’t intact right now, my lady, I suppose tastes can change…” Jessie muttered, nodding to herself in understanding.

“Then, what kind of person do you like now?” Jessie asked me with sparkling eyes.

As I chewed on my sandwich, I considered my answer. In truth, there was no need to think. The answer was clear.

“A pure soul.”

“…You mean someone with a good heart, right?”

“Think of it that way if you want.”

Demons don’t understand the concept of love. Instead, demons feel possessiveness.

This possessiveness could target anyone—demons, humans, even angels. Demons’ possessiveness didn’t discriminate based on species.

Of course, that didn’t mean the feeling was everlasting. Demons were fickle and selfish. They could whisper love one day, and the next, their passion would vanish.

I had only felt possessiveness once in my life. There was a human with a soul so pure it seemed untouchable. To possess that soul, I had made my first contract with a human.

And in the end…

I looked down at my chest. For a moment, I saw the flash of a sword piercing my heart.

I flinched. Thankfully, Jessie was still focused on discussing my preferences and didn’t notice my reaction.

“Most people talk about seeing the good in someone, not seeing their soul, my lady. You are… rather peculiar.”

Jessie clearly found my tastes incomprehensible. Well, for a human who couldn’t see souls, it made sense. But to call her master peculiar…

“Jessie, don’t get cheeky.” I tapped her on the bridge of her nose with my finger.

This girl was getting too comfortable with her lady. If we were in the Demon Realm, I would have given her a warning, but her chatter wasn’t unpleasant, so I let it slide.

After all, there weren’t many people in this mansion who were kind to this body. Jessie was one of the few exceptions.

I picked up the newspaper and began reading. There was nothing better for understanding the current state of the middle realm than the news.

The first term that caught my eye was “Aizen Empire.”

Five hundred years ago, it had been a kingdom, but at some point, it had become an empire.

And Isabella was a noble of the Aizen Empire. Of all the countries in the middle realm, it had to be this one.

I suppressed my irritation.

The next thing that caught my eye was the name of the crown prince.

“Adrian Martine.”

I unknowingly muttered the crown prince’s surname aloud. Instantly, an overwhelming sense of emotion washed over me.

Zachary Martine.

Five hundred years ago, my first contractor. The one who betrayed me.

It seemed he had left descendants. When he made a contract with me, he was just the youngest son of a count, yet now the royal family bore his name. It appeared he had gained much from that betrayal.

My demonic instincts began to stir.

I stared at the photo of the crown prince for a long time. This man was Zachary’s descendant.

‘Perhaps I should claim him for myself?’

Zachary had died long ago, and his soul had likely perished as well. I had sworn to myself not to dwell on what happened five hundred years ago. But seeing the trace he left behind caused something to boil within me.

Would putting a collar around the crown prince’s neck rid me of these murky emotions? Besides, hadn’t Isabella liked him?

Who knew—maybe Isabella’s wish had been to possess the crown prince, even if it meant making a contract with a demon.

But I quickly shook my head, realizing how absurd my thoughts were.

If that had been Isabella’s true wish, it wouldn’t explain why my magic returned whenever I was with Gabby.

It seemed I had yet to truly move on from Zachary’s betrayal.

I closed my eyes.

‘Enough. Stay out of it.’

My priority was to fulfill Isabella’s wish and regain my magic.

With that, I dismissed any further thoughts about the crown prince from my mind.

***

However, my resolve not to get involved with the crown prince didn’t even last a day.

“An imperial ball?”

“Yes! I thought an invitation wouldn’t arrive for you, my lady, but it seems the Duke used his influence.”

Jessie handed me an invitation, its stiff paper adorned with gold embellishments. I took it with an indifferent expression.

“What’s this picture? A toothpick?”

“…It’s the imperial sword, the symbol of the imperial family.”

I flicked the invitation away. “I’m not going.”

“I hate to say this, given your current state, my lady, but you must attend. Ignoring an invitation from the imperial family will anger the Duke.”

Jessie kept trying to persuade me, urging me to attend the ball.

“You always loved going to balls, my lady. I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself once you’re there.”

Jessie pleaded with me.

I paused, considering her words.

According to Jessie, Isabella was under suspicion of attempting to poison a Marquis’s daughter. Under normal circumstances, she would be confined at home, awaiting punishment—but she had received an invitation.

The Duke must have intervened. Still, I doubted he had done it for his daughter’s sake. The Duke showed no affection whatsoever for Isabella.

He must have his own plans. If I refused to attend and ruined his plans, how would the Duke react?

Well, there was no need to provoke him unnecessarily. And because of my dream last night, I felt it was worth attending a ball at least once.

‘Jessie said a count’s family ranks far below that of a duke’s.’

And yet the count’s daughter had dared to insult Isabella. I suspected there was more to it.

Since I had no idea when I’d return to my original body, I needed to think of myself as Isabella for the time being. I needed to understand her surroundings.

“Fine. I’ll go.”

“Thank you, my lady!” Jessie beamed, her joy short-lived as she soon cried out in despair.

“The problem is your dress—and now that I think about it, your accessories too!”

“What’s the problem?”

Having checked Isabella’s wardrobe and jewelry box myself, I didn’t understand Jessie’s concern. There were plenty of dresses and accessories.

“But you’ve already worn all of them at least once! If you wear the same dress again, people will talk.”

Jessie’s words made me laugh. Never wearing the same dress twice? It was hard to understand the ways of these noble humans, but wasn’t the solution simple?

“Then I’ll buy a new one.”

Jessie shook her head. “You’ve caused so much trouble lately that the Duke has cut your budget, my lady. You don’t even have enough for a new pair of shoes.”

I froze at her words.

I wouldn’t care if I had to wear rags to the ball. But being poor was a different matter entirely.

Me, poor?

My mouth dropped open at the thought of a reality I couldn’t accept. In the Demon Realm, I lived surrounded by piles of gold coins. Even the Demon Lord of Greed drooled over my treasure.

I frowned. This body might not be my true form, but in any state, I could not accept being poor.

“Jessie, I will become rich.”

“Are you thinking of starting a business, my lady?”

“Business?” I tilted my head at the unexpected word.

Jessie nodded eagerly. “Yes! I’ve been reading some interesting novels lately, and in them, the heroines all start businesses and become wealthy!”

I sighed. Business? With such a proper mindset, it would be difficult to amass wealth.

“I’ll teach you how to build wealth,” I said, gesturing for Jessie to come closer.

When she was near enough, I whispered in her ear, “Pillage. Take other people’s property.”

Demons typically amassed wealth through plunder. I grinned widely.