“Are you insane?”
Veronica asked, her voice dripping with contempt for Cedric.
Cedric, like a madman, let out a twisted laugh as he rose to his feet.
“No, unfortunately, not yet.”
“You certainly look crazy enough.”
He was visibly far from fine. His eyes were sunken and hollow, and his once-radiant silver hair had lost its luster, now dry and lifeless. Perhaps due to the strong medicines he was taking, he seemed unable to eat properly, his body gaunt and his naturally sharp features appearing even more severe.
As a Sword Master, someone with rapid recovery abilities, he should’ve been healing by now—but since he’d fought another master, it seemed his recovery was slower than usual.
“Veronica, you’re the one who forced me into marriage even though I refused. Have you forgotten?”
“…I do regret that.”
At his clearly hostile question, Veronica calmly nodded. She had no intention of pretending innocence. For her, marrying Cedric had been a blessing—but for him, it must have been a nightmare.
Still, the Veronica of now felt more resentment than guilt toward Cedric for the unwanted marriage. Their relationship had turned into a tragic union for them both.
She was sick and tired of it all. Veronica just wanted this miserable connection to end once and for all.
“So I won’t ask for anything. If you want alimony, I’ll offer the highest amount I can.”
“Hah…”
Cedric let out a hollow laugh at her emotionless words.
His violet eyes pierced into hers. Before she realized, he had stepped closer, towering over her.
“I don’t need money. And I won’t divorce you—ever.”
“My lawyer said there was room for negotiation if we met.”
“Did he now?”
“…”
At his mocking tone, Veronica realized she’d been completely deceived.
Cedric had no intention of divorcing her. In fact, it seemed he had deliberately made the lawyer suggest meeting in person to mislead her.
What a waste of time.
The moment she realized it, her expression twisted and she turned to leave.
“Then I’ll see you in court.”
“I doubt it’ll come to that.”
“…What do you mean?”
Veronica paused at the ominous feeling creeping over her and glanced back.
Cedric was smiling—chillingly.
“Didn’t I just say? I’ll make sure you realize how miserable life becomes without me.”
“What are you talking about—”
“Still haven’t figured out why I called you here personally?”
“…!”
Her eyes widened.
Today, the Duke of Winston had assigned most of the knights to protect Veronica, just in case. Though she had entered the room alone, beyond the door stood elite knights including Raven, ready in case they had to face a Sword Master.
‘Who’s with Dia right now?’
Her father and older brother had gone to the palace. Henrietta was busy with business.
Most likely, only Sophia and a few guards were with Dia now.
“You… what the hell are you—”
“Hahahaha!”
As Veronica realized what Cedric was scheming, she shouted in panic—but he only laughed harder, as if overjoyed.
He took pleasure in the hatred burning in her red eyes. It pleased him far more than the affectionate gazes she used to give.
His twisted desires began to writhe within him.
Thud!
Something that had tried to attack me froze mid-air, as if blocked by an invisible wall. At the same time, I heard Desmond’s voice.
[Master, are you alright?]
‘Ah, that startled me.’
I sighed in relief as the dark thing before me crumbled away.
Whatever had suddenly lunged at me was clearly filled with malicious intent. If it weren’t for the demons protecting me, it could’ve ended badly.
“Dia, are you okay?”
“Miss!”
“Mm-hmm.”
Abel and Sophia ran up to me, calling out, while the guard drew his sword, warily watching the thing now collapsed on the ground.
[You wicked creature! How dare you target my master!]
[Ebbijiji, how dare you—!]
Desmond and Bibi shouted angrily. And I was starting to get a sense of what the creature might be.
‘An ancient demon?’
[Correct! It’s a minion of an ancient demon!]
‘A minion?’
[Though we say minion, it’s practically part of it. You must be careful, Master!]
‘…!’
We’d only barely avoided the attack thanks to the demons. The threat hadn’t been neutralized—just pushed back for now.
“Tch!”
“Sir!”
As expected, it came at me again. The guard who tried to stop it staggered back, wounded.
Even if most of the elite knights had gone with Veronica, the Duke wouldn’t have left me in the care of a weak guard. This meant even a skilled knight was struggling to handle the demon’s power alone.
“Dia, we need to run!”
“Ah, okay.”
Abel grabbed my hand and pulled. I nodded instinctively.
“Ah…”
But my body wouldn’t move properly. My legs gave out—I was too shocked.
Seeing me collapse, Abel crouched down quickly, understanding.
“Get on!”
“O-okay.”
I leaned onto his back. I’d thought of him as just another kid, but his back felt unexpectedly broad.
With me on his back, Abel ran. Sophia followed closely behind.
“Head to the mansion!”
“Yes!”
There were servants and likely more knights capable of fighting demons at the mansion.
The garden where Abel and I had been playing was isolated. It was vast, and we’d wandered deep in while playing hide-and-seek.
Maybe… the ancient demon had been waiting for us to become isolated like this.
A chill ran down my spine at the thought.
“…Sophia?”
But suddenly, I didn’t see Sophia beside us.
When I turned my head, I saw her standing still, looking back.
“Nanny!”
I called out to her loudly, wondering if she was unwell like me.
Then I saw the dark shadow slithering toward her—and realized the guard had been taken down.
“Run!”
“Sophia!”
Without even glancing at me, Sophia drew a thin, sharp dagger from somewhere hidden.
“Abel, she’s—”
“…No, Dia.”
“But, Sophia—!”
I yelled instinctively, unable to stop myself. I didn’t know why I was reacting like this.
It hadn’t even been that long since I’d possessed this body.
But I just couldn’t leave Sophia behind. She was the one who cared for me like a mother when Veronica wasn’t around.
Abel bit his lip, clearly unwilling to stop. He planned to run to the mansion, even if it meant leaving Sophia behind—just to protect me.
‘Demon! Bibi!’
[Yes!]
[Right away!]
‘…’
I was going to have the demons attack before the ancient demon could hurt Sophia.
But if I used their power this close, Abel might notice. He was young, yes, but he was also a skilled Esper.
‘Still… Sophia is more important!’
After a moment’s hesitation, I shook my head and steeled myself. I was about to command the demons, even if it meant exposing myself—
“Purify!”
“…!”
A brilliant white light suddenly engulfed everything. I squeezed my eyes shut and turned away. Abel froze in his tracks from the shock.
“Ugh.”
“Dia, are you alright?”
“Mhm.”
As the light faded, Abel gently set me down and looked around.
“Miss!”
“Nanny!”
Sophia ran toward us and embraced me. I let out a breath of relief. She was safe.
[Ughhh…]
[Aaaahhhh…]
‘What’s wrong with you two?’
Desmond and Bibi, who were roaring moments ago, were now panting and groaning as if in pain since the light appeared.
Just then, I sensed someone approaching.
“Um… are you okay?”
“…!”
I looked up.
A young girl stood at a distance, watching me and Sophia.
She was a stranger—but somehow familiar.
And then I realized who she was.
‘Marianne?’
The daughter of the original female lead—Marianne—was staring at me, her eyes wide in surprise.
