Chapter 47
The male lead number 4, who had acted like he was going to stay and enjoy a proper meal with me, simply left after our conversation, saying he had some business.
He really was an incomprehensible guy.
Because of that, I was forced to attend an unexpected family dinner.
“…What? What kind of relationship?!”
As soon as I entered the dining room, the Duke pounced on me, demanding to know what my relationship with the Grand Duke was, and I stared at him with my mouth wide open.
“We don’t have any kind of relationship at all!”
“But he said you two played hide-and-seek alone together?”
“That was just a joke. You don’t understand metaphors? We just bumped into each other in the corridor when I was going to the lounge.”
“Hmm…”
I was in the middle of making up an excuse about my meeting with Cerze.
“That’s correct, Father. As you know, the Grand Duke tends to say unnecessary things.”
Ethan, who had been sitting across from me quietly drinking water, suddenly spoke up in my defense.
‘What’s with him?’
I looked at him in surprise, but he didn’t meet my gaze.
“And after that incident at the guest palace, there wouldn’t have been any time to talk privately anyway.”
“That may be true… Tch. That guy should be looking for the one who cracked his head open, so why is he barging into other people’s houses causing trouble?!”
The Duke grumbled in dissatisfaction.
I agreed with him to some extent, but as the one who had caused that “head-cracking” incident, I felt uncomfortable.
“What did you talk about in the reception room? The butler said the atmosphere was quite friendly.”
At the Duke’s next words, I grimaced.
‘Is that butler blind?!’
How could that scene possibly be described as friendly?
“…The butler must have seen wrong. Friendly? Not at all. I just apologized and exchanged a few polite words.”
“He accepted your apology without any conditions?”
But contrary to my expectations, the Duke seemed to know the Grand Duke’s personality quite well and didn’t let it slide easily.
He looked at me with suspicion before suddenly saying something terrible.
“…Just in case, but that guy is no good.”
“Eek! Don’t say that in my dreams!”
I shuddered and shouted.
But the Duke didn’t withdraw his suspicious gaze.
“Doesn’t it seem strange to you? He suspects you as the mastermind behind the purifier’s disappearance, yet just exchanged a few words and left. Unless he likes you…”
“For someone saying that, you seem closer to him than I am.”
“Don’t say such horrifying things! Close? That guy is vulgar, uncultured, and ignorant!”
Unexpectedly, the Duke shuddered just like I had earlier.
“He silences speakers with telekinesis whenever he pleases, or throws people out of meeting rooms! He has absolutely no manners!”
Well, I guess it’s true—people who act badly inside don’t act any better outside.
A guy who treats me like I’m expendable wouldn’t treat other nobles any better.
‘No wonder he was being so overly polite.’
After the Emperor fell ill, the Grand Duke had been slowly eating away at the imperial palace. It seemed the Duke was struggling to survive in his own way.
“Anyway! He’s definitely not someone you should get close to, so both of you be careful.”
After giving a firm warning, the Duke lowered his voice.
“Moreover, under the Emperor’s orders, the Security Bureau is secretly keeping an eye on the Grand Duke.”
“The Security Bureau?”
Ethan reacted with interest.
“Yes. He uses his abilities so recklessly—it would be strange if he didn’t go out of control. And now that the Purifiers have disappeared…”
“….”
“I sometimes worry he might deliberately go berserk and try to take everyone down with him. The previous Emperor really did a terrible job raising his child… tsk.”
Clicking his tongue, he suddenly turned and glared at me.
“Anyway, remember what I said! Don’t go falling for someone like that and chasing after him! Because of you, I still can’t show my face to Marquis Leandro!”
It was something I would have to endure now that I was “Idit,” but it still felt unfair.
“Father, I have my own preferences.”
“Preferences? You? I’ll find you a decent match when the time comes. You’re still chasing after Vincent, aren’t you?”
“No, of course not—”
“Didn’t you attend the recent banquet with Vincent as your partner?”
Just as I was about to firmly deny it, Ethan suddenly cut in.
‘Hey!’
I stared at him with wide eyes.
‘Just a moment ago you were defending me—how could you betray me so quickly?!’
As I ground my teeth at him, who was calmly eating as if he had done nothing wrong—
“What?!”
The Duke exploded.
I pouted and replied.
“I didn’t ask to go. He just showed up and forced his way into the carriage.”
“You’re a young lady of marriageable age! What will people think if you keep chasing after your childhood friend like that?”
“They’ll think we have a close friendship.”
“Vincent is out of the question! Do you know how strictly Marquis Leandro is selecting a daughter-in-law?”
“I’m not interested in him anyway.”
“If you weren’t interested, would you have caused all that trouble for years?”
“You keep forgetting that I recently lost my memory.”
“Hmm…!”
The Duke fell silent, as if at a loss for words.
This was something I needed to make clear at some point anyway, now that I was “Idit.”
I spoke calmly.
“Don’t worry. I won’t be getting involved with Vincent anymore.”
“….”
“I don’t know why I used to act that way, but I absolutely hate guys like that.”
At my words, both the Duke and Ethan looked at me in shock.
“You… you’re saying that…!”
The Duke stuttered in disbelief, then suddenly broke into a delighted smile.
“Memory loss really is a blessing!”
“….”
“Good. On a day like this, we should celebrate! Servant! Bring out the champagne we received at the last founding festival!”
Soon after, a servant brought and opened a bottle of champagne.
“Idit. If you truly are of the Blake bloodline, you must keep your word once you’ve said it.”
“…Yes.”
“I’ll trust you one more time. Don’t disappoint me further.”
“Of course.”
“Good! You’re an adult now—have a drink.”
The Duke happily handed me a glass.
He looked genuinely pleased to see his “daughter” finally coming to her senses.
It might have been a joyful moment for him, but I couldn’t hide my bitterness.
‘He probably doesn’t even know his real daughter is dead.’
Even if he knew that a stranger was now wearing her skin and pretending to be her, would he still be happy?
With a bitter smile, I brought the glass to my lips—when suddenly my eyes met a pair of lake-colored eyes.
Ethan was staring at me with a dazed expression.
Somehow, he looked a little empty.
‘…What’s with him?’
As I tilted my head in confusion, the kitchen doors opened and the main dishes began to arrive.
I hadn’t even been told the menu since I had been rushed here on the Duke’s order.
Having expected to indulge myself for once, I suddenly stiffened at the smell of the food.
‘…The smell of fish.’
As expected, when the lids were lifted, I saw a white fish steak arranged neatly over a thin sauce.
“Today’s main dishes are freshly caught silver cod steak and octopus salad.”
The chef explained as he served the salad.
“Hm, this pairs well with champagne. Eat.”
The Duke began eating immediately, satisfied.
Ethan did the same.
Only I remained restless.
‘…I feel like I’m going to throw up.’
Of all things—fish. Damn silver cod.
I had expected beef steak for a dinner like this… but not only was I wrong, this was the worst possible outcome.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t eat fish.
Not due to an allergy or any physical issue—just because I couldn’t.
As I stared blankly at the fish, I was suddenly pulled back into the past.
—
“Why the sudden family dinner, Father?”
“That child of yours got first place in the entire school on the midterms. The homeroom teacher called me.”
“He did?”
“Good grief, how can you not even tell your parents something like that? I’m embarrassed… Ah, Do-woon, you’re here. Are we all gathered now if Sehwa arrives?”
—
That day was the first time we had a family dinner because of me.
I had hidden my grades because I didn’t want to seem like I was bragging, but knowing my biological father already knew had secretly made me happy.
—
“How did you do on your exam, Do-woon?”
“Yes… I did as usual.”
“Now that you’re entering gates, don’t slack off in school. Being an awakened one doesn’t mean you get special treatment these days. I’ll be watching your grades.”
—
I should have realized something was off from the moment my third adopted sibling looked downcast.
Soon, the second adopted sibling, who had been deployed to a small gate that day, arrived.
—
“I’ll have fish. I feel like I’ll throw up if I try to cut meat right now.”
“Then let’s all have silver cod steak today, for Sehwa.”
—
Like a soldier, my father arbitrarily changed everyone’s meal. Soon, steaming food was served.
The moment I lifted my knife and cut into the pale fish flesh… something appeared.
A black cockroach, about the size of a thumb.
—
“Why aren’t you eating, noona?”
—
Yu Do-woon, who could control small creatures, smiled cruelly.
At the same moment, a sharp scream rang out in my ears.
