I was possessed by the villain’s daughter.

EPISODE 7

“Oh, hi.”

I stuttered, unable to help myself.

“Who is it?

Was it another tourist who came to this lake?

But somehow…,

“He looks sad.”

I didn’t know this kid, but that’s what I thought. As I hesitated, he offered me his hat first. I took it, slowly pressed it back on my head, and opened my mouth.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

He smiled broadly. Then the sadness in her eyes faded a little, and she brightened up.

“How are you, Lara?”

“…!”

I gasped in surprise.

“Uh…? Do you know me?”

“You don’t recognize me?”

I was now in a state of amnesia. I had no recollection of anyone I’d ever met before, so I shook my head in embarrassment.

“Sorry. I don’t remember much… What’s your name?”

“Thea.”

“Thea, have we met before?”

“Of course.”

“…Really?”

The boy replied casually. I looked at him with a slightly suspicious expression. I hadn’t heard of this boy from anyone else. Laila didn’t seem to have many friends. The boy smiled wistfully.

“I can swear to the dragon if you want, that if I lie here, I will be punished by the dragon.”

Came to think of it, I thought I had heard my father say that earlier. I hesitantly looked at the boy.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember much of the past.”

The boy’s eyes suddenly looked wistful.

“It’s okay.”

“…I mean, why are you here alone? Where are your parents or other family members?”

I asked the boy, and he shrugged.

“I’m pretty good at getting around on my own.”

“….”

He was 14 years old and looks about my age, so it was not like there’s that much of an age gap.

I didn’t know much about nobility, but from the way he dresses and carries himself, he looks like a noble. He didn’t seem to be of sufficient status to have a family or entourage like mine.

My suspicions deepened.

“Laila! Where are you?

“Oh, Father…!”

My father’s voice came from behind me. I turned around.

“I’m here!”

I turned quickly to go.

“But first, Thea?

If she’s my friend, it would be nice to say hello and have tea with her, I thought and turned around.

“Thanks for picking up my hat… huh?”

But there was no one there.

It was like a ghost.

It was very, very creepy.

I was about to ask my dad if the lake was haunted, but I barely held my tongue for fear of worrying him.

“Thea, what?

Why was he looking at me with such sad eyes?

And why was she wandering around this lake by herself?

It didn’t seem like we hadn’t met once or twice. But he didn’t seem surprised when I told him I didn’t remember him…….

“Maybe she already knew…?

I scratched my head.

It was weird, but if he did know, I’d see him again.

When I returned, my father wrapped me in a tight, warm hug that I loved so much I would have stayed silly all day if I could.

Yit stroked my hair, and Eddie held my hand.

We were having such a peaceful time, it never occurred to me that they would be the traitors who would shake the empire in a few years. As I thought about it, a question occurred to me, and I turned to my father and opened my mouth.

“Father.”

“What is it, my angel?”

I hesitated, then asked.

“Do you, by any chance, hate the imperial family?”

My father looked genuinely puzzled by my question.

“No? There’s no reason for that.”

I shut my mouth. My father, Esat, was not a man who could lie to his daughter and get away with it. He loves me terribly, so what he said must be true.

The mystery of treason has always haunted me.

Solving it would be the first step toward a happy future.

I was lost in thought. When I return home, I’ll have to gather more information. I’ll also listen to more rumors about the social scene.

Before I knew it, the sun was setting on the lake.

The pink of the lake against the twilight sky, which was a mix of scarlet, mauve, and red, made for a stunning sight.

I was momentarily speechless in the presence of this natural wonder. Seeing such a huge and beautiful landscape that I had never seen in my life or thought about in my dreams, I realized once again that this was not just a text in a book, but a huge world that I was living and breathing in.

Yee was such an amazing creator.

This world was so beautiful, complex, and detailed.

I can’t tell you how long I stared up at the sky. Suddenly, a warm hand touched my head.

“Shall we go back?”

I looked up and it was Yit. My heart, overwhelmed by the enormity of nature, slowly unraveled like ink dissolving in water. I smiled brightly.

On the carriage ride back, I kept looking out the window. My father hadn’t allowed me to go out much in the past because of my weakness. Even more so after my fall.

So the sight of the capital for the first time was both strange and exciting. I could hear the hustle and bustle of people. The night market was open and the lights of the capital were bright in the distance. My father suddenly spoke up.

“Speaking of which, Lara’s birthday is coming up soon.”

I tackled him lightly, umm, inwardly.

It’s still two months away.

But these super-powered brother and daughter idiots shook their heads in agreement.

“Two months away, that’s a blink of an eye. We can barely start preparing for the banquet now. Of course, you’re going to hold it at the duke’s mansion, right?”

“Of course. Let’s show your sister how beautiful she is.”

“I am the eternal dissenter. A quiet family affair isn’t a bad idea, and Lara is so beautiful that other gnomes might try to steal her.”

“….”

I just shut my mouth.

I try to be serious, but I can’t be serious with these people.

I laughed out loud as they all chimed in with their thoughts about my birthday and how it was a serious discussion.

Still, it was so precious.

The sky was tinted with a transparent darkness. I knew now that even though it was dark now, a new sun would rise tomorrow.

I said, “Thank you. For giving me a good family.’

I said my first prayer of thanks to God.

“Please watch over me. See what I do with my life.

I would live to the fullest and be as happy as I could.

Smiling at my family as they watched me, I joined the birthday banquet discussion.

For now, let’s start with a mild revenge on Lupe at the birthday banquet in two months.

***]

Time passed inexorably, and I was growing up.

“So, what did you say was the reason for the Krem War?”

Lloyd’s monotone voice echoed in my study.

I was studying history with Lloyd, my current tutor.

“The reason is….”

Lloyd’s gray eyes stared at me, urging an answer.

“He said it was a result of a fight over mining rights. The kingdom of Adem coveted the mine, which was in short supply.”

“That is correct. Laila, it was also the trigger for a lot of long-standing regional feelings to come to a head.”

Lloyd flipped through the pages of the book to fill me in. I was furiously taking notes.

Without realizing it, I was being taught by Lloyd himself, Edwin’s brother’s chief lieutenant.

Lloyd was a very competent teacher, explaining even the smallest details from beginning to end in a way that was both insistent and clear. This was good for me, as I knew very little about the world.

He was almost the best, except that his monotone voice made me sleepy in the afternoon.

Pushing up his glasses, Lloyd asked me a few questions as I finished taking notes for a final review. They were simple questions, and I had no trouble answering them.

Imperial nobles were considered adults after the age of nineteen. I’m still only 14, and I had lost my memory, so I haven’t fully set my course yet. But once my birthday passed and I gained knowledge, it wouldn’t be long before I had to choose my path. To prepare for that, I’ve been studying hard.

What is the right path for me?

My father was a courtier and a great elementalist, my brother Eddie had already made a name for himself as a genius businessman by the age of twenty, and my brother Yit was a great swordsman.

The day after tomorrow is my birthday.

My birthday banquet, which seemed so far away, was already approaching the day after tomorrow, and I had been away from the world for three months.

I realized that I wanted to do something.

“Well, that concludes our lesson for today. Have a peaceful day. Ms. Lila.”

“Yeah, Lloyd, be careful out there.”

The class was over. Lloyd left and I stood at the parlor window, jaw set, looking out. The afternoon sunlight is languid.

The summer roses had faded and fall wisteria was already blooming. On a day like this, a nap, even a short one, would be the best thing I could do. But someone spoke to me from behind.

“Miss Laila. The Duke wants to see you for the banquet the day after tomorrow.”

“Oh, yes.”

It was the handmaiden.

I muttered mischievously to myself and walked after her. The handmaiden led me to the dressing room. Amidst the piles of dresses stood my designer, my maids, and my father.

“There you are, my dear Laila.”

“Father, are you the Duke?” I asked after giving him a light hug.

“Aren’t you busy?”

My father smiled broadly.

“No matter how busy I am, I can still find time to look at my daughter’s dress.”

“Yes, yes.”

I glanced around the dressing room.

“….”

There are many, but too many. A mountain of dresses.

I’d waded through hundreds of catalogs a month ago when I was shortlisting, and now I have dozens of dresses that I’ve picked, chosen, and basted. Each one of them hung neatly on a hanger, waiting for me to make my choice.

The maid of honor, my designer, and my father, who had joined him, were discussing the dresses in earnest.

“I think a white dress would look best on Lara, after all.”

“You are quite right, Your Grace. But the latest fashion in social circles these days is a pink chiffon dress, and I think it’s the best….”

“I must raise a point. For Laila, how about a light green dress to match the color of her eyes?”

I was at a loss for words as he looked at me so seriously as if my dress choice was a matter of national importance.

It was the ultimate in excessive love.