Chapter : 11
“Vixiri, shh.”
[Hiiing (｡•́︿•̀｡)]
Now was definitely not the time to be smiling and letting their guard down.
Seonghwang’s gaze was unusually intense, and if they weren’t careful, their abilities might be discovered.
“It seems your condition isn’t very good today. Perhaps we should try again another time…”
“Wait a moment. That’s not the problem.”
“Oh?”
“I have the feeling that someone is mocking me… in a way that I can sense.”
Look at that—Vixiri’s system messages even seemed to notice it subtly.
“…Seonghwang, are you now hearing hallucinations too? How could a young person end up like this?”
The Grand Duke clicked his tongue in sympathy, but Agni didn’t even turn her head toward him.
“…I don’t know who it is, but if I catch them, I won’t spare them.”
Agni’s crimson eyes were fixed on Arisha.
Suddenly, Vixiri and Seonghwang gave the impression they could be a terrifying combination.
Seonghwang’s gaze was extremely intimidating.
[…Vixiri’s a little scared now. Hiiing.]
If things went wrong, Vixiri’s code might even be dismantled…
[Kyaaaaah!]
The frightened Vixiri screamed and disappeared.
“…”
Agni’s expression grew even more serious.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Agni suddenly grabbed both of Arisha’s hands. There was no doubt she was trying to read her magic.
Arisha tightly locked down her magic.
“…”
Agni’s intense stare seemed unusual.
‘Did she notice?’
She thought she had locked it down completely, but her state was still unstable. There was no guarantee her magic wasn’t leaking.
Gradually, Agni withdrew her hands.
“Grand Duke, could you step aside for a moment?”
“Why, Seonghwang?”
“…I have something important to discuss privately with the Grand Duchess. Please, follow me.”
The Grand Duke, concerned by Agni’s serious demeanor, stepped aside.
The air instantly grew heavy.
Agni sat on the sofa and calmly stared at Arisha sitting opposite her.
“Grand Duchess.”
“…”
“We already know everything. Speak honestly.”
“…”
Since entering this body, Arisha had noticed her abilities weren’t normal—but she hadn’t expected they’d be read so easily.
It seemed that her senses had dulled while staying here, and quite thoroughly at that.
‘I thought I had concealed it perfectly.’
But the situation had already unfolded, and Arisha accepted it calmly.
“Does the Grand Duke know about this?”
“…What if I don’t wish to tell him?”
“I understand. That’s why I asked the Grand Duke to step aside for a moment.”
Surprisingly, she could communicate well with Agni.
“I didn’t think anyone could read my intentions so well…”
Instead of speaking in front of the Grand Duke, Agni first asked Arisha directly. She was quite perceptive.
Arisha slowly lay back on the sofa. Agni silently observed her.
“Do not tell the Grand Duke.”
“Understood. I will keep it a secret.”
“…That I’ve awakened my magic.”
“…That the Grand Duchess is terminally ill.”
“?”
“?”
Both of their eyes blinked at the same time.
Ah, this was going to go badly.
“Wait, wait a moment. What did you say?”
“…That I am terminally ill.”
Even if she spoke boldly, it didn’t work.
“So the reason I could only sense a very faint life force from the Grand Duchess… was because you were hiding it?”
“Cough cough! Ah, dizziness.”
“Your acting is… rather awkward.”
“…What do you mean? Lately, I keep feeling shivery and drained.”
This wouldn’t do. She needed to erase their memory.
Just as Arisha tried to secretly manipulate her magic, a hand grabbed her jaw.
“Stop moving.”
Agni’s red eyes blazed as she stared directly at Arisha.
“Do you think I’m a fool?”
“…And what if I say you were a little?”
“…”
Even if Agni guessed wrong, she had indeed slightly misjudged.
For a moment, Agni was at a loss, but quickly retorted:
“You’re no different, Grand Duchess.”
“…”
You’re a fool too.
Two geniuses, acting like fools—there was nothing more to say. It was all true.
They stared at each other silently.
Eventually, Arisha stopped using her magic. Only then did Agni release her hands.
They thought they were a genius but turned out to be a fool; thought they were a fool but could detect magic like a genius.
“Shall we make some kind of agreement?”
“What kind of agreement?”
“If I tell the Grand Duke that your body is very weak, you will receive compensation.”
“What kind of compensation?”
“I will keep the fact that you are a fool a secret.”
“…Thank you?”
“You sound a little sarcastic now.”
“Is that the right answer?”
“That tone…”
“Ah, yes~?”
“…Hmm.”
As expected, she was a formidable opponent.
To reject such a reasonable proposal—impressive.
Arisha looked troubled. Agni stared at her seriously.
“How did you restore your magic?”
“I just slept, and when I woke up, it suddenly returned.”
“Do you want me to believe that?”
“…Even if you don’t want to believe it, what choice do you have?”
Arisha’s magic moved quickly, enveloping Agni in a dense aura.
“If you want me to believe, I will.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly; the room felt suffocatingly silent.
It wasn’t a threat but a kind of guidance.
A presence that clearly conveyed who held the upper hand.
The indifferent Grand Duchess that Agni had been observing until now was gone.
What stood before her was a natural ruler who pretended not to care yet directed the entire situation.
Although Agni had lived half her life as a ruler, even she couldn’t shake the feeling of being dominated at this moment.
Tick-tock. With the seconds ticking in the background, Arisha’s golden eyes held Agni firmly without wavering.
The standoff seemed to continue endlessly.
“Well, I understand.”
Contrary to Arisha’s expectations, Agni yielded.
“Terminal illness? Rare disease? Or a time-limited condition? Pick whichever you like.”
‘This easily?’
Arisha glanced suspiciously at Agni, but she gave no hint of deceit.
“Or do you have a better idea?”
“Ah, no. Let’s go with a rare disease…”
Feeling somewhat foolish for getting worked up alone, Arisha became embarrassed.
Puff. Arisha’s magic dissipated weakly.
“Alright. Let’s go with a rare disease.”
Thus ended the strange and peculiar negotiation.
When the door opened, the Grand Duke stood there with a tense expression.
“So, what happened?”
Agni’s face darkened.
“The Grand Duchess… has contracted a rare disease.”
“…Is that true?”
“Do not worry too much. It is not serious.”
“But you said it was a rare disease. How could I not worry? What is the exact name?”
“This rare disease is called Dasipgosh Syndrome.”
“…Dasipgosh?”
“The symptoms are excessive sleepiness even after sleeping, and persistent fatigue even after resting.”
“Treatment?”
“Resting and sleeping well. That is currently the only method.”
Well done. Well done indeed.
The acting was of a completely different caliber.
Seeing Agni’s resolute expression, anyone would be convinced.
“Absolutely no training!”
“Rest comfortably and eat delicious food!”
“I heard that Marquis Lael said something strange recently? The heir of the Grand Duke’s house? Don’t even think such terrible thoughts!”
After three consecutive warnings, the Grand Duke was finally convinced.
“Is that all…?”
“Look at the fragile wrists of the Grand Duchess.”
Arisha played along, letting her hands droop dramatically.
“Doing such things would make the Grand Duchess faint.”
“Cough. Cough.”
A coordinated cough, but Agni glared at her.
It seemed to mean, just stay still.
So Arisha quietly kept her mouth shut.
“Always remember. The Grand Duchess’s body is now worthless.”
Hmm, no need to put it that harshly.
“She is just a walking carbon dioxide-emitting air destroyer, day by day!”
“So serious?”
“Yes. That is why my prayers have no effect. Whatever treatment is given now cannot be absorbed—it’s like pouring water into a bottomless jar.”
“So extreme!”
Agni’s firm declaration made the Grand Duke pale and sigh.
“This father… I, I will do better from now on.”
[Is this… a family regret plot?! (๑°ㅁ°๑)‼✧]
“I have been too indifferent to you all this time.”
[Vixiri pulled out popcorn.]
[This is Vixiri’s favorite genre! (ง˙∇˙)ว]
“I’m fine.”
“My daughter!”
The Grand Duke hugged Arisha tightly.
Agni, for the first time here, smiled a sacred smile. The only Seonghwang-like expression Arisha had ever seen.
“No matter how worthless the Grand Duchess’s body is, I support her.”
A warm, caring father and a magnanimous priest—utterly moving.
The only flaw in this tear-jerking combo was Arisha herself, who had been reduced to “worthless.”
