Chapter : 07
There was a reason Terestia was so sensitive and horrified about having her true identity discovered.
It was because of a conversation between the real Terestia and her priest—one that remained in her memories.
Born as an imperial princess, Terestia grew up learning privileged information about demons—things ordinary humans would never hear.
According to the scriptures she read during her childhood theology lessons,
“Some demons are not much different from the Supreme God. The more humans who believe in and worship a demon, the stronger that demon becomes.”
When the little demon possessing Terestia’s body had first read this memory, she had been all smiles.
“So the more humans who follow me, the stronger I get!”
She wasn’t sure if she wanted to become a god… but she definitely liked the idea of becoming stronger.
And swinging a sword, pushing her opponents back with overwhelming force—she had discovered that was exhilarating and fun.
Sparring with swords was fun. Hunting stupid, ugly monsters was fun.
Then if I gather more followers, I’ll get even stronger, right?
Terestia had been born high and noble and wielded great authority…
If I pretend to be Terestia and use her power, it’ll be easy to gather followers who worship me!
She had been grinning as she prepared to put her plan into action—
when the next memory froze her stiff.
“Apparently, even the most powerful demon can be destroyed if one knows its True Name. How convenient.”
“God has granted us the means to perceive even a demon’s true name. Otherwise, even the primordial demons would have no reason to hide. All of this is by His divine providence.”
“Enough. Don’t expect piety from me. Just hope I don’t fall like a demon.”
The Terestia in the memory had laughed heartily, but the demon could not hide her uncomfortable grimace—just like the priest who’d been teaching her.
“I can be destroyed if someone learns my True Name?”
She barely even knew her own identity, let alone her name—so how could those Vatican bastards possibly learn a name she didn’t even know herself?
Whatever the case, survival came first.
She would simply hide her identity thoroughly.
And if she used this body’s authority to gather lots of underlings and build her power, she could live long—and have fun.
Especially as long as the Empress Dowager never realized she wasn’t the real Terestia!
She believed she’d been doing a great job so far—both as the duke and as Terestia.
In fact, doing things the original “Delinquent Terestia” never would have done suited her surprisingly well.
Like… hitting ugly monsters, increasing the wealth of a barren, worthless territory, and watching the faces of people who used to glare at her gradually soften like happy puppies.
All of it was enjoyable.
Much more enjoyable than the alcohol Terestia loved so much she’d nearly die without it.
So she couldn’t understand.
Had she killed the people who suspected her too late?
But she had only done what Argo told her to do!
Besides, after being told she didn’t act like “Terestia,” she thought she had been imitating her perfectly.
So why were rumors of her being a demon surfacing again?
She didn’t eat humans. She communicated just fine.
She quickly understood humans’ greedy inner thoughts, and she understood complex politics easily.
“So how did they figure out my identity?!”
The demon—no, Terestia—fell into thought again.
Argo watched her silently agonize, sighing internally.
It seemed his beautiful duke was still hopelessly misunderstanding something.
Lowering his eyes, Argo gently took her soft hands and spoke.
“They don’t actually think you’re a real demon, Your Grace.”
“Then what?”
Her wide eyes blinked at him. Argo paused, as if considering how to explain it, then began speaking slowly, like one would to a child.
“They simply think you are… an extraordinary person.”
“What does that have to do with demons?”
“Humans sometimes regard those they revere as something beyond human. A being they fear and worship. And the easiest such ‘beyond-human’ being to imagine… is a demon.”
Argo continued calmly,
“People call others whatever suits them. This kind of rumor will disappear soon—you need not pay it any mind.”
Terestia looked down at his hands fidgeting with hers, then nodded.
“So they’re suspicious because I’m too perfect.”
Her reply was bold and simple.
Argo barely managed to turn away to hide a laugh.
His duke disliked it when her aide found her endearing—said it undermined her dignity.
Not wanting to ruin her good mood, Argo coughed to cover the laugh.
“Humans fear and hate what is unlike them?”
Humans are so complicated!
But if rumors that she was a demon spread too much, the Temple would come seeking her True Name.
She didn’t want to be annihilated!
Terestia firmly resolved to remember this new information and be more careful in the future.
As the carriage passed through the crowds and entered the ducal manor, she heard barking in the distance.
“…Cookie.”
Her adorable dog Cookie had noticed his master’s arrival and was sprinting toward them, ears flapping.
He chased the carriage all the way to the front door, barking excitedly.
There were crowds of people gathered before the manor.
Terestia stared wide-eyed.
They were all servants of the estate or her retainers.
“Did you tell them to stand here?”
“I merely informed them that Your Grace had arrived.”
Argo stepped down from the carriage first and offered his hand.
Terestia took it naturally, stepping down and scanning the faces looking her way.
They all looked pleased.
Cookie’s expression practically begged her to hurry up and play with him.
Some bowed respectfully, welcoming her back safely.
But when Terestia kept her stern expression, they began nervously glancing at each other.
After a moment of observation, Terestia clasped her hands behind her back and spoke with grave dignity.
“Ahem. I am not a demon.”
“…”
The crowd blinked and exchanged looks.
Argo quietly sighed behind her.
But Terestia was quite pleased internally.
“Just in case, it’s best to say it out loud first.”
With that, she strode proudly into the manor.
“…Did Her Grace just say she’s not a demon?”
The servants traded uneasy looks.
Oliver, a servant well known for fearlessly gossiping about events inside the manor, scratched his cheek with a troubled expression.
“Maybe… she heard the rumors?”
“What rumors?”
“You know… the ones we joked about. Calling Her Grace a demon….”
“Oliver. This is your fault. You’re the one who kept spreading it.”
The stableman Ben sighed heavily.
Usually serious, Ben looked deeply worried.
“Did we mess up? I didn’t think she’d actually care about that kind of rumor….”
“Well, she was called Queen before.”
Maid Beth nodded solemnly.
No one bothered clarifying that the “Queen” she meant had been “Queen of Debauchery.”
“Then what do we do? Should we spread rumors that Her Grace is actually fair and benevolent?”
Philip, who hadn’t worked at the manor for long, swallowed nervously.
He feared losing this excellent job.
“Yeah, we should say Her Grace is actually very good-natured…”
But before Ben could agree, Oliver shook his head vigorously.
“No. Absolutely not.”
End Of Chapter : 07
