Chapter 48 - The Duke’s Daughter Ponders (1)
When Parmela regained consciousness, the first thing she saw was an unfamiliar man.
Long black hair, exotic yet captivating features, and a sculpted body completely bare without a single thread of clothing.
Strangely, this unfamiliar man felt overwhelmingly familiar to her.
“You really are a troublesome woman.”
Noticing Parmela had awakened, he gave a bitter smile before collapsing.
As Edgar and Elina rushed to check on her, Parmela felt her heart pounding violently.
This fierce heartbeat couldn’t possibly be just from the aftereffects of possession or fear from the horrific situation she’d endured.
“How long do you intend to keep standing there?”
A suspicious outsider.
A dangerous individual who had infiltrated her inner circle as head butler under the false identity of “Theodor.”
She should be wary. She should treat him as an enemy.
As she walked toward her bedroom, Parmela repeated this to herself countless times, yet—
“Huh?”
When Theodor—no, the stranger disguised as Theodor—spoke to her, Parmela let out an idiotic sound without realizing it.
Compared to Theodor’s voice, this deeper, more resonant tone made her shudder the moment it reached her eardrums.
“…?”
“Haah…”
The Heavenly Demon frowned as if questioning her behavior, while Head Maid Elina massaged her temples.
“Uh, um, well—I mean, caution! I’m being cautious! How dare someone like you—a dangerous infiltrator who deceived your way into the Herthe Ducal household—approach me, the future successor candidate of House Herthe!”
“Apologies, but I don’t recall doing anything wrong. If anything, weren’t you the one trying to capture me?”
“Uh, ah, aah.”
“…A moment.”
Finally unable to bear it, Elina stepped outside.
“Young Lady. You clearly said you were mentally prepared to meet him.”
“Th-that’s right! I’m prepared! What’s wrong with me now?”
“…Forgive my bluntness, but are you aware of how intensely red your face is right now? You could place a teapot on it and reheat cold tea.”
“Ugh.”
“Now, Young Lady. First, take deep breaths.”
“Huu. Haah. Huu. Haaa.”
“Repeat after me. I am Parmela Herthe.”
“I am… Parmela Herthe.”
“The noble daughter of the great Herthe Ducal House.”
“The noble daughter of the great Herthe Ducal House.”
“Therefore, I must always act with dignity and pride to honor my family’s name.”
“…”
“Have you regained your composure now?”
“…Yes.”
Parmela’s wavering gaze finally sharpened once more.
Click, click.
With crisp footsteps, she strode confidently into the room.
Sitting on the chair Elina had silently placed beside the bed, Parmela stared at the man who had once been Theodor, now half-reclining on the bed.
“You do understand the situation you’re in, don’t you?”
Meeting her gaze calmly, he nodded.
“Good. Personally, I’d like to send you straight to the execution block right now… but considering our past relationship, I’ll give you a chance to explain yourself.”
At this point, evasion was impossible.
He had considered brainwashing her like he did with the Adventurer’s Guild, but attempting such a thing on a ducal heir would undoubtedly make him a public enemy of the empire. So he abandoned the idea.
‘Screw it. I’ll just lay everything out.’
Thus, he recounted his story—excluding the “Heavenly Demon Simulator” and his previous modern life (briefly mentioning only that he came from another world). Starting from being summoned by the demonic ritual, he explained everything up to now.
It took longer than expected, but Parmela listened silently without interruption.
“…So you’re saying you lived in another world, were dragged here by a heretical demon-summoning ritual, escaped the Radain Holy Nation with their Saintess, defeated the summoned fallen angel Vertus and sealed him within yourself, then crossed the continent to Bainwood while hiding your identity?”
“An accurate summary.”
“…There are too many parts I want to question… First, how did you change your appearance? A disguise spell so perfect it fooled me and everyone else—does magic exist in your world too?”
“No. During my travels, I met a sorcerer who gifted me an artifact. It melted during my battle with Alkemis.”
He showed her his right hand. The ring’s gem had completely melted, leaving only the faint outline of its band.
“You received such an intricate artifact as a gift?”
“Yes. Ah, one more thing. Remember the golem that protected you when Alkemis attacked?”
“Yes. I remember. What was that thing?”
“That was Vertus possessing it.”
-Shut up! How dare you expose my shame to a mere human…!-
“…Wait. Hold on. I can’t follow this.”
Parmela closed her eyes, lost in thought.
“This is an absurd story.”
When she reopened them, that was her verdict.
“I feel the same way.”
“But… given the abilities you’ve shown and your suspicious actions, it’s also a story I have no choice but to believe.”
Her expression was complicated.
“Huu… Unexpected names keep popping up. The Radain Church, Cardinals, the Saintess, the Sky Devil Vertus… Fine. For now, I’ll assume your testimony is true. Then I have one more question—what is your goal?”
Her gaze sharpened as it locked onto him.
“A powerhouse capable of facing fallen deities alone—why would someone like you hide your identity, come all the way to Bainwood, and even boldly serve as a ducal family’s butler?”
“I want to live an ordinary life.”
“?”
“I wanted to get a normal job like everyone else, earn a decent living, and lead a reasonably comfortable life. So I came to Bainwood, known for being a pleasant place to live, and coincidentally met you, who offered me the butler position. Residence rights and generous pay included. From my perspective, it was an unbeatable offer.”
“…”
Parmela looked more shocked now than when the fallen deity had appeared during their conversation.
“Are you serious? That’s… your goal?”
“Dead serious.”
At that moment, Elina, who had been silently listening, suddenly interjected.
“The more I listen, the more outrageous this nonsense becomes.”
“Head Maid?”
“Young Lady. Any further conversation with this man is pointless. I understand your fondness for him, but… you must assess this situation objectively. That such a suspicious individual would infiltrate a ducal household just for a good job and Bainwood residence rights—what a pathetic excuse.”
Elina’s gaze was icy.
“I’ll contact the Imperial Guard immediately to detain him. We’ll need truth magic to hear his real intentions.”
“Huu.”
Yeah. He’d expected this reaction. Though he hadn’t anticipated it coming from the Head Maid rather than Parmela herself.
“Let me make one thing perfectly clear, Head Maid.”
Drawing demonic qi from his dantian, he released it outward.
“!”
“Young Lady!”
Parmela’s face paled, and Elina hastily shielded her.
He didn’t even need to use martial techniques.
Simply emitting demonic qi was enough to overwhelm those around him.
Especially for people of this world who lacked the concept of qi and couldn’t resist it.
“My lengthy explanation to the Young Lady wasn’t out of fear of imperial soldiers or to gain sympathy through lies.”
His tone remained calm.
“Regardless of circumstances, I deceived you with falsehoods, and you were dragged into my affairs… As apology, I stayed to explain and seek your understanding rather than leaving.”
“That’s…”
“Head Maid. Let me be clear… Even if you summoned the Emperor’s personal guard, they couldn’t subdue me. Don’t misunderstand. This conversation exists solely by my goodwill, not your authority.”
“…”
“…Thank you for understanding.”
He withdrew the demonic qi.
The two women exhaled roughly, their breathing finally unblocked.
“Yes. So this is what I wanted to say. I apologize.”
He bowed his head to them both.
“I deceived you to gain employment with House Herthe, and you were caught in a fallen deity’s attack because of me. Though I’m but a humble man with no wealth or connections… I wish to apologize sincerely within my means.”
Pausing, he looked at Elina.
“Within limits I can accept, of course.”
“Tch…”
Parmela had maintained an expressionless face this whole time.
What thoughts lay behind that mask?
Would the favor she’d shown Theodor, the commoner swordsman on a white horse, still extend to me as the Heavenly Demon?
If so… could I keep working as butler? …No. That’s probably impossible.
‘Damn it. My regular job… retirement plan…’
“-I understand what you’re trying to say.”
“Then—”
“I accept your proposal.”
“Young Lady!”
Elina exclaimed in shock.
‘Huh. She’s giving in easier than I thought.’
“In that case, how should I provide compensation—”
“I’ll take time to consider that.”
Parmela rose and headed for the door.
“I’ll contact you once I’ve decided. Until then, you’ll be treated as a guest staying in the mansion.”
With that, Parmela left. The Head Maid glanced between him and Parmela before hurriedly following her.
“Hmm.”
Well, it’s settled for now, I guess…
“Young Lady. Do you truly intend to let that man remain in the mansion?”
But Parmela, deep in thought, didn’t even notice Elina calling her.
“Elina.”
Finally, with a face of firm resolution, Parmela looked at the Head Maid.
“Yes. What is it?”
“I’ve decided.”
“! Yes. As I thought, keeping such a suspicious individual—”
“I’m going to get engaged to him.”