Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Save the Real Lady (3)
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Pfft.
Suddenly, Dia burst into laughter.
Pfft, hahaha!
Her laughter swelled to a bizarre volume.
"You're insane... You're fucking crazy. You're not in your right mind. It's not just me who's lost it."
Even as she struggled to breathe from laughing so hard, Dia muttered those words.
The lady laughed until tears welled up in her pink-tinted eyes. Only after some time passed did she wipe them away with her bandaged hand and speak.
"Ah... That hurts. You're hilarious, really. You know who my sister is, right?"
"Abera de Menesil. The eldest daughter of the Menesil family."
"Yeah... You probably know exactly what kind of person she is without me explaining..."
Dia let out a deep sigh, as if trying to calm herself.
Then, in a surprisingly steady voice—though laced with exhaustion—she continued.
"A lady as warm as a campfire that everyone wants close by. A lady so obsessed with etiquette she wouldn't touch food with her hands if the silverware wasn't perfectly arranged. That's my sister."
"So?"
Dia fell silent for a moment.
The awkward smile that could only be called madness faded completely, replaced by a chill that settled over her face, erasing any trace of warmth.
Yes, just like a diamond—the gem she was named for.
"You... know who I am too."
She barely managed to murmur those words.
"Dia de Menesil. The youngest daughter of the Menesil family."
I gave her name as my answer.
"Right. Without my meds, I can't even think straight for half a day. Acting like someone people would like? That's not in my nature. Stabbing arrogant pricks with my scalpel is the only thrill I get besides the drugs. So..."
It had been a while since she'd spoken at such length; Dia caught her breath with visible effort. After a pause, she finished.
Self-assessing like that made her seem almost manufactured, which felt oddly off-putting. I tilted my head.
"...Cut the crazy talk. You must've seen wrong. Just hand over the drugs and get out of this room."
It wasn't wrong.
Abera was textbook perfect in speech, actions, even breathing. Dia lunged at me like a wild beast at the mere sight of me.
If judging by character alone, there'd be no reason to hesitate. Even if she'd jammed that hidden syringe into herself, I would've thought the same without a second thought.
But I'd seen it clearly. The syringe of Sao in Abera's hand.
And I knew that Dia didn't spout nonsense. That alone made the situation wrong.
Finally, I'd caught it—that fleeting wistfulness in her expression just before the chill set in.
So I didn't waver, even at her sharp words.
'Why hide the truth from me? Even when it puts her at a disadvantage.'
That was the real puzzle I needed to solve from here on.
And that's when I noticed blood still dripping from my hand. When I got too focused, even basic judgment slowed.
"Yes. No crazy talk. I'll give you the drugs too, Young Lady Dia. So tell me. Why did Young Lady Abera inject you herself?"
"I told you to cut that bullshit..."
"If you insist, I'll go ask Young Lady Abera directly."
"...What?"
Dia's brows furrowed instantly.
Before I could say or do anything, she lunged and grabbed both my arms.
"N-No! Absolutely not!"
It went beyond mere anger—her movements screamed desperation. Why?
Shaken back and forth by her grip, I pondered.
...Yes, it was almost like she wanted me to hate her more. Definitely.
"Why?"
"Why what! You're my personal physician, aren't you? Just listen to me! Do what I say!"
"That attitude won't convince me."
"Attitude? You dare talk to me about attitude?!"
By then, I'd shoved Dia away from me.
A hardline tactic. Words clearly wouldn't sway this young lady.
With a deliberately blank expression, I wrapped a handkerchief roughly around my hand and headed for the door.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"To Young Lady Abera. I needed to report to her anyway. She sent me here in the first place."
I answered without looking back.
"Don't go... If you go... if you go..."
I didn't care what Dia muttered.
It was time to seize the upper hand. For her sake, and mine.
As I took another step—
"If you go, you'll die! Do you want to die? Do you?!"
A desperate shout from behind halted me in my tracks.
"Want to die...?"
I nearly shot back, "What kind of stupid question is that?"—but then I realized something.
Death. Death. Puzzle pieces scattered in my mind began pulling together, forming a picture.
Abera de Menesil. Dia de Menesil. Sao. My thoughts raced hot and fast.
I'll kill you.
Dia had spat those words at me endlessly.
Yet why had I always stayed calm? Confidence from my cheat? My laid-back nature? No, not that.
Hostility.
There was no real malice from Dia. Even when she said "I'll kill you."
Throwing knives and forks at me, but never truly meaning to kill.
In contrast, at that earlier dinner, my steak had Deadrin in it.
Now, with Dia asking this, the implications were clear.
"Young Lady Abera... tried to kill me?"
I turned. Dia, sweating and panting, finally caught her breath. Our eyes met.
The tears in her eyes weren't from anger.
Only then did I guess. Maybe those tears held worry.
"Yes! That steak you were served? It was poisoned. Get it now? Don't wanna die? Then get out of this mansion! And never come near here again!"
"Yes. I knew the steak was poisoned."
"...You knew?"
Waves crashed in her eyes. Her lips twitched like she wanted to say something, but I was faster.
"And now I know something else. Why you flipped my plate."
"That was..."
"...Why? Why didn't you let me die?"
Dia held her breath. She'd been hit right on target, visibly shaken. But it didn't last.
"If you died right in front of me, it'd ruin my appetite!! You think I'm crazy enough to worry about you?!"
Thwack. Her shoe heel clipped my shin. Not hard. She could barely keep her balance anyway.
"Ow?"
As the recoil nearly toppled her, I grabbed her arm and steadied her.
"Yes. You did it because you were worried about me. I'm not asking for that kind of answer. But, Young Lady—one more question."
I gripped her slender hand tighter in mine.
This was crucial. I locked eyes with her, even as she dangled there.
"...If I leave this mansion, what happens to you afterward?"
Dusty pink eyes. They shook, distorting my reflection within.
"What kinda question is that? Why should I answer you..."
"What happens to you next, Young Lady Dia? Once I hear that, I'll leave right away."
Dia peeled her feet from the floor and stuck them back, alternating. Just thinking about her routine seemed to destabilize her.
"...Promise. You answer and go."
"Yes, Young Lady."
"Same as always."
"Same as always meaning?"
Dia hesitated again. It took a long while before she spoke.
"A fate worse than death. Acting like I wanna kill everyone, hated for it. Soaked in drugs. At least two weeks of that for sure."
"Two weeks?"
"Yeah. In two weeks, the Menesil family heir gets decided. So... after Sis becomes heir, I might get some freedom. No reason for her to torment me anymore."
Hmm. I stroked my chin.
Two weeks. But I didn't dwell long. Dia stomped on my foot.
"There. Happy? Now pack and get out. Keep your promise!"
Fair enough.
But pfft—I let out a light chuckle.
Smiling, I looked at Dia and replied.
"No. I can't leave after all."
"...What? You said you'd go after hearing me out! Liar!"
"You lied once too. Now we're even."
"Wh-What? When did I lie?!"
"First, hiding that Young Lady Abera injected you. Wait, maybe two. You were worried about me deep down."
"N-No! One! Count it as one!"
She stood on tiptoe frantically, tapping me with her bandaged arms in protest.
"And that's not the point! Stay here and you'll die!"
"Even so. You saved my life once. Only polite to return the favor. Lucky my job's doctor."
"I told you to cut the bullshit..."
Before the lady could finish, I stepped toward her.
Our height difference was noticeable. As I closed in, Dia yelped "Eek!" and stopped.
"You always demand drugs from me, Young Lady. But I can't just give you drugs."
"What... do you mean?"
Her wide eyes looked up at me. Half curiosity, half fear from the unknown.
I lowered myself slowly, matching her gaze.
Carefully, I extended one hand. The clean one, no blood.
"I just said it. I'll save you too. So I'm asking. Don't you want to live?"
"....What?"
"A fate worse than death. Your words. Don't you want to live how you want?"
"No way that's... possible..."
"That's not the right answer. Just look at my hand, Young Lady Dia."
I shook my head slowly, extending my hand further, my smile warming.
"If you take it, I'll take that as you want to live."
I whispered softly.
