Chapter 46: Marianne’s Invitation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: Marianne’s Invitation
Come to think of it, Abel wasn't with the direct descendants when they were talking earlier.
I stared at Abel, who didn't look the least bit flustered, then turned my gaze toward Marianne. For some reason, she was looking at me—still held in Raven’s arms—with sparkling eyes.
“To go potty.”
“I see.”
Abel nodded gently and looked at me as if I were adorable. I was supposed to act dignified despite being possessed into a child’s body, but that was easier said than done.
“Saintess, are you gonna stay with Dia from now on?”
“Ah.”
“You are, right? Huh?”
“That is…”
Marianne looked flustered by my sudden question, her eyes darting around.
Then, her eyes met Abel’s. She flinched and gave a stiff reply.
“Yes, I’ll be staying here for a short while.”
“Yay! Then sleep with Dia tonight!”
“Pardon? That’s…”
Marianne looked surprised at my words, then her face brightened. But then she glanced at Abel again and let her voice trail off.
Why does she keep looking at Abel like that?
Feeling frustrated and curious, I turned toward Abel. However, he was merely wearing his usual gentle smile.
“You can’t do that, Dia.”
“Whyyy?”
“Because we can’t let a stranger into Dia’s room.”
“Saintess isn’t a stranger!”
“Still, the answer is no.”
“Hmph!”
I whipped my head away as if pouting. But Abel remained unmoved.
Of course, I didn't actually want to sleep with Marianne; I was just trying to consistently act friendly toward her.
Just then, Abel took a step closer to me and asked, “If you’re scared, do you want to sleep with me?”
“Huh?”
I stared at Abel warily—he was acting strangely flirtatious—when I suddenly felt a terrifying gaze from somewhere.
“Young Count, you’ve gone too far with your words.”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”
“I am the one who will be guarding the Little Lady’s side tonight!”
“…”
Sophia shouted at the top of her lungs. It was the first time I’d seen the usually gentle woman so worked up.
“Don’t worry, Little Lady. This nanny will be by your side the whole time.”
“O-Okay.”
For some reason, everyone around me—except for me—seemed incredibly grim. Even the veins on Raven’s arms, which were holding me, were bulging.
Are they all worried because I almost got attacked by an Ancient Demon earlier?
While I was feeling dazed, I remembered Marianne and turned my gaze back to her.
“Big Sister!”
“Y-Yes?”
“Let’s eat together later!”
“Ah…”
In Korea, there’s a saying that you have to share a meal to become close.
It probably isn't much different here. My eyes sparkled as if this was one thing I couldn't give up on.
But once again, Marianne hesitated to answer.
“Saintess!”
“Ah, Sir Noel.”
Just then, the Paladin I had seen earlier that day strode toward us.
He glanced at me and bowed his head slightly. I wondered if he was showing me respect because I was a direct descendant of House Winston.
“The High Priest is calling for you.”
“But…”
“We are sufficient here, so I shall escort you back to the Temple now.”
“…!”
It was like a bolt from the blue.
I thought I’d have plenty of chances to win Marianne over, but I didn't expect her to leave so soon.
I stood there blankly for a moment before snapping out of it and shouting.
“Big Sister!”
“Yes?”
“Don’t go!”
“…!”
Marianne’s eyes widened at my cry.
They were purple eyes that looked exactly like Cedric’s and Claudia’s, yet the feeling they gave off was different.
Marianne’s purple eyes weren't cold like a certain someone’s; they were warm. Probably even warmer than mine.
Marianne, who exuded an aura so gentle she could be mistaken for an angel descended from heaven, curved her eyes into a smile.
“I’m sad to leave so soon too, Little Lady.”
“Big Sister…”
“You must come visit the Temple. Promise me.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
My eyes flew open at the unexpected invitation.
Nathaniel is in the Temple basement. If I could just get inside the Temple under the pretext of meeting Marianne, it would be possible to use the demons to secretly break Nathaniel out.
“Yeah! I’ll definitely go!”
“Yes, Little Lady.”
Marianne smiled and waved at me.
Thinking it would be best to leave a good impression until the very end, I waved back enthusiastically as I saw her off.
Soon, Marianne and the Paladin left the mansion.
“Do you like the Saintess that much, Dia?”
“Mmm?”
“More than me?”
“…”
What is wrong with him now?
I looked at Abel with a dubious expression and tilted my head.
As a future vassal, did he get anxious because a variable named Marianne appeared, threatening his goal of maintaining the closest relationship with me, the Little Lady?
But even so, Marianne technically belongs to the Temple, so it shouldn't matter.
Unable to guess Abel’s intentions, I put on a serious face.
Seeing that, Abel burst into a soft laugh, whatever he was thinking.
“I’m sorry, Dia. I won’t tease you anymore.”
“Were you teasing Dia?”
“I said I’m sorry.”
“Abel is mean!”
As I whipped my head away in a huff, Raven began walking as if he had been waiting for that moment.
Come to think of it, we were on our way to the bathroom. Realizing my purpose belatedly, I narrowed my eyes.
‘Now, how am I going to get to the Temple?’
I had a reason to go, but I didn't think the Winston people would just let me go there easily.
They would surely make a huge fuss out of worry. Since an Ancient Demon had even attacked, they would be even more desperate to protect me.
‘I need to think of a way…’
As I was muttering to myself internally, my vision suddenly went dark.
The moment I grabbed Raven’s arm in surprise, all the strength drained from my body.
“Little Lady!”
[Master!]
[My Master!]
Along with Sophia’s scream, I heard Desmond’s and Bibi’s voices.
The surroundings grew even noisier, but as my vision blackened and the noise drifted further away, I couldn't understand a word they were saying.
And just like that, I lost consciousness.
*
“Ugh…”
My head felt like it was splitting open. A ringing sound echoed in my ears.
I could hear faint, intermittent whispering, but I couldn't make out any of it.
‘Where on earth am I?’
I barely managed to open my eyes and look up at the ceiling; it looked somewhat familiar. It was the ceiling of my room in the townhouse where I slept every night.
Seeing the bright ceiling, it seemed it was still daytime, so not much time had passed.
[Master, are you awake?]
‘Ugh, what happened?’
[It seems your body was strained from overusing your abilities.]
‘Strained? Me?’
[Furthermore, you took that Saintess’s Divine Power head-on.]
‘Ah…’
As expected, the powers of demons and angels were polar opposites.
Even if an Archdemon was great enough to hide their abilities from priests with the power of angels, it was definitely dangerous to be near them.
Clicking my tongue internally, I painfully turned my head. There, I saw Veronica, Sophia, and the other direct descendants, all looking deeply troubled.
“Her fever is rising like this, yet we can’t find the cause…”
“Several doctors have already visited…”
“Could it be that demon from before…”
The voices of the family members were so fragmented that I couldn't understand the full context.
However, even from the snippets, I could feel that everyone was worried about me.
It probably hasn't even been half a day since I collapsed, yet they’re making such a fuss.
I scoffed inwardly, but my eyes went wide at Desmond’s following words.
[Master, you have been unconscious for three days.]
‘What?’
It’s been that long already? Was the bright light not from half a day passing, but because several days had gone by?
Shocked, my body trembled as I lay there. Come to think of it, I couldn't move my body well, except for turning my head.
“Dia, are you awake?”
“Mmm.”
Veronica, who was the first to notice I was awake, approached the bed.
As she took my hand, tears were brimming in her eyes.
Just like the day she cried when I first possessed this body.
“Mommy…”
“Yes, my Dia. Mommy’s here.”
“It hurts…”
“Dia…”
For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to say I was okay, so I whimpered. Veronica’s expression filled with pain.
For a moment, seeing her pained face made me wonder if I should have forced a lie, but moans of pain kept slipping out of my mouth.
“Mommy, Dia hurts…”
“Dia, hic…”
Because I couldn't control it and kept whining, Veronica couldn't hold back her tears any longer.
Duke Winston and Vincent, who had approached, patted Veronica’s shoulders to comfort her.
“We must send her to the Temple.”
“But…”
“Even the priests couldn't cure her when they came here. Will it really be effective if we go to the Temple?”
“…?”
I heard several voices, and among them was a word I couldn't ignore.
‘The Temple?’
I had been worrying about how to get to the Temple before I lost consciousness, and now, here was the opportunity.
It seemed luck was on my side after all.
Hiding the spark in my eyes, I opened my mouth again.