A World Where You All Are The Villains

‘If I’d just insisted I was right or thrown a fit, that probably would’ve been enough.’

Either way, the incident of me being mistaken for an intruder impersonating Edith seemed to have more or less blown over.

‘Transmigrating as a novel character really means dealing with all kinds of things…’

It was so absurd that I could only laugh, but honestly, I had been pretty shaken up earlier. The Duke had almost immediately realized I wasn’t Edith… or so it seemed.

Trying to calm my racing heart, I brought up what I’d prepared to say.

“Anyway… I’ve been reflecting on what happened this time. I know it was reckless and dangerous, especially since I’d only just woken up from a coma.”

“……”

“I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”

Even though I felt somewhat wronged, a mistake is a mistake, so I admitted it cleanly.

The Duke and Langdon both looked at me strangely. It was probably because the real Edith would never say anything like that.

To be honest, I’d given a lot of thought to my relationship with the Duke before coming here.

‘In most novels about transmigrating into someone else’s body, doesn’t the protagonist usually end up improving their relationships with the people around them?’

I wasn’t the protagonist, so I didn’t need to get along with the male leads.

But the Duke was directly responsible for my food, clothing, and shelter.

And, after all, he was Edith’s biological father.

‘This feels like meeting a friend’s dad or something.’

I knew that the father-daughter relationship had already gone completely off the rails, but I still couldn’t act as recklessly as Edith did.

‘As it is, I’m already a thorn in his side. If I push my luck, he might actually throw me out with nothing but the clothes on my back.’

Having lost my memory, this seemed like a good chance to redefine my relationship with the Duke.

But when I seriously considered how to get along with him…

Nothing came to mind!

Unfortunately, I’d never once had a good relationship with my own father, either.

‘But it’s not like I can just act all close for no reason… Especially when I’m literally on my way to get scolded! Damn it!’

So the ‘let’s get along with the Duke’ plan was immediately scrapped.

I wasn’t the type to go out of my way to be get close to someone.

So I had only one option left.

‘I’ll just treat him like a boss at work. Be polite, stay out of trouble, and don’t stand out.’

That was all.

“Langdon.”

“Yes, Duke?”

“Can amnesia… really change someone’s entire personality?”

“I can’t say, Your Grace. I can hardly believe Her Ladyship would say something like that…”

Apparently, they had no qualms about talking about me right in front of me.

‘Excuse me? If you’re going to talk about me, at least do it when I’m not around…!’

I stared at them in disbelief, and both quickly averted their gazes again.

“I, I’ll clean up this mess and bring refreshments!”

Langdon hurried out, as if afraid to get caught up in anything else.

Now it was just me and the Duke alone in the office.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

Apparently embarrassed by the earlier incident, the Duke kept clearing his throat, his face turning red.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

“…Why did you go to Tollen?”

“Tollen was Eston’s destination. I was planning to go to Ezenia.”

“Ezenia? Why would you go there…?”

“I wanted to recover my memories. Nancy told me I used to go to the villa there a lot.”

He nodded, as if it wasn’t an unreasonable explanation.

But then his brow furrowed deeply.

“Even so, you should have said something before you left. You only just recovered. How could you be so reckless…!”

“I’m sorry.”

As soon as I apologized, the Duke looked at me again like I was some kind of strange creature.

Then, with another cough, he changed the subject.

“…Ahem! Nothing happened, did it?”

“No. Other than running into Count Frederick by chance and fainting, nothing.”

“Of all people, you had to run into that guy…”

He, too, seemed uncomfortable with Dylan, Edith’s former attendant.

“What was the healer doing? Why didn’t they help right away?”

“What could a healer do about someone fainting? Healing powers don’t restore stamina.”

He clicked his tongue in displeasure, then finally said what I’d been waiting for.

“If nothing happened, I’ll let it go this time. But stay home for a while. Even at home, watch your behavior.”

“Yes.”

“Edith.”

Suddenly, he called me with a grave voice.

“The situation is getting serious. Did you know the Purifier disappeared from the Imperial Palace?”

“I’m not sure. The other day, Young Marquis Leandro came to ask if I knew the Purifier’s whereabouts…”

“I’m just asking, but… You really had nothing to do with it this time, did you?”

He scrutinized my face with a gaze that would allow not even a shred of falsehood.

I felt terribly wronged.

“I only woke up from a coma four days ago, Father.”

“No one cares about that, Edith.”

But unexpectedly, the Duke answered coldly.

“It doesn’t matter whether you actually kidnapped the Purifier or not. Just arousing suspicion from Grand Duke Belnac could get you framed and executed. This time, things blew over thanks to your funeral, but…”

“……”

“No matter if you’re a Ducal Lady. If you haven’t awakened, that’s just how things are.”