A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 43.1
As if the clear weather the day before had been a lie, rain poured down drearily all day.
“Guess going out’s off the table…”
Leaning back on the sofa like I was lying down, I murmured as I sipped the cocoa Nancy had brought me.
Day 3 since the female lead was kidnapped.
Her whereabouts were still completely unknown.
Because of that, I was starting to feel a creeping sense of urgency. Shouldn’t people be looking for her soon?
‘Well, even if I do nothing, the male leads will eventually find her on their own…’
The problem was that, except for Male Lead #4, the others still didn’t know she was missing.
“They’re hiding it at the Imperial Palace, huh…”
I recalled the information I’d gotten from Male Lead #4.
It was only natural that the Imperial Palace would do everything it could to conceal the Purifier’s absence.
The people here harbored a blind hope that no matter how catastrophic a Gate disaster might be, it could be resolved through ‘purification’.
Even Awakeners, constantly at risk of rampaging, felt the same.
But if their one and only savior were to disappear.
Worse, if it were revealed that she’d been kidnapped by some unknown force.
It would trigger massive upheaval.
“But… what does it mean that she was in a coma?”
Deep in thought, I suddenly furrowed my brows at another detail that had come to mind.
― You know the Purifier vanished without a trace after the Tollen Gate incident, right?
― But did you know the Purifier didn’t actually disappear, but was in a coma?
How much must I have wanted to avoid thinking about that day, to only now remember such critical information three days later?
“Judging by the symptoms, it’s just like mine… Surely it’s not one of those trashy twists where the female lead’s soul gets swapped too, right?”
Words have power.
I quickly shook my head, muttering ‘God forbid’, at the ominous thought.
Even thinking about it rationally, the chances were low.
I didn’t know the reason or mechanism behind why I ended up transmigrating as a character in this cursed novel.
But at the very least, I had entered a hollow body after its soul had already vanished.
‘Meaning, the real Edith died, her soul disappeared, and I slipped into that gap to take over her body.’
…Or so goes the theory I’d scraped together to explain this ridiculous situation.
But unlike Edith, the female lead hadn’t faced a life-threatening crisis.
There’s no way another soul could have squeezed its way into her body.
“Whether she’s in a coma or whatever, I really should start looking for her.”
Gnawing at my nails, I firmed up my resolve.
The female lead needed to return to her place, fast.
Only then would the men obsessed with her stop paying attention to me.
‘Especially Male Lead #4!’
Though I’d left behind a warning that I had evidence of his rampage, I knew it was only a temporary measure.
Even without confirming it, I could vividly picture him seething and plotting his revenge.
“…He probably doesn’t remember that I purified him, right?”
It happened so quickly while he was off guard, and I did smack him good with a stool.
If he were a normal person, there’s no way he’d remember.
But he wasn’t a normal person, so I couldn’t be sure.
If Serge ever spread word that I had awakened.
No, if he even realized that I was a Purifier…
“Haah… I just need to avoid running into him at all costs.”
And with that, I now had two clear goals.
First, avoid any and all contact with Male Lead #4.
And second, find the female lead ASAP, so I could divert the male leads’ attention back to her.
Knock knock.
Just then, a knock sounded.
“Miss, it’s me.”
“Come in.”
It was the butler.
I allowed him in, puzzled.
He entered the room and conveyed a rather abrupt message.
“Miss, the Duke sent word that he’ll be returning in thirty minutes.”
“Really?”
I was simply confused.
Up until now, neither the Duke nor Ethan had ever bothered to inform me when they were coming or going.
‘So what am I supposed to do with that info?’
I stared blankly at the butler, silently expressing that very question. He let out a sigh.
“However, he’ll be returning with a guest and has asked that you go out to greet them.”
“Greet… them?”
“Yes.”
“Who the heck is coming?”
“That… I’m not sure myself…”
I frowned but stopped myself when I noticed the butler’s wary look.
‘What, is it royalty or something?’
This was a first.
Just how important could this guest be, to warrant me being asked to go greet them personally?
‘Being a duke’s daughter is more exhausting than I thought…’
Having spent the last few days idling under the excuse of being unwell, I nodded, feeling just a tad guilty.
“Alright. I’ll get ready and come down on time.”
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