A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 45.1
It was a blatant provocation.
And I knew full well it was the kind of remark that would ignite his shitty temper.
But I wanted to know.
‘…Just what kind of scheme did he cook up to come all the way here? Does he remember that I’m an Awakener?’
If he were the same Serge I knew, he wouldn’t have come all this way with an earring in hand and a polite visit to the duke’s estate.
He’d have just snatched me up without warning.
And if not that, then at the very least, he should’ve already flown into a rage and gone for my throat by now.
“Hm… That’s a fairly reasonable point, Ducal Lady.”
This kind of calm, agreeable intellectual behavior wasn’t anywhere in the novel.
Which left me feeling extremely out of place.
“I’ve thought this since last time, you’re quite capable of rational thought for someone with your reputation.”
The words, ‘That’s my line’, hovered right on the tip of my tongue.
“What is the Duke thinking? Letting such a talented daughter wither away inside the house.”
“Talented…?”
“When did your ability manifest?”
That attack came so suddenly, I instinctively stiffened.
‘…Of course. Freakish bastard.’
Even on the brink of a rampage and after getting clocked in the head with a stool, he still hadn’t lost his memory. I could only marvel.
‘I wonder… does he even know that I’m a Purifier?’
Considering he hadn’t threatened me at all and was still playing nice, it was very possible he was still testing the waters.
But the worst-case scenario would be getting dragged into his game, making some slip, and giving away my power myself.
I needed to stay sharp starting now.
“I’m pretty sure you were a non-Awakener up until recently,” Serge said, probing again, this time with more certainty.
There was no point denying it further when he clearly remembered.
“…After the funeral.”
“Ah. Wasn’t it said that you were found inside a monster’s mouth? Guess that satisfies the usual awakening conditions.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
The way he instantly deduced the context from a single sentence.
‘…He’s not someone to take lightly.’
On edge, I braced for his next question.
“Does the Duke or that underling of his know?”
“Underling… You mean Brother Ethan?”
“Yeah, I think that was the name.”
“…Neither of them know. I haven’t told anyone.”
“Hm. Makes sense. Everyone’s heard about the high-ranking noble who tossed aside his real daughter to adopt an Awakener heir.”
I frowned.
Even if it wasn’t exactly my story, what kind of person casually spits out painful family drama in front of the person concerned?
‘Should I tell you how you got dumped into a gate the moment you awakened?’
As I glared at him sulkily, he suddenly said something unexpected.
“Well done, Ducal Lady.”
“…What do you mean?”
“For not telling anyone. Trying to score points and get in someone’s good graces only to get chewed up and spat out in some gate… You were better off staying a non-Awakener.”
“……”
I sat there a little dazed, my lips parted.
Not once did I expect something like that to come out of his mouth…
And the fact that, even slightly, we shared the same thought…. It was almost unbelievable.
Maybe he felt the same, because Serge raised one eyebrow.
“But it’s curious. Didn’t you always envy Purifiers? I figured you’d go blabbing the moment you awakened, like you wanted the whole Empire to hear it.”
“I wasn’t that bad.”
“No? Then how do you explain that rumor about griffin brain soup helping with awakening, huh? Wonder where I heard that one?”
The moment he said that, the image of that eagle’s severed head rolling across the ballroom floor came rushing back to me.
It was a horrifying memory.
‘Oh god. Don’t tell me that idiot Edith actually ate that stuff to awaken?!’
My stomach churned.
“…Urgh!”
“Huh?”
Without meaning to, I clamped my hand over my mouth and gagged.
Serge looked at me like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Knock knock.
Right then.
“Miss, I’ve brought the tea.”
Just in time, the butler arrived with tea and snacks.
“C-Come in!”
I hurried to let him in.
Soon, the butler rolled the tray inside and set it up on the table.
He wasn’t much help, that man, but at least now I could catch my breath.
Clink…
Maybe he felt sorry for me being stuck with the Grand Duke, because the whole time he poured the tea, he kept sneaking concerned glances between me and Serge.
For whatever reason, Serge said nothing while the butler was present.
That, at least, was a godsend.
“I’ll be waiting nearby. Please call if you need anything.”
Once he finished setting the tea, the butler went so far as to place a call bell right in front of me and emphasized his words.
“Mm. Thanks, butler.”
What good would a tiny piece of paper like this do against that monster…
Still, just as I was barely restraining myself from grabbing the man’s legs and begging him not to leave.
“Feeling better now?”
Serge opened his mouth with a look of distaste.
“Never had someone gag right in my face before.”
“…I apologize.”
His gaze was so full of contempt that I had no choice but to meekly apologize.
“After the Tollen Gate incident, I developed amnesia. I don’t remember what you mentioned, so I must’ve reacted instinctively…”
“Amnesia, huh… Now I get why you talk like a normal human, unlike the rumors.”
He kept stealing the words right out of my mouth, and it pissed me off.
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I hate this guy, pls let him not be the ml, pleaseeee