MPBGS 43💖

Chapter : 43

Of course, I didn’t fully trust Daisy’s words. The sudden claim that Kanna wasn’t really my younger sister was something I couldn’t easily believe.

But the thought had been lingering in my mind for days.

Whenever Kanna did strange, nonsensical things… or when I recalled the moment she looked pleased while watching Donau die, that suspicion would surface—could it be that she was acting that way because she wasn’t really Kanna?

If she truly cared about her sister, then hearing that someone had taken over her body should evoke disgust—just like Daisy, who had once regarded Lady Evangeline with revulsion.

The sister had been sick all her life. Now that she had finally recovered, someone else had taken over that body? It should be something that provoked anger.

“Even if Kanna has changed… even if she’s not the same person… when I see her smile like that, I just want to do anything for her.”

And yet Hena remained weak to Kanna.

After turning Daisy’s words over in her mind dozens of times, and waiting for Kanna, who had not returned late into the night, she finally admitted it.

No matter what form she took—or who she was—it was enough that “Kanna” was simply by her side. Hena cried, disgusted by her own selfishness.

“Daisy… I must be crazy, right?”

With tears that hadn’t dried still hanging at her eyes, Hena smiled.

“Hena…”

Daisy, standing before the living proof of how her careless words had broken someone, deeply regretted it. She shouldn’t have said that her sister wasn’t her sister just because of a small scar on her neck.

Her thoughtless kindness, her trivial sympathy, her attempt to ease her own guilt had shattered Hena’s mind.

When they worked together at the estate, she had heard that Hena was working to earn money for her younger sister’s medical treatment—the only family she had left. For Hena, her sister must have been her entire world. So how devastating must it have been to be told that that world was fake?

“I think I understand what you mean.”

“You understand?”

“I used to think Lady Evangeline was a monster who stole our young lady’s body. That’s why I ran away from the estate and even reported it to the temple. But when I was backed into a corner, the only person I could turn to for help was her.”

“What about you? Are you planning to ignore the fact that the young lady helped you?”

“The Evangeline Rohanson you knew is already dead.”

Those words were a sharp remark Daisy had once heard from Kanna. And now, through Daisy, those same words were passed on to Hena. Hena quietly took them in.

“And Lady Evangeline helped me. Right now, gratitude outweighs any sense of fear or disgust. Hena, are you going to call me crazy?”

Hena shook her head. Because of Lady Evangeline’s change, Kanna had recovered her health, and now both of them were living without financial hardship. Hena had also feared Lady Evangeline—but she was grateful as well.

“And… I’m sorry. I think what I said back then was a misunderstanding.”

In truth, Daisy had intended to bring this up before Hena had even arrived.

“A misunderstanding?”

“You know the demon who stays by the young lady’s side—Jelly, right? All the corpses Jelly resurrects have red marks on their necks.”

She didn’t mention that it was because their necks had been cut and reattached.

Resurrected corpses typically only imitated their actions from life. However, Kanna seemed far more human than the others resurrected by Jelly. Of course, given Lady Evangeline’s precedent, she couldn’t say anything for certain.

She had meant to apologize for her earlier misjudgment—that her sister might be the same person—but…

It seemed it was already too late.

“So that’s why I thought I was mistaken.”

“Is that so?”

“Your sister used holy water, right? Sir Gabriel said that those who die and are brought back will have their flesh burn upon contact with holy water.”

Seeing Hena remain indifferent, Daisy hurriedly added this as evidence. It was something Gabriel had learned during the interrogation of Priest Verga, one of Jelly’s resurrected subjects.

“Holy water…”

Contrary to Daisy’s hopes, Hena felt even more uneasy upon hearing this. Kanna had only used holy water when treating her illness. After that, she refused to treat the wound on her neck. Because of that, the scar on her neck still remained.

Why did Kanna refuse treatment…?

Hena suddenly felt the urge to slap herself for the thought that had just crossed her mind. Lady Evangeline possessed a great deal of holy water. If Kanna were ever injured more severely than before and required holy water again, perhaps then the truth would be revealed. Such thoughts briefly flickered through her mind.

“Sis, did I make you wait long?”

Kanna, having returned quickly after delivering the cherry blossom petals to the young lady, clung to Hena. Hena gently stroked Kanna’s head.

But Hena could never bring herself to hurt her sister. That also meant she would have to live her entire life in anxiety.

Gabriel personally delivered the children to the orphanage and arrived at the knight order later than usual. Explaining the situation and completing the procedures took more time than expected.

Raphaela, who had been preparing a report for the upcoming meeting, welcomed Gabriel’s return.

“Welcome back, Commander. I could have handled it myself.”

“No. I already told the young lady that I would take care of it.”

In truth, it would have been fine for Raphaela or other knights to handle it.

Gabriel’s decision to go in person wasn’t driven by a sense of duty to take full responsibility for the children. Contrary to public perception, he was not that devout or righteous.

Rather, it stemmed from Evangeline—or more precisely, from the uneasy expression Evangeline Rohanson had shown. Perhaps not uneasy—more like unfamiliar.

Whether it was because the children were connected to Daisy, Evangeline had shown an unusual level of interest in them and treated them gently. Since she cared about those children, Gabriel couldn’t help but take notice as well.

“Thank you.”

Gabriel had witnessed the moment Evangeline shed the mask of a noble lady. He noticed that when she received a child’s simple expression of gratitude, cracks appeared in her previously indifferent facade.

“…I see.”

It took Gabriel deliberately overstepping boundaries and behaving improperly just to witness such a glimpse of Evangeline’s inner self—and it was something revealed by nothing more than a child’s words of thanks.

How could such a trivial remark unsettle her?

“Does she like children?”

No. It probably wasn’t such a benevolent emotion. Perhaps she simply became a little gentler? Based on Daisy’s explanation, in the end, it was Evangeline who had saved the children.

A carriage passing by flashed through his mind—the red wheel tracks briefly appearing in his memory.

If Gabriel himself had met Evangeline during his orphaned childhood, would he have received help? Would that pale, cold hand have been extended to him?

Since it was already in the past and could not be changed, Gabriel quickly dismissed the thought.

“Still, it would’ve been much more effective if the request came from you, Commander.”

Raphaela muttered. The priest in charge of the orphanage was a very upright person, but so upright that he tended to ignore nobles obsessed with money. Since Raphaela was known to be from a noble background, it was obvious she wouldn’t have been warmly received.

On the other hand, a self-made knight commander from an orphanage background would have been welcomed.

“I wasn’t exactly living extravagantly either…”

Once you entered the temple, you became independent of your family anyway. Raphaela, who had always been treated as a cast-off child, quietly grumbled.

Her already strong disdain for nobles had only deepened upon hearing about wealthy individuals trafficking children. And one of the priests involved in that list—unfortunately—was also from a noble background.

“What about Merai?”

“She has been detained in the underground holding cells for now.”

Raphaela reported on the progress. Merai had been immediately confined and reported to higher authorities. Since a priest was involved in human trafficking, the matter was deemed serious, and a meeting had already been scheduled.

Her fate would likely be decided in that meeting.

“Commander, the topic of Lady Rohanson will likely come up in the meeting.”

In the case of Priest Verga, there was no direct connection, so Evangeline wasn’t discussed. But this time was different. Bishop Zabania had also witnessed Evangeline and taken interest—so the topic would undoubtedly arise.

“Will you reveal everything about the young lady’s identity?”

The one who may have been behind the Donau incident, the owner of the mark, the resurrector of corpses, a being masquerading as a noble lady.

If everything were revealed, Evangeline Rohanson would likely not escape execution. Or perhaps the opposite.

“…Well…”

Gabriel closed his eyes. Somewhere, he could hear the slow beating of a heart.

“Good morning, my lady.”

No. I didn’t sleep a wink.

I spent the entire night agonizing at the thought of having to face Gabriel soon.

I was in such turmoil, yet Kanna looked radiant, as if flowers were floating around her. She must have reconciled with Hena last night.

“Where’s Hena?”

“She went with Daisy to see the butler.”

In the end, Hena’s gloom wasn’t Kanna’s fault—it was mine. If the lady one serves turns out to be a possessor, that’s bound to be unsettling. Kanna said she would try talking to her herself…

“How did the conversation go?”

“Yes! Thanks to you, it went well.”

After finishing the meal with Kanna, Hena and Daisy came to visit.

What? I thought they had reconciled? Hena still seemed a bit down.

“What’s with her?”

Jelly tilted his head as he looked at Hena, as if he wasn’t the only one who noticed. She didn’t look well… Her eyes were red—probably from crying yesterday. Must have been an emotional reconciliation.

On the other hand, Daisy seemed to have slept soundly. Meanwhile, I was the one suffering all night, tearing my hair out!

Well… if I’m being honest, it is my fault. If I had been properly villainous as the novel’s villainess, this wouldn’t have happened. But because I was too kind, the discrepancy exposed me as a possessor. Still, this body dies if I don’t reform! If I kept committing evil acts, I might not die immediately, but I’d certainly be headed for ruin.

Yet no matter how hard I tried to reform from a villainess, I still seemed destined for a death route. The story’s force was truly terrifying—it kept pushing me toward the villain role no matter what. At this rate, they’ll soon claim I’m possessed not by a witch, but by a demon or ghost.

I don’t know anymore. The only thing I can rely on is that Gabriel has feelings for me. The moment that illusion disappears, I’m as good as dead.