Chapter 21
Then should I carry that? There's such a thing as the villainess possessor's pride.
"No! You're worse than a real demon!"
Who does she think used up all the holy water in the mansion? I paid for it too, so shouldn't I at least have a porter? It's just ten bottles of holy water—I don't know why she's throwing such a fit when it can't be that heavy. This one really has exceptionally severe theatrics.
"Jelly. Listen when I tell you something."
Only after I threatened her did Jelly curl her tail and pick up the holy water. She walked slowly as if dissatisfied and kept acting like it was difficult, so I put all my effort into ignoring Jelly and came outside the Great Temple. She's a werewolf, so she'll track by scent and follow along well enough.
As I was walking, I saw a man wearing a familiar paladin uniform on the opposite side. A nun was walking beside him.
"Sir Raphaela?"
"Uriel!"
When Uriel greeted her, the expression she'd been pretending to be solemn with softened smoothly, and the knight named Raphaela ran over here. Wait, what about the nun behind you? Look at the nun's expression! She looks completely flustered!
I totally get it. I think I was like that too whenever my sociable friend would walk ten steps and then bump into someone and chat and say hello every single time.
"And... Lady Rohanson?"
How do you know that too? I guess even in a rofan world, the information network of socialites is exceptional.
When I nodded to indicate she was correct, the socialite—no, Raphaela—brightened even more and greeted me with a salute. Her actions were exactly like a proper knight, but her face was strangely excited like a dog who met someone while out for a walk.
"I'm Raphaela of the Paralos Knight Order. Have we met before, do you remember?"
No, not at all! You say we met before? Surely that wasn't before the possession?
"I was there during the fire before. And also, when the Commander stopped by the Rohanson mansion last time, I went with him! The Commander held me back so I couldn't go in and greet you, though."
So you only knew her one-sidedly. Well, if she knew the original villainess Evangelin before I possessed her, she wouldn't have approached so warmly—she would have been on guard.
But after just a short conversation, I can see why Gabriel left Raphaela behind. Her tension is so high and bubbly that I feel like my energy is being drained.
If she's a lively subordinate attached to the male lead, it must be that role, right? The comic relief character who serves as the adjutant to the tactless romance-clueless male lead and gives advice for their romance!
The kind of character who occasionally picks up strange rumors and shares them, making the male lead dig his own grave and get cursed at in the comments. Her character is clearly established.
"I'm truly glad to finally greet you!"
Now I understand why Raphaela is acting like she might wag her tail at me any moment. Gabriel fixated on me, not the heroine, right? So she's trying to get on my good side. She's dedicated to her role.
"I see."
But unfortunately, I have no intention of dating a paper person from within the text! Raphaela, I'm sorry for eliminating your reason for existence!
I answered shortly with the intention of cutting off any goodwill, but Raphaela didn't seem to care at all.
"You came this time because the Commander requested cooperation, right? Thank you! Ah, have you toured our temple? It's grand and magnificent, isn't it! I was truly amazed when I first saw it too. Actually, I'm still sometimes surprised even now."
Raphaela kept chattering away, completely unfazed. Does she have no fear? Or is she so busy with knight duties that she doesn't know Evangelin's evil reputation? Since the possession, aside from Kanna, she's the first person to approach me so unreservedly.
Uriel, who couldn't stand watching Raphaela chatter, interjected.
"Sir Raphaela, weren't you in the reception room? Where are you headed?"
"Ah. The Commander told me to escort the nun."
"Then shouldn't you hurry instead of making the nun wait?"
"Haha, I was just so happy to see you..."
Raphaela, having been scolded, scratched her head sheepishly. She said her goodbyes and we were finally about to go our separate ways when Raphaela suddenly stopped.
"Right. Come to think of it, the nun used to work at the Rohanson mansion—do you remember?"
"Sir Raphaela, that's rude!"
Really? She worked at the Rohanson mansion? She looks familiar but I don't remember her. I tried to get closer to see her face better, but the retired nun stepped backward. She was trembling and keeping her head bowed low, looking like she might prostrate herself at any moment.
"You worked at the Rohanson mansion?"
"...Yes."
Her voice was barely audible, quiet enough to fade away. It seemed like someone had threatened to kill her if she didn't answer, forcing her to speak. I wondered why she was being so submissive, but it appeared she was intimidated by Evangelin due to her history working at the mansion.
It seems she endured harassment from Evangelin and quit her job at the mansion. Anyway, since she worked at the count's household, it made sense that she was scared and acting like that. The Rohanson mansion staff still tremble with fear whenever they see me.
"What's your name?"
"You don't know my name?"
"I lost my memory."
This is why I need to establish memory loss from the start. If I don't claim amnesia and just pretend to be the original body's owner moderately, the truth could slip out in moments like this.
"...It's Daisy."
Hm. Never heard the name. She must have really quit before I possessed her.
"Did you quit because of me?"
Not something to broadcast loudly, so I whispered as quietly as possible. I barely moved my lips—practically ventriloquism. Uriel and Raphaela beside me probably couldn't hear it well either.
Daisy couldn't answer. Seeing that she couldn't even bring herself to say no, it was clear. Look at that. How horribly did Evangelin treat her that she's trembling like a leaf?
"You must have been very scared."
I didn't do anything wrong, but seeing her shake, I wondered if I should apologize. But apologizing would just be for my own peace of mind.
Daisy doesn't know I'm possessed by Evangelin's body, and even if she heard I lost my memory, she'd still think I'm the same person. Losing your memory doesn't erase your sins.
But I can't just stay silent. To escape being a villainess, I have to apologize whether it kills me or not.
My conscience hurts, but I'll ignore it. Let me repeat: she's just text! My life comes first!
"Are you still scared?"
Seems so... She's keeping her head bowed and won't even look at me.
"Don't be afraid. If you want, I'll compensate you."
"Pardon...?"
"On the condition that you don't spread stories about me."
I'm a villainess, so if I apologize too sincerely from the start, it would be character breakdown, so I should at least compensate with money. All Evangelin has is somewhat ample money anyway. Might as well ask her not to spread rumors while I'm at it.
But Daisy's reaction was strange. She was already pale, but now she looked like she might die at any moment. No, don't collapse! If you do, Evangelin's evil reputation will grow even more! Why is she suddenly like that? Wait. Whoa, could it be?
"Did you tell someone?"
...Seems so. No, I thought meeting a maid who was harassed by Evangelin in the past here was an event for Evangelin's redemption? Was it not? Was this actually something that added fuel to the villainess's rumors?
"Who did you tell?"
"Ugh...!"
"Who did you tell?"
No, Evangelin already had an overflowing evil reputation, but this is a temple with priests and paladins scattered all around. I'm already falsely accused of contributing to Donau's death, and if the evil deeds I committed in the past are revealed on top of that, how can I even manage that? I'd be branded not just a villainess but—this is bad—a witch.
No, it's my own fault, but why do I have to bear that karma!
"...Sir Gabriel knows."
Whew. What a relief. At least that's fortunate. Gabriel is smitten with me, so he won't do anything harmful. If the priests who admire Donau's painting had heard, I would've become a traitor in an instant.
Or would I? What if Gabriel hears about Evangelin's misdeeds and suddenly loses interest and turns cold? Gabriel is the male lead, so I wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
Ah, I don't know. I'll think about it then. I'm going to see Gabriel now, so I can judge when I see him. I'm definitely not escaping from reality. Nope, nope.
I was imagining a bleak future when Jelly finally appeared from behind. How much did she dawdle that she's only arriving now? And she hated carrying the holy water so much, but she was carrying it lightly with one hand! With just her fingertips, like a waiter serving! See! It's not even heavy!
"Oh? You..."
Jelly looked at Daisy with a sour expression. Huh? What? How do those two know each other?
Daisy turned even paler than when she looked at me. What on earth did she do that she's more scared than when she saw me?
"I, I should go now."
Daisy tried to leave with her gaze lowered, and I reflexively grabbed her wrist.
"Mmph...!"
Sorry! I must have used too much strength. I changed from her wrist to holding her hand.
I expected her hand to be cold, but it was unexpectedly warm. Daisy fidgeted with her captured hand but didn't push me away.
"If there's a wish you want from me, come find me. I'll grant it."
Of course, a victim wouldn't let go of their grudge over something like this. This was nothing more than self-satisfaction and a face-saving measure to break the villainess route.
When I let go, Daisy touched her hand and hid it behind her back.
"Sister! I'll escort you!"
"It's fine! The carriage stop is right there."
"That's true, but..."
Daisy refused with a look of distaste at Raphaela's offer. Since the carriage stop wasn't far, Raphaela apparently accepted it and watched blankly as Daisy fled.
"She's gone."
"I suppose. Ah, did you two have a good talk? I kept both my ears tightly shut to protect your privacy."
"I wonder. She didn't seem to want to talk to me. Honestly, I don't even remember who she is."
"Pardon? Ah. Well, if you asked me to name my household servants, I wouldn't know either."
Raphaela made a smooth, carefree quip. But you know, she's clearly smiling pleasantly, so why does she look so suspicious?