Chapter 24:  The Original Work Hit Me in the Back of the Head (2)

‘Come to think of it, the Duke’s eye color is the same as Kiki’s.’

Xavier roughly tousled his hair and rubbed his face with both hands.

“Stop trying to change the subject and answer me. Let’s assume the matter with the Crown Prince was a coincidence, but isn’t it a clear fact that you deceived me?”

“I absolutely didn’t deceive you.”

“Hah.”

I was the one on the verge of a mental breakdown. Why on earth did I end up with the Saintess’s mark on my back? I wanted to grab the author by the neck and shake them vigorously.

“Then what’s the matter with the Saintess?”

“That… I can’t tell you.”

“What?”

Waaah, I don’t know either!

And if I say I might be the Saintess when it’s not even certain yet?

I’d be stuck marrying the Duke. In the original story, the Duke went mad from the shock of not being able to marry the Saintess, devastated the Ducal territory and Pins region, and eventually marched on the capital.

For the plot to progress, the Duke needed the Saintess, and he was madly in love with Rosetta to the point of obsession.

‘But things aren’t supposed to go this way, are they? Why isn’t Rosetta the Saintess?’

At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind like a lightning bolt.

Oh? Wait.

‘I don’t have to get married, do I?’

If I’m the Saintess, I can just lift the curse, and Rosetta can be the one to marry him, right?

“What about Rosetta?”

“You’re changing the subject again.”

“No, I mean the black-haired woman you fell in love with.”

“Who fell in love?”

The Duke asked again, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

After saving her so admirably yesterday, why was he acting like this now?

“Where is she?”

“She said she had nowhere to go, so I told Rexton to take her.”

“To the Duke’s residence?”

“No, to the Rexton estate.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s a stranger.”

“No, you fell for her at first sight.”

“Do I have to fall in love with that woman?”

Suddenly, his gaze turned hazy. Gripping the sheet tied around his waist tightly, he approached the bed I was sitting on. With each step, his well-developed pelvic bones moved up and down under the sheet, and his firm chest shifted as he moved closer. His abs were coming closer and closer.

‘Aaaah, embarrassing thoughts are popping up in my head like mushrooms!’

I quickly covered my eyes with my fingers. Meanwhile, Duke Xavier climbed onto the bed and sat right in front of me.

“Do you think covering your eyes will make a difference?”

The Duke grabbed my hands, which were covering my eyes, and pulled them down. His teal eyes beneath his elegant eyebrows, his sculpted nose, and his handsome lips were all so close.

“What’s the big deal if I fall in love with that black-haired woman?”

“Well, that is…”

My sky-blue pupils were probably trembling like an earthquake.

You’re the sub-male lead in the novel, Rosetta is the female lead, and the Crown Prince is the male lead? Ugh, if I said that, anyone would think I was a lunatic! How am I supposed to explain this?

“Are you upset?”

“…What?”

“Are you upset because I went to save that woman? Should I have saved you instead of the Crown Prince?”

“W-what?”

Xavier slowly curled the corners of his lips. It was the satisfied smile of a predator who had just eaten its fill.

“I commend your jealousy.”

“…….”

“Can’t forget me, can you? Or is it that I’m hard to forget?”

He looked at me with an arrogant expression, as if he could see right through me.

“No, that’s not it!”

“Of course, you’d say that.”

Sigh, let’s just let it slide. It’s not like I’m actually going to marry this man.

“How are you going to explain the Saintess issue?”

Ugh, so he’s not letting it go. What a persistent guy.

“Um, um. So, maybe Rosetta hasn’t awakened yet.”

“Hasn’t awakened?”

“She’s not aware of her identity as the Saintess, so the mark hasn’t appeared yet.”

“Ah, that could be possible.”

The Duke glanced at me briefly, then rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

‘Did it work? Please, let it work!’

“I should ask Melvin. Since Rexton has taken her in, I’ll tell him to observe her carefully.”

He muttered to himself and suddenly looked my way.

“You too.”

“Hic.”

Why me? Startled, I hiccupped.

His deep-set eyes stared straight into mine. A lush green forest seemed to sway in his gaze. His warm breath brushed against the tip of my nose.

“Very suspicious, indeed.”

He murmured as if talking to himself.

“Now I understand. I definitely looked up at the golden carriage yesterday.”

“What about it?”

“And it’s clear that you kissed me, which is why I ended up like this.”

“K-kissed?”

When he glared at me, I flinched and trembled.

“I’ll send a platinum carriage soon, so behave and ride it.”

Why a platinum carriage…?

Before I could voice my confusion, his finger flicked my forehead.

“Ow… That hurts!”

“Will you ride it?”

Reluctantly, I nodded, glaring at him with resentment.

“I’ll come to fetch you myself.”

I inwardly panicked, but he just smiled, revealing his white teeth.

“First, I need to take care of myself. Tell a trustworthy maid to bring clothes. Oh, and a robe. And make sure the shoes match.”

The audacity of barging into my room naked and then demanding clothes and shoes was astonishing. I stared at him with a dissatisfied expression, saying nothing.

Then, raising one eyebrow, he grabbed the sheet around his waist and pretended to lower it.

“I-I’ll call them! Just leave that alone!”

I frantically waved an imaginary white flag. Seeing my frantic gestures, he silently laughed.

‘Tsk, so annoying.’

As usual, Maya entered my room. She was startled to see the Duke and fell on her rear, but being the seasoned maid she was, she didn’t scream.

She quickly brought some spare clothes from the butler’s wardrobe as instructed, gave me a knowing glance, and left the room.

While I turned my head, Xavier changed into the butler’s uniform. Unable to suppress my curiosity, I sneaked a sideways glance.

‘What the… He looks amazing.’

His back in the suit was stunning. After buttoning up his collar and throwing on the robe Maya had prepared, his tall frame was barely concealed.

“Take care. Don’t go anywhere.”

“How are you planning to leave?”

The Duke flashed a grin and swiftly leaped out the window.

“Eek!”

This is the third floor!

I rushed to the window and leaned out to look down. The Duke was already scaling the tall wall.

“My heart almost stopped.”

What is he, Spider-Man? If the Duke jumps out again, I swear I won’t be surprised anymore!

Watching his figure shrink into a dot in the distance, I stuck out my tongue.

‘Platinum carriage, my foot. Once he meets Rosetta a few more times, he won’t even remember me.’

The female lead is her, and I’m just a trivial extra.

‘I should figure out what’s going on with my body.’

I took off my nightgown and looked at my back in the mirror. Strangely, there was nothing there. Then, once again, a passage from the novel popped into my head unbidden.

「A golden star appeared on the Saintess’s body, radiating light, and by the next morning, it had completely vanished.」

Just like in the square… what is this? Is it a possession buff? Does it come to mind because I’ve read it before?

I really don’t know.

“Yuria!”

Thump, thump, thump. The loud noise echoed nearby. I hurriedly grabbed a robe and turned toward the door.

“What’s going on, Yuria?”

The door burst open, and my father entered with a startled expression. Behind him, Lady Naomi’s composed, smiling face appeared.

“Father, Mother. Did you sleep well?”

I greeted my parents with a bright smile, pretending nothing was wrong.

“Yuria, why did you scream?”

“Oh, I saw a rat.”

“A rat?”

Baron Douglas turned to the butler who had followed him in.

“How could there be rats in our house?”

“I-I’m terribly sorry, Master.”

I felt sorry for the flustered butler, but I couldn’t exactly say the Duke had been here.

While I was sweating nervously, my mother approached and stroked my cheek.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You seemed to have fun yesterday? You came back quite late.”

My mother’s eyes narrowed. She looked expectant.

Then my excited father inserted himself between us.

“Indeed, I waited so long for you yesterday. Why were you so late? Even the Duke is no exception. A man is a wolf, a wolf!”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how late it was.”

“Dear, grown adults chatting can lose track of time.”

“But honey!”

“As long as she returned safely, it’s fine.”

“Well, that’s true.”

My father sounded unconvinced. My mother kissed his cheek and gently pushed him toward the door.

“We have some girl talk to do. Don’t you have a contract to attend to today?”

“Oh, oh. Right. Haha.”

My simple father blushed and retreated to his study. No wonder he’s so whipped by my mother.

Once the door closed, my mother grabbed my hand, her eyes sparkling.

“Yuria, didn’t the Duke send you home early?”

“Oh, the conversation ran long.”

“Did you make any progress?”

“Huh?”

Does seeing his bare body count as progress? His chest, thighs, abs, and even the curve of his butt… Cough.

“Oh my, look at me. I was so curious after you went to the Duke’s residence yesterday.”

“Haha.”

Now that Xavier would end up with Rosetta, I should start pretending to forget him. Let’s lay the groundwork.

“Mother, I’m thinking of giving up on the Duke.”

“Why?”

“It seems we’re not meant to be. I’ll forget about him now.”

My mother’s expression instantly turned cold. If there were a machine to translate her gaze, it would probably spit out a string of expletives.

‘Terrifying.’

No wonder my father is so whipped.

“So suddenly? Did he steal your heart and then decide he doesn’t like it?”

“My heart?”

When I asked, my mother blinked a few times in confusion before smiling gently.

“No, haha. Not your heart, your feelings!”

“Oh.”

“Yuria, if you don’t want him, I don’t want him either. It’s fine. The world is wide, and there are plenty of wonderful men. Do as you please.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

“Alright, get some rest.”

My mother gave me a tight hug and then elegantly lifted the hem of her skirt, disappearing with light, quick steps.

That Duke with eyes on the soles of his feet…

At the end, her lips looked like they were cursing—was that just my imagination?