Killing the Possessor - Chapter 120

Feeling the strength of that wooden mask in my hands, I found myself wanting to use it to help yet another unfortunate soul who’d landed in this wretched world.

Birds of a feather flock together, after all.

Yes, I wanted to be one of them too.

I wanted to become a member of Hongik Ingan.

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Chapter 7 End. The Red Chameleon

Dahlia hummed to herself as she walked through the heart of the arcade.

The midday street wasn’t too crowded or too empty; the weather was as sunny as her mood, and—most importantly—today she’d finally gotten word that the dress she’d been waiting to have fitted was ready. No wonder she felt like she was walking on air!

It would have been even better if she could’ve dragged Camilli along for some fake critiquing, the way they used to. But these days Camilli was out and about more than ever, and wasn’t home today either.

Still, her stepsister’s absence couldn’t put a damper on her spirits. Maybe a week ago it would have—but now Dahlia knew the truth. All her worries about Camilli’s love life had been nothing but misunderstandings!

“Are you sure there aren’t any men she’s seeing?”

“As far as I know, Miss Camilli has only been in contact with women recently. No men she’s been keeping in touch with, at least as far as I’m aware.”

A few days ago, Ren Abyss had visited the Mute family townhouse, going over Camilli’s recent movements and checking the mail routes, then reporting the results to Dahlia.

Camilli probably wouldn’t appreciate it if she knew, but for now, that wasn’t really Dahlia’s problem.

“Miss Dahlia, could you explain again about that note you mentioned?”

“The note?”

“Didn’t you say there was some kind of code being passed back and forth?”

“Oh, that. Hm… Thinking about it now, I think it was just a supportive message. All it said was ‘cheer up.’ Maybe it was about breaking up with the prince.”

Ren Abyss, who had claimed to be interested in Camilli, seemed more fixated on the scrap of paper Dahlia had stolen a look at. But Dahlia herself didn’t care. She’d only gone along with his request to satisfy her own curiosity about Camilli’s supposed secret lover, and now that question was answered.

In short, Camilli wasn’t seeing some random scoundrel, nor was she getting close enough to any man to announce a wedding soon.

In other words, there would be plenty more lively days ahead for Dahlia, with Camilli right there to clash with and spice up her life.

Grinning from ear to ear, Dahlia’s humming grew louder. The tune was hopelessly off-key, and several passersby gave her curious looks, but she couldn’t have cared less. Nothing could touch her now.

“Oh, Resjul! I have to stop by Resjul too!”

Spotting the dessert shop up ahead, Dahlia broke into a run.

She’d always been a regular, but this time felt different. Just a few days ago, Camilli had brought her cookies from here, a rare gift that she hadn’t received in ages.

“Did she really think I’d be touched by something like that? So simple.”

Dahlia scoffed at herself, but wasted no time flagging down the staff.

“I’ll take two of the rainbow sugar cookies at the front, one of the swirl cookies, three each of the deer and puppy-shaped ones, four tarts with etheri and palmcorn, and oh—add the new chocolate with rum and cherries too. As many as you can fit!”

While the staff hurried to box her order, a new customer walked in behind Dahlia—a woman with skin so pale it was hard to believe she ever saw the sun, her red bonnet pulled low. Most peculiar of all, she had a reptile draped over her arm.

“Ew, what the— That’s creepy.”

Dahlia wrinkled her nose, unable to understand why anyone would want such a thing as a pet. Weren’t pets supposed to be cute?

But then she noticed something odd. While the clerk was still busy with Dahlia’s order, the woman wasn’t waiting her turn—she was helping herself, grabbing treats directly off the display.

At first, Dahlia thought maybe the woman just wanted a closer look before choosing, but it became clear she was simply picking things up at random, not even making eye contact with the staff. If anything, she seemed to be actively avoiding them.

“Hey, you—thief!”