Chapter 154
She knew how to use this magic tool temporarily. It was for emergency escape, but it could create a brief opening. Lacking magic power, she had to put in immense effort to use this magic tool. There were a few others as well.
The staircase soon ended, and the basement was revealed. Unlike the ordinary-looking upper level, this space was filled with antique decorations.
They seemed to be artifacts from the Ryeo Kingdom, located in the far east. As soon as she descended into the basement, Erika choked on the thick, lingering scent. Just then, someone appeared from inside.
“Hehe, don’t worry, we have no intention of harming you.”
A man with braided white hair and glasses bowed politely to that man and then stepped back. His master, the person who was to receive the letter. Erika’s palms grew sweaty. The man in front of her had short black hair, violet eyes, red eye makeup, and wore loose-fitting oriental clothing.
He held a long, oriental-style cigarette in one hand, and didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping his smoking despite having a guest, as he deeply inhaled the smoke and then exhaled. A sweet, pungent fragrance filled the space.
“This scent, it doesn’t seem to be without any effect.”
He shrugged, neither affirming nor denying. Though he didn’t say anything, Erika sensed affirmation in his expression. The space they were in was a narrow and elongated corridor, and there were a small table and makeshift chairs there, as if they had been brought in before she arrived. He folded his long legs and sat comfortably on the opposite chair, almost as if he were lying down.
“Well, it will take some time for the effects to kick in, and I can control that much, so a brief conversation should be fine.”
A chuckle that seemed to resonate from deep within his throat could be heard. It seemed to be a habit of his. Erika stared at him in astonishment, then wet her hands with water from the flask she was carrying and further secured the handkerchief to minimize any gaps.
Then, she cautiously offered the letter onto the table. She didn’t sit down. Her attitude was full of wariness.
The man nonchalantly took the letter she offered, opened it, and then whistled.
“Such a prickly young lady~ You’re quite intimidating.”
Then he laughed. Erika stared at him blankly and then opened her mouth.
“This is an important matter to me, so please answer honestly. Then I will move on your behalf once.”
“How audacious. Alright. To not even know that someone like you is by her side, she certainly seems to be quite immature. She is.”
“I believe there has been some change in Lady Veronica, but I am not sure exactly what it is. And somehow, I felt you might know the truth, so I took the liberty of asking to see you in person.”
He curved his eyes into crescents and smiled as if genuinely pleased. He suddenly stood up and approached, trying to place his hand on Erika’s head to pat it, but she, feeling displeased, quickly avoided his hand.
“Hehe, a good dog. Knows its master well.”
He licked his lips with his red tongue. He was a man with an excessively sensual aura. Erika, feeling uneasy, took half a step away from him.
“Also, good at recognizing the imposter who has taken over the master’s skin and is acting like them.”
Erika’s eyes widened. She whipped her head around to look at the Ryeo Kingdom man. He was smiling brightly with a genuinely joyful and happy expression.
“As you suspected, that woman is a fake. She is an ancient magical creature that swallowed the real Veronica whole and took over her body.”
“What on earth…!”
Hehe, the man’s meaningful laughter spread throughout the building. Erika, unable to control her shaking pupils at the sudden and shocking words, stared at him.
She wanted to say it was nonsense, but Veronica was truly not the person she knew. The desire to deny the truth clashed with the reason that thought it might be true. Gulp, Erika swallowed hard.
“There was originally an ancient magical creature made of shadows living in the Imperial Palace, and it seems that she wanted to become human one day. Because there was a human she liked. Didn’t Veronica change one day at the Imperial Palace?”
She couldn’t deny it. She remembered the day Veronica suddenly quit being a palace maid because she wasn’t feeling well. According to other close associates of Veronica, it wasn’t certain if she had changed from that day, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was the turning point.
“Unfortunately, that’s what happened, but fortunately, there is also a way to bring her back.”
A voice like a snake’s, filled with sweet and tempting content, permeated the space. It was a proposition that Erika could neither refuse nor ignore.
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