18 Chapter 18
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"Yes?"
"Come. Sit here" I said.
*(Blush)
"B-b-but you need to go back and have breakfast w-with the others" said her.
I see.
"Well then. It is such a shame though. But, if you want it, just come to me, okay?"
"U-understood!"
*(Vanish)
You don't need to be that shy, Dipha.
"Huft, I'll take care the other things later. I should go now"
*(Vanish)
...
*(Appeared)
"I'm back, every....one??"
Somehow the atmosphere...
*(Sigh)
"It's nothing" said Zita, sighed at me.
"Hm???"
There's nothing happen until we finished our breakfast. Though the atmosphere was weird somehow.
...
Few days has passed. Today, the Royal Banquet will be held. Dinesh and Zitta are already left yesterday. Though Mother refused me to arrive later than them at first, I've finally convinced her. I mean, it's more fun that way after all.
"I still have about a few hours left. I think I will meditate a bit"
Since the gem I've obtained before haven't been completely absorbed.
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It should be safe here. I then sat under a giant tree.
I never thought that Denallie really planned it. But, she miscalculated the amount of memories that were needed for the gem to be perfect.
Memory Gem. A forbidden gem, you can say. This gem could enhance your strength, mana, and cores, instantly. Of course, it came with a price. For even a finger-sized gem to be successfully made, it requires many memories.
Fortunately, I know something useful so it won't requires that many. By using my mana and elemental core together.
"But, hell. It hurts a lot when half of my mana stored in my core gone instantly like that" I said.
Exactly two years after I entered this body, I found a notebook. It's about Denallie's plan to create this gem. Now I see the reason why she was willingly agreed to sleep with all of her maids before I took over. It's not that she really slept with them though, she casted a powerful illusion magic of her sleeping with them. She planned to extract those memories of them sleeping with her, and replace it with another good memory for them.
Sadly, extracting those memories was barely possible. Let alone replacing it. At that time, Denallie only know how to use her mana core. Because she was determined to never use her elemental core. That's why she failed.
Soon after I learned how much the plan progressed, I decided to speed it up. In the end, I was successfully extract, and replace those memories. Also, I restored every maid's body so that there will be no trace of me that actually slept with them. From that moment on, no one knows what was happened. The memory of sleeping with me, replaced with a memory of having a normal date with me too.
"For their sakes..."
...
Two hours later....
*(Appeared)
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in front of me.
"What's wrong, Lavani?" I asked.
Looks like she regained her conscious not too long ago.
"What do you want from me?" she asked.
Honestly, I would like to propose you. But, it can wait.
"You were hunted by the demons. I just saved you because I want to"
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"Where is this place? I never knew there was a mansion like this"
Of course.
"This is my mansion. In case you don't know about me, let me introduce myself. I'm Denallie Nayanika Isvara. You can call me Llie"
*(Step back)
"...you're from Isvara? By Denallie, you must be the rumored cursed child of Isvara"
Such an interesting rumor.
"Cursed, huh? I hope the nobles at the banquet give me a great expression when they see this cursed child. But, I warn you to mind your words next time" I said.
"What do you mean?" said Lavani, confused.
Well...
"My people doesn't have a generous heart like me you see"
*(Swoosh)
Out of nowhere, four swords already pointed at her. They were Dipha, Maya, Hansa, and also Rania.
"How dare you call My Lady like that" said Dipha.
It'll become more dangerous if I don't step in.
"Calm down. She's just stating what other people think of me. It's not hers" I said.
*(Sheathe)
The four of them obediently sheathed their swords.
"You all may leave now"
"Yes" said Hansa, Dipha, and Maya.
*(Disappear)
"You're fucked next time you say that" said Rania.
*(Disappear)
Now that the commotion is settled, I can finally talked to her about this.
"That's right. You asked what do I want from you, right? Then, may I ask you to do something?"
"What is it?" said her.
"I want you to guard this mansion while I'm at the banquet. You can act on behalf of me if someone suspicious appeared" I said.
Hearing that, Lavani took some time to think about it.
"All right. I will do it. But, do you really trust me this much? What if I choose to steal something from here?" said her.
Steal? From this mansion? That was quite a bit funny.
"Hahaha. Only if you can fight all the servants and the knights here" I said.
"...are they really strong like that green haired girl before?" asked her.
Hansa? Well, I guess you can say that she's undoubtedly strong for being a maid.
"More or less. Sure you can win?" I asked, grinning.
"As if. I would be very lucky if I can come out alive"
Oh, I forgot about 'that' on her.
"Lavani. Can you turn around for a bit? There's something I wanted to try" I said.
*(Tilt)
"Sure?" said her, tilting her head.
After she turned around, I gathered mana around my right hand. I condensed it so that it won't go wild.
"Please bear with this"
"What are-"
"HA!!!"
*Boom
"AGHHGH?!!!"
I strike her back with my full of condensed mana palm.
*(Thud)
Lavani immediately fell down. From her body, the mysterious mana I felt from her took a form of a lesser demon.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?"
Shit. It's not over yet.
"Get down" I said as I bring out my sword.
*(Slash)
"AGHG?! HOW DO YOU?!" said the demon, vanishing into the air.
It's only a lesser demon, but it will cause more damage as time goes by.
"I'm sorry. It will noticed what I'm about to do if tell you beforehand" I said.
~Restoration~
"Ugh...what was that thing?" she asked.
"Something like a curse. You're a half-breed, right? A demon bloodline at that. Since you were born, you're bound to have that thing. Unless you take that out of your body, that thing will grow until the time comes for it to tear your body apart and become an intermediate demon" I said.
How come I know all of this? Of course, it's Lavani herself who told Denallie.
"Something like that..."
"But, you're quite lucky. Since you're the same age as me, that thing should be a little bit bigger" I said as I inspect the demon.
"Why is that?"
Well...
"It's because the seal that one of your mothers placed on your mana core" I said.
"M-mothers?" said her, confused.
Looks like she doesn't know about that.
"Do you want to know?" I asked.
"....please"
Too bad.
"Oh my, then you have to wait until I come back from the banquet" I said, smiling.
"What?!"
...
The night of the banquet...
"Have you finished preparing, My Lady?" asked Dipha.
The suit is really great. I can take my sword any time. Also my carriage is in a good condition.
"Yes. I don't think I forgot anything since all of you helped me" I said.
*(Smile)
"Thank you, My Lady" said the maids.
*Step step step
Just before I depart, the Headmaid brought something to me.
"My Lady, please wear this" said her, holding a cloak.
The night-colored cloak, with Isvara symbol on it. What a splendid cloak.
"Why should I wear this?" I asked.
"Because we can't put a symbol on your carriage to identify that you are a lady from the Isvara Family, you need at least wear this cloak so that the others won't look down on you"
That's quite logical. Well, it won't hurt wearing it.
"Thank you. I'll wear this"
*Fwooosh
Finally, I departed to banquet. Though, I'll be late according to my plan.
...
The Imperial Palace...
All of the nobles have arrived, including my family. Although, the Imperial Family hasn't showed up. All, of them started to gossip, discussing, and talking about who's influence is the most solid. Starting from the three princes, and the five princesses.
But somehow, all of their attention is mainly focused on how is the first lady of Isvara Dukedom look like. Thus, their eyes is fixed on my family.
"Mother. Is it true that Sister Llie is coming?" asked Asha.
*(Smile)
"Of course. You will patiently wait for her, right?" said Mom, smiling.
"Yes!" said Asha, smiled.
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"Shouldn't Sister have arrived now, Father?" asked Leiron.
"Hm, she should be. But, let's just trust her and wait"
"Okay"
*(Gossip)
"Looks like your sister is really famous, huh?" said Father, looking at the group of nobles.
*(Step)
"First Lady of Isvara Dukedom, Lady Denallie Nayanika Isvara has arrived!!!"
"Denallie?!"
*Step step step
All of the nobles, instantly fixed their gazes to me. Some full of awe, shocked, and hostility too.
"I-is that really Lady Denallie?"
"H-her suit really defines her strength..."
"O-oh my..."
Most of the noblewomen were fascinated by my appearance.
"Llie!!"
*(Hug)
Suddenly, someone ran and hugged me. Turns out it was Rania.
"Hey, you shouldn't hug me like this, you know" I said.
"I don't care"
This girl...
"B-both of them..."
"What kind of....relationship they have?"
*.*.*.*
To be continued...
