Chapter 74
In the end, I had to give up on the divine power healing and resort to using a handkerchief to stop the bleeding from my arm.
Since Kaiden’s handkerchief was already soaked with blood, I had to use Lucas’s handkerchief instead.
I stuffed Kaiden’s handkerchief into my back pocket and muttered to myself.
“The wound keeps widening and it hurts…”
Stella apologized with a guilty expression.
“I’m sorry, Marion.”
“…It’s fine.”
“Why isn’t it healing…?”
I avoided her gaze and secretly resented her in my heart. It was inevitable. Stella, unable to believe that her divine power wasn’t working, had tested it several times.
Each time, my wound would only widen further, and it wasn’t until Lucas had sternly warned her that she stopped.
‘She looked like a mad scientist…’
I distanced myself a little from her. The angel-like image of her that I had seen in the original story was clearly idealized.
[…But it’s strange.]
Bled, who had been sitting on my right shoulder, muttered.
‘What’s strange?’
[Divine power shouldn’t fail to work on humans. Marion, are you really human?]
I was so shocked that I asked him again.
‘If I’m not human, then what am I?’
[Well, but…]
‘What’s wrong? Just say it already.’
I urged him impatiently, and Bled spoke slowly.
[Usually… it’s demons or monsters that suffer from divine power.]
“What?!”
“Marion?”
“Lady Marion?”
I unintentionally shouted out loud. Startled, Lucas and Stella turned around with wide eyes.
I awkwardly smiled and shook my head, signaling that it was nothing. The two of them still looked puzzled but soon started talking to each other.
I hurriedly asked Bled.
‘Tell me in detail. What does that mean? Are you saying I’m not human?’
[I don’t know. You seem like a human to me, but…]
‘Why are you being so uncertain?’
I snapped at him, and Bled responded with irritation.
[But I can’t even sense a high-ranking demon’s aura!]
‘Why not?’
[Because they’re stronger than me!]
Ah, now I understood.
‘So, you don’t know someone stronger than you, right?’
[Do you have to put it that way?]
Bled glared at me with a hurt expression. I couldn’t understand why.
‘What’s wrong with that?’
[Forget it. I must be a fool for expecting sensitivity from you.]
Ignoring Bled, I thought quietly.
‘Am I… a high-ranking demon?’
Is this how I’m going to learn the secret of my birth…?
Seeing my serious expression, Bled shook his head slowly and reminded me of reality.
[If you were a high-ranking demon, the Demon King would know.]
That was true. If I were a high-ranking demon, there was no way the Demon King wouldn’t know. And since he casually mentioned that humans were under Nyx’s jurisdiction… He must have thought that I was human.
[And what high-ranking demon uses a sword instead of magic?]
‘Oh, demons usually use magic, right?’
[Yeah. You’re definitely human, but… wait a second.]
‘What? What’s wrong now?’
Bled muttered, stroking his chin with his little hand.
[Could it be that you’re a hybrid of a demon…?]
‘A hybrid…?’
That was a new perspective.
‘If I’m a hybrid of a demon, would divine power hurt me?’
[I don’t know. Hybrids between demons and humans aren’t common, so…]
I slowly ran my fingers over my lips.
Could I really be a hybrid of a demon? It wasn’t certain, but I could verify it.
I could show Stella Durante, the half-demon mage working at the Duke’s residence. If he also suffered from divine power…
“Marion?”
“Yes, yes?”
I jumped in surprise at Lucas’s call and stammered. He looked at me with mild confusion but soon glanced around the palace and spoke.
“Because of the urgency, I didn’t think about it earlier, but before we head to the Duke’s residence, could we check on Serena? I’m worried if she’s alright.”
It was natural for him to worry about his only younger sister’s safety. I also wanted to know if Bethel and Vito, who had come with us, were safe, so I nodded.
Though the situation was urgent, the three of us couldn’t turn a blind eye to the injured people around us.
Fortunately, the people had set up their own makeshift clinic on one side of the palace and were caring for each other.
The resident doctors and nurses of the palace were tending to the injured, and those whose bodies were unharmed had volunteered to help with the chores.
Whether they were nobles or servants, everyone was helping each other.
“Serena, you’re safe!”
“Brother!”
Fortunately, Serena was unharmed except for a slight sprain in her leg. She had no major injuries.
People visibly relaxed upon the reunion of the royal siblings. The presence of the royal family seemed to give the citizens great comfort.
“But where could the Emperor be…?”
“We haven’t seen the Crown Prince either.”
“Could something have happened to them…?”
“Many people have died, so… that might be the case.”
I overheard people whispering quietly.
Since the Emperor and Crown Prince had not been seen after the fireballs rained down from the sky, it was natural for the people of the empire to feel anxious.
I looked around the makeshift clinic, but I couldn’t see the other members of the royal family, Princess Caroline or the Empress.
Had they all perished? It wasn’t certain, but it seemed likely.
I wasn’t too saddened. Since they had only caused me trouble, I felt a little regret but not much more.
“Lady Marion!”
At that moment, Bethel approached me with a relieved expression.
“Bethel, you’re safe.”
I embraced him with joy. Bethel, relieved that he was unharmed, jokingly said he thought we were all going to die.
“Do you know where Vito is?”
“You mean the Duke’s adjutant? Please follow me. I’ll take you to him.”
Unfortunately, Vito was lying on the floor with a splint on his broken arm and leg. The pain was evident, as proper painkillers hadn’t been administered yet.
I knelt beside him and asked.
“Vito, are you alright?”
“Yes… Where is the Duke?”
“……”
I couldn’t answer immediately. Vito then changed his question.
“Has he passed away?”
I could barely manage to speak, my voice barely audible.
“…He’s holding on.”
His face darkened. Though I didn’t know the full situation, he was a smart man, so he must have realized from my answer that Kaiden’s condition wasn’t good.
He tried to get up, but I urgently stopped him and pushed him back down. Vito mumbled through his parched lips.
“Lady Marion… Please take care of the Duke.”
I nodded slightly, hiding my face with my fallen hair. My expression must not have been good.
“I’ll go ahead to the Duke’s residence first. I’m worried about the Duke and the others. Please take care and get well soon.”
“Yes. Please take care of the people at the Duke’s residence as well, Lady Marion.”
I quickly wrapped up the conversation with him and stood up.
Bethel, with a worried look, glanced at me but didn’t speak. He must have had many questions about Kaiden’s absence.
“Bethel. You stay here and take care of Vito and the others.”
“But…”
My bodyguard hesitated.
I asked him to stay because even one more pair of hands was needed here. I was also worried about Vito.
Bethel reluctantly nodded, and I felt a sense of relief.
I didn’t have the energy to explain everything right now.
How should I tell the former Duke? Everyone needs to be safe first…
My head started to ache. As I rubbed my forehead, Lucas, who had finished greeting Serena, approached me.
“Marion. Let’s go now.”
I forced a smile and nodded.
We approached Stella, who was still treating the injured. She spoke with a troubled expression.
“I… should stay here.”
Looking around the clinic, I could see that it was filled with the wounded. As a saint, it didn’t seem easy for her to abandon this place and go to the Duke’s residence.
Lucas responded.
“I understand. Please don’t overexert yourself. In the meantime, we will prepare the evidence and make all the necessary preparations.”
She nodded and answered with a determined look in her eyes.
“I’m sorry I can’t go with you, but once I’m ready with the preparation for the Ferdinand House, I’ll gladly follow. We’ll meet then. Please take care of yourselves as well.”
Lucas and I nodded in response and then headed toward the Duke’s residence.
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