I was possessed by the villain’s daughter.

EPISODE 13

Thea stood in a corner of the garden. His black hair and dark eyes seemed to sink into the darkness.

I looked up at Thea. He smiled brightly.

“Hello, laila.”

“…Are you, uh, human?”

I wondered if he was some sort of otherworldly spirit or something like that.

I wondered how he could be so strange, how he could pick just the right time to meet me when I was alone.

But he nodded nonchalantly.

“Of course. Besides, we’re childhood friends.”

“What?”

My eyes widened.

But the next moment, somehow, I was convinced.

Thea and I had only met for the second time, and yet every time I saw him, I felt a strange sense of comfort and nostalgia.

“If only we were childhood friends…,” I thought.

“…You have lost your memory.”

“…!!!”

I tightened my grip on the railing. I could feel his eyes shake.

“How did you know that? Answer me.”

It was a secret that was not known even to the occupants of our mansion. It was a secret that was kept from the rest of us.

But he shrugged nonchalantly.

“That’s because I’m a wizard.”

“…A wizard?”

A ‘real’ wizard who could breathe fire, turn invisible, and summon minions?

I had never seen a wizard before.

Besides, wizards and elementals weren’t common in Elia’s stories.

I stared at Thea.

They said curiosity always ruins a man, but I was curious about him.

“…I see. So you’re my boyfriend after all, so why don’t you come into the ballroom? Let’s talk.”

“I can’t do that.”

He laughed cryptically.

“Because I’m not welcome.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Well….”

“Well, if it’s because you don’t have an invitation, I’ll tell you that I’m my friend. You don’t have to be nervous.”

But Thea just shook her head.

“I’ll…come back later.”

“Wait!”

“You’ll find out who I am soon enough.”

He turned on his heel.

“Happy birthday, laila, that’s all I wanted to say.”

With that one word, he disappeared into the darkness. It was a flash.

His figure was gone.

I stood there for a long time. I didn’t return to the ballroom until Eddie came looking for me.

“A wizard?

That explained his bewilderment.

‘I wonder what Laila has been up to….’

1 The Emperor’s bombshell, and a boyfriend who’s a wizard… Today, it seems like nothing but surprises keep happening. My strength was drained.

“…Laila. Laila?”

“Yes?”

“You’ve been distracted. Look ahead.”

I looked up at Eddie’s words and saw my father and Yit walking toward me, both of them beaming at me.

“Laila, happy birthday.”

“Sorry, we’re late, happy birthday!”

I looked at my watch and realized it was earlier than usual. Did my father and brother Yit use the teleportation scroll? But I didn’t dare ask, because I was afraid to hear the result.

“Come on, dance with me!”

Yit grinned and asked me to dance, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“Okay.”

The ballroom sparkled and glittered as lively music played.

I could feel my brothers and father’s heartfelt congratulations on my birth.

I grasped the outstretched hand firmly and walked toward the bright light of the chandelier.

“Happy birthday, Laila.

The affectionate whisper of someone uninvited drifted like smoke from my ears.

It was the day after the successful banquet.

I’ve been yawning since morning as if I’d overexert myself. I thought I might try to sleep until lunch.

The maid brought me some unexpected news.

“What?”

“Yes, the young lady is in the parlor now.”

“The young lady? Didn’t she go home yesterday?

“I thought the Duke had graciously agreed to let her stay one more day.”

I didn’t know that. No. Why does he want to see me, anyway?

I was not sure why he was looking for me. I’ve had a history of harassing him, both formally and informally. But if they were looking for me, I can’t just lie down and say I was sick. Grumbling, I slipped out of my pajamas and began to dress.

The white dress I wore today had a blue ruffle at the neckline, blue buttons, and bell-shaped sleeves. I slipped on white lace socks and matching blue shoes and headed up the stairs to the parlor that connected to the hall.

From the stairwell, I caught a glimpse of Young Ae’s back; she was wearing a dress half scarlet and half yellow, the colors complementary to her long, flowing navy blue hair.

A night’s sleep in the duke’s mansion could not have been planned, but her clothes were different from yesterday’s, so she must have had a maid sent for this morning, or else she had brought her own.

The latter was more likely, as nobles always packed a backup wherever they went.

Descending all the stairs, I stood in front of her and greeted her, holding the hem of her robe lightly.

She hastily set down the pastel, light yellow mug of tea she was clutching and turned to face me.

“Good morning, my dear Cern. Did you have a good night?”

“Good morning. My Lady. I had a very restful and comfortable night, thanks to your care.”

Neither of us had a title, so our status was there, but I was slightly higher, so she addressed me as Princess.

As I sat down in the overstuffed chair, the maid came over and offered me a drink.

Still thirsty from the morning, I asked for water and looked at the Serene Lady. She was a diligent person, and I could see that her eyes were very fresh from the morning.

“How did you like yesterday’s banquet?”

Out of courtesy, I spoke first, and she hesitantly opened her mouth.

The banquet hall was beautiful, of course, the princess was beautiful, and I hope to be invited again next time.

We chatted about the weather and social gossip. When I thought I had said enough, I put down my glass and asked her.

“I am honored that you are staying at my ducal residence, Young Lady Cerne, but I am wondering if your sudden arrival is because you are not feeling well, or if you have had a change of heart?”

I paraphrased, but I think I hit the nail on the head.

She bowed her head deeply.

“Serene Youngae?”

Puzzled, I called her name. She looked up with a start. For a moment, I thought her eyes were shooting laser beams.

Those jewel-like amethyst eyes were focused on me the whole time.

“I, I, I, I…, I have something I want to tell you, Princess!”

I stared at her in bewilderment, wondering what the hell she was talking about. She narrowed her eyes at me. I wondered what she was going to say. She sucked in a breath and shouted out loud.

“Please be friends with me!”

Her booming voice made even the maid who was pouring the tea flinch.

“….”

I blinked. Young Ae was stammering as if she was more surprised by her loud voice.

“You want me to be your friend?”

“Yes, no, not that. No, yes….”

Serenity’s face was as red as if you could poke it with chopsticks and get fresh tomato juice.

“I don’t know if I can go if I dare to be your friend, but…, but…!”

“But?”

“The way you spoke to Lupe with such dignity, the way you helped me…. -her words got smaller and smaller as she went on, and I had to listen very closely- it was so wonderful, and I just wanted to say thank you.”

I was just doing what I was supposed to do. Serene Youngae thought that was cool.

“I know I’m not very good with words…, I’m not very good, but I’d like to continue this bond with you, Princess, is that… okay?”

She clasped her hands together and looked desperately at me. She was nervous that I would say no.

I stared at her face and then smiled slightly.

“Okay, buddy.”

“Yeah…, what?”

“It’s a little weird because I’ve never said ‘let’s be friends’ before, but I’d be happy to be friends with you, too.”

Upon hearing my words, Serene Young Ae’s white face instantly blossomed like a white magnolia.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Princess.”

“Ugh, that’s not it.”

I snapped my fingers.

“What?”

“Relax, we’re friends now, right?”

“Ha, but I’m not familiar with the half-word.”

“Really? Then at least call me Lila instead of ‘Princess’.”

“La, Laila.”

Cern repeated Laila, Laila, with a red face. It was like she had a little sister a few years younger. Cern and I chatted for the rest of the morning.

She told me she was the only daughter of the Count of Arfa. She told me that she didn’t have any friends and was awkward to talk to because she didn’t grow up in a social circle, so I told her that I didn’t have many friends either, and we laughed heartily.

As we talked over tea, I wondered.

“Did you ever go to a ball with the First Prince? What did you think of him? I’m asking out of pure curiosity, don’t think it’s weird.”

Cern answered hesitantly.

“Well, he’s a sweet guy, but I don’t know what he’s really like……. He’s rumored to have a lady he likes, but he’s not engaged to anyone yet, and while he occasionally goes out to the ballroom with a young lady of his age, like I do, he doesn’t do it every day, so I wonder if he changes partners then and there.”

I calmly dismissed the idea that the prince might like me as off-planet. There’s no reason for someone of my status to have a secret love affair with a prince. If he doesn’t choose me, but instead enters the ballroom with someone else, and changes partners every time, there’s only one conclusion.

‘No matter how much I think about it, he must be a cheater.

I shook my head as I thought about it, and then Serene spoke softly to me.

“…That might be a bit hasty, but….”

“…? What?”

“You’d better watch out for the First Prince.”

She lowered her eyes and stared at her mug of black tea.