“Changed my mind? What do you mean?”
I tilted my head as if I didn’t understand, and Roger, still as kind as ever, responded.
“I waited for quite some time, but you never gave me an answer. I thought by now you might be ready to give me a positive one.”
It wasn’t hard to connect this to what he had said to me before—both in the imperial garden and at the banquet.
I let out a scoff.
“I don’t recall giving any answer. Is that what you say to someone after summoning them out of nowhere?”
My voice, low and cold, made the duke widen his eyes in mock surprise. Then, with a soft ah, he spoke as if he had just realized something.
“My apologies. I seem to have rushed straight to the point. Shall we talk about something else first? Hmm.”
With an expression as innocent as ever, he rolled his deep green eyes around before letting out a cheerful exclamation.
“…Ah, how is Marchioness Alpheus doing these days?”
I let out a disbelieving laugh.
His friendly demeanor, no different from usual, felt completely out of place.
“I don’t recall us being close enough for you to inquire about my mother’s wellbeing.”
“Well, I can hardly ask after the Duke’s wellbeing, knowing how uncomfortable he finds me.”
Even my sharp retort didn’t faze him; his smooth reply came accompanied by a relaxed smile.
“….”
A growing irritation welled up within me as I felt like I’d been dancing to his tune this entire time. Holding back a sigh, I eventually replied, knowing the conversation wouldn’t progress otherwise.
“She’s doing well, so you don’t need to concern yourself with her.”
Of course, in truth, the original story never went into much detail about the Alpheus family, so I didn’t even know what the marchioness looked like.
“…Is that so?”
A faint smile played on Hayden Roger’s lips at my answer.
What is with that reaction?
Before I could question him further, he set his teacup down with a quiet clink. Clasping his hands together, he spoke in a casual tone, his expression unreadable.
“I see. So, the one who passed away ten years ago is ‘doing well’…?”
My body froze.
When Roger raised his previously lowered head, he was still smiling—but it was no longer the same smile as before.
“I suppose I need to correct myself. It’s not just your thoughts that have changed—it’s the person altogether, isn’t it?”
His voice was dry and flat. I stared at him stiffly, my composure shattered.
“How…?”
I couldn’t even pretend anymore, my shock fully visible, while Roger remained as composed as ever.
Leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed, he grinned.
“There’s no need to be so tense. I’ve suspected something was off since the very first time we met. The great Duchess of Cloud, not recognizing a duke’s face? That alone was suspicious enough. We’ve crossed paths multiple times, after all.”
“…”
“To confirm my suspicions, I dropped a little hint. But to think you’d fall for it so easily… Should I be thankful, or should I pity you?”
He chuckled as though he found it all amusing, propping his chin on one hand.
I could feel the pounding of my heartbeat in my throat. Swallowing dryly, I asked in a low voice, “You say it so casually. I take it this isn’t a surprise to you?”
“Oh, I was quite surprised at first.”
Despite his words, his calm demeanor hadn’t wavered in the slightest.
Lowering his gaze, he let out a faint laugh.
“Well… honestly, I didn’t think the spell would actually work. It seems the duchess’s desperation was far greater than I imagined.”
My eyes narrowed. He seemed to assume I already knew much of what he was talking about, skipping over explanations.
Was the anonymous letter he sent me just another way to test me?
I finally realized I’d been playing into his hands from the very beginning.
A bitter laugh escaped me. At this point, it was too late to feign ignorance. Changing my demeanor, I asked bluntly,
“Then let me ask you. What did you do to ‘Eloise’?”
Despite my sudden shift in tone, Roger responded calmly, almost indifferently.
“What did I do to her? That’s a bit unfair, don’t you think? If you must blame someone, it should be her father, who sold her out for the sake of the family, or Duke Cloud, who turned a blind eye to it all.”
He raised his eyebrows as if to say, Isn’t it obvious?
“She wanted to escape the burdens she carried, and I merely showed her the way. You might call that a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
As he lazily tilted his head, his soft brown hair fell neatly into place.
“Besides, to be fair, the spellcaster usually goes mad or dies in most cases, so I thought it would create the perfect scenario.”
“Hah.”
For someone who had called me a friend not long ago, his casual attitude was shocking.
So he’s done hiding, then?
If Eloise had ended up like that, the first person to face the consequences would have been Ian.
Roger sighed heavily, as though lamenting something.
“Thanks to this, my plans went completely awry. Had I known you’d switch bodies with someone like an ‘outsider,’ I wouldn’t have shared that method.”
“…You.”
Now that I think about it, the old woman I met in that alley also called me a miracle.
Unconsciously, I rubbed my empty left wrist.
“Why did you do it?”
“I don’t think there’s any need to tell an outsider like you. Unless, of course, you decide to become my friend.”
He gave a bright smile, then leaned forward from his previously reclined position.
“However, I do have a proposal for you.”
“What is it?”
“Coincidentally, I’m willing to help even someone like you. After all, you’re also an innocent victim in all of this.”
His deep green eyes glinted with an unsettling light.
“You must have ended up in that body against your will. Surely, it’s time for you to return, isn’t it?”
My body flinched without realizing it. The weight of his words made my heart sink, and I pressed my lips together tightly.
It was a truth I had tried to push away, not wanting to acknowledge it.
When no response came from me, Hayden Roger tilted his head in curiosity before narrowing his eyes.
“…Hmm? Why aren’t you answering? Oh, don’t tell me.”
“……”
“Have you grown attached in just a few months?”
When I didn’t reply, he seemed to interpret my silence as affirmation, letting out a belated laugh.
“My, oh my. When you suddenly started acting like a loving couple with the duke, I wondered what you were thinking. So it wasn’t just playing at being the duchess—you actually want to become her, don’t you?”
He chuckled, his shoulders shaking, before wiping away a tear from the corner of his eye.
“Well, the duke is quite the charming man. Even my beloved Majesty holds him in such high regard that she treasures him like no other.”
His gaze turned cold, the humor vanishing.
“But why is it that everyone seems so eager to destroy themselves for him…?”
The once-friendly expression had vanished, replaced by a chilling, spine-tingling look.
“Still, I’m curious.”
“……”
“How much do you really know about him? Surely you don’t believe that just a few months of living with him, sharing a few moments, mean the Duke of Cloud loves you, do you?”
“What?”
“That would be fascinating if true. I can understand why he might find you novel, given the switch, but how long do you think that will last? This is the same man who mercilessly discarded his own mother and family.”
“……”
“And let’s not forget—you’re an outsider. Do you really think you belong here? That’s absurd….”
I clenched my fists tightly.
“Watch your mouth. That’s none of your business.”
“Not my business? If you knew why the original owner of that body risked her life to escape the ducal residence, you wouldn’t be so bold.”
“And wasn’t it you who instigated her?”
“I merely stirred the winds a little.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
My voice came out as a low growl, and Roger, who had been staring at me blankly, let out a soft chuckle.
“…What a pity.”
Muttering those words, he rose from his seat.
I instinctively leaned back, opening my mouth to call for Kyle, but Roger was quicker.
“You won’t be heard. Do you really think I’d be that careless?”
Smiling brightly, he bent forward, his hand lightly gripping my chin to lift it.
“You should think carefully about whom to trust, outsider.”
“……”
“I’m the only one who can help you.”
His soft voice whispered dangerously close. Grinding my teeth, I slapped his hand away with a sharp sound.
“Don’t you dare lay a hand on me.”
Roger blinked down at his hand, now pushed aside, before letting out a crooked smile.
“You really are deeply immersed in playing the duchess.”
Dusting his hand off as if to show he had no intention of touching me again, he stepped back, his usual gentle expression returning.
“But I meant what I said—I want to help you. You’re the variable in all this, and time is running out.”
He shrugged lightly.
“So it would be wise to decide soon. I’m always ready to become your ‘friend.’”
“……”
“Just remember—you don’t belong here.”
• • •
Support my translation for more and faster updates 🐳
