Episode 45
Nayla hummed cheerfully as she walked from the Duke’s study back to her room.
Just moments ago, she had been seething with frustration—her true nature had been exposed to Claudia, making it impossible to manipulate her anymore.
But behind that misfortune lay an incredible stroke of luck: admission to the Imperial Academy.
‘That idiot must not have told the Duke what happened on Shark Island!’
Convinced that the Duke had finally acknowledged her worth, she inwardly mocked Claudia’s stupidity.
She had no idea that the Duke had only arranged her enrollment at Claudia’s request.
‘How can Claudia be this foolish? She was born with every privilege, yet she doesn’t even know how to use them. If I were in her place…’
If she were the Duke’s daughter, she would wield power far more effectively.
If she were the Duke’s daughter, she would indulge in the family’s wealth until she grew sick of it.
If she were—
Nayla suddenly stopped mid-step.
‘…Maybe I can take everything she has for myself.’
Unconsciously, her grip tightened on her dress.
Her heart pounded wildly.
‘I’ll earn top marks at the Academy. I’ll prove my worth to the Duke…’
A sly whisper escaped her lips.
“Then becoming the true Duke’s daughter won’t just be a dream.”
The Duke had never once acknowledged her before—if anything, he had always been wary of her.
That was why she had never dared to covet Claudia’s position… until now.
For the first time, hope flickered in her heart.
‘The Duke would benefit more from replacing Claudia with me anyway. I’ll let him use me as he pleases—until I become Empress.’
A flawless smile spread across her face.
Not a trace of darkness could be seen in its brilliance.
Uncovering the Truth
I had found the water spirit.
I had gotten rid of Nayla.
One by one, my tasks were being checked off.
‘Next, I should look for the fire spirit. It’ll be the most useful in wartime.’
Of course, the Emperor’s distrust of spirits complicated things—but I couldn’t stop searching.
After all, wasn’t that the game’s main objective?
‘Eventually, even His Majesty will recognize their usefulness.’
If the Principality’s attacks intensified, the Empire would desperately need the spirits’ power.
‘But before that, there’s something else I need to do.’
I called Marie into my room and asked casually,
“Servants gossip about everything, right? Even secrets their masters don’t know?”
“Huh?!”
Marie flushed bright red, panicking.
“N-No! I would never gossip about strange things with the other maids! I have no secrets from you, my lady! I tell you everything!”
“No, no—I’m not doubting you. Don’t worry.”
She had misunderstood, thinking I was accusing her of backbiting.
I quickly clarified.
“I’m just curious about something. Do you remember the maid who accidentally burned Nayla’s back?”
“Yes, of course. I was the one who told you about it, my lady.”
Only now did I learn that Marie had been the one to inform Claudia of the incident.
That had happened before I possessed this body.
The real Claudia—not me—had heard it from Marie.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. You were so happy back then. You said it served Nayla right for being so arrogant. You even opened a bottle of champagne.”
“I-I see… It’s been so long, I forgot.”
‘The original Claudia really was a top-tier villainess.’
Celebrating her sister’s injury with champagne?
Still, this confirmed something important.
‘Claudia really didn’t do it. If she had, Marie would’ve known.’
Marie was Claudia’s most loyal maid.
If Claudia had orchestrated the incident, Marie would’ve answered differently—
“Of course I remember! That was when you taught that insolent Nayla a lesson!”
Instead, she had no idea.
‘So why did Nayla insist it was Claudia’s doing? Did she genuinely believe it? Or did she just want to frame her?’
After some thought, I reached a conclusion.
‘She probably believed it. If Nayla started hating Claudia because of that incident, everything makes sense.’
Claudia and Marie had plotted nothing.
The burn had been an honest accident caused by a nervous maid.
Meaning Nayla had been suspecting the wrong person all along.
‘How dare she blame Claudia without any proof?’
Rage surged through me.
I was determined to uncover the truth and shove it in her face.
“Do you know where that maid is now?”
“She was dismissed and sent back to her hometown. But I don’t know where exactly. The maids who were close to her won’t say—they’re protecting her.”
“Hmm, that’s a problem. Nayla still suspects me.”
“What?! She’s still accusing you?!”
Apparently, Nayla had been blaming Claudia long before I possessed her.
‘I thought I knew everything about this game world…’
But I’d been overconfident.
Even if I understood the world at large, there were still so many things I didn’t know about Claudia herself.
I sighed deeply.
“She probably thinks I hate her. She assumes I’m behind every bad thing that happens to her.”
“Good heavens, what kind of person thinks like that?”
“Exactly. Anyway, I’d like to meet that maid and ask her some questions…”
Seeing my troubled expression, Marie’s eyes lit up.
“Then I’ll find out for you! If I keep pestering the maids who were close to her, they’ll crack eventually!”
“Can you really do it?”
“Yes! Just leave it to me!”
She looked ready to pluck the stars from the sky if I asked.
Her determined gaze filled me with trust.
“Great! Then I’m giving you a special mission: find out where that maid is.”
“Yes! I’ll go right now— Oh, but who will attend to you in my absence?”
“Hmm, I’ll ask Father to assign a temporary maid.”
Relieved, Marie nodded eagerly.
“Then I can focus on my mission! But you mustn’t grow too fond of the temporary maid, understood?”
“Of course. You’re my favorite. That won’t change.”
“My lady…”
Her eyes sparkled like a puppy’s.
I squeezed her hands reassuringly.
“Be careful.”
“Yes! I’ll return soon!”
With determined strides, Marie left my room—ready to interrogate every maid if necessary.
A day after sending Marie off, I refocused on my main task: finding the spirits.
‘I’d love to go with Nathan again… but the Emperor would scold him harshly for helping me.’
He’d already been reprimanded once.
I couldn’t bear to drag him into trouble again.
So this time, I resolved to go alone.
‘It’ll be quick. Without Luke and Nayla, it’ll be easy.’
But noble ladies were always under surveillance.
Before I could even leave, a maid caught me packing.
“Oh? My lady, where are you going?”
Lucy, the temporary maid Father had assigned, stood in my doorway.
I didn’t trust her enough to confide in her, so I tried to deflect—
“Are you going to search for another spirit?”
“Huh? N-No…”
“Oh no! The Master ordered me to watch you closely so you wouldn’t go! Master! Maste— Mmph?!”
I clamped a hand over her mouth before she could alert Father.
“Lucy, I’m sorry, but can you pretend you didn’t see this? Because…”
To be fair, Father wasn’t as opposed to spirits as the Emperor.
He was just worried.
The problem was the Emperor. If Father reported my departure, it would be disastrous.
‘I need to convince Lucy… but how?’
After some thought, I spoke solemnly.
“I can’t explain in detail, but the Empire is in danger. To protect it, I must find the spirits.”
“…Mmph?!”
“But if Father finds out, I won’t be able to leave. I need your help. This isn’t about avoiding punishment—it’s for the Empire.”
It was a flimsy excuse, but it was all I had.
‘I shouldn’t have added that last part. Still, she should understand since I mentioned the Empire.’
Cautiously, I loosened my grip.
Thankfully, she didn’t scream.
Instead, she hesitated, eyeing me warily.
“But… I was ordered to report your every move. If I disobey and something happens to you…”
“You’ve heard how I found the water spirit, right? Watch this.”
I summoned a water droplet in midair—a simple trick.
But what came next required precise control.
With great effort, I shaped the droplet into an arrow.
