‘In the original work, it was Sophia who became the Count’s limb.’
And she wasn’t the only one who was manipulated by the artifact and was expelled. Reina understood that much and took a deep breath.
“Well, then…Sophia was expelled?”
“She’s still locked up in the dungeon.”
“…Well, then…”
Could she meet her? She had to ask this question, but her mouth feels dry.
‘It might be a rude request.’
It was a great mercy that a single maid dared to come to this position. She was a sinner who devoured this mansion and joined hands with those who tried to take advantage of her princess.
Reina swallowed her saliva and shook her head lightly. Damian, who was just looking at her, said.
“Now that I think about it, Peter said that the person who was providing the prisoner’s meals was on sick leave.”
“…?”
Even as he spoke to Reina, his tone seemed as if he was talking to himself.
“The dungeon is too creepy for most people, so no one wants to go in.”
Then he glanced at Reina.
“Reina Borton, can you take care of it for just one day tomorrow?”
It was Damien’s consideration. Reina’s eyes shook slightly and her body bowed deeply.
“I understand, master. Thank you.”
“This is the first time I’ve ever been thanked for sending work to a dungeon.”
“Well, then I’m sorry?”
…Damian was silent for a moment.
“It’s better to say thank you than sorry.”
Reina gently lifted her head and looked up at Damian. He had the same expressionless expression as usual, but he was no longer scary. The winter sunlight fell on him.
The moment Reina looked at him and was about to open her mouth to say something, she heard the children laughing. Reina and Damien’s gaze turned to the place where the children were.
“I guess she is okay now.”
“I guess so.”
“What a relief. I was very worried.”
“Who?”
“Who are you talking about?”
Damian appeared in Reina’s eyes again.
Suddenly, he thought that Reina’s yellow eyes, illuminated by sunlight, were still yellow even when the light shined through them. Damian thought that Reina’s eyes were very ordinary yet unique.
“Estelle and your daughter.”
“…”
“I mean, who were you worried about?”
Reina didn’t answer that question. She couldn’t answer.
* * *
The dungeon of the Winternight Dukedom was notorious. From those who enter there not being able to come out alive, to the vengeful spirits of long-dead nobles wandering around, to strange cries being heard every morning. Anyway, because of that, not only the workers but also the knights were very suspicious of the place. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, it’s not a place you’ll like. If you think about it with common sense, no one would like prison.
And yet now.
Right now.
At this moment.
“Fo…”
Before entering the dungeon, there was one excited knight. He was even a person who would not normally be in charge of work in the dungeon. He pulled on the sleeves of his uniform for no reason, and kept checking to see if there were any wrinkles in his clothes, if there was anything strange on his head, and if there was any dust in his hair. Of course, every time she checked, the condition was perfect.
“Lord Dean, what are you doing there?”
“My God!”
When Dean suddenly heard the voice of the person he had been waiting for, he was so startled that he felt like he was on fire.
“Re, Reina!”
“I heard from Peter. I wonder if Lord Suddin will be with us? I’m sure he’s busy with the knights’ work. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no. Reina, I was originally supposed to be Reina and Bonnie’s escort.”
Dean looked at Reina’s drooping face and whipped around.
“His Highness is really kind.”
“…Oh, no…”
She thought Dean had a good sense of humor, but whenever he was alone with Reina, he acted like Sook-Mac, who was in a terrible unrequited love. Dean looked at the basket Reina was holding.
“Is this a meal to be procured?”
“Yes, there are only two prisoners in the dungeon right now… but in the case of Count Embron, they said there is no need to go.”
In other words, all you had to do was go to Sophia. Reina, who already knew of her location, headed toward the entrance to the dungeon, feeling Damian’s consideration again. Dean followed Reina and checked her condition.
‘Something like that happened while I was away.’
Nevertheless, he seems resolute now. Could a person become okay like that right away? He was tempted to do so, and going to see one of the main culprits in person seemed so bold and reckless. The Reina that Dean saw didn’t have those tendencies.
‘She always had no regard for her own safety.’
Dean’s gaze calmly settled as he looked at Reina’s back. Reina said after receiving several warnings from the gatekeeper guarding the dungeon.
“There is magic here too. It must cost a lot of magic stones.”
“It is possible for the Winternight Dukedom. It is probably the place with the most magic stones placed next to the imperial palace.”
Reina took her lantern from the gatekeeper.
Dean said, holding up the lantern instead.
“As there were criminals, magic stones were installed at every opportunity. If you carry a lighting fixture that uses magic stones for no reason, it is easy for a magic power conflict to occur.”
“Aha…”
To be honest, Reina couldn’t immediately understand what was going on. This was because the study of magic stones had only covered the basics.
‘Because I have no magical power in the first place.’
Reina smoothed her fingertips and headed toward the dungeon. Dean, holding a lantern, led the way.
“What is a magical conflict?”
“It’s a runaway phenomenon that occurs when the number of magic stones exceeds a certain level and their power increases.
“Are you saying the stone explodes?”
“Yes, it explodes.”
“Oh, I think I know that.”
Reina recalled the magic stone smelter she worked at before.
“There was a big incident once at the place I worked before. The place where high-quality magic stones were gathered exploded, and the manager was in a lot of trouble.”
“You weren’t hurt back then?”
“Yes, fortunately. The place I was at was a low-level smelter.”
Low-level magic stones had almost no magic power, so they were just like hard stones.
‘Why is it exploding?’
Reina traced back memories from before. She went all the way back to the memories of her original body, Reina before he became Reina. Originally, Reina tried not to recall anything other than those related to Bonita or those necessary for her daily life. Except for the memories of Reina that seem to force their way in. Otherwise, she felt like she would lose her ‘true self’. Aside from the fact that she cared for Bonita, Reina didn’t want to lose her real self, who she didn’t even remember. Without even knowing why, she just got used to Reina, and when she returned to her original self, she would experience the same thing again.
“Uh?”
And as Reina searched through her memories, she realized one strange fact.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, no, it’s nothing.”
Before her, even Reina, she had never used any magic tools. Although she occasionally bought low-level magic stones, it was Bonita who made magic tools come true, not Reina.
‘Wasn’t it because I took over this body?”
If she was originally one of Aizen’s subjects, she would have even the slightest amount of magical power. This was not wrong. She was confident because it was the basics she learned from the very beginning in class with Peter.
Reina thought that because she had taken over this body, she was not originally from this world and was unable to use magic power.
‘Reina is definitely not a foreigner…’
Reina couldn’t hide her distraught expression. Not even the sound of the cold wind in the dungeon, the eerie sound of something moving quickly, the sound of water drops falling from above, or the sound of footsteps echoing, Reina could not escape from her thoughts.
‘I can’t help it now that things are going differently from the original. It doesn’t really matter’
She didn’t mind as long as she didn’t cause much harm to Estelle or danger to Bonita. However, every time Reina did something different, the uncomfortable truth about her in her original work was revealed one by one, appearing in her mind. The sound of her pacing footsteps stopped. Dean, who was walking in front of her, carefully grabbed Reina’s forearm as she was mesmerized.
“There is a stone beak ahead. Reina, be careful.”
“Ah. I’m sorry.”
“Reina, you don’t have to apologize. You almost got hurt.”
The lamp illuminated Dean. A gentle concern could be seen through the faint light. He didn’t ask any more questions, but handed the lantern he was holding to Reina.
“Reina, you can go to the front. It’s all locked with magic stones anyway, so it won’t open unless a wizard or witch comes, so it’ll be safe.”
“Yes.”
“But if you think it’s dangerous, call me. I’ll come right away.”
Dean smiled, pointing to the sword at his waist. Reina looked at him and slowly nodded her head. Reina walked slowly, quietly, and straight in the direction Dean pointed.
“…what.”
Where Reina’s steps stopped, there was Sophia, looking up at her with indifferent eyes, her kind smile gone. Reina felt like her heart was breaking as she saw a woman who seemed like a completely different person.
“Sophia, why did you do that?” she asked as Reyna squatted down on her floor and placed her lantern on the floor. “You were sweet to me and Bonnie, why…”
Sofia snorted at Reina’s words and she said.
“I hated you from the beginning.”
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
I’m back!! and the story too lol
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on May, 4.
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