Translator: Nox

Chapter 43

Of course, Hena didn't fully trust Daisy's words. Kanna suddenly not being her real sister? She couldn't believe it.

But the nagging doubt lingered for days.

She recalled Kanna's bizarre, irrational behavior at times—like gleefully watching Donau die. Could it really be someone else acting that way? The thought struck suddenly.

If she truly loved her sister, she'd feel disgust at the idea of someone else taking over. Like Daisy, who adored Lady Evangeline.

Her sister had been sick her whole life, fully healed now, only for someone else to claim the body? It warranted rage.

"Even if Kanna's changed, even if she's someone else entirely, seeing her smile like that makes me want to do anything for her."

Yet Hena remained weak toward Kanna.

After mulling Daisy's words a hundred times, waiting up late for Kanna, she finally admitted it.

No matter the form or who it was, just having 'Kanna' by her side was enough. Hena wept at her own selfish ugliness.

"Daisy. I'm crazy, right?"

Hena smiled through fresh tears.

"Hena…."

Daisy bitterly regretted how her well-meaning words had shattered someone, with living proof before her. She shouldn't have said your sister isn't real just because of a neck mark.

Out of false mercy, petty pity, trying to ease her guilt—those words had broken Hena's mind.

Working at the mansion, she'd heard Hena earned money for her only family member's treatment. Kanna must have been Hena's whole world. Telling her it was fake—how devastating.

"I think I get what you mean."

"You do?"

"I thought Lady Evangeline was a monster who stole our young miss's body. I fled the mansion and reported her to the temple. But cornered, she was the only one I could turn to."

"And you? Plan to pretend she didn't help?"

"The Evangeline Rohanson you knew is already dead."

This was Kanna's sharp insight, relayed back to Hena via Daisy. Hena quietly absorbed it.

"And Lady Evangeline helped me. Gratitude outweighs the creepy disgust now. Hena, will you call me crazy?"

Hena shook her head. Thanks to the changed Lady Evangeline, Kanna had recovered, and they lived without financial hardship. Hena feared but also thanked her.

"And… sorry. I think I was wrong about what I said."

Truthfully, Daisy had planned to apologize before entering.

"Wrong?"

"The demon by Lady Evangeline—Jelly. Corpses Jelly revives all have red neck marks."

She omitted they were decapitated and reattached.

Revived corpses usually just mimicked living behaviors. But Kanna was far more human than Jelly's subjects. Evangeline's precedent prevented certainty.

She meant to apologize for misjudging, say it's probably the same person… but too late.

"So it was a mistake."

"Yeah?"

"Your sister used Holy Water, right? Sir Gabriel said those revived by death burn on contact with it."

As Hena seemed unconvinced, Daisy hurriedly added evidence—from interrogating Berga Priest, relayed by Gabriel.

"Holy Water…."

Contrary to Daisy's hope, Hena grew more anxious. Kanna used Holy Water only for her illness. She'd refused treatment for the neck wound since, leaving the scar.

Why did Kanna refuse treatment…?

Hena wanted to slap herself at the sudden thought. Lady Evangeline had plenty of Holy Water. If Kanna got badly hurt needing it, the truth would show. The idea flashed by.

"Sis, wait long?"

Kanna returned quickly from delivering petals to Lady Evangeline, clinging to Hena. Hena stroked her hair.

But Hena could never hurt her sister. It meant lifelong anxiety for Hena.

***

Gabriel personally left the children at the orphanage, arriving late at the knights' order. Explaining and processing took longer than expected.

Raphaella, preparing a report for the upcoming meeting, welcomed him.

"Good work, Commander. I could've gone."

"No. I told Lady Evangeline I'd handle it."

Truthfully, Raphaella or others could've managed.

Gabriel's personal involvement wasn't from a sense of duty to the children, unlike his pious public image. He wasn't that righteous.

It stemmed from Evangeline—precisely, her awkward demeanor toward Evangeline Rohanson. More unfamiliarity than awkwardness.

Perhaps due to Daisy, Evangeline unusually doted on the children gently. Her concern meant his too.

"Thank you."

Gabriel had witnessed Evangeline shed her noble facade. A child's thanks cracked her bored mask—he noticed.

"…Yeah."

Only by overstepping, breaching etiquette could he glimpse her true self. Yet a child's words exposed it.

How did such a trivial phrase unsettle her?

'She likes children?'

No, not fondness—just slightly kinder? Per Daisy's account, Evangeline had saved them regardless.

A passing carriage, red wheel marks flashed in mind.

In his orphaned past, could he have received help from Evangeline? Would that pale, cold hand extend to him?

Irreversible past—Gabriel shook it off.

"Well, your request as Commander is far more effective than mine."

Raphaella grumbled. The orphanage priest was impeccably honest—too much, ignoring money-mad nobles. As a known noble, she'd face coldness.

A self-made Commander from the orphanage? Warm welcome obvious.

'I never squandered anyway.'

Entering the temple severed family ties—unfair. Long treated as disposable, Raphaella stewed.

Her noble disdain worsened hearing rich folk traded children. One priest on the list was noble-born, of all things.

"Merai?"

"Detained underground for now."

Raphaella reported progress. Merai locked in holding, superiors notified. Priest trafficking involvement prompted an immediate meeting.

Her fate would be decided there.

"Commander, Lady Rohanson will come up at the meeting."

Berga Priest lacked direct ties, so no Evangeline mention. This time different. Javania Bishop had seen her, shown interest—topic certain.

"Her true nature… everything?"

Possible Donau culprit, summoning circle owner, revived corpse, out-of-body noble pretender.

Full disclosure meant Evangeline Rohanson's death—or worse.

"We'll see…."

Gabriel closed his eyes. Somewhere, a heart beat slowly.

***

"Did you sleep well, miss?"

No. Not a wink.

Dreading Gabriel's visit, she'd groaned all night.

Amid her turmoil, Kanna beamed radiantly, flowers practically swirling. Must've reconciled well with Hena last night.

"Hena?"

"Said she and Daisy visited the butler."

Hena's gloom wasn't Kanna's fault—it was hers. Serving a possessed lady? Awkward. Kanna offered to talk, but….

"Talk go well?"

"Yes! Thanks to you."

After breakfast with Kanna, Hena and Daisy arrived.

What? Not fully reconciled? Hena still looked downcast.

"What's with her?"

Jelly also tilted its head at Hena. She seemed off… red eyes from yesterday's tears? Tearful friendship bonding, huh.

Daisy, meanwhile, looked well-rested. Here she was, suffering hair-pulling agony over Gabriel!

No, technically her fault. Possessing a villainess required villainy, but her goodness exposed it. Not reforming meant death? Persistent evil led to ruin anyway.

Yet despite reforming, death routes loomed—original plot's force scary. It pushed her villainous no matter what! Now they'd say witch, demon, or ghost possessed her.

Whatever. Her only faith: Gabriel's infatuated. Him seeing clearly meant her doom.