MPBAGS Chapter 67

"Did you sleep well, miss?"

No. I couldn't sleep a wink.

I tossed and turned all night at the thought of having to see Gabriel soon.

While I was in such turmoil, Kanna's face was so radiant it seemed like flowers were dancing around her. She must have reconciled well with Henna last night.

"Where's Henna?"

"She said she'd stop by the butler's with Miss Daisy."

Originally, Henna's dejection wasn't Kanna's fault but mine. I suppose it would be rather unsettling if the young lady you serve turns out to be a possessor. Kanna had said she'd try to explain things well...

"Did the talk go well?"

"Yes! Thanks to you."

After finishing my meal with Kanna, Henna and Daisy came to see me.

What? I thought they had reconciled? Henna still looked rather melancholy.

"Why is she like that again?"

It wasn't just my imagination—Jelly also tilted his head looking at Henna. Henna did seem to be in poor condition... Her eyes were red, probably from crying yesterday. I guess they had a tearful bonding session of friendship.

In contrast, Daisy looked like she had slept soundly. And here I am, tearing my hair out in agony because of someone!

Well, no. Strictly speaking, it's my fault. If I was going to possess a villainess, I should have acted more wickedly, but I was too kind, creating a discrepancy that exposed my possession. But this body would die if I didn't reform! Even if I didn't die from continuing evil deeds, I would have met ruin.

But no matter how hard I tried to reform from being a villainess, I kept heading toward the death route, which showed how terrifying the original story's corrective force was. It keeps trying to make me a villainess no matter what! Really. Now they'll probably say I'm not possessed by a witch but by a demon or ghost.

I don't know. The only thing I can believe in is that Gabriel has fallen for me. So the moment Gabriel's infatuation with me wears off, I'm dead.

At least you're happy, Daisy. That's fortunate.

"Did you speak with him well?"

"Yes... The butler said you requested maximum convenience for the children. Thank you."

When I told the butler yesterday that Daisy would be returning to work, he was incredibly surprised. Since she would have quit after being severely bullied by Evangeline, it seemed surprising that she'd work again.

And when I said I'd brought three children, he asked me in a trembling voice if I'd kidnapped them. Really, even though I've been possessed for quite a while, why does Evangeline's villainous image show no signs of improving?

Only after I explained the children's circumstances did the butler understand. I almost sarcastically asked if he found it annoying that a villainess was doing good deeds. Of course, being a civilized person who respects elders, I didn't actually do that.

"Miss, this is a letter Sir Gabriel sent."

Should I open this? After pondering, I just opened it. Today too, it was a letter adorned with elegant cursive handwriting. The content was nothing special. He wanted to share afternoon tea time together. So he's coming at two o'clock... Looking at the clock, I still had time.

"Let's get ready."

I wanted to dress casually, but since I need to look good, I should dress up as best I can.

With three people helping, the time was greatly reduced. When I first possessed this body, I didn't even have a dedicated maid, but now I have three. I think I'm doing pretty well at this romance fantasy life?

"You look absolutely radiant today too."

As Kanna said, Evangeline was already beautiful enough to live up to her villainess reputation, but today she was even prettier.

Since Daisy was originally Evangeline's maid, she was quite skilled at dressing people up. She also brought accessories I didn't even know existed and put them on me.

After finishing preparations and lounging around, a servant knocked on the door.

"Miss, Sir Gabriel has arrived."

Going down to the reception room with Daisy, Gabriel stood up from his seat. Wow... Today too, the male lead's looks are outstanding. I'm the one who dressed up carefully, but he's definitely not falling behind.

The man who wouldn't make a sound even if stabbed meekly bowed his head.

"Miss Rohanson. I trust you had a peaceful night."

No, I couldn't sleep a wink, you bastard.

"Thanks to your assistance, I rested well."

"I'm glad to hear that."

When I sat across from him, Gabriel sat back down as well. I glanced at Gabriel sideways. He looked as calm and unshakeable as when I saw him yesterday. I almost wondered if he really heard from Daisy that I was a possessor.

No, don't let your guard down. That might be a ploy to make me complacent.

"As I mentioned, I've placed the children in the temple's orphanage. Mr. Troy will stay and help with odd jobs for a while. A place that can handle about ten more children won't be shaken, so you can rest assured."

Gabriel opened with talk about the aftermath.

"This is an entry pass to the orphanage for Miss Daisy. The temple orphanage has restricted access, so you must carry an entry pass."

"...Thank you."

Along with a map of the orphanage, he made an entry pass so Daisy could visit the orphanage.

Troy hadn't spent a single gold coin of what he borrowed and was keeping it all himself, so today he was going with a knight to repay his debts. Since they left together, they should have arrived by now. No matter how much of a loan shark someone is, they wouldn't dare cheat or intimidate in front of a holy knight, so it was a very sensible approach.

And after the general investigation of the director and basement was completed, Troy decided to donate the orphanage to the temple.

"The priest who was Merai's client will be dismissed today."

The other clients were nobles and merchants, so it's unclear how much the temple's influence will reach them, but they'll report to the imperial family first.

Given the characteristics of a status-based romance fantasy, they probably won't receive severe punishment, but since the male lead is involved, won't they at least get heavier sentences?

"Merai's crimes are so severe that execution is unavoidable."

But it's not burning at the stake, just regular beheading.

One gets dismissal, the other execution. Though they're both human traffickers, the weight of punishment differs, but based on what's apparent, Merai's crimes seem worse, so I could understand it.

"Execution..."

"When the exact execution date is determined, I'll inform you again in writing."

"You don't need to tell me."

Daisy's voice trembled. Even though she's a human trafficker, she must have some affection for someone who raised her, so her heart must be unsettled.

I naturally expected Gabriel to bring up the possession topic, so I brought the informant Daisy along, but if I'd known this kind of talk would come up, I should have just brought Kanna instead.

"This is roughly how Merai's case will conclude. I'll inform you again as the situation progresses."

"It must have been troublesome, but thank you for your hard work."

If Gabriel hadn't come yesterday, I would have had to handle all of that myself. Thinking about it that way, Gabriel briefly looked like an angel to me.

How did he finish so much work in just one night? I just stayed up worrying. Is this the ability of a male lead who suffers from overtime every day?

After roughly finishing his explanation, Gabriel moistened his throat.

Ah. I guess he's about to speak now. My heart began pounding violently.

What is he going to say? He's not going to sprinkle holy water on me yelling "Begone, demon!" is he? Would that be character breakdown? Then will he cut my throat first? Really, he might tie me up with handcuffs—no, rope—and drag me away...

I was dying of anxiety about what reaction he'd show, but Gabriel paused like a commercial break.

"And the reason I suddenly came to see you yesterday..."

This is my least favorite pace. Just get beaten quickly, just say it!

"This is sudden, but would you become my partner?"

Just don't kill me, okay?

"Partner?"

What's that supposed to mean all of a sudden...?

Huh? Wait, suddenly? A date proposal here? Let's go to a ball together and dance? I thought a thrilling, shocking, suspenseful development would follow, but Gabriel suddenly switched to romance.

Are you serious? Are you going to pretend not to know I'm a possessor? No wait, maybe Gabriel is timing the perfect moment to reveal my identity. You think I'll wait until then? Rather than constantly being anxious and fretting about when my identity might be exposed, I'll just say it outright. When cornered like this, you must always strike first.

"Are you saying this knowing I'm not Evangeline?"

I was so absurd that I unconsciously brought up the topic first.

When Gabriel lowered his eyes, his eyelashes fluttered. Who are you using your beauty tactics on right now?

You don't even know about possession stories. If you suddenly say another soul entered a dead body, shouldn't you normally treat it as a ghost or demon? You're even a holy knight!

"Yes. I'm well aware."

Gabriel fiddled with his teacup handle. So he's asking while knowing I'm a possessor...?

It's a bit embarrassing to say with my own mouth, but Gabriel seems to like me more than I thought. He's reached the point where he doesn't care who I am anymore. Of course, I did do some fishing, but this easy man...

Somehow, what I worried about all night feels futile. What was I so scared of that I trembled all day over a fish in my pond?

"To be precise, I'd like you to accompany me as my partner to upcoming banquets."

"Why suddenly?"

It really was out of the blue, so when I asked why, I got an answer beyond my imagination.

So my spirit summoning circle is spreading among the wealthy by word of mouth.

It seems scary to leave it alone in case it gets misused. Well, both the priest and director used it inappropriately. So I guess he plans to attend social gatherings with me to weed out suspicious people.

But wait, do you need me to catch spirits?

Of course, I can't just let them use my summoning circle as they please. But I don't even know the proper summoning method! How does everyone manage to succeed at summoning so smoothly!

A chilling thought suddenly occurred to me. Don't I actually have despairingly poor spirit affinity? So while others just need to draw the summoning circle and call out, I'm the only one failing. Maybe Gabriel asked for my help because when I get close, spirit summoning success rates drop or something?

"With you present, the picture's influence becomes muddled."

Gabriel delivered the finishing blow. Suddenly my eyes stung. This is really too much. It's sad enough not knowing the original story and occasionally having translation errors, but I don't even have spirit affinity? Even if I'm a villainess, this is too harsh.

"And it's also to avoid suspicion about your identity."

Right. This is a romance fantasy world, and since Evangeline is a villainess, even when I don't do bad things, situations work out delicately. If things go wrong, rumors might spread that I'm controlling spirits.

Donau acted like he was hired by me to kidnap, and there was a spirit summoning circle drawn at Daisy's orphanage too. If I hadn't been there, they would have pinned all the blame on me instead.

At least if I'm with Gabriel, I'd receive less suspicion. Gabriel is an upright and incorruptible holy knight.

"If that's the case, I'm fine with it. I'd be happy to."

And Gabriel became my ally while covering up the possession issue, even though he might not know if I'm a demon or ghost. I don't easily forget favors.

I made a satisfactory deal with Gabriel, but Daisy cautiously raised an objection.

"Um... you haven't even had your debutante yet..."

What? Shouldn't a villainess already be reigning as the flower of society?