How to Live as the Mad Duke’s Fake Daughter - CH 94

Naturally, the imperial family was outraged by the unprecedented incident.

“Count Albrecht’s disposition is a matter to be managed by the Imperial House!”

…Mainly in the negative direction.

“The Duke of Von Bauner could have captured Count Albrecht, but he killed him on the spot!”

“How could the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Army do such a thing without reporting to Her Majesty the Emperor!”

“It’s also because of personal feelings!”

Even after ending the war, Alan was criticized by the pure-blooded imperial family.

They said he violated the authority of the imperial family, but frankly, it was all excuses.

The Imperial House had discovered a certain possibility in Alan’s army that had invaded the County.

“A military force of that size could cause a coup d’etat.”

For the Imperial House, Alan was a greater threat than Count Albrecht.

As soon as the war was over, the Imperial House controlled the media so that Alan did not gain power.

As a result, Alan was nicknamed ‘The Mad Duke’.

Igdrasil, unlike her children, tried to honor Alan’s achievements, but Alan resigned from his position after a while.

It wasn’t because of the pressure around him.

From that day on, he went out to find his youngest daughter.

His journey to pursue Lilietta’s whereabouts continued for 10 years.

Alan went looking for his daughter, and at the same time, got rid of those who might hold a grudge against him one by one.

Those who knew Alan in the past were bewildered by the brutal purge.

Alan wasn’t the type to stop his enemy’s offspring. He was so strong that he was not afraid of retaliation from others.

Actually, he had his own reasons for doing such atrocities.

If an enemy of Alan’s had found the missing youngest daughter before him, it would have been obvious to whom the tip of the sword of revenge would be directed towards.

The remnants of the Albrecht family, who escaped from the chaos, were soon caught.

However, there was one person who had lived in hiding for several years, avoiding the attack of the Duke of Bauner.

It was the count’s mistress.

Although the woman was not of the Albrecht family, she was still well worth pursuing.

Because rumors circulated that she had a child of the count.

A woman who worshiped evil black magic.

A wicked woman who tried to corrupt Duchess Natalia.

She was Benny’s mother.

***

“Lily.”

When I opened my eyes to the voice calling me, clear jade-colored eyes filled my vision.

“You are awake.”

Alan sighed in relief and grabbed my left hand as I simply lay on the bed.

I slowly shifted my eyes and looked around.

It was a familiar place.

Pure white sunlight that fell on the blanket, and cute toys in the cupboard.

I was lying in Lily’s room.

If there was anything different from usual, it was that a basin of water and a towel were placed on top of the chest of drawers.

‘…I couldn’t run away.’

A feeling of despair rose, but I couldn’t show it in front of Alan.

I raised my upper body and asked carefully.

“Dad, how long have I been sleeping…?”

“…About three days.”

Oh my god. I slept for a long time.

In other words, it was three days after the debutante was held, Michael drank poison instead of me, and they closed the Duke’s Castle.

‘If the original plan had gone off without a hitch, I should be outside the barrier by now…’

As I rubbed my face with my uncaught hand, Alan gently brushed the hair covering my forehead.

“All schedules after the banquet have been canceled. Right now, your priority is to get a good rest, and above all… The barrier seems a bit unstable. It’s dangerous to walk around when there might be an earthquake again.”

I glanced at Alan through the gap of my fingers.

He tried to kill me 3 days ago… No, he was a man whom I thought would do so.

‘…It wasn’t Alan.’

I reversed the thoughts I had before I passed out.

‘If Alan was going to kill me, he wouldn’t have let Michael drink the potion.’

Alan was not the criminal who poisoned the potion.

When everyone except me closed their eyes and prayed, he had no idea what was going to happen.

Otherwise, there was no need to protect me from the chaos when Michael drank the poison, and there was no reason to take care of me after I fainted.

‘At least for now, I want to continue acting.’

It wasn’t just a good thing for me.

Because Alan was more dangerous than when I thought he was the culprit.

Feeling complicated, I grabbed my head. Alan squeezed the towel out tightly and wiped my forehead.

“If it is the culprit, we have already found and locked him up.”

My heart sank.

“You have to take care of yourself first.”

Alan lowered the towel and looked at me affectionately.

I forced a smile, but I couldn’t help but let the corners of my lips tremble.

The culprit Alan pointed out was probably the same person I was thinking of now.

‘Benimus Albrecht.’

That was Benny’s full name.

The content of the original that I remembered three days ago came to mind vividly.

‘Alan killed Benny’s parents… That’s why there was no one who looked like Benny in the nobility records. They must have erased all the records of the family that he destroyed.’

To Benny, Alan was a mortal enemy, and I was the enemy’s daughter.

Even if he aimed at my neck, saying he would take my family away, I would have nothing to say.

‘I’m glad they caught him already…’

I patted the cool nape of my neck and lowered my head.

Alan still didn’t know that Benny was of the Albrecht descent, but in this case he would have been suspicious of him.

Since Benny was a complete stranger in the closed Bauner family.

Although it was fortunate as that was a position to be targeted, I felt mixed.

I was about to ask what would happen to Benny, but a knock rang out.

As I lifted my head, I heard a familiar voice.

“I’m entering, Princess.”

I was dumbfounded.

The person who opened the door was none other than Benny.

Far from being accompanied by a guard, he wore a light shirt with no restraints.

Even when he came close to see my complexion, Alan only frowned a little and showed no sign of stopping him.

“How are you feeling?”

Benny asked anxiously, but I couldn’t answer at all.

On the left was the duke who killed Count Albrecht, and in front of him was the only surviving member of the Albrecht family.

“Explain.”

Alan gave a strict order to Benny.

‘Oh, are you questioning Benny now? Of course you are. If not Benny, who the hell was trying to kill me…’

“It’s hard to just pinpoint it.”

Far from confessing his sins, Benny raised his left hand in the air.

His fingertips turned black with a crackling, oily sound.

Unlike me, whose whole body was tense, Alan was casually looking at his transformation.

“Like this… It can be done like you’re stretching your hands.”

Benny uttered incomprehensible words and returned his hand to that of a human’s.

Alan nodded slightly and looked back at me.

“Lily, can you follow him?”

“…What?”

‘What are you talking about all of a sudden?’

When Alan saw my puzzled expression, he added,

“The ability to regenerate. Maybe it’s because the power of evil spirits has been unlocked, healing magic is not working properly on you now.”

“You’d better try it yourself.”

Benny’s voice came from nearby. I was startled and looked to the right.

Benny drew closer and sat silently on the bed.

“S-So…”

I raised my left hand in the air, hoping that he wouldn’t hear my beating heart.

“Like this?”

I gave strength to my left hand so much that a vein stood up.

But nothing happened. My hands were still white and clean.

While I was groaning, Benny touched the back of my hand with his index finger.

It was as if a hole had been punched in my hand by the mere touch with his short, hard fingernails.

‘Let’s be calm. Calm down…’

I did my best to keep my face normal.

I could feel Alan staring at Benny, but Benny himself did not care and continued the explanation.

“If you’re hurt this much….”

Benny turned my hand over and drew a slash on my palm.

His long index finger stopped under my little finger.

“It will be much easier for you to exercise your power.”

My throat was so tight that I couldn’t answer.

Fortunately, before I could say anything, Alan smacked Benny’s hand away with the back of his own hand.

“You can’t do such a thing.”

“I agree. I don’t want to scratch the Princess’ body either.”

Benny meekly withdrew his hand.

Alan glared at him with displeasure.

“Explain in words. No more contact.”

“It’s a power I’ve been able to handle since I was born, so it’s hard to describe with words alone.”

“Then let’s finish today’s study here. Go back so Lily can rest.”

Even though Benny was relentlessly kicked out, he stood up calmly without a single twitch of his face.

Though he left the room, I wasn’t completely relieved.

‘The culprit pointed out by Alan… It isn’t Benny?’

Somehow, things were turning strange.

It felt like someone grabbed my fate and threw it in an unpredictable direction.

“Your complexion is bad, Lily.”

Alan patted my head anxiously; I wondered if it was obvious that I was exhausted.

He gently pushed my body, laid me on the bed, and covered me with a cozy blanket.

“Sleep more.”

Alan patted the blanket and stood up. It looked like he was going to change the water in the basin.

I grabbed his sleeve as he was about to leave.

“What’s wrong ?”

Alan looked at me worriedly.

I opened my stiff mouth with all my might.

“Dad. Who’s the person who tried to kill me?”