Salvation Through Delusion C22

Chapter 22

 

I crunched down on the vegetables in my soup as I tilted my head. They called it soup, but the clear, refreshing taste was basically water kimchi.

 

“It seems the schedule was changed abruptly,” Solongo explained. “Duke Koon personally attended the party to escort his distant relative, Zarayal Brons, who made his social debut.”

 

“What?” I froze, spoon halfway to my mouth.

 

“Duke Koon? He actually attended that party in person?”

 

“Yes. And if the victim Bilge assaulted was indeed Brons, then it’s very likely Duke Koon intervened himself.”

 

Wait—then that would mean last night’s party was the one where the traitor first aided Duke Koon…

 

No. I shook my head.

 

It had clearly said it was a Non-Wine party. Dr. Kim was meticulous; there was no way she recorded it wrong. Pushing away the unease, I replied casually.

 

“Yeah, well. If you’re going to make a move, you have to do it with someone of equal status. It could’ve been Duke Koon, but that’s still not confirmed.”

 

“Even if they’re not equals, Duke Koon would’ve stepped in regardless.”

 

“You’re giving Duke Koon quite a bit of credit.”

 

“When emotions are set aside, I admit—his capability and boldness are… commendable.”

 

What kind of emotions? My eyes asked, and Solongo answered dryly.

 

“He’s an insufferably irritating man.”

 

Well, they’d been enemies for years—it was only natural. Still, things were different now.

 

“You know the situation’s changed. We need to improve relations with the Koon family.”

 

“Yes, but insufferable is still insufferable.”

 

Her jaw tightened with restrained anger.

 

“Our master extended a rare hand of reconciliation, yet that wretched man mocked her instead. Because of him, our master is now…”

 

Solongo’s fists clenched in fury. Right—Dr. Kim had collapsed again, this time from sheer rage.

 

“They’ve had bad blood for years. Even if we offered goodwill, he’d never believe it.”

 

“Even so, such vile mockery is unforgivable. If Duke Koon were truly human, he couldn’t have said what he did.”

 

“What exactly did he say?”

 

It must’ve been serious, seeing her that furious.

 

I waited, chewing on a piece of radish from my “water kimchi soup.” Solongo took a deep breath before repeating the words that had provoked her.

 

“He said, ‘You’ve eaten so much garbage food that even your brain’s started to rot.’”

 

I froze mid-bite, staring down at my bowl.

 

“…Do people here just not like this kind of food? It’s good, isn’t it?”

 

“Of course it’s good.”

 

Exactly. That’s what I thought.

 

“Admittedly, when I first started drinking what’s basically salted vegetable water as soup, it was strange,” she added. “But after seven years of getting used to it, it’s perfect to my taste now.”

 

…Seven years?

 

“And our master spent years perfecting these dishes! That bastard insulted all her effort by calling it trash! Ugh!”

 

Solongo’s voice cracked with restrained fury.

 

“But what really angers me,” she continued, trembling, “is how the public cheers for that man without even knowing who he truly is.”

 

“Ah, right. You said he’s popular.”

 

“Disgustingly popular.”

 

So basically an idol in our world’s terms. I paused mid-sip as a thought hit me.

 

“Then Rue must’ve liked Duke Koon too, huh?”

 

“No. They attended the same academy, but Rue once foolishly tried to flirt with him and got beaten half to death. Ever since then, he runs at the mere mention of Duke Koon’s name.”

 

As if to confirm her words, Mo chimed in:

 

> [One of Adeye Rue’s darkest recorded fears is Duke Koon.]

 

 

 

Well, at least Rue never got personally involved with him. That was something.

 

“Still, despite that trauma, Rue kept chasing after men, huh.”

 

“Because most men liked him.”

 

I stopped mid-sip again.

 

“They liked… getting rubbed by Rue? Why?”

 

Solongo gave me a baffled look, as if I’d asked why water was wet.

 

“Have you not looked in a mirror?”

 

“What does that have to do with anything? Don’t tell me there’s a magic mirror that tells you truths or something.”

 

What was this—Snow White? I blinked at her, but she just looked at me with an expression that screamed you idiot.

 

“There’s no such mirror,” she said flatly. “But even if there were, you wouldn’t need to ask it. One look in the mirror would answer your question.”

 

I felt stupid, though I didn’t quite know why. How was that supposed to explain anything? Solongo sighed and clarified.

 

“Because you’re handsome.”

 

“…Who, me?”

 

When I pointed to myself, Solongo turned her head and let out a short laugh before apologizing.

 

“I’m sorry. You just reacted exactly like Lady Lantua does whenever someone compliments her looks. You both seem to come from a world where appearance isn’t valued. It must be nice there.”

 

Not really. If anything, our world’s obsession with appearances was suffocating. We just… lacked the awareness.

 

“Not quite,” I muttered. “Even the traitor fell for someone, didn’t they?”

 

“Well, it was Duke Koon. Even the traitor couldn’t help it.”

 

“He’s really that incredible?”

 

“Yes.” Solongo nodded firmly.

 

“Lady Lantua might be the only person alive who hasn’t fallen for Duke Koon’s smile. It’s said that even his enemies can’t stay angry when he smiles at them.”

 

“Then they’ve lost the right to be enemies.”

 

“That’s how devastatingly handsome he is. Which is why Lady Lantua is truly remarkable—and why I’m hopeful for you, Lord Rue. You could match him in her stead.”

 

“Why would I?” I frowned.

 

“My focus is on finding the traitor.”

 

“The traitor’s near Duke Koon. If you earn his favor, you’ll be killing two birds with one stone.”

 

I popped the last piece of bread into my mouth, staring at her.

 

“You’re just trying to dump Duke Koon on me because you’re afraid Lady Lantua will collapse again, aren’t you?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

“Your eyes just wavered.”

 

Tch. Solongo clicked her tongue softly.

 

I stood up and repeated myself firmly.

 

“My top priority is the traitor. I’ll keep an eye on Duke Koon’s circle, but I’m not getting close or acting friendly. I can’t risk the traitor noticing me.”

 

It wasn’t like Duke Koon was someone you could just bump into anyway.

 

Seeing I wouldn’t budge, Solongo let the matter drop.

 

“So, why’d you actually come find me?” I asked once the meal was over.

 

Her expression darkened.

 

“The guest we brought back from the retreat has regained consciousness. But… there’s a problem.”

 

 

—

 

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I-I’m so sorry…”

 

The “guest” who’d supposedly awakened had only regained consciousness in the most literal sense. She couldn’t even sit up. And her voice—small, trembling—wasn’t just from weakness.

 

She couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes, not mine or the healers’. She just kept apologizing over and over, like a broken record.

 

What kind of life made someone like that?

 

It was pitiful enough to ache. Everyone watching her seemed to feel the same—except one.

 

> [Oh nooo, my little flower! You’ve been lying down so long your face turned into a pumpkin leaf! What happened to my pretty little petal face~? It’s all round like a full moon now, how tragic~]

 

 

 

…You little demon. I glared at the spirit babbling nonsense about moons and pumpkins. That was not what you said to someone recovering from trauma.

 

Especially not someone this terrified of people.

 

Maybe it was because she’d been imprisoned at the retreat. I decided to approach carefully.

 

“Hello,” I said softly.

 

“I-I’m sorry…”

 

“My name’s Adeye Rue. You were trapped at the retreat, and I brought you here to my home.”

 

“I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

 

“I just want to help you. Could you tell me your name?”

 

“I-I’m s-s-sorry…”

 

“So your name is ‘I’m sorry’?”

 

“I-I-I’m sorry…”

 

She was even harder to communicate with than the spirits. Frustrated, I turned my head—but the healers gave me no escape. Their eyes urged me to keep trying.

 

“She’s been apologizing to all of us,” one whispered. “Her consciousness is back, but her physical state is still fragile. We can’t treat her properly without information.”

 

So they wanted me to ask again.

 

Fine. I’d brought her here—I couldn’t just walk away.

 

After thinking for a moment, I knelt beside her bed and whispered quietly.

 

“I’m sorry. I’ve committed a terrible sin.”

 

That made her flinch. For the first time, there was a reaction.