Salvation Through Delusion C98

Chapter 98

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage jolted, and my body rocked with it, but Solongo—utterly unfazed—continued scribbling furiously with her pen.

For some reason, it annoyed me.

Yes, sure, I’m the one who caused the disaster… but she could at least offer a word of comfort, couldn’t she?

“Solongo. Do you really have to do that right now?”

“The moment we return to the estate, the Lady will order us to begin preparing the dowry. Adeye’s reputation is at stake—we cannot choose anything mediocre.”

So she had to do it in advance?

…Were you secretly Ms. Park Solongo this whole time?

Normally I’d welcome her Korean efficiency, but today it was extremely unwelcome.

“You already told the family head?”

Tap.

As if she’d been waiting for the question, she clicked her pen down loudly.

“She was delighted.”

…Well.

As long as Dr. Kim is happy, I suppose that’s something.

Even so—

“She isn’t worried? I still don’t fully understand why Tyroc accepted my proposal. Solongo, if I said I was the Savior, would you believe me right away?”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No reason.”

She quickly shifted her gaze.

“I was just thinking… The only thing important to you is saving your original world. So if you suddenly had to become the Savior of Tuvine as well, I thought that would be… quite troublesome.”

“It wouldn’t be. Because I’m not.”

The Savior could see the future, ride clouds, do all sorts of nonsense.

“But you can communicate with a Divine Beast, can’t you?”

“That’s because of Rue’s innate ability.”

“Yes. And the real Rue always refused to use that ability, so it was utterly useless.”

“I got lucky.”

Again, she stared at me without responding—then finally turned toward the window.

“You’re the one who made that ‘useless’ ability into something extraordinary. The Grand Duke has personally experienced your power. That’s likely why he chose to take your hand. But…”

She paused, then nodded slowly.

“Yes. Certainly, it’s uncharacteristic of the Grand Duke. There was no need to accept a marriage proposal.”

“My point exactly.”

“…Perhaps.”

Perhaps?

The moment I leaned in, she uttered pure nonsense.

“What if the Grand Duke genuinely likes you and wants to marry you?”

I looked at her with deep pity.

Right. Another gaslighting victim.

“No, Solongo. That’s your delusion talking.”

“But he held your hand first…”

“He’s always been touchy like that.”

I sighed and offered her some advice.

“Think about it the other way around. You’ve fought Tyroc for years. Even if your relationship changed suddenly, could you fall head over heels for him overnight?”

“Well… he is good-looking…”

“And could you lock eyes with him all dramatically and say, ‘I love you’?”

“Ugh. Absolutely not.”

Solongo shuddered violently.

Reverse psychology—always the best cure.

“See? Tyroc would feel the same. Beyond hating Adeye for years, he’s witnessed all of ‘Rue’s’ perversions firsthand. Falling in love suddenly makes no sense.”

“Yes… that’s true.”

She still looked mildly brainwashed, head tilted, but soon regained her senses.

“In that case, one thing becomes important.”

Her eyes gleamed with seriousness.

“We must finalize the marriage before the Grand Duke starts doubting anything.”

Ah, yes.

The Bond of Consorts.

That was the whole point of this mess.

I could crush the traitor all I wanted, but until Tyroc and I made the bond official, I couldn’t relax.

After all, the traitor used that very bond to place a restriction on Tyroc, preventing him from closing the Eye of Hell.

“You’re right. He could always change his mind and decide not to get married.”

“Exactly.”

Even Solongo began nodding gravely.

“When you meet him, you must convince him completely that you’re the true Savior. Showing your ability would help.”

My ability…

Right, Hoiga’s “ability” was decrypting ancient records—thanks to the nanobots. So why couldn’t I do it?

Clatter.

Just then, the carriage rolled through the gates of the Koon Grand Duchy.

Of course, it would still be a long ride up to the manor, but I straightened immediately.

When I first stepped into the carriage, it felt like being dragged into hell.

But now—it felt like I had reached the gates of heaven.

Maybe he’d brought me to his estate exactly to show me an ancient text and test me.

Well then—bring out whatever you want. Ancient scrolls, encrypted codices, webtoons—I’ll decipher all of them!

I shouted this confidently in my mind—

only to freeze as a red warning message appeared before my eyes.

[Due to accumulated processing overload, the system will enter sleep mode.]

…Are you kidding me?

He fastened the last button of his white shirt.

Then he swiftly slipped on a waistcoat—dark, embroidered with gold thread, elegant yet dignified.

It suited his golden eyes perfectly.

Perhaps too perfectly. Which was why he rarely wore it—he disliked looking as though he’d put in effort.

And yet now, the moment he reached the manor, he had dismissed his attendants and hurried to dress himself in that very outfit.

Now he stood before the mirror, carefully smoothing his hair.

Rick could not believe his eyes.

From this angle, Tyroc looked like a man preparing to properly receive someone—someone he wanted to impress.

Rick refused to accept who that someone was.

Still, he forced himself to ask:

“…Why did you suddenly change clothes, Your Grace?”

Tyroc, still staring at his reflection, replied casually:

“A guest is coming.”

A guest?!

He never even bothered to greet nobles properly, yet now—

Rick swallowed his scream and asked again.

“Do you mean Adeye Rue?”

Tyroc finally turned his head.

That sharp gaze made Rick flinch and shrink back.

Then came the deadly warning:

“He is to be my consort. Address him with proper respect.”

Rick froze, mouth half-open.

So—the marriage was really happening.

“Your Grace… you don’t truly believe Adeye Rue is the Savior, do you? That he can break the curse on the Koon family?”

Tyroc brushed back a stray lock of hair, expression flat.

“The Savior is not the one who breaks curses.”

“Yes, but Ma Hoiga said he could.”

“I can break it myself.”

If he could, he would have done it long ago!

Rick nearly shouted—then stopped himself, remembering the countless feats Tyroc had already accomplished. The impossible was merely a challenge for him.

“You have a plan, then?”

“Hoiga said he confirmed information regarding the curse in ancient records. I need to obtain those.”

“He said he received them from House Sarne.”

As if Sarne would give them away…

Rick held back another sigh.

But the Grand Duke wasn’t wrong—having the records would make breaking the curse possible.

Decrypting them was another matter entirely.

To obtain them, they’d need someone in Sarne…

Suddenly, Rick thought of one powerful ally. One deeply connected to Sarne.

The Adeye family.

Oh no.

Could the Grand Duke be planning to use Adeye’s influence?

Honestly, Adeye’s reach across the continent was far greater than House Ma’s.

If they became allies, nothing would be more advantageous.

It was just… distasteful.

But Tyroc was not a man who allowed personal feelings to interfere with strategy.

If his objective was to defeat his enemies, he would swallow whatever pride he must.

And at the conference, it had been clear that House Ma belonged to Montaine now.

The only force that could oppose them was Adeye.

Rick’s eyes widened as understanding dawned.

Right.

Everything made sense now.

A practical decision. A political move.

There was no way Tyroc had accepted the proposal because he was enamored with Adeye Rue.

“Of course. Your Grace must have profound reasons.”

Rick nodded firmly, but Tyroc, watching the window, seemed not to hear.

“When does Rue’s carriage arrive?”

“They departed later than we did—it should arrive any moment.”

“Next time, assign our soldiers to escort him.”

“…Our soldiers? But Adeye is wealthy—they’ll guard him well—ah, yes, Your Grace.”

Rick lowered his head at Tyroc’s glare—only to be startled again by the command that followed.

“What are you waiting for? Go out and greet him.”

“M–me? …Yes, of course, I’ll go. Certainly.”

Yes, obviously. To gain Adeye’s cooperation, they had to show proper courtesy.

After all, Rue was the one desperate to marry—

Wait.

Rick paused.

Hold on.

Since when had Adeye Rue ever shown signs of liking the Grand Duke?