The Possessed Evil Woman Wreaks Havoc - Chapter 122

“Are you talking about Gabby?” I asked.

Someone I had to meet in the Middle Realm? The only one who came to mind was Gabby.

A descendant of Daphne and Ethan—whose existence I hadn’t even known about.

“Gabby? Who’s that?”

“Isabella Dunkeld’s older brother.”

“…Why are you suddenly bringing him up?”

Lilith responded to my question with a question of her own.

So it wasn’t Gabby, then…

No matter how many times I went over what Lilith had said earlier, no clear answer came to mind.

Lilith looked at me with a curious expression. “He looks exactly like him.”

“Lilith, stop speaking so cryptically.”

“I thought you’d recognize him at first sight.”

Lilith’s refusal to give me a clear answer was frustrating.

Then she smiled again and said, “Well, it is hard to notice. It’s not a common thing. Even I was surprised when I first learned of that human’s existence.”

“……”

Still, I couldn’t make sense of her words.

I suddenly realized I was glaring at Lilith—and caught myself in surprise.

If it were anyone but Lilith standing before me right now…

“Lilith. What are you even talking about right now?”

Lilith stared at me in silence for a moment.

“Hmm. Maybe I’ll save it for later—for a more dramatic effect.”

She murmured to herself, then spoke again.

“The reason I involved you in the contract with Isabella… let’s just say I wanted you to get some fresh air outside the Demon Realm.”

Her explanation was insincere. Not a trace of truth could be felt in it.

Her attitude was so ridiculous I couldn’t help but laugh dryly.

If the person in front of me had been Belial instead of Lilith, I would’ve attacked him on the spot. At the very least, I’d have bitten him once.

But since it was Lilith, I had no choice but to suppress my irritation.

‘Just hold it in. No matter what I do, she’s not going to talk.’

So what was her real reason for sending me to the Middle Realm?

Frowning, I fell deep into thought.

Then Lilith gently rubbed the center of my forehead with her index finger and said, “That’s a face full of thoughts.”

“……”

“Our youngest one used to be charming because she didn’t think so much.”

“If you’d just give me the answer, I could go back to being charming.”

“Of course not. I rather enjoy seeing you like this.”

Lilith muttered in a quiet voice, “Maybe this is what raising a child feels like.”

Hearing her suddenly talk about children gave me a strange feeling.

Maybe because demons can never have children?

Lilith’s words sounded like she thought of me as her own child…

Just thinking that made something warm stir in my chest.

“I used to want you to live innocently forever.”

“……”

“But seeing a child get hurt, grow stronger, and finally begin to think for themselves… maybe that’s the role of a guardian,” Lilith murmured as she stroked my head.

Her touch somehow brought me peace.

‘Yeah. Lilith must have her reasons for acting like this.’

I still didn’t know why she had to be so evasive.

But at the very least, she wouldn’t hurt me.

A guardian wouldn’t harm their own child.

That’s what I decided to believe.

***

Knock knock.

Just then, someone knocked on the door to the room where Lilith and I were.

“You may enter.”

With Lilith’s permission, the door opened and Gabby stepped inside.

He bowed quite politely to the princess and offered a greeting.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Your Highness. I am Gabriel Dunkeld, the Young Duke of this household.”

“Nice to meet you. I suppose there’s no need for me to introduce myself. Young Duke, what brings you here?”

“I was worried my younger sister might cause Your Highness any trouble, so I hope you’ll excuse my intrusion.”

At that moment, Gabby met my eyes—and glared at me.

Huh?

I think I understood why Gabby had suddenly come into the room.

He must have been incredibly uneasy about leaving me alone with the princess.

As if I might cause some sort of disaster.

Gabby’s attitude, showing not even the tiniest bit of faith in me, made me frown.

“What do you mean a burden? Isabella is such a lively and lovable young lady. Just being around her lifts my mood.”

“…Is that so?”

Gabby couldn’t hide the disbelief on his face.

He blinked slowly, looking back and forth between me and Lilith.

That expression of his annoyed me too. Was it really so hard to believe someone could find me lovable?

Lilith gestured for Gabby to come closer. “Young Duke, come and have a seat. Bella spoke of you often—I’ve been curious about you.”

My eyes widened at her words. I’d never said anything about Gabby to Lilith.

[Lilith, what are you talking about?]

[I’ve been watching. How you live in the Middle Realm. You seem quite close with that human.]

Lilith had been watching me from the Demon Realm?

[Everything you’ve been doing was just so entertaining—I couldn’t take my eyes off you.]

Lilith spoke with a laugh in her voice.

I began recalling one by one all the things I’d done in the Middle Realm. Entertaining, she said?

Well, she’d always said I was interesting. I never really understood it, but I’d let it slide.

Anyway.

Gabby looked slightly uncomfortable, but he didn’t refuse Lilith’s invitation.

Sitting beside me, Gabby asked Lilith, “May I ask what brings Your Highness to the Empire so suddenly?”

Of course, she came to see me. There’s no other reason Lilith would make a royal visit to this place.

I thought confidently to myself.

But then Lilith said something unexpected.

“I know it’s an unusual and sudden visit, but I came because I have urgent matters to discuss with Crown Prince Adrian.”

Huh?

I looked at Lilith with a questioning gaze.

Naturally, she couldn’t openly say she came to see me. Officially, there’s no connection between the princess and Isabella.

Still, that answer—it felt far too specific to be just a cover story.

Lilith showing interest in a human is never a good thing.

At least, not for that human—it would be a catastrophe.

And wasn’t the crown prince Dantalion’s contractor?

Considering how Lilith and Dantalion never got along…

I suddenly found myself worrying about the crown prince.

Then I shook my head internally.

Why on earth would I worry about him? We’re nothing to each other now.

In response to Lilith’s words, Gabby nodded and said, “I see.”

Then he added, “You must still be weary from your journey. I’ll take my sister and leave you to rest.”

Gabby grabbed my hand and tried to pull me to my feet.

Smack!

I slapped his hand away without hesitation.

I knew exactly what he was thinking, but I still had much to discuss with Lilith.

“No. I’m staying with the princess.”

“Isabella, I’m telling you nicely—let’s go.”

Gabby clenched his teeth and lowered his voice so only I could hear.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this toward Her Highness?” he muttered under his breath.

“I like the princess.”

“Huh? What are you even saying? You’ve barely seen her. Anyone listening would think you just reunited with long-lost family.”

Huh?

The moment I heard Gabby’s words, a brilliant idea popped into my head.

If I wanted to make the Duke regret everything, I’d need something extreme…

And I had just thought of it.

“Adoption! Karolea, adopt me!”

The moment I finished speaking, Gabby shouted, “Hey, are you insane?!”

Right after that, he glanced nervously at Lilith.

It must have been an instinctive reaction, but he clearly realized too late that such language wasn’t appropriate before a royal princess.

I didn’t care.

I was too busy admiring the genius idea I’d just had.

If Princess Karolea adopted me, how shocked would the Duke be?

He’d probably think, ‘Just how bad must it have been for Isabella to abandon her father and choose a different family?’—and finally, he’d deeply regret his past actions.

I glanced sideways at Gabby and said, “Gabby, you come too. Let’s get adopted together.”

I started trying to convince him.

Gabby’s surprisingly petty. If I went without him, he’d definitely sulk.

Besides, if we both got adopted at once, the Duke’s shock would double.