He needed to kill that demon. Now. Or else he might kill half of the people in the Empire. And what was worst was that the madness made one feel the urge to kill those close to them.
"Your grace!" Harim who had been waiting for Crinoel to finish the meeting rushed towards him as he saw his current state. His usual flippant expression was serious at the moment.
He had felt someone having a magic regeneration but the state the Duke was in meant that it was a demon that had a magic regeneration.
The most plausible thing to do now was to kill the demon. But first he had to take the Dule to a secret area to...get some human blood.
With Harim's help and his strong mind, he bared his insane blood thirst and got to a secret room in the imperial palace that the Garcia family had built with permission of the first Emperor.
Since long ago the Dukedom of Garcia had been affiliated with the imperial family and were seen as their loyal servants. But his family line were anything but 'loyal' to the Emperor.
The only reason why the powerful Dukedom had not rebelled against the imperial family was because of their blood.
No one knew of this though it was just a silly rumour. Common people used to tell stories about a blue haired murderer who was a member of the Garcia family and had gone mad because he had not killed someone for 2 days.
But this silly story was actually through. The first descendant of the Garcia family, originally had brown hair. He was a strong warrior who seeked for power and was interested in the demon land which existed before the founding of the Empire.
So he ventured out into the land. Not much about his adventure was able to be found out. He had written everything else in a strange language no one had understood till today.
The only thing that was known was the fact after he left the demon land his brown hair turned blue then he pledged allegiance to the first Emperor. And the moment he felt the presence of a demon or had a surge of emotions be would immediately run mad, then turn into a monster and have a strong urge to kill.
There were only three ways to stop the madness from taking control over someone.
The person could turn back to normal with the aide of holy powers.
The second way was a painful and dangerous action called 'magic resignation'
And the third was the commonly used method which was to kill the demon that awakened the madness.
Usually demons resided in Ulenov, but for Crinoel to feel its presence meant it was somewhere in the capital.
"Who and where is the demon?" Crinoel asked Harim. Harim was a magic user and his special power was called 'soul seeing'.
He was able to tell Erionella's soul was that of someone who was thirty because of this power.
A demon was differentiated from humans with their souls being different. Most demons had human forms but they were naturally evil. And once a demon had a magic regeneration, their total evil would slowly be awakened.
Harim closed his eyes and concentrated on the burst of demon energy while Crinoel did his best to calm down his nerves.
Usually he could control the madness but for him to be in his current state, meant the demon was extremely powerful.
Such a powerful demon was a threat to him. He needed to kill it.
Harim snapped his eyes open and a dark look was on his face as he spoke. "Duke, the demon...
"What?!" Crinoel urged Harim who had stopped his words, to speak as his state was critical.
"The demon...is Lady Erionella"
Crinoel was greatly surprised and didn't know what to say. If Erionella was a demon she could be his enemy. And the most logical thing to do was to kill her. But...
"Because I'm your friend" This simple sentence which she had said made him hesitate to kill her.
These words echoed in his head for the past week awakening a light in his dark life.
"I'll use 'magic resignation' instead"
"But your grace, that method is life threatening! And Lady Erionella could be an ene-
"My decision is final. I'm not killing her" For the first time in his life, he didn't eliminate a potential threat. He even surprised himself.
***
"You are a demon" Then Mareeonel completed her remaining words. "And...you are dying"
Erionella's eyes widened at the unexpected news. She was dying? What?
Mareeonel who possessed holy powers, couldn't actually know when someone was dying so her words brought quite a shock. But Erionella was a bit calm for someone who was told that they were dying.
"How do you know I'm dying?" This was the only question she could think of.
"Well, a demon can never have a magic regeneration. But when they do, it is a sign that their death is nea-
Knock. Knock. Mareeonel stopped talking at the sound of a knock on the door.
"Come in" Irliona entered into the room when Erionella's permission was given. She came in with a tray which had a glass of water and some medicine.
"Thank you!" She immediately drank the glass of water, quenching her continuous thirst. "How long have I been unconscious?"
"A day and a half" Irliona answered her question.
What? Then the Empress' tea party was tomorrow! She needed to attend in order to carry out the mission Harlyn gave her.
"And my lady, a direct letter came for you while you were unconscious" Most letters sent to her under the Renowarin family name. She had only received three direct letters before.
The letter for the Empress' tea party. The letter from Beneditel. And the anonymous letter which was from a sender named 'harbinger' that warned her of a danger.
She received the letter from Irliona then Irliona excused herself from the room.
The tray was dropped on the drawer across the bed so she stood up to get it but fell back on the bed.
With the current state of her body she doubted she could make it to the Empress' tea parry.
Mareeonel approached her to help her. Then Erionella voiced out a thought "If I've been unconscious for a day and a half have you been here throughout?"
"Yes. Because I needed to tell you that and you should try to control your emotions. A magic regeneration changes oneself and a demon who has a magic regeneration can turn out to be evil...
Erionella laughed lightly then thought to herself. Though she wasn't a saint who was nice enough to fight for human lives she wasn't a psychopath who was blood crazed.
"I'll keep that mind" Mareeonel pursed her lips at Erionella's calm reply but accepted her words. "I brought some herbs that are good to ease the pain after a magic regeneration. It needs to be washed in hot water right before you take it. Should I give it to the maid with brown hair that just entered?"
Erionella was about to nod but became puzzled and asked. "Maid with brown hair? Irliona? Her hair is black"
"I mean the maid that just entered now"
"That was Irliona. Black hair and red eyes"
"Her hair was brown and she had black eyes" Both of them were confused at the sudden direction of the conversation.
Brown hair and black eyes? Irliona had just entered and her hair was black and she had red eyes.
In order to solve this confusion Erionella stretched to the side of her bed to ring the bell to call a maid.
Irliona as the maid that directly served her entered into the room.
"Yes my lady?"
"You see this is Irliona" Erionella said to Mareeonel while pointing to Irliona who obviously had black hair and red eyes. Mareeonel observed the maid then Erionella dismissed Irliona "You can go"
Irliona closed the door behind her then Erionella turned towards Mareeonel. Mareeonel's eyes were blank as if she was under some trance.
Erionella waved her hands in front of her eyes. Only then did she snap out of the daze and ask with confusion. "What happened?"
"Just now Irliona entered into the room"
"Irliona? Who is that? Someone entered into the room? When?" Erionella was a bit confused about Mareeonel's words but something told her to postpone this matter.
"Never mind. Anyways, can you do me a favor?"
"Sure"
"You're going to the Empress' tea party right?"
"Yes"
"So could you point out all the ladies who are antagonistic towards me because of Crinoel"
Erionella who had only ever attended one social gathering knew nothing about what was happening in the high society but Harlyn said she needed she participate more and gain power due to a certain threat she couldn't tell her.
The anonymous letter also spoke of some bug enemy Erionella had.
"Okay...but why?"
"He-he, I just want to have some fun" It was half true after she woke up she suddenly realized things had been a bit too boring for her.
And she had the sudden urge to...
"Crush your enemies" A mysterious voice whispered in her head. It didn't sound like Harlyn and something within her made her think this voice was oddly familiar.
Crush her enemies? Wasn't that too exaggerated? Was the enemy really that great.
"Destroy them all" The voice which sounded like an evil demon tempting her to do something bad, rang in her ears.
"Okay" As Mareeonel spoke she no more heard the voice and focused her attention on Mareeonel. "Oh and the herb I brought to strengthen you has this strong smell that lasts for more than a day on a place it was spilled. It kind of smells like burning metal and coal" Like a doctor she explained the effects and intake of the drug.
She continued "And it leaves a staining effect on your skin too! If it spills on your palm, anything you touch will be stained black like coal. This effect also stays for a day and a half"
After Mareeonel finished her conversation with Erionella she left the room once again reminding Erionella about her demon nature and magic regeneration.
***
No one knew that from the start of Erionella and Mareeonel's conversation Irliona had been at the door as silent as the dead, listening with her usual cold expression.
But there was something in her eyes. A deep emotion that told the story of someone who was almost lost to the darkness.
After hearing what she needed to hear she turned around naturally without attracting any suspicion.
***
Erionella laid quietly on the bed then decided to open the letter Irliona had given to her from somebody. It was stamped with a plain red seal.
She suddenly felt it was from the anonymous sender which named themself 'harbinger'
She tore of the seal then opened the letter. Her thoughts were right.
Dear Lady Erionella,
Once again, it is me, harbinger! I'm writing to tell you that when you go to the Empress' tea party you should beware of Elisa Julian. Oh and I think something will happen to make you be unconcious for a day and a half.
Also there's this library. Not sure about the details. Ooh, I almost forgot the best part! You'll have a 24 hour stalker following you. Ow, your life is really fun.
Sincerely,
Harbinger.
Erionella read the short letter and felt like the letter was ridiculous. Library? Stalker?
But she decided not to take the letter lightly as it predicted she'd be unconscious. It felt like whoever was writing the letter was predicting the future or something like that.
"Become the worst monster" Once again the familiar voice rang in her head.
The voice was probably just her own imagination. But who knew that in the future this voice was a powerful force that would whisper to her secrets that was capable of destroying the world.
Who knew the reason why this voice felt familiar was because it actually was. It was a voice she had heard so often. More than even a thousand times.
***
"I was worried sick about you, Nella!"
"Are you feeling any better? I was so scared because the doctors said there was nothing wrong with you but you were still unconscious"
Faced with the caring attitude of the Count and Countess who she was suppose to address as 'mother' and 'father', she didn't know how to respond.
Her family had died when she was twelve in her past life and all her relatives abandoned her. And coupled with the guilt that she wasn't the original owner of this body She felt weird accepting their care.
During the time she 'Leilan', except for Felix and her parents who had died, she had never received kindness.
More than warmth all people gave her was hatred all because she was better than the rest. She was envied and the object of hate from everyone surrounding her.
She could never receive this warmth if she was 'Leilan'. Or it was more accurate to say that this warmth wasn't meant for her but for 'Erionella'
"Thank you for your concern, father and mother" She was subconsciously drawing a line with them.
Because of the guilt and the vow she had made to not get too attached to this world because at the end of the day, she would have to leave it.
It was just a novel.
She smiled sadly at herself. '291 days before...I leave this novel. Yes it's just a novel.
Even though the emotions I feel are real. Even though the pain I will feel when pierced with a needle is real.
It can't change the fact that this world...is just a novel' She used this words to hypnotize herself into keeping her will to leave, strong.
She had started to be swayed by emotions. But not anymore. Everything would be temporary.