Fakes Don’t Want To Be Real Chapter 28

Chapter 28

 

It was only after quite some time that Lillian composed herself and hesitantly asked, “Th-this is the first I’m hearing of it… Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“Because it’s not a pleasant story. The royal family doesn’t like it either.”

“The royal family?”

“Even for an important household, people raise objections when a serious crime is pardoned. They say there must be some hidden truth behind it. Oh, but that’s not me!”

 

Hilvia drew a firm line, making it clear she fully supported His Majesty’s wise choice.

 

“Anyway, don’t go around saying I told you this, understood?”

“Of course, naturally. But—”

 

Lillian’s words trailed off subtly.

Her voice carried the playful charm she had used to tease others before. Psychke, who had been lost in thought until that moment, snapped back to attention.

 

“That emerald necklace… the one called Keitan, wasn’t it? What happened to it afterward? It’s an important piece of evidence, so it should be with the royal family, right?”

“I thought so too, but apparently not. It seems it’s been lost.”

“Lost?”

“Yes. While everyone was shocked that the gift had turned out to be a weapon, someone broke in and stole it.”

 

Psychke inwardly froze.

 

‘A thief… in the royal palace?’

 

Even a break-in at a high noble’s estate would be scandalous, but in the palace itself?

Absurd.

 

‘This is really strange.’

 

Not only had the attempted regicide twenty years ago been pardoned, but now even the evidence had vanished and the emperor didn’t like this matter being investigated.

By now, Psychke even doubted whether the investigation from twenty years ago had been conducted properly.

 

‘Come to think of it, that was when the former Lestir Duke and the Duchess suddenly died. It’s possible the matter was quietly swept aside because of that.’

 

“Hm… lost, huh.”

 

As she pondered the events from twenty years ago, Lillian’s continued questions about the poisoned necklace grated on her ears. Psychke bit her lip.

Unaware that someone might be eavesdropping, Lillian subtly prodded Hilvia.

 

“If Her Majesty the Empress didn’t notice until the last moment, the craftsman must have been incredibly skilled. I wonder who made it.”

“Oh my, Princess… you’re curious about everything. Wait, why is this off?”

 

Hilvia’s startled voice cut off abruptly. Someone had apparently mis-triggered the anti-eavesdropping mana stone, silencing her.

Psychke and Isolet exchanged quick glances.

They hurried away before anyone from the neighboring table could come check.

***

Night had fallen, and darkness blanketed the streets and Psychke sent Isolet off first.

 

‘The Duke said to assist the lady,’ he told h45, letting him leave with a hint of concern for his safety while explaining she had urgent business to attend to.

 

“I’ve done my best. Please make sure to explain it properly later.”

 

Isolet walked away alone, like someone being dragged to hell. Psychke felt a pang of sympathy, understanding just how much Verndia had tormented him.

Now alone, she made her way to the alley where she had last parted with Aiden.

With the Silkisia estate nearby, she kept her senses sharp, ready to draw her dagger at a moment’s notice yet her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

 

‘It was Lillian.’

 

Before the reset, Lillian had smiled at Psychke as if standing over her impending death. Psychke had assumed Lillian was the one who had framed her, and seeing her so interested in the necklace confirmed it.

 

‘Is she going to do the same thing again?’

 

She wouldn’t be staying at Silkisia as before, but Lillian still hated her, claiming everything had been stolen. The possibility couldn’t be ruled out.

 

‘I won’t fall for it this time.’

 

Psychke clenched her fists and scanned her surroundings.

The street was silent and Aiden hadn’t arrived yet.

 

‘He’s a bit late.’

 

She tapped her foot against the cold wall, thinking she might have miscalculated the timing.

Then she sensed movement. But not a single step, but many and not human.

Psychke drew her dagger and swung toward the source of the presence.

 

— Kiiieeeek!

 

A wolf-like creature screamed as its waist was cleaved in two. Blood spattered. Its body was bright red, a ruby embedded in its forehead, and black blood flowed from its torso. It was no ordinary beast.

 

‘A magical beast?’

 

Creatures with black blood were only created through forbidden magic. There was no time to wonder why it was here. Threatening intent came from behind.

Psychke immediately ducked and thrust her dagger toward the opposite side.

The beast, which had aimed for her head, flew through the air. Her dagger pierced its throat as it lunged for her lower body.

 

“Ugh.”

 

Withdrawing her arm, she felt a sting – her clothes burned and her skin cut by the fangs, even from a brush.

No time to check the damage. Psychke swung again at the charging beasts.

 

‘Only three this time?’

 

Even as they gasped their last, the beasts snapped at her. She dodged, senses alert. Her injured body screamed, but she didn’t lower her dagger. Black blood dripped from the short blade.

She stared at the slain beasts.

 

‘Why are these here?’

 

Forbidden magic demanded great life force. It wasn’t something to summon just anywhere. Sensing a bad feeling, she realized she needed to escape.

But if she ran now, Aiden… if he were attacked alone…

Or worse, what if this was the trap he had set?

She bit her lip, hesitating.

 

“…!”

 

Suddenly sensing a surge of hostile intent, she looked up and couldn’t believe her eyes.

Ripples appeared in empty air, and a clay-like mass fell.

It contorted into black wolves about ten of them. Psychke braced her legs.

 

‘I have to run.’

 

The incomplete wolves still had their eyes closed, so this was her chance.

But as she prepared to flee, the beasts multiplied too quickly. Her current state wouldn’t allow more than five steps without being caught.

 

‘No choice.’

 

Better to fight without looking back. She drew on her mana. Rough blue energy, far cruder than Verndia’s, enveloped her dagger.

Fortunately, her cursed ability remained steady, not flaring like it had at the auction.

 

As soon as she readied herself, the wolves bared their teeth.

 

—Grrrr…

—Bark! Bark! Bark!

 

Their foreheads glowed with rubies; their bodies turned crimson, the signal they were ready to attack.

Psychke gripped her dagger tight.

 

—Bark!

 

A wolf charged from the middle of the front row, triggering the rest. The alley floor became slick with black blood and splattered corpses.

 

“Ugh!”

 

A groan escaped. These were far stronger and faster than the beasts at the auction.

Wounded and armed with a short blade, she fought desperately, striking repeatedly. Five times, seven times, ten times—

After that, she gave up counting. Unlike the first three, these seemed endless.

 

‘At least twenty cuts, and it’s still not over?’

 

Rolling to evade, she realized the corpses weren’t gone. Severed as they were, they twitched and returned to their master, as if alive.

Their regeneration was astonishing.

 

‘What do I do?’

 

Clenching her teeth, she cut down two aiming for her arms and heart.

The answer was clear: if she couldn’t defeat them, she had to immobilize them.

She had to survive. At least, not now.

Past lives had taught her the desperation of being unloved and unacknowledged. Now she added another goal: to be recognized and protected, even if love wasn’t required.

 

—Bark! Bark! Bark!

 

Her deliberation was long, but her actions were swift.

Reaching toward a leaping beast, she unleashed the restrained energy from her body.

 

Crrack—

 

It didn’t go as intended. She aimed only for the snout, but half the beast and the alley wall froze.

 

Thud!

 

The ice-bound beast collapsed, its hind legs flailing. Psychke immediately froze another as she bit her lip.

 

‘As soon as this ends, all I have to do is run.’

 

The ice would last only about five minutes. No one else sensed her presence; no one would interfere.

Thuds of ice, each the size of a child’s head, fell from above – empty inside.

Psychke forced herself to ignore them, focusing only on the beasts.

This was why she considered her ability a curse: uncontrollable, indiscriminate, freezing anything without distinction, even herself or the surrounding air.

Finally, after freezing all but the last beast, disaster struck.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Her ability, always unpredictable, froze her own foot just as she moved. She tried to shift before complete encasement, but the small gap brought her peril. The beast’s fangs were already in front of her eyes.

She couldn’t lift her dagger. Her power froze only the lower half of the creature.

Ah, is this it?

As death loomed, her eyes shut tight.

Just then, a massive violet flame erupted before her like a wall.