The Monster Duke Mistook Me for His Wife – Chapter 144 – Side Story Chapter 1

Author: Asternkm

One peaceful day, long after the darkness had been sealed away,

an incident occurred.

— M-Miss Ria. I’m really sorry, but could you come to the Justin estate? There’s something strange stuck to Dante.

Startled by Giselle’s urgent call, I asked in surprise.

“Something strange?”

— Yes. A weird lump is stuck to Dante and it won’t come off. I’m worried it might be a remnant of the darkness that once possessed his body… Oh no! Dante! I told you not to touch it, it’s dangerous…!

Crash—!

The sound of something breaking mixed with Giselle’s panicked voice buzzed through the receiver.

I couldn’t see it, but clearly something big had happened.

— I’m sorry to make such a difficult request. I didn’t want to bother you, but I’m so worried…

A moment later, Giselle returned to the call, sounding apologetic.

— Please, Miss Ria.

How could I ignore her when she was asking so earnestly?

And I had to find out what this “lump” she mentioned really was.

But Dillian didn’t agree.

‘Does Miss Ria really have to go?’

‘I don’t think so, but you never know. What if it really is a fragment of darkness?’

‘If that were true, the Count wouldn’t have had the time to contact you.’

‘I think so too, but still…’

‘You don’t have to worry too much. If it were truly serious, someone would have come in person.’

Dillian clearly wasn’t happy about me going to the Count’s estate and tried to talk me out of it.

It was a simple issue that could’ve been resolved if we just went together,

but as the head of a noble house, he was far too busy.

Especially because Rexter had caused such a huge mess by siding with the darkness, and cleaning it up was no small task.

‘That damned Rexter…’

Dillian’s voice, full of murderous rage, still rang vividly in my ears.

If Rexter were still alive, Dillian would’ve torn him limb from limb by now.

For that reason, I set foot in the Count’s estate alone.

“I don’t sense anything strange.”

“Same here. Nothing dark. In fact, it feels quite pure.”

Nathan, who came with me, nodded.

I was worried something dark might be clinging to Dante, but the aura in the mansion felt completely clean and peaceful.

“Miss Ria!”

Giselle ran up to me.

She reached me in an instant, grabbed my hand, and kept thanking me.

“Thank you so much for coming all this way.”

“It’s no trouble at all. But where is Dante?”

“Well… This way, please.”

Following the tense Giselle into the mansion,

we were met with giggles and the loud sound of something breaking.

“Dante!”

Giselle shouted in alarm.

Dante, who hadn’t noticed me until now, stopped and beamed brightly, waving at me.

“Miss Ria!”

“It’s been a while, young master. Have you been well?”

“Yes!”

Just like his cheerful answer, Dante looked healthy and happy.

‘He seems perfectly fine. Maybe Giselle was just overthinking it.’

I was relieved there didn’t seem to be anything wrong. Smiling, I approached him—

and then stopped when I saw a little lump pop up from his shoulder.

‘Wait, that thing is…’

The soft, round shape looked very familiar.

I instantly recognized what it was.

“Ria?”

It noticed me too. Its bright yellow eyes sparkled like stars, and it leapt toward me with all its strength.

“Ria!”

Poof—

I instinctively caught it in my arms.

It was Blackie, the former shadow of darkness.

“…It didn’t vanish?”

“I’ve been with Dante the whole time!”

“How?”

If it was a shadow of darkness, shouldn’t it have disappeared that day too?

“Ohh, it was absorbed.”

“Absorbed?”

Nathan looked intrigued as he glanced between Blackie and Dante.

“This little one was absorbed into Dante’s body and survived.”

Apparently, thanks to the divine power from Aina and me, it was purified and

lucky enough to be absorbed into Dante’s body.

Ever since that day,

it had been asleep inside him—until it was reborn.

Clearer than before, fully materialized.

“That’s amazing. Ria, this is my first time seeing anything like this.”

“First? I like firsts!”

Blackie bounced up and rubbed against my cheek. Its soft, squishy body wiggled happily.

“Ria, I’m so happy to see you again!”

“Me too. I’m so happy.”

I’d felt so guilty for letting it sacrifice itself like that. I thought I’d never see it again.

I felt a lump in my throat as emotions welled up.

“You must’ve been in pain. Thank you… and I’m sorry.”

“Mhm. It’s okay! I’m just happy I got to see Ria again!”

Blackie hugged my neck tightly, trying to comfort me.

“Blackie is really happy right now!”

Its tiny body was so warm, the warmth spread through my chest.

“Um, Miss Ria…”

Giselle, who had been eyeing Blackie nervously, cautiously opened her mouth.

“It seems like it knows you, Miss Ria… Is it really okay for it to stay with Dante?”

Her eyes, filled with worry, anxiety, and a hint of hope, looked straight at me.

“Yes, don’t worry. There’s probably nothing more pure-hearted than this little guy. He’s been completely purified by my and the Saintess’s divine power.”

“Right. As long as it helps, there’s no downside,”

Nathan added, welcoming Blackie as well, and only then did Giselle breathe a sigh of relief and place a hand on her chest.

“Since both of you say so, I can finally relax. Especially since it’s your divine power, Miss Ria—I know I can trust it. I’m just glad it’s not dangerous.”

Giselle’s concerns were resolved almost ridiculously quickly.

“I’m glad nothing serious happened.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Miss Ria. I really appreciate it.”

It was a good thing. After all the serious incidents we’d been through, this kind of cute little mishap was actually welcome.

‘Since everything worked out, maybe I should head back early?’

I was planning to eat with everyone and then return, but just then,

Giselle, ever perceptive, asked,

“Are you leaving right away, Miss Ria? You must be tired from the trip—why not stay the night?”

“Miss Ria, are you really leaving?”

“Ria, you’re going?”

Dante and Blackie, looking disappointed, drooped their eyes with visible sadness.

“Well…”

“You’re already here—might as well stay for a week. Those two clearly don’t want you to go, and it’s not like you’d be breaking any promise with Dillian,”

Nathan said, and I nodded.

That’s true. I had originally planned to stay for a week, so Dillian would understand. And this could be a good chance to teach Blackie too.

“If the Count permits it, I was thinking of teaching the young master while I’m here. I’d like to guide him a bit—teach him how to handle divine power.”

The moment I finished speaking, Giselle raised her voice in surprise.

“Permit you? No, no, I should be the one begging you! I’ve been struggling to figure out how to educate Dante, so thank you so much for offering first. I can’t trust those damn priests…”

Of course. They hadn’t even realized Dante’s condition was a spiritual illness.

Giselle, who had just been grinding her teeth at them, now smiled brightly as if nothing happened and grabbed my hand.

“Please, be my son’s teacher, Miss Ria.”

“I’ll do my best. I look forward to working with him.”

* * *

As Dante’s new teacher, the first thing I did was clarify how we’d address each other.

“Young master, this may be sudden, but I’m now your teacher. So starting today, I’m dropping the honorifics.”

That’s how it is between teacher and student.

“So, Dante, from today on, call me ‘Teacher.’”

“Yes, Teacher!”

His cheeks, round and pale, turned rosy with excitement about our lessons.

“Do you think I can heal the wounded like you someday?”