Chapter 66

Duchy Cruell.

The ending of the Duchy that Bella remembered was a being caught in one’s own trap and poetic justice.

When Kiehl entered the Imperial Palace, and there was no support behind him, Duchy Cruell had given him great strength. Since they were the only Duchy Kiehl relied on, they decided that the Crown Princess was also a possibility.

So, Shuria Cruel passed her inheritance right to Juan Cruell and tried to become the Crown Princess.

She was such an excellent swordsman, even though she had no interest in being the Crown Princess. However, Kiehl’s heart already belonged to Rosanne, and she was a character that increasingly blackened as she hated the false Crown Princess competition.

Blinded by hatred and jealousy, she ended up harming him as well, eventually destroying the Duchy.

Of course, such Shuria was Bella’s second favorite.

She was a woman full of ambition from start to finish. She was born to be the heir of the Duchy, so she must have great intentions.

* * *

“Would you like to become the adopted daughter of Duchy Cruell?”

“…Adopted daughter?”

“If Bella doesn’t have an identity to vouch for you, you can’t enter the Imperial Palace.”

Once again, she remembered the main theme of the novel.

A love that transcends status differences.

The Empire was large from the start, and political relations were very complicated. Nevertheless, what could have been the center of the imperial power was the absolute magic of the imperial family and the wall of status that could not be overcome.

“If Bella receives the guardianship of the Duchy, I can go see Bella anytime.”

She didn’t know exactly what year the original story was finished. The series of events did end, but the novel ends in the distant future, years later. Since she came to the human world, she wanted to see Kiehl smiling happily.

“Umm…”

Bella crossed her arms and thought seriously.

‘Can I really go in as an adopted daughter? I think it’s going to interfere with the novel…’

Kiehl took her hand and smiled as if reading her thoughts.

“There will be nothing for Bella to care and worry about.”

“Is that so…?”

“There’s no problem, right?”

“That’s true…”

The ending of this novel was, after all, a love story between Kiehl and Rosanne.

Bella could see Kiehl’s fingers trembling slightly. He must be trying to repay the best way he wanted to repay.

‘Entering as an adopted daughter into a family that was about to be destroyed…’

Was it really the right choice? Of course, regardless of Shuria, it was not likely that Kiehl would punish Bella.

“If possible, I think it would be good to enter a good family as an adopted daughter.”

She just wanted her to live as a natural person, though Bella knew well that human greed had no end—the clothes she was wearing now and the good furniture and the taste of the dinner she ate last night still lingered on the tip of her tongue.

Besides, it was illegal to sell Iwer’s potion now, so she had to figure out how to make money.

“Well… If possible…”

It seemed that it would not be bad to enter as an adopted daughter of a noble family rather than a commoner who had a hard time living every day.

“But, the Duchy wants to take an adopted daughter?”

The Duchy was second only to the Imperial Family.

“…Won’t the people around me find it weird? Won’t I be a nuisance?”

There was no reason why they would have adopted Bella as their adopted daughter?

“A long time ago, a young daughter from Duchy Cruelle went missing.”

It was the first time she had heard of such a background story.

“It was said that she was the only one with black hair in a family that was all silver. They hid her existence, but if they see Bella, they will treat you like their daughter as well.”

Kiehl’s sweet voice put her worries to sleep like a lullaby.

“I have a relationship with Juan Cruell, so I’m sure the Duchy will be nicer to you.”

“There are demons like Pur…”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Bella then raised her head and met his eyes.

“You don’t have to worry about the details, because I had thought about what to do.”

Come to think of it, when he came to the Demon Realm, he also came in preparation for a number of occasions.

“Bella just needs to take your identity.”

It was a really great deal to launder her identity…

“Currently, the custodian of the Duchy is Shuria Cruell, and she likes swordsmanship, so I think Bella will get along well with her.”

Her eyes widened a little with the mention of Shuria.

“They have no problems taking an adopted daughter.”

Bella was increasingly getting deceived by Kiehl’s words as the thorough and smart person in the novel. The amber eyes, which were always moist, were shining as hard jewels. It was a good suggestion from an objective point of view. As long as the content of the novel doesn’t change significantly.

“If it’s hard to decide, how about meeting Shuria Cruell?”

‘…Now, my favorite is dealing with my second favorite, what is this?’

“It’s not like a family, you just have to think of her as your guardian… A relationship like Bella and Mary.”

Mary from the swordsmanship class. Bella took special care of her, introduced her to the mercenary group, and gave her pocket money.

“You can enjoy everything you can enjoy.”

Each and every word sounded sweet.

“Anything you want.”

It was the devil’s whisper to seduce the devil.

“I will do whatever Bella tells me, so let me be by your side.”

Kiehl’s persuading voice grew more and more mournful, and she couldn’t refuse. In the end, Bella had no choice but to obey him.

‘Yeah, as long as I don’t do things that will cause problems. After all, being next to Kiehl’s can make it more like the original story.’

Once she set her direction, she was excited to see what would happen in the future.

“Okay. I’m going to become the adopted daughter.”

…Not knowing how bitter the emotions she would face as she recalled this day in the future.

* * *

Everyone gathered in the parlor, and Kiehl talked about a process that only they had to know. The more Bella heard, the more she could tell that he had prepared it without a single flaw.

“So, did I come from another world?”

…It was the story of Bella coming from the animal kingdom to the human world and then adopting her because she resembled the missing daughter who disappeared when she was a child.

Thinking about it, it was straight on the bullseye.

Jenkins listened carefully to Kiehl’s story and then nodded his head.

“Indeed. That’s more than just fine, isn’t it groundbreaking? Generally, you wouldn’t adopt someone who has no advantage just because they look like someone—A grown adult, too.”

Bella also agreed with Jenkins.

If Duchy Cruell made a girl from another world on their side…

‘Their position will definitely be wider.’

However, somehow it didn’t make sense. Was moving worlds that easy? Why wouldn’t anyone think it’s weird…?

“I came from another world… Who would believe that? Wouldn’t they rather call it a scam?”

“The first Emperor was also from another world.”

Bella opened her eyes wide and touched the nape of her neck awkwardly.

“…Ah, really?”

She realized again that the worldview she encountered in the novel was bigger in reality.

“Miss, do you not know the history of the human world at all?”

“How do I know that?”

As Bella answered bluntly, Jenkins asked, questioning.

“Don’t you know the story of the first Emperor?”

“I don’t know.”

Jenkins, who got admired as he listened to Kiehl’s story, was surprised once more that Bella didn’t know the history of this place more than he thought.

‘She also has things she doesn’t know.’

He sometimes thought that Bella was mature and knew a lot more.

“You’re not actually a smart person.”

…And, he made the mistake of putting his thoughts out of his mouth.

“Ah…”

In an instant, the atmosphere grew cold, and Bella glanced at Jenkins up and down as she crossed her legs and her arms.

“Are you worthy of living these days?”

Jenkins felt her smile more grim than before she somehow returned to the underworld. As Bella stroked Pur, she asked Kiehl.

“But, if I go as the adopted daughter, what will our Pur do?”

Even though she said in regret, inside, she was screaming for joy. It must have been because her cell phone was locked by Pur, though being by her side, Pur would only be a hindrance rather than a help.

Then Kiehl said calmly.

“You can say that Pur too came from another world with Bella.”

She was trying to get rid of Pur, but unexpectedly, Kiehl’s seemed to have thought about that as well.

“Rather, Pur would be evidence.”

All the answers were as if they had been on standby.

‘He’s really thorough…’

…It didn’t seem like all of this would happen overnight.

* * *

Even though it had only been a few days since the decision was made, it went smoothly with Cruell as if it had already been talked about.

And, Bella decided to stay in Cruelle for the time being.

“It’s pretty far. It takes a week by carriage.”

Cruel’s hometown was in Daisy, the city where the summer festival had been held before.

“There is a separate building in the capital, so you will stay there later. It’s your first meeting, so let’s go to the main house and say hello.”

“How about summoning the lady when we arrive?”

Unfortunately, her power has not yet returned. Her wounds that should have been healed were recovering, though it had been very slow. When she arrived at Cruelle, it was unclear whether she could be summoned.

More importantly, to ride a carriage for a week.

“I don’t want to suffer alone, so let’s all go together.”

Bella, before she went to the underworld, had traveled for quite a long time, and Kiehl did the same, so they were not unfamiliar with her journey after a long time. Meanwhile, Iwer and Pur set out to be the coachmen again, and the twins each rode a horse and escorted the carriage.

“It’s going to be crowded.”

In the carriage, Jenkins and the fairly large Zanbar rode.

“Why don’t you just ride a horse too?”

“Why am I riding such a beast?”

“Ugh…”

Bella clicked her tongue, and Kiehl smiled as if he missed it.

“It’s been a long time since the two of us rode a carriage.”

“It’s the four of us, Young Master.”

However, Bella and Kiehl talked while ignoring Jenkins’ words.

“On our first carriage trip, we got attacked by bandits on a carriage. Wasn’t it?”

They all recalled as if they had gone back to the past.

“It was scorching when we went to the summer festival.”

“I don’t know why Iwer wants to be the coachman every time.”

“She said that was the sexiest thing.”

They were taking out memories one by one and having pleasant conversations. Just like a long time ago, Iwer’s familiar scream was suddenly heard from the coachman’s seat.

“Kyaa!”

With a single thump, Kiehl fell and was sitting on the floor.

…This happened before.

Of course at that time, Jenkins slammed into Bella’s stomach.

“Is everyone okay?”

The carriage overturned quickly, and when Bella opened her eyes, she was already in Kiehl’s arms.

“Oh, my… Are you two…kissing now?”

And, something she never wanted was happening right before her eyes.

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