chapter 08
I hurriedly stepped back.
Then I pushed away the palm that was trying to erase my memory.
Or more precisely, I tried to push it away.
Had it not been for the intense blue spark that flared so brightly the moment my fingers touched his palm, I might’ve succeeded.
“Kyah!”
A short scream burst from my lips.
“W-What is this…?”
I looked between my fingers and the man’s palm, then turned my gaze to him.
‘Huh…?’
And what I saw was an unexpectedly surprised expression.
On the man’s previously cold and impassive face, an unmistakable wave of emotion had appeared.
A mix of shock and confusion.
‘Was he that surprised?’
I was curious, but more than that, I needed to get away.
If I didn’t want my memory forcibly erased, I had to escape—fast.
I began to slowly pull my fingers back, but the man grabbed my hand at lightning speed.
“Pardon me for a moment.”
I didn’t even have time to refuse.
Caught off guard by the sudden contact, I couldn’t say a word, only mouthed soundlessly.
The sensation of our skin touching was strangely unfamiliar.
‘This feels…weird.’
But even weirder was that—despite holding hands with a stranger—it didn’t feel unpleasant.
I looked down at the hand that was holding mine.
And then I saw something astonishing.
A blue energy, like shimmering heat waves, flowed out from me and was absorbed into the man through our clasped hands.
‘What is this?’
I stole a glance at him.
“Haa…”
He had his eyes half-closed, as if savoring something.
I could see his long black lashes gently tremble as his gaze dipped downward.
Even after the shimmering blue flow subsided, he didn’t let go of my hand for a long time.
Not that I minded. It wasn’t unpleasant… but still—
Holding hands with him felt incredibly strange.
It was a sensation I’d never felt before.
I waited for a long while, then finally couldn’t bear it any longer and called out to him.
“Excuse me.”
Only then did his eyelids slowly lift.
“Would you mind letting go of my hand?”
“Ah.”
He finally released me.
Slowly, like someone reluctant to let go.
“My apologies.”
“It’s fine.”
I quickly tucked my now-free hand inside my cloak and replied graciously.
Making sure he wouldn’t realize it was the first time I’d ever held hands with a man—or that I was flustered because of it.
But the act didn’t last long.
Because he kept staring at me. So intently.
Feeling my face slowly heat up, I asked awkwardly:
“Is there something on my face?”
But the answer I got was completely unexpected.
“Now I understand.”
“What do you mean…?”
I was taken aback, and the man gave a short laugh.
Then his thin red lips—like ones dipped in cherries—opened.
And then he said:
“You were the target.”
The words that followed were something I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams.
The target? Me?
“Someone’s trying to kill me?”
Sure, I knew Karinne was after me.
But how did he, a man I just met, know I was in danger?
At my reaction, he furrowed his brow and muttered,
“Don’t tell me you really don’t know anything?”
Clicking his tongue in disbelief, he asked,
“Then do you at least know you’re an Ephure?”
My eyes widened.
“How do you know that?”
Instead of answering, he asked me another question.
“How long has it been since your awakening?”
“I found out yesterday, so… about a day?”
“Figures.”
The look he gave me then was as if he were gazing upon the most pitiful thing in the world.
It made me bristle.
I forgot all about how intimidating he seemed a moment ago.
This was only my second day after possessing this body.
I’d been fighting to survive without even having time to understand this world, or the previous Olivia’s life.
I couldn’t even distinguish friend from foe, and so I kept doubting and refusing to trust anyone.
Only someone who’s experienced it would understand how sad and unfair that feels.
A sharp, bitter reply escaped me.
“Could you try explaining things more kindly?”
“Was there a problem with what I said?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You keep throwing things at me without context—how am I supposed to understand that?”
“……”
He closed his mouth. The atmosphere instantly turned cold and tense.
And that’s when I finally remembered—the same man who had just mercilessly sliced through monstrous creatures without hesitation.
‘I’m insane.’
Here I was, in a situation where I should be gaining allies, and instead I picked a fight.
Realizing just how badly I’d messed up, I bit the inside of my lip discreetly.
‘He’s going to get angry…’
Between his narrowed eyes, the deep red irises remained calm.
As I anxiously gauged his reaction in the silence, he suddenly spoke.
“My apologies.”
The unexpected apology took me by surprise.
“Pardon?”
“My explanation was lacking. I’m sorry for being disrespectful to you.”
When a strong opponent offers you a truce, you take it before it’s too late.
I blinked, then quickly nodded.
He responded with a formal bow.
“My name is Lennox Cravant.”
“What?”
“I’m the head of House Cravant.”
In that instant, my vision went dark and a cold sweat trickled down my back.
“Don’t tell me…”
The man’s perfectly-shaped lips curved into a graceful arc.
It was clearly a gentle smile—but to me, it didn’t look genuine at all.
“D-Duke Cravant?”
I felt my lower eyelid twitch uncontrollably.
And, as always, my ominous hunch was never wrong.
“Thank you for recognizing me.”
“Mmmp!”
I hurriedly slapped both hands over my mouth to muffle the scream.
Now I understood.
Why he had been so effortlessly arrogant this entire time.
Lennox Cravant.
An extra in The Lady of Reversal, who appeared only briefly—but I remembered him clearly.
Despite being a minor character, he left a huge impression.
The Duke of House Cravant—the only founding noble house in the Empire.
House Cravant had saved the Barkhan Kingdom from collapse, and played a major role in establishing the current Empire.
‘Which is why they enjoy privileges second only to the royal family.’
In short, there was no one in this land whom the Duke of Cravant had to bow to.
‘Even the Emperor can’t order him around.’
I swallowed dryly, my thoughts racing.
But the conclusion I came to did not favor me at all.
In the Barkhan Empire, where social status rules all, who would win between a Duke and a mere daughter of a Viscount family with no title?
I deeply regretted snapping at him earlier.
If the Duke bore a grudge, my life would certainly become a nightmare.
Just remembering his inhuman swordsmanship gave me chills.
‘I should’ve just held it in.’
I must’ve lost my mind for a moment.
“I believe I’ve introduced myself. Now, may I know your name?”
Even at that moment, his ridiculously pleasant voice rang clearly in my ears.
‘Pretending not to hear him probably won’t work.’
I glanced behind him. I tried to estimate the distance I’d need to escape, but gave up almost immediately.
Based on how fast he’d moved earlier, I’d be caught before I took two steps.
‘Then…’
What I needed now was a swift change in attitude.
I forced up the corners of my trembling lips into a businesslike smile.
I didn’t forget to raise the tone of my voice as I said:
“It’s an honor to meet you, Duke Cravant. I’m Olivia Brien, second daughter of House Brien.”
* * *
Fortunately, the Duke was a reasonable man, and I avoided being beheaded for disrespect.
‘At least the crisis is over…’
Now, I needed to find out how Lennox knew about my situation.
That word he used—target.
‘If Lennox knows Karinne is trying to kill me…’
Then I couldn’t trust him.
In the novel, Karinne’s plan to eliminate Olivia and be revealed as the true protagonist comes at the very end.
The final chapter, in fact.
So for someone to already know about it at this point…
‘…could only mean they’re an accomplice.’
Of course, there was a second possibility.
That there’s a third force besides Karinne trying to eliminate me.
If that were true, things would become even more complicated.
It would mean even more enemies to deal with.
I carefully gathered my thoughts, then asked,
“Your Grace, I have a question.”
Lennox snapped his fingers lightly in response.
Instantly, a shimmering dome of multicolored light formed around us.
It looked like a giant soap bubble sliced in half and placed on the ground.
‘A Cravant barrier.’
I recognized it immediately.
It had only been briefly described in the original novel, but I remembered it vividly.
‘The most overwhelming power wielded by the head of House Cravant.’
As if in a trance, I stood and walked to the edge of the barrier.
‘It matches the novel’s description exactly.’
