Chapter 30. Reunion (2)

“How did you know that I was Ailexia? I remember we had plans to publish the novel. It could have been someone else who read your novel.”

“…I didn’t.”

For a moment, darkness fell over Vanessa’s face. Her voice, which had been raised in joy, sank into gloom.

“After you died, I couldn’t do anything. All those plans were, of course, canceled. Anyway, I hadn’t sent the manuscript yet, and we were still deciding whether to publish it through our company’s affiliate publisher, so it wasn’t hard to cancel.”

“……”

“For a long time, I just gathered all the memories of you and me and looked at them. I couldn’t let you go. Then, after hearing from the bald goblin grandpa and Dad, asking if I would continue living like that, they said you wouldn’t want that, so I finally came to my senses.”

Vanessa, recalling the shock and emotions of that time, gave Iella a bittersweet smile and held her hand tightly, as if not wanting to lose her.

“I kept our memories together carefully, so only you and I know about the novel. I even asked to have it burned with me when I died.”

“Before you died?”

“Oh, I guess I worked too much. I got sick again before even becoming an old lady. You remember the disease I was declared cured of when I was young? Turns out it’s rare, but it can relapse. But hey, I had a family, raised my kids to adulthood, so I guess it wasn’t so bad.”

Vanessa scratched her cheek with an awkward smile. Iella, looking at her face, hugged her.

She vividly remembered how happy her friend had been when she was told she was cured, full of passion for life. And then, the disease relapsed, and she eventually died. She couldn’t fathom what her friend felt in her final moments.

“I’m okay. I lived enough. Besides, what’s the point of living as an old lady without you? There’s no one to play with.”

Vanessa, sensing her feelings, embraced Iella with a nonchalant voice. It wasn’t a lie, as she had indeed faced death with that thought. She even felt relieved that she could avenge Ira’s death before her own.

“And if we’re counting, you should be more regretful. You had just turned twenty, a fresh young adult.”

“I haven’t remembered my past life for long, so I don’t feel much about it. And that was an accident… ugh.”

As Iella, recalling her death, clutched her head, a sudden sharp pain pierced her skull like it was pricked with a needle. Her vision wavered, and she felt nauseous.

“Ira!”

Vanessa hurriedly checked her condition. Thankfully, the pain subsided as Iella took deep breaths to calm herself. She exhaled deeply, receiving Vanessa’s hand wiping the cold sweat off her forehead.

“I definitely need to return to my original body soon.”

“Have you often had these episodes since entering Ailexia’s body?”

“Not often, only occasionally. But it didn’t feel like this, and it wasn’t this intense.”

Iella shook her head and stood up. She poured water from a bottle on the table into a glass and drank to soothe her throat.

“Even without the pain, the situation isn’t easy. Too many people have encountered me in Ailexia’s body. From Aster to the original male lead, the Grand Duke, and even the Emperor today. Just as you noticed something strange, there’s no guarantee they won’t. Anything could happen.”

After finishing one glass of water, Iella refilled it and handed it to Vanessa. She figured Vanessa’s throat must be sore and dehydrated after shedding so many tears.

Vanessa accepted the glass readily, and Iella sat beside her, continuing to speak. Vanessa took a sip of water.

“From what I’ve gathered, it seems a ‘soul exchange’ has occurred. The only part torn from the book was that section, and considering I returned to my original body recently…”

“Pfft!”

Vanessa suddenly spat out the water she was drinking. Startled, Iella widened her eyes and patted her back as she coughed.

“Cough, you, you went back?”

“Yes. It was only for a moment, but it definitely happened. Before that, I even saw someone in the auction house who looked like me. If it’s a soul exchange, that person must be Ailexia. Considering what the innkeeper said when I returned to my body, it seems right.”

“……”

Vanessa’s golden eyes reflected a complex mix of emotions.

Iella fully understood those feelings. If she hadn’t seen that part of the book, she would have been just as confused. She would have been clueless about what was happening even if she saw her own body.

“Who is your original body?”

“Iella Shua. The only daughter of Viscount Shua.”

“Viscount Shua… I think I’ve heard of it vaguely once.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I don’t remember when, but I might have heard it in passing.”

Iella found it fascinating. She assumed Vanessa wouldn’t know her family since they were a minor noble house despite holding a title.

Maybe it’s because she’s the creator, Iella thought, recalling an odd point.

‘How can I talk to Vanessa?’

She failed to reveal her identity to Aster, but now she was speaking freely. Why? Was it because Vanessa was the creator? Or because Vanessa had already realized that she wasn’t the real Ailexia?

Just as Iella was about to mention this, Vanessa, lost in thought, spoke first. Iella decided to hold off on her question.

“I’ll look for a solution first. Actually, I know how to deal with sorcery. You might have seen it in the secret passage.”

“Can you fully handle it?”

“Yes. After entering this body, I grew up in the sorcerer’s forest and then left. I’ll tell you more about it later. But if it’s really a soul exchange, we need to find Ailexia in your body first. In a soul exchange, both subjects are involved.”

“Why?”

“There are two ways to break the sorcery. Either cast a new spell over it to nullify the original or directly undo the existing sorcery. But both require accurate identification of the subjects. At least their location. Do you have any idea where she might be?”

Iella thought back. But she didn’t even know the name of the inn where she had woken up in her original body. Even if it was somewhere within the Empire, the range was too broad to find easily.

“No. The only place that comes to mind is the illegal auction house where I encountered her, but since the basement caught fire, they’ll change the location for the next auction.”

“Then we’ll have to search the entire Empire…”

“Ailexia doesn’t have the manpower for that.”

Vanessa waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s not just about the manpower. If Ailexia does that, it’ll be a big deal. Imagine if the Emperor or the Grand Duke hears about it. Things will get complicated.”

“Then what should we do?”

“There’s a way.”

Vanessa stood up and puffed out her chest, looking at Iella with a confident expression.

“Do you trust your sister?”

Iella couldn’t help but laugh. For the first time since entering Ailexia’s body, she felt her heart calm. The presence of her friend alone dissolved all the unsettling and dark emotions that had gripped her.

“I’m glad I met you.”

Vanessa blushed and cleared her throat at the heartfelt words. She was still embarrassed by straightforward honesty, just like in their past life.

“Ahem, I have someone who can help with the search. I’ll put in a request. But it might take a while since they’re hard to meet these days. So, in the meantime…”

Vanessa trailed off, her serious and resolute face returning as she explained. She paused briefly before continuing, having made up her mind.

“There’s something you need to do until then.”

“What is it?”

“Pretend to be Ailexia as much as possible. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing.”

Iella hesitated. She had expected it might take some time, but…

“Don’t worry. No one is closer to Ailexia than me, so staying in the secondary palace should be fine. I can also help you prepare for meeting others. I’m the creator, remember? I can make it more perfect.”

When Iella remained silent, Vanessa tried to persuade her with various reasons. None of them were wrong. With Vanessa’s help, who had observed Ailexia closely, it might be manageable until they found her whereabouts.

“Allen will be fine too. No one knows the character better than the creator.”

“……”

“I’ll find her whereabouts and a way to return as soon as possible. Trust me.”

Vanessa’s confident eyes were filled with determination, dispelling Iella’s last bit of anxiety. However, instead of nodding, Iella recalled a particularly troubling situation.

“I’m not worried about anything else. But… do you remember the recent night I spent with Allen?”

“Night spent? Recently… Ah!”

Vanessa, trying to recall, suddenly exclaimed as she remembered.

One early morning, on her way to help Ailexia wash up, she had seen Allen leaving the bedroom. He had a rather grim expression.

Despite the distance, she could clearly see the wrinkles on his shirt, the hastily buttoned shirt revealing glimpses of skin, and the long scratches like nail marks. He looked like he had spent a passionate night.

‘That time…’

Vanessa, estimating the date, froze. It was shortly after the day Iella said she entered Ailexia’s body. Which means…

“Did you… sleep with him?”

Iella nodded quietly, then quickly shook her head.

“But I don’t remember anything. I heard an unknown voice, my consciousness blurred, and I only realized it the next morning when I saw him lying next to me!”

“……”

“You have no idea how troubled I was… I’m worried it might happen again…”

“Ira, I mean, Iella.”

Vanessa, listening to Iella’s somewhat defensive explanation with a flushed face, gently held her shoulders. Her golden eyes gleamed with realization.

Iella, seeing her serious expression, swallowed nervously. She had a feeling Vanessa was about to say something important.

Finally, Vanessa spoke.

“Is Allen good in bed?”

“……”

“……”

“…You.”

“Oops. I said the opposite of what I meant.”