Chapter 28: The Devil King’s Echo

‘Compared to dying, this bit of hair…’

Bliss quietly stepped away from Caelan as she pondered his words.

Though she needed to respond, maintaining her composure was paramount. She drew several deep breaths, aware that agitation might lead her to say something regrettable.

‘At least Caelan doesn’t know what’s really going on.’

Even though he’d overheard her soliloquy, there wasn’t much he could question her about.

“Are you done?”

“Pardon?”

“Have you finished organizing your thoughts?”

When Caelan extended his hand, Bliss flinched but held her ground. They were in the imperial palace – while their conversation was private, there were still onlookers in the distance.

As her gaze returned to him, she felt his fingers trail slowly across her cheek, brushing past her ear and tracing the space between her neck and collarbone where he’d swept her hair aside.

“Now tell me.”

The gentle touch across her skin had left Bliss momentarily dazed before she regained her senses. The hair he’d smoothed back tickled her shoulder – he had apparently been tidying her disheveled locks.

“I asked because you mentioned needing to find a way to survive.”

Seeing Caelan’s expectant look awaiting her explanation, Bliss took several steadying breaths.

Though he’d only fixed her hair, why did his touch affect her so deeply? Still, she had to admit that Caelan shared some blame for touching her without explanation.

Bliss ran her fingers through the arranged strands, trying to dispel the lingering sensation of his touch.

Still unsettled, she spoke with raw emotion.

“I almost died, you know. Me.”

Caelan’s brow furrowed, that slight change in expression instantly shattering the previous calm atmosphere. She felt a small triumph at having successfully disturbed his composure.

“Who tried to kill you?”

You did.

Though she wanted to say it directly, since nothing had actually occurred, she deflected.

“That’s all I’ll say. Please don’t ask anymore.”

Bliss drew a firm line and turned away from him, secretly releasing a sigh once her back was turned.

When horses neighed in the distance, she looked to see the approaching carriage. As she silently prayed for its swift arrival to end this awkward situation, Caelan came to stand beside her.

“Now I’m really curious.”

She barely restrained herself from looking at him, clasping her hands together as she watched the carriage. Something warned her that meeting his eyes would draw her in.

“Ah.”

The realization that she would have to return with him came belatedly.

***

Upon returning to the Marquis’s residence, Bliss made her way directly to the rose garden.

“Why did I have to say such things…”

She had inadvertently revealed details from the novel to Caelan.

“He’s bound to think I’m strange.”

The original Bliss had been a villain who acted selfishly and tormented her subordinates. Everyone was already bewildered by her changed behavior, and she couldn’t predict what suspicions might now arise in his mind.

“He already thinks I’m different from before, and now I can’t anticipate his next move.”

Though she’d managed to navigate this situation, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t overhear something again. Leaning against a tree, Bliss focused on her breathing to settle her troubled thoughts. As she closed her eyes and inhaled, a sweet fragrance filled her lungs. After several cycles of deep breathing, she felt her composure gradually returning.

Once she had regained some clarity, Bliss approached the table where she had left the dagger. It hummed just as before, though she dismissed as mere imagination the sense that its resonance had grown stronger.

【Now that you’ve left me waiting, have you sorted out your thoughts?】

Bliss sat in the chair, her gaze fixed on the dagger. As she questioned whether this would truly help, the dagger seemed to read her mind and spoke more forcefully.

【You’ve heard rumors about me – I can sense your doubt.】

“Rumors… Yes. I’ve heard rumors and other things. Is ‘Devil King’s Echo’ truly your name?”

【That’s what they call me.】

“So you have a different real name?”

【Yes.】

“What is it?”

Bliss first shared what she had learned from the princess. The dagger, which had been responding readily until then, fell silent. After waiting a while, Bliss sat down and gently tapped the dagger.

【I won’t tell you.】

“Why not?”

She wondered if there was some reason the name couldn’t be spoken. As Bliss tilted her head in confusion, a delayed response came from the dagger.

【That’s not something I’m willing to discuss.】

Though this wasn’t the answer she sought, Bliss looked at the dagger with mild disappointment before changing her approach. After all, learning its name wasn’t crucial at the moment.

“Then I’ll call you Echo.”

【…I’d prefer Devil King.】

Bliss nodded at the dagger’s suggestion to cut off the end of its name if she didn’t like it.

“Alright, so you’re saying you can actually teach me something, Echo?”

She had completely disregarded Echo’s preference. Though Echo seemed displeased when Bliss posed her question, he still acquiesced.

【Yes, if you grant me one favor in return, I’ll help you.】

“Does it have to be right now?”

【Well…】

The dagger hesitated to answer, caught off guard more by her question about timing than the condition itself.

“Is it dangerous? You don’t want my body, do you?”

【What nonsense are you talking about?】

“Like transferring your soul into my body or something like that.”

In novels, demon kings typically granted wishes in exchange for souls, only to collect them when people died.

【Ridiculous. Why would I want a useless soul? I have no interest in consuming your body.】

“Then that’s fine.”

Bliss tapped the ruby, the dagger’s sole decoration.

“I’ll accept your condition, but help me first.”

Though she didn’t know what condition would be set, Bliss was willing to accept Echo’s terms. Since it wouldn’t involve taking her body, she saw no reason to refuse. After all, she hadn’t even chosen to inhabit this body herself.

“But what kind of knowledge are you planning to share?”

【I’ll draw out your hidden talents.】

“Do I even have any?”

Bliss looked down at her hands. She had been raised as a pampered lady, always waited upon by others. Even after marriage, she had lived an idle life without accomplishing much. She wondered if she had any talents left to develop.

“It’s not something like having an eye for trends or ways to carelessly spend money, right?”

She thought about what the original Bliss had been good at, but such things couldn’t possibly be considered talents. Besides, her current self couldn’t even manage those.

【Can you think of nothing but useless things?】

At times like this, she was grateful Echo wasn’t human. At least she couldn’t see his contemptuous expression. After a moment’s thought, Bliss shook her head.

“To be honest, nothing comes to mind. Should we try learning everything one by one starting today?”

Since Echo had said he chose her because she ‘needed knowledge,’ taking this opportunity to study didn’t seem like a bad idea.

When Bliss asked his opinion, Echo rejected it outright.

【I’ll handle that myself.】

“You should have said that from the start.”

Bliss tried to hide her embarrassment, realizing she had worried unnecessarily.

“Then what should I do? Just stay still?”

【You must keep me with you at all times.】

Since it wasn’t a difficult request, Bliss gave a small nod and stood up. It was time to return. She turned to leave, remembering Jackie would be waiting, then turned back toward the table to pick up Echo.

“I’ll keep you with me from now on.”

Making a mental note to create a suitable pocket or belt for carrying the dagger, Bliss left the rose garden. As she walked her usual path, she glanced down at the dagger.

She realized she wasn’t alone anymore. Though Jackie was there, the maid often became flustered and timid whenever Bliss spoke to her, making conversations difficult. But it was different with the dagger as her companion.

“I saw various metals today.”

Bliss spoke whatever came to mind. Her meeting with Princess Jasmin had clearly left the strongest impression, as that story emerged first.

“She said some were made into swords, but most weren’t touched.”

【Unprocessed metal is no different from a mere stone.】

“That’s right. That’s why I’m more curious.”

Bliss recounted her discussion with Princess Jasmin, much like how the princess had shared her concerns with her.

【You worry about such trivial things.】

Unlike Bliss who simply listened, Echo made no effort to hide his disdain.

【Why only think about making swords? You could make needles too.】

Bliss stopped walking and looked down at Echo.

“What difference would making needles make?”

【You’d have to make them and experiment to find out.】

“That doesn’t necessarily have to be with needles…”

Bliss was about to say such experiments could be done with swords too, but she closed her mouth.

“You’re right. Why didn’t I think of that?”

Feeling she had received unexpectedly valuable insight, Bliss hugged the dagger to her chest.

“Let’s go to the imperial palace together tomorrow.”

Her heart swelled with anticipation, certain that tomorrow would be even better than today.