Chapter 55: Give Erika Back to Me
With a gentle smile, Otilia slowly rose and took a packaged bag from the nightstand, filled with various types of fruit.
“Would you like some, Erika?”
Erika gave a blank stare. When it came to meat, she had zero resistance—but she could hold herself back with fruit. She reached out with her little hand but then felt it might be inappropriate and drew it back.
“Don’t want any?”
Otilia held a grape in front of her and shook it slightly.
How could she resist that?
Erika struggled to suppress her appetite and asked quietly:
“Is there… illusion magic in it?”
“Illusion magic?”
Otilia frowned slightly. “To lace food with illusion magic is not only despicable but a disgrace to the food itself. I wouldn’t do something like that.”
“Oh… then… just one. I’ll eat just one.”
She couldn’t hold back.
Erika took the grape and popped it into her mouth. The sweet fruity flavor burst out instantly, and the tension she’d been holding finally relaxed.
Watching Erika smile while eating fruit, Otilia’s expression softened. She said gently, “You can eat slowly. They’re all yours.”
“Thank you.”
Thanking while eating was standard Erika behavior.
“Why did you ask if there was illusion magic in it earlier?”
Otilia was curious. Normally people wouldn’t ask such a question.
“Because… Isana gave me food with illusion magic earlier.”
“Isana?”
Otilia’s brows furrowed further. “You’re Isana’s friend, right, Erika?
That tactless crazy girl—how could she do such a thing to her friend?”
“I’m fine. Isana gave me so much to eat, I’m not mad. Illusion magic doesn’t seem to work on me anyway.” Erika’s face still showed a smile.
“That’s not the point. Her behavior was simply awful.”
Otilia’s expression turned serious. It seemed her relationship with Isana wasn’t exactly close.
“By the way, Erika, may I ask why you came to the Imperial Capital?”
Erika froze at the question.
Of course, it was to help the Dragon Core Crystal inside her fuse more quickly—and to find the one that truly belonged to her.
But that wasn’t something she could say.
“Don’t want to answer?”
Seeing Erika’s silence, Otilia asked, “Or is it that you don’t know what to say?”
“Both.”
“Are you happy in the capital? How are people treating you?”
Not understanding why the other woman kept asking, Erika tilted her head. “I’m fine. Everything at the Academy is pretty good.”
“As long as you’re happy.”
“Why are you asking me all these things?”
Looking at Otilia, Erika asked in return, “Is it because I look like Viviana?”
“Mm.”
Not hiding it, Otilia spoke her heart. “According to rumors, a fire a year ago took the lives of the entire household of the Duke of Night, including Viviana.
I was heartbroken—I liked that sweet girl very much. If only she were still alive…”
As she spoke, Otilia’s gaze locked onto Erika, as if she were speaking directly to her.
“The fire—was it an accident?”
“No.”
Otilia shook her head. “Though it was called an accident, that’s just to fool the ignorant.
This is Kaslania—disasters aren’t exactly common.
And how could a simple fire possibly kill the Duke of Night?”
“So… you don’t know either?”
“I will know.”
Otilia said firmly, “My father, the Duke of Daylight, and the Duke of Night were known as the Twin Stars of the Empire. Our move from Southern County to the capital this time was to get to the bottom of this.”
“I see.”
Erika nodded. She had just asked out of curiosity. After all, that girl who looked like her shouldn’t have anything to do with her—she popped out of an eggshell, after all.
“Erika, can I ask you a favor?”
“What is it?”
“My father will be hosting a banquet at our home soon. By then, may I invite you to attend?”
“Ah? That…”
Erika knew very well what noble banquets were like—just a bunch of flattery and politicking. She didn’t like that kind of thing and had no intention of cozying up to any nobles. She grew curious why Otilia would invite her.
“I want to give my father a surprise.”
Otilia seemed to have seen through Erika’s thoughts and revealed her purpose.
“Many royal nobles from the Aarlan Empire will attend. If you appear, it’ll be a huge surprise for the banquet.”
“Just because I look like Viviana?”
“Mm. Think about it—if the deceased daughter of the Duke of Night showed up at a banquet, how shocked would those royal nobles be?
And… I’m looking forward to seeing the faces of those who spread the false rumors when they see you.”
False rumors? She meant the fire that burned down the Duke of Night’s estate?
Erika thought it over.
Was Otilia planning to have her impersonate Viviana to uncover the truth behind the fire?
But what would Erika gain from it?
She hesitated.
“You said earlier that Viviana was older than me, right? How could I pose as her? It wouldn’t work.”
“It would.”
Smiling softly, Otilia explained, “Viviana was the Duke of Night’s daughter, but she was a nobody in the capital. She barely had any friends and never mingled with the royal court.
Most of the time, the nobles had only caught a glimpse of her from afar.
Think about it—even I mistook you for Viviana at first glance. So what about those nobles?”
“But… that has nothing to do with me.”
Erika’s face darkened. She was not happy. Eating two pieces of fruit didn’t mean she was willing to impersonate a dead person and deceive a bunch of nobles.
“You’ll be rewarded.”
As she said this, Otilia reached out to pat Erika’s head.
But Erika didn’t like anyone touching her head—except Gladys—so she dodged instinctively, leaving Otilia slightly awkward.
“Here’s the deal, Erika. You just need to show up at the banquet. You won’t need to say anything.
After it’s over, I’ll reward you.”
“What kind of reward?”
“Anything you want—so long as I can provide it.”
Upon hearing that, Erika thought for a moment.
The other girl was Isana’s sister—also a duke’s daughter. Her family must be loaded...
While she was indeed short on money, impersonating a dead person just for some cash and lying to the royal court… that was a pretty big risk.
“No need to decide right away.”
Otilia smiled. “The banquet will be held in about half a month. If you decide, the Elfreid estate is always open to you.”
“Alright, I’ll think about it…”
Bang!
At that moment, the door to Otilia’s room was suddenly kicked open from the outside.
The loud sound startled both of them, and they turned their eyes toward the door.
There stood Isana, brows furrowed, glaring fiercely at Otilia with a face full of fury.
“Kicking doors isn’t a good habit, Isana.”
“You’re one to talk!”
Isana glared at her, then shouted loudly from her little mouth…
“Give Erika back to me——!!!”