I Became the Heroine’s Stand-in - Chapter 102

“Help you with what?”

I expected that question. I had already organized the explanation in my head. Since Kardel already knew my identity, there was no need to beat around the bush.

“I’m going to find my sister. I have a place in mind, but I don’t know the exact location. I was wondering if you would go with me.”

Well, it couldn’t be shorter or more concise. I thought I had delivered the message quite easily, but Kardel was currently drowning in confusion.

Should I explain further? But how much am I allowed to say?

“No. You’re a patient.”

A flat refusal dropped in front of me. It was a perfectly clean rejection with no room for negotiation. Feeling discouraged, I tried to persuade him again with a desperate voice. Just as Diana was easier for Kardel to handle than Ersivan, he was far more approachable for her than her husband.

“It has to be now. Once His Grace returns, it will be difficult for me to go out for a while.”

I grew more anxious as I spoke. As I said, if not now, there would be no other chance. If I waited too long, Lillian might return first.

“That only proves your physical condition is poor. You need rest.”

“I’m really fine, so…”

“If it’s that important, you can just go with him. Is there a reason you can’t?”

At Kardel’s sharp point, I bit my lip. The reason Ersivan couldn’t come along? Honestly, there was no logical reason. I was just uneasy. I hated the thought of Ersivan and Lillian meeting. That damn original story, that cursed fatalism—those things kept tripping me up. But I couldn’t voice my worries, and no one would understand them anyway.

“…Please, just help me.”

I closed my eyes tight and spoke again.

‘Both that guy and his wife… everyone.’

Avoiding questions and only saying what they want to say. It was a behavior Kardel had seen so often it was sickening. And it was a behavior he had given in to just as often.

Damn it. Curse them. These wicked people.

Curses he couldn’t say out loud swirled in his mind.

“This is a secret from that guy.”

“Yes.”

“If we get caught, you take all the blame.”

“Of course.”

Despite his inner grumbling, the words coming out of his mouth filled me with joy. At my announcement that I was going to change clothes, Kardel waited by the door. A message from Ersivan arrived on his communication device. It was a general inquiry asking if she was doing well.

<Yeah. She’s fine. Don’t worry and just do your job. Be sure to contact me when you’re on your way.>

He tapped out the lie with great care.

‘What am I doing?’

The two of them had a perfect symbiotic relationship. Kardel solved the problems Ersivan wanted handled in exchange for a massive fee, and Ersivan commissioned tasks he wanted kept secret while paying whatever Kardel asked. It was a win-win, comfortable relationship where no one lost out.

‘Nothing good comes from this turning sour.’

Ersivan was naturally quick-witted, and when it came to his wife, he was practically obsessive. The chances of the two of them pulling off a perfect crime were slim. If they were caught, Ersivan would go easy on Diana, but not on Kardel. Having lied to him and tried to deceive him, Kardel would surely lose his trust. In a strict business relationship, losing trust meant the end of the partnership.

‘Ah, I don’t know, I don’t know!’

Kardel rubbed his face with his hands and shook his head, ruffling his hair.

‘…Please, just help me.’

Still, he couldn’t ignore that look. Not twice.

“Ah, I’m ready.”

Before he could even steel his nerves, Diana popped out. She looked so grateful that her smile toward him had become much softer. Looking into her sparkling eyes, Kardel let out a silent sigh.

“…Fine. So, where is this place?”

Ah, I really don’t know anymore!

Standing in front of the regional gate, Kardel asked again. Instead of answering immediately, Diana looked around first.

Even though it was early, there were many people on the streets. This region in the East had fewer people than the Central region where the capital was, but it was still quite populated. With such a large population, it was well-developed; it truly felt like a city. It was an unfamiliar sight for Diana, who had lived in environments close to nature like the Count’s estate or the Duchy.

It was less cold than Valencia in the North, but visually, it looked as if winter had already arrived. She looked around with sparkling eyes, looking exactly like a tourist.

“Do you have a way to find her?”

Kardel snapped at her as she stood there dazed. Only then did focus return to Diana’s pupils. She pulled a pamphlet from a rack full of advertisements. Conveniently, it was a pamphlet with a map of the East.

Turning to the second page, she found a map of Dolonde, the region they were currently in. Diana took out a pen she had tucked into her coat’s breast pocket. Having no free hand, she popped the cap off with her teeth—a rough habit she had picked up during her days in the slums.

Then, she drew a circle around one spot. It was a village in the north, somewhat far from the gate. She pointed to the neat circle and spoke.

“I suspect she’s here. Periona.”

“Suspect?”

“It hasn’t been verified that Sister is there.”

In truth, even the region wasn’t certain. Lillian had left a useful note saying, “I’ve decided on this place,” but she might have changed her mind on a whim. Or it could be a double-blind device to confuse others, just as Diana had done. Even if Dolonde was the right region, Periona might be the wrong village.

Simply put, nothing was certain. It was enough to make anyone anxious given the pitifully small amount of information.

But…

However, Diana’s inner self was certain. She was not wrong. It wasn’t just a gut feeling fueled by bravado. It was a useful intuition built on the experience of success. Having succeeded once before, her confidence had naturally grown.

“Trust me. The answer will definitely be in here.”

Diana shrugged and led Kardel. Her hand pulling his arm was quite bold. As she walked forward, the wind blew her hair every which way. Her hair, soft as silk and naturally golden, was bound to attract attention even if she didn’t try.

“Are you sure you don’t want to change your appearance today?”

“Pardon?”

“Last time we went to the village secretly, you asked me to change it.”

People’s eyes were already turning toward her. Knowing this would happen, he had suggested a disguise.

“No. Even if there’s a risk, I want to move around in my original form this time. I’m going to the area where my sister lives; wouldn’t I be more likely to run into her acquaintances than someone who knows me? More clues are always better.”

Unable to stop her after such an earnest answer, he had let her have her way. Despite her timid nature, once she set her mind on something, she charged ahead without looking back. Her surprising drive made even Kardel, who had seen many people, shake his head in amazement.

He pulled back on the small hand holding his wrist. Her forward motion faltered as she was tugged back. A light object landed on her head. It was the fedora Kardel had been wearing. The wide brim was enough to cover not only her hair but also part of her face.

“It looks like it’s better to wear this. People who would recognize you will do so regardless, but still.”

“Ah. Thank you.”

Expressing her thanks, Diana pulled the loose hat further down. Since the hat was large, it blocked her vision a bit, but she decided not to complain about his kindness. Fiddling with the brim, she suddenly burst into a laugh. She had thought of someone who wasn’t there.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Just because.”

“It’s not ‘just because.’”

Kardel found it strange and pried, but she kept her mouth shut until the end. If she told him she was thinking of his best friend while looking at him, he would surely be offended.

“Fine, I won’t ask. Anyway, where are you going? You keep dragging me around.”

“I was going to buy train tickets.”

“Train tickets?”

“I can go buy them alone, so you can wait here.”

Diana shrank back instinctively at his annoyed voice. Come to think of it, maybe she didn’t need to bring him along; she wondered if she had overstepped.

“My point was, why bother buying train tickets?”

“…Because we have to take the train to get to Periona?”

Of course, it was a logical action. Even within Dolonde, the distance between the gate and Periona was far. The train was likely the fastest public transport.

“Why waste time when you have my abilities right here?”

“…Ah.”

“Five days isn’t as much as you think.”

He sneered mockingly, his voice sounding a bit like his pride was hurt. He seemed to think she had underestimated his skills by trying to buy train tickets. The distance for a teleportation spell was proportional to the caster’s skill.

It was a ridiculous misunderstanding. Kardel was the one who had moved them from the Duchy to the Temple—the opposite ends of the territory. Why would she think he couldn’t send them a few dozen kilometers?

To be honest, she hadn’t forgotten his abilities. It was just that since she had dragged him along as an ally by being stubborn, she felt awkward demanding his magic so boldly.

“I was just trying to give you a nice train ride, I’m hurt that you misunderstood.”

“…What a way with words.”

“Then let’s save the train trip for later and head to the village first, shall we?”

Since he was volunteering to be a magic slave, there was no reason to refuse. She readily accepted his proposal and stuck close to his side. Having used his services a few times, she had discovered that the pain of transport was less if she stayed close to the caster until the moment of departure.

“Fine. Let’s finish this quickly and then go on that trip.”

Even Kardel, who looked like he was about to lose patience with her playfulness, eventually burst into laughter.

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