I Stole The Duke - Chapter 114

“Eliana… how did you know it was really me?”

He hadn’t expected to see her so soon. Their reunion came far earlier than he’d dared to hope.

“At first, I didn’t. But then he slipped up. That’s when I realized your body had been switched.”

“…I’m so relieved.”

Michalis exhaled, comforted by the warmth of her hand. The Tower Master had acted purely on emotion—too sloppy to cover his tracks. Thankfully, Eliana had been quick and clever enough to catch on.

“Just hang in there, Michal. I’ll get you out soon.”

Letting go of his hand, Eliana opened her pocket and pulled out a small stack of magic cards.

“…Are you really His Grace?”

Joel Terius finally asked, still cautious. Trusting his lady didn’t mean he could trust the prisoner.

“I am.”

“Can you prove it?”

For all Joel knew, this man could be a con artist fooling his lady. And if that were true, it was his job to protect her—even from that.

“Sir Joel. Why is your report delayed?”

Michalis asked the question casually, just as he might have back at the manor.

“…What report?”

“I received the summer edition without issue. But the autumn version is still missing, isn’t it?”

The word autumn hit him like a brick. It was a direct jab at a task he’d been avoiding—‘Flencia’s Top 20 Autumn Date Spots.’ It had been sitting on his desk, untouched.

“Your Grace!”

Joel immediately dropped to one knee. Only the real Duke would know about that.

“And your excuse?”

“I apologize. I’ve been… a bit preoccupied. I’ll finish it before the end of the month.”

“I’ll give you until next month. Now, stand.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

What on earth are they talking about…?

Eliana paused, momentarily distracted from her card search. She had to squint in the low light of the cell.

“Then… who’s in the mansion right now?”

“A fake. He used magic to take my body.”

“…This is worse than I thought.”

Eliana couldn’t even find the words to express how serious this had become.

“Michal, try using this.”

She finally found the card she was looking for and handed it to him.

“Imperial Dispel Magic.”

Michalis, eyes now well adjusted to the darkness, checked the back of the card and spoke the activation phrase without hesitation.

“Eliana…”

“Did it work?”

“No change.”

As expected, the spell had no effect. Dispelling magic wouldn’t break something like this.

“Give me a moment to think.”

Dream, search for ‘Body Change’ magic.

[Search complete.]

Search Term: Body Change
Type: Soul Transfer Magic
Purpose: Immortality
Class: S-
Effect: Transfers one’s soul into a chosen body, allowing for eternal life
Inventor: Karahan

Note 1: If the spell fails, the caster dies instantly.
Note 2: If successful, the soul requires a synchronization period before fully adapting to the body. After full sync, the user gains complete access to the body’s abilities and memories.

Karahan…? Of course it’s you again.

Eliana felt her stomach drop as she read the name on the screen—someone she’d hoped never to encounter again.

This can’t be real… If the spell fails, the caster dies?!

The risk was beyond dangerous. It was terrifying.

“…Michal, maybe we should just run away. Start a quiet life somewhere. Just the two of us.”

The words left her mouth before she even realized she was saying them.

“No.”

“No.”

Both men answered at the exact same time.

“I can’t abandon my duty just because someone took my body.”

From the moment he was born, he’d carried responsibilities—as Duke of the Ascher family, as the commander of the Southern Navy, and as lord of Flencia. There was too much at stake.

“But Michal… you could die trying to get it back. You know that, right?”

“I do.”

His answer was calm. Certain. There wasn’t a hint of fear or hesitation.

“…Alright. If that’s what you’ve decided, Michal… then I’ll help you.”

Since this was Michalis Ascher’s decision, Eliana had no choice but to support it.

“Then… shall we start putting together the escape plan?”

“What’s he doing now?”

“He’s asleep. I gave him the medicine. We need to get you out before he wakes up.”

“If you break out now without a plan, you’ll be hunted down almost immediately.”

If the imposter started exercising the Duke’s power, there wouldn’t be much Joel could do—as a knight bound to serve him in name.

“I agree.”

If the fake started commanding the knight order, Michalis wouldn’t have the strength or authority to oppose him.

“Then we’ll need to draw him out of the capital.”

The synchronization wasn’t complete yet. And even when it was, they couldn’t let the fake have time to learn how to use Michalis’s power and memories.

Dream, run image scan.

Eliana needed to confirm the current sync progress.

[Image scan complete.]

Image Scan Result
Name: Michalis Ascher (Olive)
Age: 27 (17)
Nationality: Wespera Empire
Affiliation: Ascher Dukedom, Southern Navy (Mage Tower)
Height/Weight: 183 cm / 62 kg
Note: Body Change synchronization in progress (Currently 10%)
Full access to the body’s abilities and memories will activate once sync is complete.

Ten percent already? That’s fast…

Wait—what if Olive and Michalis are syncing at different speeds?

Just an hour ago, Olive’s sync had only reached 3%.

Dream, search for the mage Olive.

[Search complete.]

Eliana scrolled to the bottom of the pop-up.

Olive… 4%?

The difference in synchronization speed was clear.

“Michal, what have you been doing while you’ve been locked up?”

Eliana’s tone softened, a hopeful smile returning to her face.

“I’ve been working out. Hard. I wanted to boost my stamina.”

So effort really did matter. The more the body was in use, the faster the soul settled into it.

Then we have to act—within two days at most.

Right now, the fake was resting, which slowed his progress. But once he started moving around again, the sync speed would skyrocket. This was officially a race against time.

“Do you have any ideas on how to lure him out of the capital?”

“I do,” Joel answered. “I have a plan.”

Both Michalis and Eliana turned toward him.

…

“…Alright,” Michalis said at last. “But instead of the beach villa, change the location to the second vineyard in the northwest.”

After listening to Joel’s plan, Michalis gave his approval—though not without making a key adjustment. He didn’t like using Eliana as bait… but it was the most effective way to get the fake out of the city.

“Michal… I’ll see you again soon.”

Eliana pressed three cards into his hand.

“Everything will go according to plan. Don’t worry.”

Michalis met her eyes and gently wrapped his fingers around hers.

“Your Grace, it’s now 17:05. Here—use this to keep time.”

Joel removed his own wristwatch and handed it to Michalis.

“Sir Joel… I’m counting on you to protect my wife.”

The plan meant they would be apart for a little while.

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll protect her with my life.”

“I trust you.”

Michalis watched as Eliana and Joel disappeared into the shadows, their figures slowly swallowed by the darkness.

“…Right.”

He turned toward the flickering fish oil lamp and checked the backs of the cards she had given him—one for stamina recovery, one for teleportation, and one for magic clearing.

“Do I… smell like sweat?”

Michalis Ascher grew a little self-conscious.

One… two…

But the moment passed quickly, and he dropped right into another round of push-ups.

If what Eliana said is true, I need to be able to access this body’s memories as soon as possible.

He needed Olive’s memories—and soon.

I need information on the mage Karahan.

If this green-haired body belonged to Karahan’s disciple, then surely it held clues to the archmage’s weaknesses as well.

And this body… it’s not ordinary, is it?

Ever since Eliana used the Information Interception Spell, Michalis had sensed something strange. Something new. He had felt the delicate ripple of mana when the spell activated—the way it flickered like a thread. And now, he could feel it: mana surging through this body’s heart, overflowing… particles of it floating around him like fine dust in the air.

“What? The sun’s already down? What time is it?”

When Olive opened her eyes, the sky outside the window had already turned black.

What?! It’s already 8 PM?

She glanced at the wall clock, then yanked the bell cord without hesitation.

Cling! Cling! Cling!

The sharp ringing echoed through the hall. That disgusting medicine had done its job. After a long, heavy sleep, the throbbing headache had completely vanished.

“Your Grace, you’re awake?”

“Are you alright, Your Grace?”

In under a minute, Doctor Taineno and Ladis entered the bedroom.

“Ah… yes.”

Olive’s expression stiffened. She was clearly disappointed that the one who came wasn’t the “fairy” she’d hoped for—but just two men.

“How’s the tingling in your hands and feet?”

Taineno asked, watching closely as Olive flexed and uncurled her fingers.

“The headache’s gone, and the numbness is much better than before.”

“Let me check your temperature and pulse quickly… Hm. Both are normal. That’s a relief. You’ll be fit to return to work starting tomorrow.”

Taineno smiled, clearly reassured now that the Duke was stable.

“Then I’ll take my leave. If you experience any more pain, please summon me right away.”

“Understood.”

With that, the doctor left the room promptly.

“……”

Flour-head, why are you still here?

Olive turned her gaze toward Ladis, who was still standing silently at her bedside.

“…What is it?”

“Your Grace! How could you be so reckless?! You should’ve at least informed me! Am I so untrustworthy as your aide? You know better than anyone how precious your life is! How could you—how could you risk yourself like that?!”

Ladis launched into a flurry of scolding, his voice full of emotion.

“…Don’t you ever go home?”

Olive couldn’t help but say what was on her mind.

“I’ve been waiting for you to wake up! How could I possibly leave when Your Grace was lying unconscious?!”

“Alright, alright. You’re dismissed. Go home.”

Apparently, he wasn’t the type to leave work until officially told. Olive waved him off, eager to be rid of him.

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