<Chapter 83>
“Viscount Khodchen has gone mad? What are you talking about?”
“Haven’t you heard? He’s been going to the Great Temple for days now, searching for his daughter.”
“His daughter? But… wasn’t she declared dead? I even heard they held a modest funeral for her.”
“Exactly. But apparently, on the night of the funeral, he had a dream. In it, God appeared and said He was so moved by the Viscount’s love for his daughter that He decided to bring her back.”
“What? That’s absurd! It sounds like a ridiculous dream.”
“Exactly why people say he’s lost his mind. The temple priests are at their wit’s end. No matter how many times they chase him away, he comes back, insisting his daughter is there and demanding they return her.”
The rumor spread like wildfire. Crowds gathered at the Great Temple, eager to catch a glimpse of the viscount’s madness.
And then, as if orchestrated by fate itself, the scene everyone had been waiting for unfolded.
“Father, it’s me. I’m back.”
“…Fiona? Is it really you, Fiona?”
“Yes. God took pity on me and brought me back. Let’s go home, Father.”
“Fiona! Oh, God above, thank You! Thank You!”
There stood Fiona, smiling serenely, embraced by the weeping Viscount Khodchen.
Onlookers stared, unable to hide their shock.
“Who is that woman? Is she really the viscount’s daughter? Did she truly come back to life?”
“This makes no sense! People don’t just come back from the dead.”
“Could it be that she wasn’t actually dead…?”
Speculation rippled through the crowd until someone uncovered the truth and spread it.
“She’s a fake. The viscountess apparently bought a magical disguise artifact from the Mage Tower.”
“Ah… I see. So she’s not really his daughter.”
“Exactly. They say she hired an actress to bring her husband back home.”
The magical disguise artifact from the Mage Tower required detailed registration of whose appearance it would mimic, to prevent misuse.
News had already spread that the viscountess purchased an artifact mimicking her late daughter’s likeness. People initially assumed it was for sentimental reasons, like creating a keepsake. No one anticipated she’d use it to lure her unhinged husband back home, leaving everyone shocked.
“So the rumors about Viscount Khodchen losing his mind were true after all…”
“But look at him. Isn’t he smiling? Maybe he feels happy, even if it’s just an illusion of being reunited with his daughter.”
“Still, how long can he cling to the shadow of someone who’s gone?”
“He was once expected to rise to the position of Captain of the First Imperial Knights… What a tragedy for someone with such a bright future ahead.”
People gossiped about the viscount’s downfall with a mix of pity and fascination, and naturally, attention toward House Khodchen grew. Every incident there spread like wildfire.
Stories emerged that Viscount Khodchen built a private chapel to pray every morning, thanking God for returning his daughter—even though no priest was there to receive his prayers.
The actress, initially intending to leave after two days, reportedly extended her contract under the viscount’s relentless insistence that his daughter couldn’t disappear.
Servants within the viscount’s estate had begun addressing the actress as “Miss” and treating her like the real Fiona Khodchen. Rumor even had it that the viscountess reinstated Fiona Khodchen’s official status in the family registry.
These shocking developments eventually caught the Emperor’s attention.
“An actress, you say? Nonsense! That woman is definitely the viscount’s real daughter. Arrest her immediately!”
Under the Emperor’s orders, imperial knights stormed House Khodchen.
“Fiona Khodchen! You are hereby charged with defying imperial orders. Come with us quietly or—”
“Aaaagh!”
“You fools! Who dares take my daughter from me?”
“Kyaaah! I’m not the viscount’s daughter! I’m just an actress hired to play a role!”
Viscount Khodchen drew his sword, threatening to kill anyone who tried to take Fiona.
In the chaos, the actress yanked off the ring on her finger and threw it to the ground.
Instantly, the likeness of Fiona, who bore a perfect blend of the viscount and viscountess’s features, disappeared. In her place stood a young woman with dark hair and eyes—someone entirely different.
At the sight, Viscount Khodchen collapsed into hysteria.
“Fiona! Fionaaaaa!”
“Please, calm down, Viscount Khodchen!”
“My daughter! Where is my daughter? Bring her back to me! Now!”
As the viscount spiraled into madness, the imperial knights signaled the Mage Tower wizard accompanying them. The trembling mage examined both the actress and the discarded ring.
“Yes, this is indeed the artifact the viscountess purchased from the Mage Tower. This is the actress’s true appearance.”
“I was only hired to play the viscount’s daughter! If I’d known this would happen, I never would’ve agreed! Let me go home!”
“W-wait a moment! What about the penalty for breaking your contract?”
“That was before I knew I might be arrested by imperial knights! Knights, please, hear me out! Isn’t it fraud to withhold such critical information? Arrest them instead!”
“Uh… such personal disputes aren’t really within our purview…”
“You kidnappers! Where’s my daughter? Bring her back right now!”
The chaos escalated further.
But the biggest issue remained: the true criminal wasn’t even present.
“Commander, we should withdraw for now.”
“Yes… That would be best.”
The knights had come under the pretext of capturing Fiona Khodchen for defying an imperial order. But now that she’d been proven a fake, staying any longer would only worsen the situation.
“And what about Viscount Khodchen? Several of our knights were injured.”
Technically, they had grounds to arrest him for attacking imperial knights. However, half the knights present were parents themselves. Witnessing the viscount’s grief and desperation, they couldn’t help but sympathize.
Moreover, the viscount had devoted decades to protecting the capital as an imperial knight.
“…This was all a misunderstanding. Let’s quietly withdraw.”
Out of respect for their former comrade, the imperial knights left without holding the viscount accountable.
Naturally, the story spread throughout the capital like wildfire.
Rumors claimed the actress had tried to quit but was persuaded to stay with a hefty sum. They also said the viscount wept tears of relief when he saw her again.
Public opinion began to shift.
“The Emperor went too far this time.”
“Sure, His Majesty had reason to suspect. But sending imperial knights without trying a gentler approach first?”
“Exactly. House Khodchen has always been loyal to the crown. And Viscount Khodchen has served the imperial knights for decades. Shouldn’t his service be taken into account?”
Angered by public sentiment, the Emperor roared, “I’m telling you, the real Fiona Khodchen is hiding in that estate! She must be there somewhere!”
And he was right.
When the imperial knights first raided the viscount’s estate, Fiona had hidden in the underground cellar, forewarned of their arrival.
When the knights returned under imperial orders, Fiona stood behind her father, finally revealing herself.
“No one will lay a hand on my daughter!”
Viscount Khodchen drew his sword, shielding the real Fiona with unwavering determination.
Meanwhile, the knights ignored the obvious truth before their eyes and continued to search the estate, leaving the true Fiona untouched.
<To be continued>
Brought to you by Gourmet Scans
Translator: Japchae
Editor: Maize
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