Chapter 240 - 3−44
My body finally regained its freedom the moment I was shoved into the dungeon cell.
"Please rest here for a while."
Lute-sama locked the gate with a heavy clatter, offering a gentle, caring smile through the iron bars.
"Let me out!"
"This is for your own safety. Please understand. Neither His Majesty nor I wish to see you harmed." Lute-sama lowered his brows, speaking as if trying to soothe a small child.
"...Lute-sama."
"Yes, what is it?"
"...Is it true? Are you the one who stripped Theodore-sama of his memories?"
"It is true, yes."
A chill ran down my spine at his nonchalant tone. He had stood right beside me, mocking my desperate efforts to restore Theodore-sama's memories all along.
"You said you would help me... What was all that for?"
"It's quite fascinating, really. People will doubt the truth if it comes from someone they don't trust. And yet, they will blindly believe the contents of a book that person happens to possess." Lute-sama tilted his head, seemingly devoid of any guilt. "They won't trust words, but they'll trust an ancient tome. They'll doubt information brought to them, but they'll believe information they 'discovered' themselves. A relationship that could never have existed between just the two of us was suddenly forged simply by creating a common enemy. It's quite the perfect trick, isn't it?"
"...!"
Frustration and anger made me tremble, yet I felt a stinging sense of shame because he was absolutely right. I had fallen for it completely.
"You made the choice. You held the power. You found the information. It was a flawless scenario that left no room for doubt, wouldn't you agree?"
Lute-sama smiled with such pure innocence that it felt like I was facing something inhuman. A cold shiver raced through me.
"By the way, since you are to become His Majesty's consort, I'll share a special secret with you."
"Who would ever—"
My retort was cut short as I met Lute-sama's gray eyes.
"Your body wouldn't move earlier, would it? That is one of my Dragonewt abilities." Lute-sama removed his right glove, revealing a mark on the back of his hand. "My power isn't limited to manipulating memories. My true ability is [Dragonewt Ability: Mental Interference]. I can bend emotions, thoughts, and actions to my will. Memory manipulation is merely a byproduct of that."
My eyes widened at his confession. If such a thing is possible...
"Exactly. I can turn people into dolls. My parents, certain nobles, and even some of the castle servants are already my little puppets."
As he spoke so casually, I wondered if Lute-sama even possessed a human heart.
"Though, once His Majesty fully reclaims the power of the Primordial, my abilities might not even be necessary anymore."
"...That's horrible."
"He is currently in the process of reclaiming that immense power. There are still many restrictions, but soon, His Majesty will possess the power of a god. How fortunate we are to live in the same era as him."
"...You're insane," I whispered.
Lute-sama stared at me with cold, detached eyes. "I truly think it would be better to give you a fresh start, just like him, but His Majesty refuses. He says you still have value just as you are."
"Do you hate me?"
"Hate you? Rachel-sama? Haha, heavens no. I only turn people into dolls if I actually like them."
I never imagined Lute-sama was a devil wearing the skin of an angel.
Concepts of good and evil did not exist for him. The only thing inside Lute-sama was his devotion to the god he believed in—Emperor Alec Tratia.
Lute-sama muttered, "Well then," and spun on his heel. "I should go find Theodore Camus as His Majesty commanded."
"I won't forgive you if you lay a finger on Theodore-sama!"
Lute-sama looked back at me as I clung to the bars, his eyes devoid of emotion. "How pathetic. You can't even scratch me, yet you make such threats."
"Let me out! Let me out of here!"
"Cry and scream all you like. That is about all you're capable of, isn't it?" Lute-sama let out a mocking snort and dangled the cell key in front of me, swinging it back and forth. "The next time you leave this dungeon, the world will have changed."
What could he possibly see with those gleaming eyes?
"Look forward to it."
With those final words, Lute-sama vanished from the dungeon.