The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 138

The Empire was thrown into turmoil when Grace and Galloway were captured.

Sensational articles flooded the news daily during the two days they were detained, even before their sentences were confirmed.

[The Complete Downfall of the Vesin Ducal Family.]

[Soul Transference: The Real Vesin Heiress is Grace Bennett.]

[Estimated Over 100 Victims: A Clear Case of Murder Masked as Fatherly Love.]

[Voices Rise Demanding Punishment After Returning Her to Her Original State….]

[Who Occupies the Body of Selonia Vesin?]

And, as expected, the controversy showed no signs of abating.

“Return her to her original state? Ha! Are these guys crazy!”

MacRyan threw down the newspaper he was reading yesterday, fuming.

This was because some people were suggesting that since Grace Bennett was originally Selonia Vesin, she should be returned to that form and then punished accordingly.

The argument was that it was only right to punish the true form of the soul that committed the evil deeds.

Their argument also included the idea that the real Grace Bennett, whose body had been unfairly taken, had the right to have her body returned.

However, reversing the souls again was something that could only be done using black magic.

So, today, His Majesty the Emperor convened a noble council.

The imperial grand banquet hall. Today’s agenda was a vote for or against reversing the soul transference.

Any noble with confirmed status could attend and exercise their right to vote.

“…Are you okay?”

MacRyan glanced at Selonia next to him as they walked.

She was, after all, at the center of today’s meeting agenda and the surrounding controversy.

People and newspaper articles were gossiping carelessly, which he felt was inappropriate unless you were the victim.

No one should speak so lightly in front of the victims.

“I expected it.”

Selonia swept her hair back with a slightly tired expression.

She had been summoned to the Imperial Palace this morning for questioning.

Thanks to the video device, her innocence had been perfectly proven, but she was still in Selonia’s body. Therefore, she couldn’t completely escape the fallout from this incident.

The questions were endless: Who was the soul occupying this body, what was her true identity, from what point did she become Selonia Vesin, and was there truly no voluntary will when the soul entered this body?

It was an endless interrogation, just without the confinement.

Since she came from a completely different world, she couldn’t tell everything honestly, but she was cooperating with the investigation, fabricating stories that wouldn’t get her caught, to the best of her ability.

“Yeah. It was going to come out anyway. That father and daughter wouldn’t have kept their mouths shut.”

MacRyan nodded.

It was a very good decision for her to reveal this first. It was a truth that couldn’t be hidden even if they tried, so it was right to openly and confidently assert her innocence and acquittal like this.

People who learned the whole story had no choice but to withdraw their suspicious gazes towards her.

In the end, the focus shifted to what to do with the switched souls.

“They say the real Grace Bennett is asking to be returned?”

“Because she’s been wronged. Besides, when their sentence is decided, she has to watch her body being punished.”

Answering MacRyan’s question, Selonia recalled the real Grace who had been trapped underground before.

The sight of her crying and shouting so much that it made everyone watching feel choked up.

Everything was revealed, and Grace came out into the world.

But overnight, not only was her body taken away, but she also had to face her father’s death.

Baron Bennett was dead. Among the many hearts Selonia saw in front of the altar, there was also Baron Bennett’s.

To have his daughter play the role of Grace Bennett, Baron Bennett was an eyesore, so he had been removed.

Selonia understood the real Grace’s feelings.

She would be angry at this lost time that no one could compensate for, but how terrible would it be to see her body being executed….

She was naturally against reversing the souls again, but she couldn’t help but feel heavy-hearted when she thought of the real Grace.

“It will end quickly.”

Selonia raised her head, feeling a stiffness in her neck, as a voice full of conviction reached her ears.

Then, her reliable support was smiling languidly, watching her with an air of superiority.

“Do you think so?”

“Of course. Those who agree won’t even be able to gather their bones [a euphemism for facing severe consequences].”

Twitch. The shoulders of the nobles around them shook at Tan’s words, which were like a warning.

She knew it would end quickly.

Nevertheless, Tan said this on purpose: a warning to those who were contemplating agreeing.

Selonia chuckled and took Tan’s hand.

“Tan, you still haven’t found him?”

“It’s not easy to find him; it’s as if he’s buried in a tunnel.”

Tan frowned.

Even though Galloway and Grace were captured, Gale had not yet been caught. He seemed to have escaped, taking advantage of the chaos at the Duke’s residence.

Moreover, some of the broken altar pieces and dozens of hearts had disappeared with him.

“Galloway must have ordered it.”

Selonia was sure.

Galloway, who was captured, was feigning ignorance, saying he didn’t know anything, but he wanted to switch souls so badly; there was no way he would give up so easily.

“Still, thanks to that, we’re even more at an advantage.”

Her eyes sparkled confidently.

This was an opportunity for her.

The imperial family also knew that Galloway’s subordinate, Gale, had disappeared with the altar pieces and hearts, so she could completely put an end to Grace’s schemes.

Furthermore, she could silence everyone’s doubts.

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Be careful.”

“Of course.”

Tan smiled grandly and disappeared.

Selonia watched Tan’s retreating figure with a worried heart as he didn’t enter the hall with her, and then she entered the grand banquet hall.

MacRyan and Reyev followed behind her, holding their backs straight.

“……”

“……”

Then, the inside of the hall, which had been filled with countless voices until just now, became as silent as if cold water had been poured on it.

Sharp gazes followed the movements of the three people. No, to be precise, only Selonia.

It was more fervent attention than she had expected. Gazes were pouring down on her from head to toe, making her cheeks tingle.

Unfavorable glances were scrutinizing Selonia from head to toe.

Still, she sat down with a composed expression.

MacRyan and Reyev took their seats to Selonia’s right and left.

“So, that person isn’t the real heiress…”

“What should we call her, then?”

“Is she even a noble? I wonder if she’s even allowed to attend the meeting, considering she’s at the center of today’s agenda.”

“Still, this isn’t right, is it? Even if her soul has been switched, the daughter of a major criminal is here as an attendee.”

“Ahem! Disgusting.”

As they sat down, the silence was broken. One or two people began to mutter.

Because it was so quiet, the dissatisfied voices fell like arrows, accurately piercing the three people’s ears.

“You bastards…!”

“What are you doing? Are you going to cause a riot?”

Selonia opened her mouth calmly towards MacRyan, who was growling and trying to jump up from his seat.

Why was he doing that when she was staying still? Besides, didn’t he know that the more he acted like this, the more disadvantageous it would be for her?

MacRyan, who was about to stand up to recklessly charge in because of his hot-tempered nature, sat back down.

But he crossed his legs and folded his arms as if he was displeased, and then shouted.

“Selonia! You! You received a reward from the subjugation before, right?! You were granted the title of Baron and territory at that time?! By His. Ma.jes.ty?!”

MacRyan’s booming voice echoed throughout the hall as if he wanted everyone to hear.

Selonia’s mouth dropped open.

“That’s right! Isn’t it Selonia who participated in the subjugation!”

This time, even the gentle Reyev stepped in to support MacRyan’s words.

“Ahem, ahem!”

“Y-yes, that’s right…”

Because they couldn’t refute those words, the nobles who had been complaining until just now cleared their throats and averted their gazes.

Then, MacRyan’s shoulders soared into the sky as if he was proud.

“Haa……”

Selonia grabbed her throbbing head with a deep sigh.

Why is he like this, really….

Her face flushed red with embarrassment, but she couldn’t hide the corners of her lips that were raised.

“Everyone, be quiet and stand up from your seats. His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

At the announcement signaling the Emperor’s appearance, no one could open their mouths any longer and stood up from their seats.

A number that seemed to be at least 300 people stood up at once and bowed their heads towards the highest point.

The Emperor, who appeared majestically, looked at the nobles gathered below and took his place on the throne.

“There will be no one who doesn’t know about today’s agenda, so let’s skip the introduction and get straight to the point.”

The Emperor opened his mouth as if there was no need to drag it out.

The sooner this agenda was dealt with, the sooner the sentence could be decided and carried out. Today, this council would determine the speed of the sentence’s progress.

The Emperor had no intention of letting Grace, who had laid hands on the imperial family, go unpunished.

“Then, before the vote, those who have opinions on the agenda of returning the souls to their rightful places in accordance with the natural order, please raise your hands.”

At the Prime Minister’s words, Selonia, MacRyan, and Reyev frowned.

In accordance with the natural order.

The Prime Minister, who was in charge of the council’s proceedings—the person who shouldn’t be biased—was practically revealing his intentions.

She thought it wouldn’t be smooth, but….

Selonia suppressed the laughter that was about to burst out and raised her hand as if she had been waiting.

Then, hundreds of eyes turned to Selonia in an instant.

Because Selonia was the only one who raised her hand high among the people who were hesitating and looking around.

“Speak.”

As the agenda was the agenda, the Emperor couldn’t ignore her opinion, so he frowned as if he was reluctant and spoke with difficulty.

Selonia quietly stood up from her seat without a sound.

Now was the time to completely end this tiresome, wretched relationship.

But since she had suffered so much, she had to properly pay them back. That was the right calculation.

Taking a breath, she confidently raised her voice.

“Your Majesty, I request the summoning of the prisoner, Grace Bennett, who is in custody.”

Everyone murmured in shock at the completely unexpected request.

Only Selonia was smiling leisurely in that situation.