The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 139

Before the criminal Grace arrived at the council, a fierce debate raged.

“It doesn’t make sense to switch souls again from the start. How can we repeat such a terrible thing when a person’s life is sacrificed!”

“Don’t we already have the heart recovered from the criminal Galloway? Scholars say that if we collect a few more, we can switch souls again. There is a way, so why should Grace Bennett’s body, who isn’t even a real criminal, have to die?”

The two opinions were sharply opposed.

Most were against switching souls, but the number of those in favor was not small.

“And from the start, the Princess—no, she’s not even a real princess. How can we be sure that the person in that body is really unrelated to this incident? So, we must put everything back in its place and hand down punishment.”

A conservative Marquis glared at Celonia and sat down.

As if waiting for it, Reyev requested to speak. He had no expression, but he seemed very dissatisfied.

“His Majesty the Emperor has acknowledged Lady Celonia’s innocence regarding this incident. It is not right to obscure the point by bringing up past issues that His Majesty has already acknowledged.”

“Ahem!”

At those words, the Marquis who had just spoken cleared his throat and subtly lowered his gaze as if feigning ignorance.

“Do not bring that issue up again. I have personally confirmed the innocence of the current Celonia Vesin.”

The Emperor also addressed the Marquis. He knew all the details from beginning to end through the video orb [a magical device similar to a recording device], so he acknowledged Celonia’s innocence.

Besides, it was Celonia who had undone Titania’s black magic. It was impossible to escape from black magic with the power wielded by other healers.

“I am sorry, Your Majesty.”

The Marquis, having no choice, stepped back and bowed his head.

Whenever there was even a slightly unfavorable remark to Celonia, Reyev and MacRyan would jump up and raise their voices.

They argued, ‘Are you overlooking who caught the main culprit of this incident?’ and ‘It is the current Celonia, not the real Celonia in Grace Bennett’s body, who joined the subjugation force and made remarkable contributions to defeating the Demon King.’

Reyev and MacRyan were desperate, as if trying to atone for the mistakes they had made against her so far, falling for Grace’s tricks.

Celonia was just watching the scene quietly.

She felt a little touched that the half-year they had spent together as colleagues was not in vain. They were acknowledging her as herself, even though her soul had been switched.

“We will bring in the criminal Grace Bennett.”

At the timely announcement, the heated atmosphere of the council calmed down a little.

Celonia took a deep breath and swallowed hard. She hoped that everything would go according to plan.

With the heavy sound of iron chains dragging across the floor, Grace was led in by the knights, her hands and feet shackled.

The knights knelt the criminal in the middle of the empty hall.

“Huh…….”

The nobles’ eyes narrowed as they looked at the criminal.

As if they were displeased with her looking more normal than they had expected.

Celonia, somewhat anticipating the reaction, rose from her seat after receiving the Emperor’s permission.

“The heinous criminal did not want to participate in the subjugation, so she switched souls and is now asking to have it returned.”

“Of course, because it’s my body!”

It was then.

Grace, forgetting where she was and who she was in front of, shouted to refute Celonia’s words with wide eyes.

“……She must have lost her mind.”

“She must be crazy because she’s about to die.”

The nobles, surprised by her appearance, clicked their tongues.

“I’m the victim! I’m the victim! My body was taken away! I was just trying to get back what was taken from me! It’s no different from asking for stolen money back!”

Everyone’s mouth dropped open at Grace’s brazen remarks.

Everyone here knew that the criminal had arbitrarily switched souls and stolen the body of an innocent person.

Celonia, with an expression that said, ‘Of course,’ at Grace’s consistent attitude, opened her mouth again.

“It wasn’t taken away. It was something you chose and brought upon yourself. Moreover, you have ruined a person’s life completely and are shamelessly calling yourself a victim.”

“A woman who doesn’t know where she crawled out from is pretending to be a noble! Even if you become my body, do you think that your lowly status will be hidden!”

“Kyaaak!”

Suddenly, Grace, struggling desperately as if she would run towards Celonia, jumped up, and the surprised nobles screamed.

Clang!

“How dare you in front of whom! Shut that criminal’s mouth!”

The Emperor, slamming the armrest hard with his fist, raised his voice in anger.

The knights immediately grabbed Grace’s arms and legs.

“Aaaagh! I’ll curse you all! I’ll kill you all! Ugh!”

The knights immediately gagged Grace.

“Ugh, ugh……!”

Still not appeased, Grace was rampaging like a beast. It was as if she had decided to die and was hastening her end.

“…….”

“…….”

The hall froze coldly in an unexpected situation.

To come to this place as a criminal about to die and cause such a commotion in front of the Emperor. Was the situation they were seeing real?

“Your Majesty, what the criminal wants is for everything to return to its original state. Therefore, we must not grant the wishes of that criminal, who shows no sign of remorse and is instead acting so brazenly.”

Celonia, thinking this was the time, slowly gazed at everyone and spoke firmly.

No one could disagree with these words after seeing Grace’s recent rampage.

Even the conservatives who had argued that the soul should be switched again were silenced. If they made that argument here, they would be seen as defending a heinous criminal.

It was then.

MacRyan, who was sitting next to Celonia, moved one seat over, and a man wearing a robe sat in his place.

Grace, blocked by the knights and struggling, stopped all her actions as soon as she confirmed the man’s face.

It was half-covered by the robe, but it was clearly visible.

“……Hehe!”

Soon, a smile of victory bloomed on Grace’s face, and laughter erupted through the gag in her mouth.

“Laughing……?”

The laughter echoing in the silent space was so vivid that everyone’s faces were filled with shock.

“There’s nothing more to see! Immediately adjourn the council and imprison the criminal again! Decide on the punishment tomorrow morning and be sure to carry it out!”

The Emperor voiced his anger. He was so angry at the intolerable behavior that he shouted.

The council, which had decided to hold a vote for or against Grace’s heinous behavior, was instantly canceled.

However, even at the Emperor’s words, Grace was staring intently at Celonia and the man sitting next to her, as if she was very happy.

The man sitting next to Celonia right now was Gale.

‘You thought you won? No way. My father wouldn’t let me die like this. In the end, I’m the one who survives. I’m the protagonist,’ she thought.

It was the moment when Grace was convinced of her victory and smiled mockingly.

“…….”

Grace hardened her expression. Because Celonia suddenly looked straight at her and smiled brightly.

‘Smiling? How dare she?’

Who should be smiling right now! The stupid woman doesn’t even know what’s going to happen!

As she clicked her tongue at the pitiful woman, Celonia mouthed something. Exactly towards Grace.

And what those lips were saying was…….

‘I knew you would self-destruct. You’re so arrogant and stupid, just like a protagonist.’

“……Huh?”

Muffled pronunciation flowed from Grace’s mouth because of the gag, after she read the lip shape exactly.

What is this sound? Now?

After a moment of panic, Celonia mouthed again.

‘Goodbye.’

With those words, Celonia smirked. With her face.

Goodbye. You’re the one who’s going to die. You’re going to die in this body……!

It was then.

Gale, who was sitting next to Celonia, slowly swept his face with his large hand and took off the robe he was wearing.

“……Heh!”

And at that moment, Grace’s pupils, after taking a gasp, dilated as much as they could and trembled greatly.

‘No, no! This can’t be! This can’t be happening!’

Grace’s pale eyelids trembled relentlessly.

‘Surely, surely Gale told me…….’

Before coming here, Gale, who had visited her in prison, conveyed his father’s wishes to her.

But who is that person now!

Gale’s face, which had been visible until just now, had disappeared without a trace, and Tan’s face was in its place.

With a sneer on his lips, as if he knew everything, he looked down at her with contemptuous red eyes, as if looking at a bug.