A drowsy Princess Mezzlen reappeared before me, using the excuse that she had overslept. However, the 'Whispering Leaf' remained pointed in a completely different direction, motionless.
There was no way an artifact as reliable as the Whispering Leaf had malfunctioned, so the answer was clear.
The Mezzlen standing in front of me, talking casually with Antonio and Seraphine, wasnât the real Princess Mezzlen that I knew.
'A doppelgänger... I thought I wouldnât have to deal with one during this festival.'
In the original story, it was a doppelgänger that had delayed the academy while Seraphine was being kidnapped and transported to the Auguste estate. This high-level demon could transform into anyone they had touched for up to 24 hours, even mimicking the person's combat abilities.@@novelbin@@
'At least it copied Mezzlen, so its combat strength should be negligible. But the problem is, I canât reveal that itâs a doppelgänger.'
The fact that a doppelgänger had appeared meant someone was serious about kidnapping Mezzlen. I needed to act quickly, but I was hesitating, unable to make a clear decision. I had no concrete evidence to expose the demon, and rushing in alone to rescue Princess Mezzlen would be far too dangerous, especially knowing that dark magic and demons were involved.
While I was racking my brain, trying to figure out a plan, Seraphine finished her conversation with the fake Mezzlen and quietly approached me.
"Iâm sorry, Lilith. My sister has caused quite a nuisance this morning for such a ridiculous reason."
"â¦Itâs fine, Princess Seraphine."