A magic formula was engraved on the head of the replica to overlay the original human biometric data Eleonora had created. Due to the incomplete magic caused by the failure of the experiment, her mold could not be completely overwritten and remained translucent in silver scrap metal.
And at the heart of it, a red gem that looked just like a human heart was pulsating. But the size of the nucleus that was drawn on the blueprint was ridiculously small. The magic Adrian felt radiating from it was also weak. He knew that it had been damaged.
With his hand shaking, Adrian separated the nucleus from the replica. At the same time, Eleonora’s skin was washed away from the surface of the cyborg. What was left was a seriously damaged nucleus that contained Eleonora’s soul.
When Adrian went back down to the dining room, he saw an unfamiliar woman at a loss standing in front of Eleonora’s shell.
“Baroness Asil…? Are you alright? My name is Lenia Valtalere. Thank you for inviting me. And thank you for your interest in my family’s farm. My father willingly decided to supply wheat and potatoes to the Asil Industrial Zone of Tauren.”
She seemed to have a previous agreement with Eleonora. She never thought it would happen like this when she made that appointment. This was the first disastrous failure that Eleonora Asil experienced after birth.
The blonde woman with an innocent face talked to herself for a long time in front of the soulless shell.
“Hey, uh… Are you very tired, ma’am? Should I take my leave and return some other time?”
She spent several minutes talking to herself like that. Finally, it looked like she realized that Eleonora was not responsive.
“Baroness Asil?”
When she got closer and touched her, Eleonora’s body slumped over like a sack of potatoes. Lenia grabbed her in dismay and pulled her back onto the chair.
“Is anyone here?!”
Urgently scanning around the mansion, Lenia’s gaze met Adrian. The look in her eyes suggested that she recognized him.
“Minister Rossinell?
Her eyes, slowly jumping from Adrian’s face to his hair, then his shoulders, seemed to have a hunch. As soon as she saw his blood-soaked hand, her face turned as pale as a ghost.
“Don’t tell me…”
“No, I did not harm her. But I might still be able to save her.” Adrian said, walking over to Eleonora.
The red nucleus in his clammy grip heated up as if it was crying out for him to let it out. Adrian alternated looking at Eleonora’s nucleus and her body, which had become a lifeless doll. It may not be too late. If he sends it back to her body right now, there’s a one in a thousand chance she’ll wake up.
But what if she woke up whilst he was still around?
“I have never forced you to stay by me. Even if you weren’t here, I would survive just fine on my own…”
“You’ve only done this for your own self-interest.”
Again, and again. Back at square one.
At that moment the clear desire he had given up and tried to forget over the years rose. There was still a chance to get back into her good graces.
A deep lavender scent spread through the air. Lenia, who gasped in surprise, soon blankly relaxed her face. As soon as Adrian gestured with his hands, she stumbled up to him and fell at his feet.
“You looked at the very thing you were not supposed to look at. Poor thing.” He glanced down at Lenia, and then back towards Eleonora.
“I hope you love me, Eleonora. I wish you were under me for once. May this dreadful domination relationship be reversed. You must know what I have to do now.”
There is no way to restore a soul that has already been damaged except by grabbing it to prevent it from destruction. If Eleonora were destroyed, there was one way to bring her back to life.
The cloning of the soul that Eleonora wanted to do so badly.
The birth of a new, undamaged soul.
The lips with a crooked smile touched the lips of the shell where the soul had left. With that final kiss, Adrian left Eleonora’s mansion, and shortly after, he was followed by the blonde woman.
The mansion’s door slammed shut behind them. The gear wheels on the door turned and locked it. The mansion, which responded to the owner’s biological activity, fell into a deep sleep along with her.
Before long, the silence was trapped.
***
On page one of the third stage of the replica project, Adrian Rossinell’s name was written instead of Eleonora Asil. On the next page:
Eleonora died on April 17, 578
A piece of her was safely stored.
Your circle, I’ll fulfill it for you.
In return, this time I will do as I please.