The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 90: Devastation

Chapter 90: Devastation

Employing the latest technique she learnt, she created thousands of butterflies. She sent it across the Eastern Duchy. She wanted to find the Duchess at any cost. She sent those butterflies everywhere except the estate.

She didn’t think the Duchess would be hiding in her own estate...

As the butterflies fluttered through the Eastern Duchy, Adeline watched through their delicate, shifting perspectives, searching for any sign of the Duchess.

She wanted to make sure that the Duchess was alright, but she could not trust the Duke, he sent a letter to the orphanage to get back Everett... This meant that something happened to the Duchess. She was praying that she was alright.

For a man who killed the mother of his child... Anything was possible.

Calming herself she focussed on the information the butterflies were giving her. What she expected to see were bustling streets and busy people... But what she was made her tremble.

Each butterfly showed her a similar image, Adeline caught glimpses of villages and towns... They were desolate... An eerie feeling slowly crept up her back.

Her heart clenched as she saw homes filled with the sick, families gathered for quiet farewells, and funeral processions winding through streets that were once bustling with life.

People everywhere were bedridden, their faces pale and bodies weakened, many of them succumbing to whatever this cruel illness was.

Adeline couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Just what what was happening? This was never in the original story... Her eyes were wavering and her heart was racing.

"This can’t be happening," she whispered, feeling her chest tighten. Fear began to seep into her heart.

She had hoped that with her knowledge of the story, she could protect her loved ones. But she now realised that everything was out of her control...

This was no common illness...This was a plague... What about her father? What about her brothers? How far has this spread already?

Adeline was spiralling out of control. The plot was deviating... A plague has struck the Empire...

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. Adeline closed her eyes and focused on the butterflies, sending them further and further.

She didn’t know where the Western Duchy was so she decided to send the butterflies as far as she could.

The sight of suffering continued to press into her mind, she wanted to help... To ease their pain, Adeline’s jaw clenched.

She abandoned the mission to look for her father and decided to do what she could with the powers she was given.

She sent her butterflies towards everyone inflicted with an illness. She might have created thousands... She lost count. She might have had infinite holy powers but her head started to hurt and she felt weak...

Each butterfly took up an amount of her consciousness, with the sheer amount of butterflies she created... She spread herself too thin!

She had to stop before she overexerted herself. Healing the Northern Duchess... She was just one person... But she had to heal thousands... And there were even more left!

As much as she wanted to help all of them, she couldn’t!

She didn’t realise how much energy this would take, nor did she anticipate how deeply it would drain her.

Her heartbeat quickened as she swayed on her feet, the room spinning around her, and she stumbled forward. Her vision started to go dark and she lost her footing.

Just when she was about to collapse, Dimitri appeared out of nowhere and caught her. He carefully carried her over to her bed and placed her on it gently.

"Lady Adeline," he said softly, his voice carrying a calmness that eased her just a little. Dimitri had sensed something was wrong.

He didn’t know how exactly, but ever since he’d sworn his knightly vow to protect her, he’d felt a faint but certain connection with her.

"Thank you, Dimitri," Adeline whispered. Her hand reached for her head. She felt incredibly tired.

Dimitri helped her up, his face filled with worry. "You’ve pushed yourself too far," he said quietly, watching her with a frown.

"I had to... Have you seen what’s going on outside?"

Her father hadn’t told her about this... Nor did the Duchess or anyone. Were they all trying to protect her? Did Dimitri know about this?

Dimitri did not know about the spreading illness... But he could understand what was going on. The outside world was a treacherous one. He knew that Adeline would have lived a sheltered life... Such a scene would definitely shock her.

Dimitri sighed, "I know what’s happening outside..." He knows how bad the world is. He personally saw it himself...

"There are people killing each other... Children dying... Discrimination... And I also know that one person can’t do everything! It’s a group effort, my lady... You helped me... And I promise to help as many as I can... And we can only hope that the people we helped spread the kindness forward..."

What he said made sense... But Adeline still found it difficult to accept. She was pulled into this world for a reason...

There was a sense of guilt in her, maybe because of her meddling... So many people were suffering.

She was given Holy powers to help others... She had to help as many as she could. Why else was she here?

"Before you save others, you have to save yourself. You’re doing the best you can and that’s enough." Dimitri knelt beside her, looking up into her tired eyes.

She didn’t want to trouble Dimitri anymore. What he said... Everything was right. She needed to save herself before she could save others. She was even more determined now.

If she gets the backing of the Eastern Duchess, she could transfer her power to charms or water and make sure it reaches everyone. The butterfly method was draining her... It took up too much of her energy. She slowly became more determined.

How could she find the Duchess? She was nowhere in the Eastern Duchy where could she be?

"What are you thinking about?"

She forgot that Dimitri was here. She was lost in thought.

"Oh- I was just wondering about the Duchess... She isn’t back yet..."

Dimitri nodded slowly, "I will keep a lookout for any news regarding the Duchess..."

With how strictly the Duke has started to take over the estate, there was no way she could find out her whereabouts all by herself. She needed to send those butterflies again soon to spy on the Duke and Everett.

She wished that there were recording devices, she could present that as evidence. As much as these butterflies help her with surveillance, they have their limitations.

She was sure that by the next day, she would recover. She will find the Duchess at any cost she repeated to herself again. Her confidence was turning into worry.

If the Duke dared to bring his son into the house... If he dared to take over things that the Duchess usually handles... Did that mean that something bad happened to her?

Adeline shook her head... ’Even if she is on the brink of death I will bring her back’ Her eyes filled with determination. After securing this ally she can take on the Holy Temple, she won’t let this opportunity slip by.