A Runaway Villainess, Now Healing In An Enemy Country - Chapter 8

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 8】

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It was an incident when I was thirteen years old.

On my way from the Citadel to Western Baltres Territory, I was kidnapped by the nanny who had been like a mother to me. She received money in exchange for handing me over to a cult organization.

It was pocket change that didn’t even amount to a young princess’s monthly dignity maintenance fee.

So rather than being shocked by the nanny’s betrayal itself, I was more shocked by the fact that she sold me for such measly pocket change.

I had to ask why. I went straight to find her in the underground prison where she was confined.

“Why did you do it, Emma? If you had asked me for it, I would have just given it to you.”

Having confessed everything she knew under severe torture, she had served her purpose and was now just waiting for the day a rope would be around her neck.

Since I both resented and still loved her, I was willing to spare her from execution if she offered even a token apology.

But Emma said:

“I’ve hated you terribly from the very beginning.”

“…Why? Did I do something wrong?”

“Because you were born. Because the lady had to die because of you!”

My birth mother, the Duchess of Valtrès, died from labor pains while giving birth to me.

Emma had been her personal maid in life.

I knew they were close due to their long acquaintance, but I never thought she would harbor resentment toward me because of it.

“But that’s not my fault.”

Ahaha. Emma burst into laughter as if she had heard something ridiculous.

“You don’t have to do anything wrong to be hated, Princess. Back then I needed a target for my resentment… and it just happened to be you.”

“…”

“So Princess, don’t give your heart away so easily from now on.”

Those became Emma’s last words.

The next afternoon, news came that all those involved in the kidnapping incident had been executed by hanging. It was right after that when Chessier visited, worried about me having been kidnapped by those scoundrels.

“Your Highness must not betray me.”

I gripped my one-year fiancé’s collar so tightly it seemed I might tear it, pleading repeatedly.

Because he had already stolen my heart completely. If Chessier betrayed me like Emma did, I felt I would never be able to get back up again.

“Why would I do such a terrible thing to the Princess?”

“You don’t have to love me forever, but please don’t lie to me. And really, really… you must not betray me…”

“Princess, don’t worry. We’ve promised each other a lifetime together.”

“…Please promise me, Your Highness. That you will absolutely never betray me.”

Then Chessier made a declaration with a rather solemn expression.

“I swear on the name of Chessier Vladis.”

* * *

‘This is the worst.’

Of all dreams to have, why did I have to dream that one?

Briefly overlapping Chessier with the Duke must have been quite a shock. I massaged my stiff neck from having slept with my head against the carriage window.

The Duke sitting across from me made a brief observation.

“You slept again.”

“…I was tired.”

It was a poor excuse since I had been sleeping well even if I wasn’t eating much.

Just the two of us in an enclosed space filled with silence. Boredom had washed over me and I dozed off while yawning, then actually fell asleep – I couldn’t say that.

Somehow I felt embarrassed about constantly showing my sleeping face to the Duke. Meanwhile, the Duke himself hadn’t slept for a whole month.

‘Probably because of me.’

It was strange that I, who wasn’t even a saint, was passively suppressing magi, and it was also strange that the Duke was fine without sleeping for so long.

‘Should I not think of him by human standards?’

Though I had adapted to his magi to some degree now, I had never felt such powerful magi from a person before.

It was natural, if you think about it.

I had seen humans corrupted by magi a few times, but they generally lacked logic and intelligence. When magi becomes too concentrated, they can even turn into monsters.

Like zombies, you could say.

‘Maybe the Duke is also a pretty, intelligent zombie.’

While having such irreverent thoughts, the carriage came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived at Nostellan Commercial District 3.”

I naturally stared intently at the Duke.

The Duke, who had covered his striking appearance with a robe, looked back at me with unreadable eyes.

“…”

“…”

The staring contest didn’t last long.

I was a former princess, after all.

Receiving an escort when getting out of a carriage was so natural to me that I unconsciously waited for the Duke’s escort.

‘How embarrassing!’

“The, the ride quality was terrible. I’ll get out first.”

That was natural since it was a hired carriage Giselle had called near Winter Castle, but it was also nonsensical given the context.

I awkwardly grabbed the carriage door handle.

Click.

“…Oh.”

But the Duke placed his hand over mine, pushed the door handle, passed by me, and jumped down from the carriage.

It happened so quickly I had no time to react.

“Get down.”

He looked up at me and extended his right hand.

It wasn’t exactly textbook form, but it was the hand gesture for escorting a lady nonetheless.

I took his hand in bewilderment.

“Thank… you?”

If this were someone from Citadel high society, they would have responded with ‘Think nothing of it’ or ‘It’s nothing.’

But my companion was the demon Duke.

“Is that enough now?”

Having lightly helped me down, he asked instead.

‘If this man were in high society, he’d be gossip material at ladies’ tea parties… no, actually he wouldn’t be.’

With that kind of beauty, any breach of manners would be forgiven.

I was newly amazed at the importance of looks.

“If we could just harvest the Duke’s face, Winter Castle’s finances would be twice as prosperous as they are now.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing.”

* * *

Nostellan, the capital of Belmayer.

Compared to the Duke’s Castle that was particularly like a haunted house, this capital was quite decent and peaceful.

Buildings and roads that were well-maintained even if not polished.

People coming and going on streets lightly covered with snow.

The streets of Commercial District 3, said to have the highest foot traffic, were quite lively despite the cold weather.

Very old-fashioned looking temperature control magical devices could be seen throughout the streets. Thanks to them, the cold seemed somewhat neutralized.

‘Wow, the castle didn’t even have firewood, let alone magical devices.’

Sounds unbelievable? It’s true.

There was no heating at all, though recently we started burning firewood. Still, since it’s cold, I maintain a 24-hour warming spell on my body.

I momentarily forgot my purpose while sightseeing the unfamiliar city, then suddenly came to my senses and called the Duke.

“Du-, no…”

“Speak.”

The sight of him standing on the bustling commercial district streets crowded with people, rather than the empty scenery atop the castle walls, looked strangely unfamiliar and odd.

Moreover, a 1+1 outing with me.

“It’s funny to ask this now, but Du… you, no, that side, no, um… excuse me…?”

Damn it.

Since there were watching eyes, I didn’t know what to call him, so something strange came out.

The Duke with his sculpture-like face said nonchalantly.

“Just call me by my name.”

“What? Me?”

“Yes. Continue what you were going to say.”

Though Winter Castle has no hierarchy, to this extent?

The Duke’s expressionless face showed not even a flicker of movement. In contrast, I found it hard to hide my agitation.

‘I’ve never even called Chessier by his name.’

Even though he was my childhood fiancé, he was like a small sun to me, so he was always ‘Your Highness the Crown Prince’ to me.

I looked at the Duke who gave off an incongruous atmosphere, unable to blend with the bustling scenery.

Then I continued the question I hadn’t finished.

“…Is it okay for you to come outside?”

Actually, until now I had been speculating that the Duke might be something like an earthbound spirit.

To me, he looked exactly like someone who was born in Winter Castle and died in Winter Castle, so it seemed like he would never leave the castle forever.

But the Duke actually stepped outside the castle easily. I don’t know what Giselle said to him though.

“There’s nowhere in Belmayer I cannot go.”

“Well… that would be true…”

The Duke walked ahead, swinging his long legs.

“If you’re convinced, then hurry up.”

I sighed and grabbed the hem of his robe.

“No. Stop for a moment. Did you come out to take a walk?”

“What’s your complaint? I think I’m accommodating you enough.”

“Not at all?”

Why did Giselle push me to go out with the Duke?

‘He’s too cumbersome!’

The Duke really just walked silently. There were quite a few glances at the suspiciously tall man wearing a robe.

Actually, it wasn’t so much the robe that was the problem, but probably because the magi the Duke possessed felt like an ominous aura that was noticeable even to unknowing people.

Originally, only those with divine power or magic could sensitively detect magi, but his was on a completely different level.

“What’s with that man? Covering himself all in black in broad daylight. I’ve never seen such attire.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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