Disqualified as a Villainess - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#57.

Meanwhile, Prince Dominic glanced sideways at Octavia and Duke Ortega, his attention divided between them.
Then, hearing someone speak, he turned his head once more.
“Someone reported seeing Marquis Winterford sharing champagne with Miss Octavia aboard the Night Ship. From what they witnessed, their relationship doesn’t seem to be strained….”
The Winterford Family and the Ludovisi Family had maintained a long-standing business partnership spanning generations. Perhaps the Marquis and Octavia had conducted a covert transaction to recover the Precious Metal Territory.
As Prince Dominic pondered this theory internally, he suddenly recalled Octavia’s past words, and his eyes widened.

“The Alchemists’ predecessor once said that land holds far greater potential beyond its gold veins, and would bring astronomical profits to whoever discovers its true value in the future. Father promised to transfer it to me upon my marriage.”

Could it be that premium mana stones or luminous crystals lay buried there in vast quantities?
If something of equivalent value truly existed, then all this reckless maneuvering suddenly made perfect sense.
Recalling Octavia’s smile, he felt an inexplicable parching in his throat.

***

The day of the appointment.
Duke Logan Ortega had arrived near Baron Ravishi’s Estate and had been pacing for some time.
He fidgeted absently with the black piercing adorning his ear, his expression betraying hesitation.
“Why summon me here instead of the Main House or the company headquarters….”
He swept back his black hair, its ends tinged with coral, and took a deep breath.

“Tell me your favorite foods, and I’ll have them prepared.”

To anyone looking at her innocent smile and gentle tone, it was simply a pretty woman asking him out on a date.
Caught off guard, he had given the worst possible answer a man could utter—something along the lines of “whatever you prefer.”
In truth, it was an extreme binary choice: either a cordial dinner invitation or forced human experimentation.
Because of this, I had wrestled with considerable internal conflict before coming here.
On a trivial level, I had agonized over whether to wear formal attire to match the occasion or combat gear in preparation for battle.
What was amusing was that declining the invitation had never been an option.
‘No matter how unpredictable magitech engineering may be, there’s no reason for a first-class ability user to be nervous.’
Having made my decision, I entered the mansion with a sense of tension.
“Your Grace, w-welcome!”
Camilla Ravishi, despite it being her own home, had dressed herself up considerably and came out to greet me. Her cheeks were flushed, as if her blood pressure had spiked.
“I can’t tell you how shocked I was to hear that Your Grace would be visiting. I am but a humble fifth-class potion craftsman indebted to the countless exploits of Your Grace, a great first-class ability user, yet in my heart, I stand alongside you like ten thousand celestial soldiers fighting under your command, and….”
Camilla spoke without pausing for breath.
Just as I was growing concerned she might collapse from the exertion, I heard a familiar voice.
“Cousin, are you perhaps speaking while experiencing a blood sugar spike?”
It was Octavia, dressed in a light indoor white chemise dress.
Beside her, a young boy about Prince Jeriel’s age hung from her hand with wide eyes.
“That’s why I thought perhaps Your Grace might need a potion I’ve prepared for your mission….”
Camilla, who despite appearing idle actually worked as a potion craftsman, spoke with her face completely flushed.
“You’ll certainly appreciate it.”
Octavia, who had brought her object of admiration right before me by leveraging Camilla’s access to the Temple Workshop to obtain sacred materials, spoke with satisfaction.
She then looked down at Noel, who clung to her.
“You should greet the Duke. Aren’t you a huge fan?”
At her words, the child’s face turned completely red as he bowed ninety degrees at the waist.
“Duke Ortega, I-I’m N-Noel. W-welcome.”
“Noel? That’s a splendid name—it sounds like you stretched out the syllables to fit the meter.”
Logan, who was fond of children, approached Noel and met his gaze.
Unlike my imagination of being invited to a place decorated with skulls and lined with torture instruments, it was no different from an ordinary home, and I felt inwardly relieved.
Octavia patted Noel’s shoulder with a smile.
“Noel, if you skip class again, the Duke will come scold you.”
“Really?”
“No. I won’t do that.”
Seeing Noel’s devastated expression, Logan took his side somewhat.
Perhaps nervous as a successful fan, Noel exclaimed stiffly.
“I want to become as strong as you, Your Grace!”
“Thanks for the kind words. How old are you?”
When Logan lifted Noel up with a gentle bounce, the child held his mouth shut with his hand, unable to hide his joy at being held by his favorite person.
“Me too!”
Camilla, who was desperately envious of Noel, also cried out with her face completely flushed.
“Yeah, thanks.”
Having spoken without emotion, I followed Octavia toward the dining room.
The long marble table was laden with dishes prepared with meticulous care.
Logan gazed intently at Octavia as she sat the child on her lap and fed him. It was the first time he’d seen her act so naturally, and the sight stirred something unfamiliar within him.
“Noel, the Duke is fond of broccoli.”
“Sister, then I’ll eat it too.”
The child bravely popped a piece of broccoli into his mouth.
Unable to refuse, Logan found himself forced to swallow the broccoli as well.
“Actually, I… I quite like broccoli myself.”
Clang!
Camilla, tense with anxiety, trembled as she dropped her fork twice.
‘So she has a chronic condition—that’s why she never appeared in society.’
Mistaking Camilla for someone gravely ill, Logan turned his gaze back to Octavia.
“Thank you for the dinner invitation.”
“Since I prepared all your favorite dishes with such care, you must finish everything, yes?”
Behind her figure, the silhouette of a grandmother watching over her grandchild seemed to materialize.
Logan blinked at the table overflowing with food.
‘Is this culinary torture?’
He still harbored doubts about her intentions.

***

Prince Dominic, upon hearing that the Ludovisi Family had become the master of the Precious Metal Territory, had also arrived at the Ravishi Residence.

“The special alloy trade has been suspended, but the cooperative agreement between the Winterford Marquis Family and the Ludovisi Family remains intact.”

‘There had to be a reason why they accepted such massive losses under the guise of taking responsibility.’
Though the Regent, my mother, favored the Ludovisi Family, the fact that she imposed nothing beyond performative state inquiries—not even basic censure—spoke volumes.
The true value of the Precious Metal Territory was already beyond question.
The thought that the old Octavia would have desperately tried to offer it to him twisted something inside me.
“Sigh… how much longer must I indulge her like a child?”
He exhaled heavily, brushing back his bangs.
Octavia had demonstrated her displeasure before, but never with such intensity while entangling herself with other men. So he had no choice but to be as magnanimous as possible.
‘Still, betrayal is betrayal.’
Beyond mere exploitation, the sting of losing someone who had devoted themselves to him burned far more acutely.
“Prince Dominic?”
Baron Ravishi, who had hurried home upon the Duke Ortega’s unexpected arrival, greeted the prince with visible surprise.
“What brings you here? Shall I show you to the reception room?”
“I’m only here to see Octavia briefly. Just show me to her, if you would.”
At the prince’s response, the baron wiped cold sweat from his brow and guided him to the research laboratory where Octavia was, then excused himself.
Octavia emerged through the door, her expression distinctly unwelcoming as she faced him.
“Why are you dressed like that?”
Prince Dominic asked with displeasure in his voice.
To his eyes, unfamiliar with modern research attire, she appeared to be wearing a white coat.
“Whether I work from home in professional attire or not… anyway, what is it you want?”
“I heard some news.”
He stepped closer to Octavia.
“You’ve reclaimed the Precious Metal Territory, haven’t you? Do you perhaps remember the promise you made in the past?”
“I remember nothing.”
“You promised to give me that land as a token of love, to one who cares for his subordinates despite lacking resources in difficult circumstances.”
Octavia’s expression turned to one of disgust.
“An oral promise without notarized documents is void. Goodbye.”
“I wanted you to acknowledge how sincere your feelings for me once were.”
“You consider an empty promise made without reason as sincerity… so what’s your conclusion?”
“I understand why you’re angry. I’m simply saying—don’t entangle yourself with someone as emotionless as the Admiral, lest you damage both body and heart…”
Just then, the laboratory door slid open, and a deep voice emerged.
“When will you be done?”
Over Octavia’s shoulder, the prince’s pupils dilated sharply upon seeing Duke Logan Ortega.
He stood there in a shirt with several buttons undone, both wrists bound with ribbons—a sight that invited tremendous misunderstanding.

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