The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 11

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

Chapter 11

“…I succeeded.”

Returning to my room, I couldn’t hide my excitement and flopped down on the bed.

My feet started tapping on their own.

I don’t know why something like this makes me so happy.

It felt even more exciting than when the Emperor filled my room with rare roses as a seventh birthday gift.

‘This is just the beginning.’

There was nothing I didn’t know when it came to things good for managing magi. Food was just a small part of it. I knew everything from health remedies to medicinal herbs.

It was all the result of wandering through the Imperial Palace’s libraries and scraping together information by any means necessary, hoping to be of even a little help to the Emperor and earn his trust.

‘Who would have thought that knowledge would be used like this.’

It was strange. Using information I gathered for the Emperor to save the Imperial Family’s greatest enemy.

‘If I try little by little, he’ll be much better in six years.’

Though it wouldn’t happen, even if Carlos were to go berserk, if his body could endure it, he would be able to survive.

‘That’s enough.’

I really felt like he could live.

I hugged my pillow and grinned.

‘He said it wasn’t bad.’

Those words kept circling in my head.

Even though they weren’t anything special.

He just ate it because it wasn’t poison.

I don’t know why I feel so good about it.

I happily pulled the blanket over myself and rolled around for a while.

“Ugh.”

Suddenly a groan escaped me.

It was because of a sharp pain coming from my arm.

When I lifted my arm, I could see blood seeping through the bandages.

“I guess bandages weren’t quite enough after all.”

It seemed the problem was that I had unwrapped the bandages Mia had put on and reopened the wound to make the red purification stone for Carlos.

Usually after about a week, there would be no more bleeding, but this time the healing seemed slower than usual for some reason.

‘Maybe it’s because this is a thirteen-year-old body.’

When I was a princess, I was so used to blood draws that even fairly deep cuts on my arm would heal quickly.

This body apparently wasn’t trained to that extent yet.

Actually, I could just endure the pain.

But it would be troublesome if blood spread to my clothes and drew suspicious looks.

‘The apothecary is… on the first floor of the annex, I think.’

I recalled something Mia had mentioned in passing a few days ago. Since there were no servants stationed there anyway, it should be empty by now.

‘Let me just quietly apply some medicine and come back.’

I didn’t deliberate long.

I quietly got up from my seat.

* * *

The path to the annex was quiet.

‘I’d believe it if someone said no one lives on this side.’

Even in the main building, aside from Mia who followed me around, I rarely encountered servants, but on this path I couldn’t even sense any signs of people.

‘The path seems well-maintained though…’

Walking along the straight stone path, I suddenly stopped.

Beyond the arched vines ahead, I could see the annex building.

And I felt a strange sensation.

“This is… the annex?”

I had thought it would be some old, neglected building.

Contrary to my expectations, the annex was small and cozy, but actually looked more neat and tidy than the main building.

The ivory-colored three-story building sparkled in the sunlight, and the roof showed a vivid red color as if recently repainted.

The grass laid beneath the building was cut short, as if regularly maintained.

‘Why is it so well-maintained?’

While the main building is so bleak.

I stood there with a dazed expression at the unfamiliar sight for a moment, then slowly walked past the vines into the building.

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone here.”

Brilliant afternoon sunlight poured through the large windows. It was a languid and quiet scene.

Only the gentle sound of small shoes clicking against white marble echoed softly.

I was crossing the corridor when I suddenly stopped.

There was a problem.

“…So where exactly is the apothecary.”

None of the many doors lining the first-floor corridor had any signs on them.

“Hmm, this is troublesome.”

This was an unexpected obstacle.

‘Should I ask Mia for help even now?’

After thinking for a moment, I shook my head.

Given Mia’s personality, she would definitely pry into every detail about the unhealed wound.

Why did you get hurt, where did you get injured, why didn’t you tell me. I could already hear her voice echoing in my head.

In this Duke’s Mansion where both the people and scenery were all bleak, she was the only woman in charge of making a fuss and meddling.

“I have no choice.”

If I open them all, I’ll find out, won’t I?

I started by opening the nearest door first. Most were empty, and a few rooms seemed to be used as guest rooms or storage.

Then suddenly, my steps came to a halt.

‘Hm?’

At the end of the corridor, a large door painted in a unique pale sky blue caught my eye.

“What’s that place?”

At that moment, even I didn’t know why I walked in that direction.

When I came to my senses, I was already holding the doorknob of the room at the end of the corridor.

‘It’s not… the apothecary, is it.’

Of course not.

Who would make a mere apothecary so grandly at the end of a corridor like this? And with different colored paint on the door, no less.

Yet I couldn’t bring myself to turn away, let alone let go of the door.

For some reason, I wanted to open it.

Was it because I was still a guest who had fled from the Emperor, yet hadn’t abandoned my old habits from my days as a princess who did as she pleased?

It didn’t matter either way.

“You never know.”

Making an excuse that even I found unconvincing, I slowly turned the doorknob and opened it.

The first thing that hit me was the scattered scent of fabric. Cascading curtains of light mixed with floating dust, obstructing my vision.

Only after blinking several times could I make out what was inside the room.

And the next moment, I unconsciously parted my lips slightly.

‘What is this place…’

A large window facing the garden. Soft rugs and chiffon curtains, a mobile. A small pink bed placed in the center of the room.

Even from just a brief glance, I could tell.

This was the room of the missing Duke’s daughter.

‘Why have they kept this until now?’

It seemed to be regularly cleaned too, as there wasn’t a speck of dust accumulated in the room.

I looked around the room in a daze.

In front was a small bed just right for a two-year-old to use. The rocking horse by the window was still clean enough to shine, and the room was filled with all kinds of toys and stuffed animals.

‘Could this have been my room?’

Such a thought suddenly occurred to me.

If I hadn’t been kidnapped by the Emperor.

I might have grown up in this room.

I might have slept in that bed, ridden that rocking horse, and played in the garden visible through the window.

My stomach churned below my solar plexus.

It was a similar feeling to when I had seen the White Rose Garden while strolling through the Duke’s Mansion a few days ago.

‘What is this feeling…’

An indescribable emotion rose up to my throat.

Whether it was sadness, emptiness, or something else entirely.

How much time had passed?

I suddenly stepped backward as if awakening from a dream.

It was a reflexive action.

‘Why am I acting like this?’

There was no reason to get sentimental.

It was something that had already passed, something that couldn’t be undone.

Just as I was about to hastily close the door and leave the annex.

“What is this.”

At the voice that suddenly rang out, my heart sank with a thud.

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