The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 13

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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 13

Demian stood beside me with a sullen expression.

It seemed he had already heard the news, and he appeared just as displeased about it.

No, perhaps he was even more dissatisfied than I was.

But in this situation, it didn’t seem like he would side with my opinion.

Well, he’d probably choose to supervise me directly rather than entrust me to a knight. Even if he disliked me.

“…Are there no other knights in the Duke’s Mansion?”

I glanced sideways at Demian’s profile and asked Carlos, grasping at straws.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a swordsman more skilled than Demian even if you searched the entire Empire, not just the Duke’s Mansion.”

I suppose so…

This man is a sword genius after all…

That’s not what I was asking about though…

‘Silencing me with skill.’

Demian receives the title of Sword Master just before coming of age.

The tenth in history, and the youngest Sword Master ever.

He probably hasn’t reached that level yet, but Carlos’s words that there was no swordsman in the Empire who could defeat him weren’t wrong.

‘He’s making it clear he absolutely won’t let me do anything reckless.’

I had no intention of doing so anyway.

It didn’t seem like the situation would change even if I kept resisting like this.

‘In terms of protection alone, it would be the safest option…’

Even so, isn’t this too harsh for both of us, knowing full well that he dislikes me?

I had that thought, but neither of the two men in the room seemed likely to obediently listen to what I had to say.

In the end, I was the first to surrender.

“…I understand.”

“When are you planning to depart?”

“As soon as possible. Even tomorrow would be fine.”

Carlos, who had been looking at documents the whole time, raised his head to look at Demian.

“Would that be possible?”

“…It would be difficult right away.”

Demian looked me over with a displeased expression.

“If it were just me, perhaps, but going all the way to the West with the burden of a princess would be too demanding a schedule.”

Calling me a burden so blatantly.

But since it was true, I couldn’t argue back.

The path to the Mage’s Land was far from smooth after all.

“Then when would be appropriate?”

“Ten days from now would be suitable.”

Demian said while crossing his arms.

“In the meantime, I’ll teach the princess at least basic self-defense. So she’ll be less of a hindrance.”

Once again, there was subtle mockery mixed in.

Being a hindrance.

I had a lot to say but held it in.

Nothing good would come from talking back here.

“That settles it then. I’ll send the guardianship matter to the temple once the princess returns.”

Carlos nodded and turned his attention back to the documents.

“Anything else to discuss?”

It was a clean dismissal, telling us to leave if we had nothing more to say.

I quietly left the study.

Just as I turned around to head back to my room, I heard Demian’s voice from behind.

“Princess.”

When I stopped and turned around, Demian was looking at me with an annoyed expression.

“Come to the training ground by 10 AM tomorrow.”

“…Tomorrow?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. If you’re late, I’ll just leave you behind.”

With those words, Demian abruptly turned away.

‘…What is this.’

I suddenly felt like everything was going dark.

‘Ten days of training under that man, and then traveling with him to the West?’

Somehow I had a bad feeling about this.

* * *

The next day at 10 o’clock.

When I arrived at the training ground right on time, Demian was already waiting for me.

With his arms crossed and leaning on his sword, as if he had been waiting for quite some time.

‘What time did he even come out here?’

It wasn’t like I was late, but for some reason I felt intimidated.

The day would come when I’d be overpowered by this guy.

Even though I knew he was my real brother, I felt somehow wronged, perhaps because of my memories from before the regression.

“…I’m here.”

“Yes, I can see that.”

Demian replied coldly and looked me up and down.

It seemed he had decided to be openly insolent now.

“Today we’ll start by checking your basic physical fitness.”

“Basic physical fitness?”

“I need to know just how pathetic you are to plan your training.”

His tone suggested he had no expectations.

I was annoyed inside but held it back.

There was nothing good that would come from picking a fight with Demian here.

If this guy refused to escort me, I’d have no other options.

Carlos wouldn’t assign me another escort, and I’d be stuck here stamping my feet without even making it to the West.

I didn’t want that.

“What do I need to do?”

“First, try running around the training ground.”

Demian gestured with his chin toward the wide open space.

“How many laps?”

“Just start running. Until you can’t anymore.”

…What kind of training is this?

But I couldn’t refuse. I walked to the edge of the training ground and started running.

At first it was fine.

Just run, right? No big deal.

I had run about half a lap when…

My breath caught and my legs became heavy as lead.

My heart pounded like it would burst.

‘…Wait, already?’

Just half a lap?

My steps gradually slowed. I reached a speed where you couldn’t tell if I was running or walking.

Eventually.

“…Huff, gasp.”

I barely completed half a lap and stopped.

I put my hands on my knees and panted. A bitter taste rose in my throat and my vision spun.

I knew I didn’t exercise much, but my stamina was this trash?

No way.

“…Is that it?”

Demian’s voice poured down from above my head.

He was looking down at me with a crooked posture.

After gauging the distance I had run, he snorted.

“Half a lap.”

A cold assessment fell.

“How impressive.”

…This time I had nothing to say even to his blatant sarcasm.

“Can’t be helped. Now try doing push-ups.”

“…Right now? Let me catch my breath first.”

“Right now.”

Is he a demon?

Is this guy really not a demon?

“Are you going to quit? It’s fine if you want to go inside now.”

At my irritated glare, Demian casually shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care.

It was a ridiculous look that said he hadn’t expected anything anyway.

‘How annoying.’

That sight strangely stimulated my competitive spirit.

I defiantly got down on the ground, placed my arms, and straightened my body.

I managed that much.

Now I just need to bend down.

I bent my arms.

And then.

Thud.

“…”

I collapsed straight to the ground.

I couldn’t do even one.

The moment I bent my arms, my strength gave out.

‘…Isn’t this a bit too much?’

I was embarrassed.

I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole if there was one.

When I lifted my head, Demian was looking down at me as usual.

I couldn’t read his expression.

“Get up.”

“…”

I slowly got up.

My whole body was trembling. I had only run half a lap and merely ‘attempted’ push-ups, but I was already exhausted.

Demian looked at me as if I were pathetic.

No, it wasn’t ‘as if’ he thought I was pathetic—his eyes truly showed he thought I was pathetic.

“You planned to go to the West in this condition?”

It was a direct hit.

But.

“Protection is what a guard is supposed to do.”

I fought back without backing down.

It wasn’t wrong. I had asked for a guard to keep me from getting involved in dangerous situations, so if the guard was competent, what would I need to fight directly for.

Demian chuckled. It was a sneer.

“Ah, so you mean you’ll trust me completely?”

“…”

“Your Highness the Princess, trusting the eldest son of House of Carter?”

Those words made my insides churn.

Annoyingly, he wasn’t wrong.

No matter how much he wore the guise of a guard, it was ultimately nothing more than surveillance, and above all, this man could abandon me if things went wrong.

No, not just abandon me, but deliberately leave me in a dangerous place.

I could only trust myself.

Moreover, by now the Imperial Family might have noticed my disappearance, and if so…

‘They might send that bastard to find me.’

When a familiar face came to mind, I got goosebumps.

“…That’s why I said I’d learn.”

I answered through gritted teeth.

“I want to survive too.”

Demian looked at me.

His eyes held a complex expression. I couldn’t tell if it was mockery or surprise.

Eventually.

“Fine.”

He smirked.

“Let’s give it a try.”

I’ll endure it even if it’s just to spite you.

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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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