The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 18

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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 18

“Your Highness, you need to get up now.”

“Ugh, it’s cold….”

Early dawn before the sun had even risen.

My body shrank from the cold wind suddenly pouring over my skin. The culprit was Mia. Not only had she thrown the window wide open, but she had also completely pulled away the blanket I was covered with.

“Hurry up. Didn’t the young master say he wouldn’t wait even one more minute?”

“Haah….”

Right, he did say that.

I rubbed my face and barely managed to sit up. Perhaps because I had become younger, it was particularly difficult to come to my senses in the morning.

“Mia, what time is it?”

“4 o’clock. Even if you start getting ready now, time will be tight.”

Mia patted my back as if urging me on.

Even when I was at the Imperial Palace, there wasn’t a single maid who dared to lay hands on the princess’s body. Mia acted casually as if she were treating her granddaughter.

It was still awkward and unfamiliar, but perhaps I had adapted over the past few weeks—it wasn’t bewildering or unpleasant.

“By the way, this is the first time you’re departing this early. The roads to the West must be rough, I suppose?”

“Well, I haven’t heard that the roads are rough.”

“Then the young master must be nervous since this is his first time escorting royalty. Judging by how he wants to depart at this dawn hour.”

Mia smiled good-naturedly.

And I inwardly snorted.

Nervous? That guy? It wasn’t even funny.

Having trained together for ten days, I had come to know him somewhat. Damian Carter wasn’t the type of person to get nervous.

Rather than that.

‘He probably just wants to scratch at me for not liking to wake up early.’

Royalty’s wake-up time is relatively late. When I was at the Imperial Palace, I had never woken up before 9 AM. Demian would know that fact too.

Surely if it had been ten days ago, I would have been truly irritated to the tips of my hair, but now I just accepted it.

Even though he acts so petty, he doesn’t behave badly when it matters.

…I’m also somewhat grateful.

“I’ll just get ready simply. Bring me water to wash with first.”

“I’ve already prepared it. I warmed it up nicely, so please wash up. I think it would be good to wear something a bit thicker too. Dawn is chilly.”

Mia moved busily, taking out clothes.

“How about this hooded coat? It blocks the wind and is light, perfect for Your Highness to wear.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I nodded at Mia’s thoughtful consideration and took the clothes.

This never happened at the Imperial Palace. The maids choosing and preparing clothes for me, or giving opinions about my outfit. If they had done that, they would have been punished.

I just had to wear whatever dress I felt like each day. Whether it was cold or hot, I was busy adorning myself like a peacock. People were just busy trying to please my mood.

‘I shouldn’t get used to things like this already.’

Somehow I felt a subtle emotion. Mia’s warm nagging, the daily changing meals, the days with nothing set—I found it all delightful.

Could I have grown up in an environment like this if I weren’t a princess?

While watching Mia move busily, I suddenly looked out the window.

It was still dark.

‘By now, pursuers would have been dispatched….’

Although I had moved up the schedule as much as possible, it couldn’t be considered completely safe.

And if my prediction was correct, the Emperor would have sent the First Prince.

‘I really don’t want to meet that bastard.’

To go to the western part of the continent, we had to pass through the road toward the capital at least once. It was also the road we had taken when fleeing to the Dukedom.

‘It’s not that there’s no way to go around avoiding that place….’

But then the schedule that was about three days would double.

‘Right now, that would be even more dangerous.’

After all, the only option was to prepare for when we encounter them.

I came to a brief conclusion and hurriedly finished getting ready.

“Um, Mia.”

“Yes, is there something you need?”

“There’s something I need you to prepare.”

* * *

Exactly 5 AM.

When I arrived at the front gate, Demian was already there.

He was checking the horse’s saddle when he saw me and his eyes widened.

“…What is that outfit?”

His gaze scanning me up and down was not ordinary.

What’s the problem?

I looked down at my outfit.

Instead of an outing dress, I wore pants that were comfortable for activity, and had a dagger sheath at my waist. Plus the hooded coat Mia had prepared for me. It was the perfect travel outfit.

“What’s wrong with this? Isn’t it the perfect outfit for a schedule that lasts a whole week?”

Demian made a strange expression.

What, why is he acting like that?

“Making a hundred concessions, I’ll let the pants outfit slide.”

He pointed to my waist.

“You’ve learned some self-defense for a few days and now you’re carrying a sword?”

Ah, this.

“Yes. You never know what might happen. I have to protect myself. You said I shouldn’t rely entirely on the Grand Duke, right?”

“So you’re planning to swing a dagger around yourself?”

Demian sighed.

“How dangerous a weapon a sword is for someone who hasn’t learned…”

“I know.”

I cut him off.

“And I never said it was a sword.”

“…What?”

I grabbed the scabbard and pulled out the handle to show him.

Where the blade should have been, there was just a tree branch covered in pollen sitting there.

“What is this now.”

Demian looked dumbfounded.

Though it didn’t feel like he was coldly snapping at me like before. He just seemed genuinely bewildered.

“Since it’s early spring, there were lots of birch flowers blooming behind the mansion.”

“So?”

“I thought it might come in handy, so I brought some. This is more convenient than carrying tree branches around, isn’t it?”

“…”

Demian stared at me.

For a long while.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“If your mind and body are unwell, let’s cancel the departure and have you rest in your room.”

That was his roundabout way of asking if I was crazy.

Well, I would have been angry before.

But now it was just funny.

“I’m fine.”

I answered with a cheerful smile.

“More importantly, shouldn’t we be leaving now? It’s already 5:03.”

I put the tree branch back in the scabbard and pointed at the clock.

“You said you wouldn’t wait even a minute, so I hurried to come out on time. At this rate, there’s no point in coming out early.”

Demian still looked like he wanted to say something.

But all that came out was a sigh.

“Did you really get struck by lightning or something.”

Hey, I can hear you.

Then he simply lifted me up and placed me on the horse.

He was now carrying and moving me around like a piece of luggage.

The unfortunate fact was that with these short legs, I couldn’t resist or do anything about it.

“I deliberately didn’t prepare a carriage. Riding horses is faster.”

“Yes, I prefer that too.”

If we took a carriage and got attacked, it would be harder to escape.

Demian climbed up behind me and thought for a moment before asking.

“…Would a carriage be better after all?”

His tone suggested he wasn’t at ease. He didn’t seem to think Loreia could endure the journey to the West on horseback.

“It’s fine. You said we need to go and come back quickly.”

I snorted and gripped the saddle tightly, putting strength in my back.

It was something I absolutely couldn’t have done ten days ago. I suppose it was the result of training, if anything.

When I shrugged my shoulders proudly, Demian shook his head as if fed up.

“Let’s go.”

With those brief words, Demian began to spur the horse.

The main gate of the Duke’s Mansion opened, and we set out onto the road where darkness had not yet fully lifted.

The dawn air was cold.

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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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