The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 20

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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 20

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Even though this was something I had expected, my body began trembling against my will. It wasn’t just from the pain of rolling on the ground.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

Demian, who had quickly dismounted from his horse, helped me up. I barely managed to push myself up from the ground with my trembling arms.

“I’m… ugh. Haa.”

Fortunately, nothing seemed to be broken.

I raised my head and glared at the approaching figure.

Threatening gait. Disheveled wavy silver hair. Arrogantly crumpled golden eyes.

A man who looked like a perfect recreation of the Emperor’s younger days.

If there was one person I, who had nothing to fear in the Imperial Palace, would avoid, it was this bastard.

“…Vincent.”

That disgusting name flowed through my clenched teeth.

The Emperor’s legitimate eldest son and first in line for succession.

The very person who would become Crown Prince in exactly five years.

First Prince, Vincent Elbon Pryce.

‘I knew it would be that bastard.’

Just meeting his face made nausea rise up in me.

During the 18 years I stayed at the Imperial Palace, Vincent was desperate to devour me.

Even until he became Crown Prince, the matter of the purification stones remained a secret known only to the Emperor and me. Perhaps because of this, Vincent viewed me as a thorn in his side—someone who regularly had private audiences with the Emperor, whispering secrets.

Whenever I got caught up in troublesome incidents or was unexpectedly injured, Vincent was always behind it.

There was a time when I felt superior watching Vincent’s desperate struggles, intoxicated by being ‘more valuable than the legitimate heir.’

After all, the Empire was beneath my feet.

So I was immersed in such fantasies right up until I was abandoned by the Emperor and dragged to the Underground Dungeon.

‘I was arrogant.’

Looking back now, that conversation was the root of all trouble.

That day, I had been discussing purification stone matters with the Emperor as usual and was coming out. If Vincent hadn’t been waiting crookedly in front of the Garden to pick a fight, I would have passed by quietly.

But perhaps I was too elated that particular day.

“Vincent, are you so lacking in confidence that you feel threatened by a mere half-blood?”

“…What?”

“I understand you’re harboring jealousy because you’re anxious about your own incompetence and inferiority. But if you really think you have what it takes to be Emperor, how about reading one more page of imperial studies instead of wasting time picking fights?”

“What did you just say?”

“That’s the truth, isn’t it? A half-blood princess who doesn’t even know her birth mother, and the Emperor’s legitimate eldest son who just completed his Crown Prince coronation ceremony a year ago. Between just the two of us, no matter what anyone says, I wouldn’t be a match for you.”

“…You worm of a bitch, running your mouth.”

“How vulgar.”

I had never been interested in the Emperor’s throne from the beginning. That’s why Vincent, who harbored competitive feelings and anxiety toward me, just looked pathetic. I was annoyed and just wanted to provoke him a little.

How could I have known that Vincent, properly hit by that provocation, would persistently investigate and discover the source of the purification stones, then manipulate the Emperor?

It was a stupid thing to do.

‘Who’s the real worm here.’

Vincent, unaware of my inner thoughts, looked down at us arrogantly and laughed sneeringly.

“I wondered what kind of dog-like tantrum made you run away…”

This time Vincent’s gaze turned to Demian, who was supporting me.

“This is a better harvest than I expected.”

Kekeke, a nasty laugh flowed out low.

From Vincent’s perspective, there couldn’t be better luck than this. He wouldn’t miss this heaven-sent opportunity to get rid of his thorn in the side.

Demian, who had been assessing the situation, stepped in front of me and pointed his sword at Vincent.

“I’ll skip the greetings. How about you just pass by, Your Highness?”

“Well, well, has this one gone mad?”

Vincent laughed sneeringly.

“This is why I pleaded so earnestly with His Majesty to exterminate this family long ago. Look, you have no fear whatsoever. Are you planning to commit outright treason?”

“I don’t recall ever being treated as an imperial citizen.”

“How shameless.”

Vincent looked him up and down mockingly.

I frowned.

‘There are way too many people. This is disadvantageous.’

Who would have thought the Emperor would dispatch the entire Second Imperial Guard along with Vincent. Having lost even one horse, we could fail to escape if we weren’t careful.

Demian couldn’t attack Vincent.

Engaging in full combat with a prince here would give them justification to exterminate the House of the Duke immediately.

Fortunately, perhaps due to Demian’s menacing aura, the knights were hesitating and hadn’t completely surrounded us.

“Let me see, Grand Duke’s son. The retainers keep chattering that you’ll become a Sword Master soon.”

Meanwhile, Vincent giggled and pulled out another arrow. The sharply honed arrow exclusive to princes glinted coldly under the dawn light.

“Let’s see some of that skill.”

Humming a tune, what a sight. It was a smile he wore knowing that Demian absolutely couldn’t attack him here.

Demian gritted his teeth and readjusted his grip on his sword.

‘This won’t do.’

The situation was too unfavorable.

“Ahaha! Interesting! This is exactly how it was when we played rabbit hunting as children!”

Vincent aimed his arrow at us.

This was the forest. The terrain wasn’t favorable, so the knights except Vincent were only armed with swords. It was sufficient distance for Demian to block that bastard’s arrow, and our horse that hadn’t fled yet was within reach.

‘If I just stay calm, I can do this. It’s okay.’

I had anticipated everything.

I secretly moved my hand to the dagger sheath at my waist. Then with my other hand, I lightly tugged at Demian’s sleeve.

Green eyes briefly swept over me.

“Don’t answer, Grand Duke. And when I count to three, get on the horse and bolt at full speed. To the opposite side, where the knights haven’t surrounded us.”

“What?”

“I know it’s hard to trust. But right now, do as I say. Even if you block one arrow, it’s troublesome to face the knights while protecting me, isn’t it?”

Demian’s eyes widened.

Of course. I was talking about myself like baggage.

But I didn’t have the luxury of maintaining my pride in this situation. Because it was the truth.

“Do you understand?”

When I asked again as if pleading, Demian reluctantly nodded.

“Now, I’ll take care of the Grand Duke, so someone bring the Princess to me! If you keep her alive, I’ll give you a great reward!”

It was the moment Vincent chuckled and pulled the bowstring taut.

“One, two…”

Just before the arrow flew, I pulled out a birch branch covered in pollen from the dagger sheath and threw it at Vincent.

Thwack!

“Argh!”

“Three! Now!”

Vincent staggered and the arrow flew off in the wrong direction. Not missing the opportunity, Demian put me on the horse and rode at full speed.

“Hyah!”

Behind the frantic sound of hoofbeats, I heard agonized coughing and urgent shouts.

“Cough, cough, gasp!”

“Your Highness, Prince!”

“That crazy, cough, gasp, cough! Help me, cough!”

“Attend to His Highness! Right now!”

I cheered inwardly.

‘Got it!’

Birch pollen.

Birch flowers that bloom in spring were famous for causing allergies. And the fact that Vincent had that allergy was quite well-known in the Imperial Court.

It was information I had learned by chance before my regression, and who knew it would be this useful.

The knights couldn’t even think of chasing us and were in chaos surrounding Vincent.

I looked forward again and crouched down.

“Don’t stop running! Southwest!”

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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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