The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 25

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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 25

‘If I obtain the holy sword first, this time I won’t lose my eyes because of the Emperor.’

Suddenly, memories from before my regression came flooding back.

When the Emperor heard that Demian had lost only one eye as the price for obtaining the holy sword, he flew into a rage. He turned the Imperial Palace upside down, saying he should have been made completely crippled or blind, and an ominous atmosphere lingered for quite some time.

The Emperor eventually took his remaining eye when he banished him beyond the continent.

In fact, I still wondered why Demian, the continent’s only Sword Master, had meekly allowed himself to be captured by the Imperial Army and driven out of the continent.

If he had truly opposed the Imperial Family to the very end?

Even if he couldn’t win, members of the Imperial Family would have been massacred.

So it was truly strange.

Demian, who had always acted like he would tear me apart whenever he saw me, was strangely quiet when I last visited him in the Underground Dungeon.

He didn’t pour out curses or resentment toward me.

Like someone who had lost everything.

“Grand Duke, what a pathetic sight. Why don’t you say something? I’m the princess you despised and called vermin. How does it feel to have your family destroyed by my hands?”

“…Lorea.”

“Oh, are you dropping honorifics now that exile is right around the corner?”

“…”

“Well, I’ll overlook such insolence with the magnanimity of a victor.”

After that, I don’t know what happened to him.

Whether he died or lived.

If he lived, where he went.

Back then, I considered it an unimportant fact.

My only purpose was to gain the Emperor’s trust, become his most excellent child, and prove my worth.

“…”

I clenched my teeth tightly.

I was truly terrible back then.

How could I have said such things?

To someone who had lost everything.

To someone who had lost his family, his father, and his eyes.

‘This time, I absolutely won’t let that happen.’

I owed them far too much.

It was overwhelming just trying to repay them one by one.

Obtaining Prachatia’s holy sword was merely a tiny speck of dust in comparison.

“Hmm, seeing you look for the holy sword first, you haven’t met yet.”

Hella’s muttering voice brought me back to my senses.

“What did you just say?”

“Nothing, nothing at all. What’s got you so serious?”

“Are there really idiots who risk their lives and come all the way to find a guild master out of curiosity?”

“Oh my, look at this one talk. How cute.”

“I mean it’s a serious problem for me.”

“Well… everyone has circumstances they can’t talk about.”

Hella didn’t pry further.

Actually, she didn’t even look particularly curious.

She’d been looking me over with what seemed like interest since earlier, but I couldn’t gauge what she was thinking at all.

She shrugged her shoulders.

“You can go back now. I’ll have the sword delivered to where the little customer is staying.”

Delivery? Was the trading post always this considerate?

“Normally you’d have to come back to pick up the item, but since the little customer is so admirable, this is a service.”

“You’re planning to block the entrance so someone like me can’t find it next time anyway, aren’t you?”

“Ahaha, that’s right too.”

Hella waved her long, pale hand and laughed coquettishly.

As expected.

Loopholes only worked once.

“I’ll be leaving this city soon. Can you find where I am right away? I’d prefer to receive the sword secretly if possible.”

“Don’t worry about that. It’s easy for me.”

Her pale, white eyes folded in half as a chilling smile appeared.

“I know everything. I’ve known for a very long time.”

…How creepy.

Well, she’s a woman called the “Mother of Vagrants,” so would finding me be a problem?

This woman was a mage who had lived for hundreds of years to begin with. She could no longer even be called human.

I subtly averted my gaze and hopped down from the sofa.

I brushed myself off, gave a slight bow, and was about to leave the room when I heard languid laughter from behind.

“Well then, see you again, Princess.”

My body froze solid.

‘She knew.’

When I turned around stiffly like someone who’d been hit right on target, Hella was waving at me with her characteristically relaxed expression.

“Um.”

“Well then, goodbye.”

Thud.

The door closed.

* * *

In the Moonlight Trading Post guild master’s room after Lorea had disappeared.

Hella sat diagonally in her chair with her long legs stretched out, tapping the armrest with her fingertips.

“Hmm.”

She recalled the bold face that had just demanded the holy sword and chuckled with amusement.

“Somehow, our princess seems to be getting bolder by the day.”

A brown-haired princess, no less.

And what about that face that looked barely ten years old?

A subtle emotion crossed Hella’s face as she fell deep into thought.

“I hope this time will be less tiring.”

She slowly rose from her seat.

The holy sword, huh.

I’ll gladly find it for you.

* * *

When I returned to the inn, everything was quiet.

The darkness had deepened and the moon hung bright in the middle of the night sky.

Looking at my pocket watch, about three hours had passed.

Since there was no commotion, it seemed Demian still didn’t know I had left my room.

‘Good, if I just go up quietly, it’ll be the perfect crime.’

I quietly opened the inn door and was about to cross the darkened first-floor hall to go upstairs when it happened.

Creak.

Startled.

The sound of the old wooden stairs groaning echoed loudly throughout the entire inn.

I froze in place like a statue.

‘Why does the noise only get loud at times like this?’

Are stairs even supposed to make sounds like this?

The only stairs I’d ever stepped on were marble stairs covered with luxurious carpets, and the stone stairs I’d passed when being dragged down to the Underground Dungeon. This was the first time I learned that wood makes such unpleasant sounds when it twists.

“What’s that.”

At that moment.

A voice came from right upstairs.

“…Grand Duke?”

Demian stood at the top of the stairs holding his sword, his disheveled hair still uncombed.

Don’t tell me he rushed out immediately upon hearing someone?

The special room should be on the top floor, so when did he even—?

Isn’t that way too fast?

Regardless, Demian looked me over with displeased eyes and sheathed the sword he had half-drawn with a sharp click.

“I thought it was some little rat…”

Carlos had called me a little rat too. Now Demian said the exact same thing.

“Your Highness, are you returning from outside wearing that suspicious robe?”

He strode down and pulled off my hood with a swift motion.

Sharp green eyes flashed right in front of me.

Close.

Too close.

“When did you ever chant about needing protection, and now, this late at night, where have you been wandering alone?”

His sharp eyes narrowed.

Rather than worry for his charge, it was more like an interrogation filled with suspicion.

‘…Hmm.’

Should I consider it fortunate that I was caught on my way back?

Or should I consider it unfortunate that my perfect crime went down the drain?

I was confused.

I rolled my eyes around before mumbling a response.

“…Hungry.”

“What? What was that? Speak properly.”

“I said I was hungry.”

…Grumble.

As if to support my hastily made excuse, my stomach let out a loud rumbling sound right on cue.

Silence fell.

“…”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t eaten anything since we departed at 5 AM. Too many things had happened in between for me to even think about food.

Moreover, since I usually fell asleep promptly at 10 PM, it was natural that I’d start feeling hungry staying awake past midnight.

Emboldened by the help of my stomach’s rumbling, I straightened my back and acted haughty toward him.

“I went to look around for something to buy and eat. What? Can’t a princess get hungry?”

“No, what the—”

“I said I’m hungry. If you’re going to be a guard, act like one… Mmph.”

“I get it, so be quiet.”

Demian looked up at the quiet upper floor of the inn and let out a deep sigh.

He seemed worried about waking the other guests.

“…Just follow me for now.”

Demian turned around.

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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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