The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 26

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

Chapter 26

Damian Carter was literally dumbfounded.

“…I should have known about inns. Who would have thought they’d make meals at night if you asked?”

Princess Lorea looked down at the steaming stew and awkwardly scratched her cheek.

This was the dining room on the first floor of the inn.

When Demian handed a gold coin to the innkeeper who was dozing at the counter and ordered a simple meal, warm bread, cream stew, several pieces of meat, and plenty of salad were brought out in less than 20 minutes.

Lorea was just watching with wide, blinking eyes as if all of this was fascinating to her.

Having lived in luxury in the Imperial Palace, it was understandable that this would be unfamiliar, but it was also naturally absurd.

‘Wandering around outside just because you’re hungry?’

Honestly, he didn’t completely believe everything this princess said, but she really seemed too flustered to have been up to anything suspicious.

‘Looking at her like this, she’s just a kid.’

Come to think of it, didn’t she say she was thirteen this year?

If his younger sister had been alive, she would have been exactly the same age.

Demian felt a strange emotion as he spoke.

“It may be modest for Your Highness the Princess to eat, but this is a rare delicacy that’s hard to find in this area.”

“I know.”

When Demian showed signs of starting to lecture, Lorea widened her already large eyes even more and cut him off.

Though they had only been together for barely a day, Demian’s image of Lorea had changed considerably during that time.

Previously, he had definitely thought of her as an arrogant and stupid, half-baked princess worse than a spoiled brat who knew nothing about life outside the Imperial Palace.

But now he was confused whether to call this princess cunning or scatterbrained.

Certainly when she was attacked by the First Prince earlier, he thought she was quite clever despite appearances, but rather than that, how should he put it…

‘…A chick?’

She was constantly chirping and chattering, and whenever he said something, she would argue back as if she hated to lose, and her pride was incredibly strong.

Yet she wasn’t being maliciously nasty either, and when Demian raised his voice, she would quickly lose her spirit and avoid his gaze.

“Please eat first.”

The food placed before the two of them was, honestly speaking, a meager meal for nobility to eat. If the princess complained or threw a tantrum looking at the food, he was prepared to send her back without mercy.

But Lorea actually took a spoonful of stew without any sign of reluctance and her eyes began to sparkle.

“Wow!”

This time she tore off some bread, dipped it in, ate it, and exclaimed in admiration.

“This is really delicious.”

“…Does it suit your taste?”

“It’s a flavor I’ve never had before. There’s food like this too?”

Her white, round cheeks kept moving as she chewed. Whether it was because she was really hungry or just not as picky as expected, it was a strange sight. Demian, who had been staring blankly at Lorea’s plump cheeks, suddenly came to his senses.

‘What, am I thinking this princess is cute?’

Unless he was crazy!

It seemed his judgment had become clouded from being hungry for too long.

Demian shook his head vigorously and buried his nose in his plate.

It was the moment when he had barely taken a few spoonfuls. Something suddenly entered his field of vision without warning.

Lorea was moving her portion of meat to Demian’s plate piece by piece.

“What is this about now?”

“I want the Duke’s son to eat a lot. I hope you eat plenty and grow up quickly.”

“…Pardon?”

Demian almost forgot the courtesy he was barely maintaining and nearly asked what nonsense this princess, who was nothing but bones herself, was talking about.

While Demian barely managed to shut his gaping mouth, Lorea added in a tone so nonchalant it was almost shameless.

“I hope the Duke’s son becomes a Sword Master quickly. It would be cool, wouldn’t it?”

Then she diligently moved over even the last piece of meat and smiled brightly. Lorea’s round cheeks turned pink like summer peaches.

“What… Never mind. Your Highness the Princess should eat more. Didn’t you say you were hungry? It’s my first time hearing a royal stomach growl.”

At Demian’s annoying addition, Lorea’s eyes turned triangular before she sighed deeply and said.

“I eat small portions. I was just starting to get full anyway.”

Demian’s gaze turned to the plate across from him. All Lorea had eaten was exactly one piece of bread and a few spoonfuls of stew.

“Are you human? How do you live eating only as much as bird feed?”

“The Emper… no, His Majesty liked delicate and frail appearances.”

Lorea said casually that it was about protective instincts or something like that.

On the other hand, Demian’s face twisted grimly.

“What kind of…”

“Anyway, that’s why you should eat a lot, Duke’s son. You need to grow up quickly thinking of my sincerity. It would be even better if you became stronger.”

“…I’m asking because I’m really curious, but has Your Highness the Princess forgotten about the relationship between the Duke’s house and the Imperial Family?”

“I haven’t forgotten, which is why I’m saying this.”

“Your words don’t make sense though?”

Unlike Carlos who would ignore and move past other things as long as interests were clear, Demian was persistent. He had to address anything he couldn’t understand to feel satisfied.

“What on earth are you thinking?”

“Do I need to think when giving you meat?”

“Weren’t you the one, Your Highness the Princess, who regarded the Duke’s house as a thorn in your side as much as the Emperor did? What wind has blown that you’re not only taking refuge in the Duke’s mansion but encouraging me?”

At first, Demian speculated whether the princess’s position in the Imperial Family had become precarious.

However, judging from the First Prince’s attitude when they encountered him in the forest earlier, it didn’t seem like any special incident had occurred behind the scenes.

Even he seemed unaware of why the princess had escaped the Imperial Palace and fled to the Duke’s mansion.

Lorea’s large eyes blinked.

She looked flustered, as if she hadn’t expected me to ask so directly.

Her red eyes rolled around. Rather than avoiding my gaze, it was an expression of being lost in light contemplation.

Eventually, Lorea spoke.

“…Because I realized it was wrong.”

“Pardon?”

“I learned that everything I believed to be right was all lies. I realized that I was foolish. So I’m correcting it now, even if it’s late. I’m sure the Grand Duke finds me distasteful.”

“I’m glad you’re aware. You are distasteful.”

“I also know that I irritate you.”

“That’s also correct.”

Even with Demian’s attitude of blatantly stabbing her with harsh words, Lorea maintained a calm expression.

She even shrugged as she popped the last piece of bread in her hand into her mouth.

Though even that softened her expression as she chewed the bread.

‘What the hell?’

Demian was learning for the first time that the princess, known as the most vicious in the Imperial Family, could make such a gentle and foolish expression.

“…Anyway. It feels a bit strange saying this to the person involved. Should we eat? I’m getting full, but you’ve barely touched your food, Grand Duke.”

Lorea changed the subject and pushed the salad plate toward Demian.

“Don’t just eat meat, have some vegetables too.”

“Look who’s talking.”

“Enjoy your meal, though I’m not the one paying for it.”

Lorea curtly cut off Demian’s lukewarm response and neatly arranged her utensils.

Demian’s gaze, which had lingered on Lorea with an expression of bewilderment, was reluctantly withdrawn.

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