The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 28

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

Chapter 28

 

Demian unknowingly let out a curse word and then seemed surprised at himself as he quickly covered his mouth.

 

But that was only for a moment.

 

As if resigned to whatever would happen, he withdrew his hand and began looking me over.

 

“By any chance, did you leave your life somewhere for safekeeping?”

 

“…Why?”

 

“Why? How can you ask ‘why’ right now?”

 

He laughed as if he found it absurd.

 

Yes, I understand his feelings.

 

But this method was also the best option for me.

 

“Is Her Highness the Princess a dragon, hiding her heart separately somewhere? I had a bad feeling from the moment you said you were coming to the Mage’s Land, but I followed along because of Father’s words and all…”

 

Demian let out a deep sigh as if he couldn’t believe it.

 

It was a long, deep sigh. He looked genuinely exhausted.

 

“What, the Mage Tower? Do you think they’ll even let us enter? You’ll be roasted down there before anything else.”

 

“Roasted? That’s harsh language.”

 

“In this state, it’s absolutely impossible.”

 

“What do you mean by ‘this state’?”

 

“One knight who hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony and one tiny burden.”

 

“…Mm.”

 

I had nothing to say.

 

Because he wasn’t wrong.

 

Objectively speaking, our forces were pathetic. Demian alone might be one thing, but as long as I was tagging along like a goldfish’s tail, we’d be in danger even meeting just one Mage Tower mage.

 

“Why are you looking at me with those eyes?”

 

“Because I wish the Grand Duke would get stronger quickly.”

 

“Do you know how many times you’ve said that already?”

 

“I’ll say it often in the future too.”

 

“This isn’t the time for jokes.”

 

Demian looked at me with sharp eyes.

 

It was a serious gaze. He seemed genuinely worried.

 

“If you’re planning to cause a pointless commotion, let’s just turn back here. I can’t take responsibility beyond this point.”

 

“I understand what you’re worried about, but there won’t be any fighting, so it’s fine.”

 

“What kind of confidence…”

 

“Overflowing, right?”

 

I smiled broadly and took Demian’s hand.

 

It was true that I had come somewhat recklessly, but that didn’t mean I came without a plan.

 

Demian hesitated and looked down at our suddenly joined hands.

 

“This way.”

 

Paying no mind, I pulled him toward the opposite side of the Mage Tower, into the dense forest where the mountains began.

 

“What’s this? You said you had business at the Mage Tower, so why are we here?”

 

“Shh.”

 

I brought my finger to my lips, signaling him to be quiet.

 

Demian still looked puzzled, but he closed his mouth and followed along.

 

As we entered deeper into the forest, the air changed.

 

It was clearer and more refreshing.

 

I couldn’t feel any magic at all.

 

And before long, a forest with multicolored plants growing spread out before us.

 

‘…Wow.’

 

I could hear the sound of flowing water in the distance, and brilliant clusters of light flew around small puddles where water had collected.

 

It was like entering a fairy tale.

 

This was a landscape you could never see in the Capital.

 

“What is this now…”

 

“Pretty, isn’t it?”

 

Demian couldn’t collect himself at the unfamiliar sight and looked around in all directions.

 

He looked just like an innocent boy seeing the world for the first time. He finally had the face of a sixteen-year-old, and I found that quite fascinating.

 

Actually, I too felt like exclaiming in admiration at the mystical scene, but if I did that, I’d surely receive another distrustful look, so I deliberately acted dignified as I crossed through the forest.

 

‘Then it should be somewhere around here…’

 

My gaze, which had been scanning the surroundings for a while, stopped at one particular spot.

 

“Ah, found it.”

 

Between the dense grass, next to a small stream where water flowed.

 

I could see a small furry animal that had gathered colorful fallen leaves into a soft pile and curled up in a ball.

 

Whether it was sleeping or not, its fluffy golden fur rose and fell slightly with each breath.

 

‘So cute.’

 

It was really too cute.

 

It looked like a size I could hold tightly in my small arms.

 

A round, plump body.

 

Fluffy fur.

 

Demian, who had been following half a step behind me, tilted his head with a puzzled expression.

 

“…Is that thing your target?”

 

“Cute, isn’t it?”

 

“It’s my first time seeing a golden marten.”

 

“Because this is the Mage’s Land.”

 

Things you can’t see in the Capital are scattered everywhere here.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Shing.

 

Demian drew his razor-sharp sword.

 

“Shall I catch it?”

 

“What crazy nonsense are you talking about?”

 

This man is going to cause a disaster!

 

Horrified, I slapped his shoulder repeatedly, telling him to put the sword away.

 

“Why are you hitting me?”

 

“Put the sword away!”

 

“Weren’t we going to catch it?”

 

“No! Put it away, quickly!”

 

Demian, who had been looking at me strangely, reluctantly sheathed his sword again.

 

Thank goodness.

 

The moment he drew that thing, we both almost died.

 

“Then what is it, capture it alive?”

 

“…Never mind that, could you give me some dried fruit you bought in Jeda?”

 

Martens are carnivorous, Your Highness.”

 

He answered with a condescending tone as if asking how I didn’t know that. While saying this, he confidently placed a piece of jerky in my hand instead of fruit.

 

‘As if I asked for fruit because I didn’t know that.’

 

A sigh welled up, but since I had no intention of explaining otherwise, I kept my mouth shut and just gripped the jerky Demian had placed in my hand.

 

“Wait here for a moment.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Stay still. Don’t move.”

 

I left the bewildered Demian behind and stealthily walked toward the marten.

 

The marten, which had been sleeping peacefully, seemed to sense a presence and peeked its head up to look at me.

 

Adorable purple eyes sparkled on either side of its face.

 

“…So cute.”

 

I shouldn’t be doing this, but it was really cute.

 

All the tension that had been gripping my body seemed to fly away.

 

I kept a distance of about one person’s length from the marten and stretched my arm out as far as possible, offering the jerky in my hand with a harmless expression.

 

“Hello, little marten. Would you like to eat this?”

 

The marten’s gaze fixed on the jerky.

 

Soon it seemed to sniff the scent, then shook its body and approached, snatching the jerky from my hand.

 

‘It must like it!’

 

The marten held the jerky in its small paws, sniffing it here and there, then began chewing it with a small “ahm.”

 

In the quiet forest where only the sound of water flowed, cute crunching sounds could be heard.

 

I barely managed to compose my grinning face and watched that scene for quite a while with my chin resting on my hand.

 

‘I shouldn’t be doing this, but it’s really cute.’

 

It was truly too adorable.

 

I forgot my original purpose and began openly admiring the marten’s charming and lovely appearance.

 

Around that time, I felt a piercing gaze from behind.

 

Demian, hidden in the thicket, was glaring at me intensely with an expression asking when I was going to catch the marten.

 

‘I told you we’re not catching it.’

 

Just then, the marten, having finished eating the jerky, perked up its ears and sat upright.

 

Its mysterious purple eyes met mine.

 

My heart skipped a beat.

 

Now was the real moment.

 

I crouched down as much as possible to match the marten’s eye level and spoke in a gentle tone.

 

“Hello, Tower Master. Could we have a conversation?”

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