The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 3

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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 3

I instinctively held my breath.

‘Duke Carter?’

The first thing that entered my vision was hair as black as pitch.

The skin revealed beneath was so pale that veins showed through clearly, while simultaneously bearing deep shadows that testified to long sleeplessness.

And….

‘Ha.’

Crimson eyes that glimpsed through the disheveled hair.

They resembled mine terribly closely.

So much so that it was strange I hadn’t noticed until now.

How could I have failed to recognize him when he was so close all this time.

The fact that I had been deceived by the Emperor, unknowing of anything, and driven my own father and family to death with my own hands felt only disgusting.

‘It seems the other party doesn’t recognize me either, though.’

I swallowed dry saliva.

Now was not the time to be lost in sentiment.

The sword thrust under my chin was far too threatening to keep stalling for time.

“…Your welcoming greeting is quite rough.”

“It’s the perfect greeting for an uninvited guest.”

To think he showed no hesitation while holding a sword to the throat of a mere thirteen-year-old princess.

Right, this was the kind of relationship between the Imperial Court and the ducal house.

The Imperial Court trampled on Duke Carter to keep his immense magical power in check, and Duke Carter hated such an Imperial Court.

‘If I spouted the crazy nonsense about being his real daughter here, my head would fly off.’

For the princess who had thoroughly isolated him to actually be the real daughter he thought was dead—could there be a more ridiculous fact than this.

“If you can’t provide a clear reason for infiltrating my mansion, even a princess won’t leave here alive.”

“….”

“So answer. What’s your purpose?”

The blade drew closer.

Along with a thin pain, blood began to seep from my pale neck.

‘If I clumsily stall for time or make excuses, I’ll die.’

I didn’t delay any further and removed my hood.

“…I came to make a deal.”

“A deal?”

Carlos’s straight eyebrows contorted.

“Ridiculous. What kind of dog tricks have you come to play on me this time.”

He growled lowly.

“Speak properly.”

Meanwhile, I was struggling desperately not to stagger.

In truth, I’d been suffering from dizziness for a while now and could barely stand.

I had changed carriages several times and walked for four hours through torrential rain.

With my stamina miserably depleted from cold and downpour, plus the overwhelming killing intent added on top, it was truly hellish.

I felt like I might lose consciousness at any moment.

If I were twenty, it might be different, but for a thirteen-year-old who had been coddled and overprotected in the Emperor’s embrace, this was harsh indeed.

But I had to endure.

Hadn’t I come here prepared for everything.

To escape from the Emperor’s grasp and survive.

I barely steadied my pale, trembling hands and pulled something from within my clothes.

“This is a more appetizing proposal than that.”

The Duke’s eyes narrowed.

“…A refining stone?”

“It’s different from ordinary refining stones.”

What I had pulled out was not a bright red gem.

It was a mineral of deeper, darker crimson color.

Fine cracks appeared on the Duke’s face.

“How about it, do you feel like talking now?”

I asked while observing his complexion.

His presence was still threatening, but it seemed the killing intent that had been weighing down my shoulders had withdrawn slightly.

“Explain.”

“…Could you remove this sword first? It hurts.”

I sighed and spoke weakly.

Only then did Carlos’s gaze turn to my bleeding neck.

“….”

He slowly withdrew his sword after glaring at me.

Finally, the breath I’d been holding was released.

‘I’ve gotten past the crisis for now….’

Perhaps because the tension that had been pulled taut in an instant was released, dizziness washed over me.

“So, this is.”

Just as I was struggling to speak, my body swayed.

‘No. I can’t lose consciousness here.’

I gritted my teeth and held onto my consciousness. If I collapsed now, everything might fall apart.

But even the attempt was a tremendous feat.

Once I felt relieved, instead of my mind becoming clearer, all the strength just drained from my body.

“What are you doing? Stop this nonsense and…”

The voice that should have been heard clearly nearby sounded distant, as if coming from far away.

“Ah…”

This can’t happen.

Not like this.

Contrary to my thoughts, my body wouldn’t obey.

“…Princess?”

With Carlos’s bewildered call as the last thing I heard, I lost consciousness completely.

* * *

My body felt heavy.

I opened my drowsy eyes.

What happened?

I had returned to the past, and came to find Duke Carter…

“…!”

I suddenly came to my senses and urgently sat up.

I saw the scene of an unfamiliar bedroom. Midday sunlight was pouring through the window.

“Oh my, you’re awake.”

Startled.

I quickly turned my head to see a middle-aged woman with a neat appearance standing a little distance from the bed.

“You slept so peacefully, I thought you wouldn’t wake up today either… Are you feeling better now?”

The woman holding a silver tray approached and examined my complexion.

“Oh my, look at me. I’m Mia Eddinburgh. It’s too grand to call myself head maid, but I’m in charge of the Duke’s Mansion’s household affairs. Please feel free to call me Mia.”

“…Did I collapse?”

“You got caught in too much rain. Your fever was so high that I gave you emergency treatment, but you need to rest a bit more.”

I felt all my strength drain away.

‘I didn’t die.’

Instead of cutting off my head or throwing me out of the Duke’s Mansion, the Duke seemed to have given me a room.

But wait.

If she said ‘today either’…

“How long have I been unconscious?”

“You’ve been sleeping for two straight days. You were soaked to the bone that dawn, so I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’ve woken up now.”

I quickly raised my head.

A sense of dismay washed over me.

Not only did I collapse, but I had been lying down for two days, not just half a day.

‘I need to meet him right away.’

If this much time had passed, it wasn’t the time to be lying around comfortably.

“Where is the Duke… ugh.”

Just as I was about to throw off the blanket, dizziness struck, making my attempt futile. My whole body ached as if every muscle was being hammered.

Mia sighed as if she had expected this and laid Lorea back down.

“No, no. You need to lie down more. Your fever hasn’t completely gone down yet, and you need to eat and take medicine later.”

“I don’t need it, the Duke…”

“Tsk! Listen to me!”

At the response I received, my mind went blank for a moment.

“What did you just say…?”

Tsk?

Did a mere head maid just scold a princess?

Even the maids at the Imperial Palace, not to mention the nanny who cared for me in childhood, had never dared to talk back to me.

Did this woman know how many heads had been swept away with just one command from me?

Despite my bewildered reaction, Mia paid no mind and pulled the blanket up to my chin.

The hand patting my shoulder was careful.

“Don’t think about anything now and rest comfortably, Your Highness.”

“No, I need to meet the Duke…”

“It’s alright. You’ll be able to meet him after you sleep well and wake up.”

Her gentle voice, like soothing a child, settled in my ears like a lullaby.

But it was strange.

Was it because I was too drained?

I should have been angry, but receiving her touch actually made me relax instead.

Covered in this unfamiliar warmth, I fell into deep slumber once again.

Before losing consciousness, I thought I heard a familiar voice.

“Master… why are you here…”

“Princess… wake up…”

My vision turned black again.

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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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