The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 31

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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 31

 

When we came down from the Mage Tower, the sunset was disappearing beyond the horizon.

 

The Archmage slipped a ring onto my finger as I was about to leave, saying it was a means to contact him directly.

 

It was a silver ring with a small purple gem embedded in it.

 

“…Do I use this ring when I need to contact you?”

 

“Yeah, tap the ring twice. If I’m not outside the continent, it’ll connect right away.”

 

I looked curiously at the ring fitted on my index finger. Each time the angle changed, a mysterious light flowed from the gem.

 

‘…It’s pretty.’

 

From Carlos’s artifact to a means of communication with the Archmage.

 

After my regression, it felt like I was seeing every strange object there was to see.

 

“I’ll come to collect the purification stones soon, so don’t forget.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“When I come looking for you, hmm. It would be troublesome if you were dead.”

 

‘…’

 

It was a farewell greeting that was anything but ordinary.

 

I wondered whether I should take this as a blessing or a curse.

 

Meanwhile, the Archmage, who had positioned the horses Demian and I were riding in the center, flicked his hand in the air.

 

The ground we were standing on began to glow.

 

“This is my courtesy. When you open your eyes, you’ll be at the Ducal Palace.”

 

It had taken a full day and a half to get here, but apparently it wouldn’t even take a minute to return.

 

I bowed my head, once again realizing the greatness of magic.

 

“I’ll see you again, Lord Archmage.”

 

“Sion.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“My name.”

 

Before I could react to the name that suddenly flew into my ears, brilliant light filled my vision.

 

“Call me that next time.”

 

The last thing I heard was a faint voice.

 

When the light finally faded, we were standing alone at the entrance to the Ducal Palace.

 

“…This actually works.”

 

I muttered in bewilderment.

 

We had returned so instantaneously that it felt like I had been dreaming. Demian standing next to me seemed to feel the same way, looking around with a dazed expression.

 

“The Archmage really is impressive.”

 

The Mage’s Land was one thing, but the inland areas near the capital had long been eroded by magi.

 

To activate large-scale magic without a single error in an environment where ordinary mages could barely emit mana.

 

“You seem surprised, Your Grace.”

 

“Yes, it’s my first time seeing it. In the inland areas, large-scale magic is unthinkable due to the woefully insufficient purification stones.”

 

I kept my mouth shut tight. I had tried to tease him a little but ended up not even breaking even.

 

“But what kind of conversation did you have with the Archmage to gain his willing cooperation?”

 

“Trade secret.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“If I was going to tell you that, would I have talked behind a barrier?”

 

I felt a disgruntled gaze stick to my back.

 

“Did you perhaps speak to His Highness the First Prince in this manner as well?”

 

“Then Vincent wouldn’t have disliked me, would he?”

 

“…You can be even more infuriating than this.”

 

Demian shook his head with a renewed sigh.

 

Then he pulled the reins and began driving his horse toward the Duke’s Mansion.

 

“So what will you do now, Your Grace?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Given the Duke’s personality, he must have told you to report if I showed any suspicious behavior. I’m curious about your decision.”

 

Demian’s expression became subtle at my calm words.

 

“Have you perhaps become thirty-three instead of thirteen without my knowledge, Your Highness?”

 

“…Suddenly?”

 

“Because you’re so nonchalant when discussing matters of life and death.”

 

Not thirty-three, but I had been twenty.

 

At Demian’s unintended perceptiveness, I almost flinched but composed myself and said.

 

“It’s the truth.”

 

Demian pressed his lips together. His expression looked uncomfortable, as if something was stuck in his throat.

 

After moving his lips for a while, he muttered.

 

“…For now, I’m thinking of waiting and seeing. I can’t file a false report.”

 

“You mean it’s on hold?”

 

“Yes, we’re not at a level where we trust each other, are we?”

 

I had shown him everything, even my lowest point when meeting Vincent, yet he said we weren’t at a level to trust each other.

 

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand, but it was deflating.

 

He had held my hand in front of the Archmage, yet he was merciless in this regard.

 

“Well, yeah…”

 

Watching me let out a deep sigh, Demian moved his lips a few times before slowly adding.

 

“Work harder.”

 

“….”

 

“Until I want to believe in you.”

 

* * *

 

“Oh my! Why are you back so early?”

 

As we entered the Main Building, Mia, who had been moving lamps in the first-floor hall, stopped in surprise.

 

It was clearly a schedule that would take at least a week, but she couldn’t believe we had returned in just three days.

 

Blinking her eyes in bewilderment, she hesitantly asked.

 

“Did something go wrong perhaps?”

 

Somehow her gaze kept glancing at me.

 

‘…She thinks something happened because of me, doesn’t she?’

 

First the Archmage, then Demian, and now even Mia was acting like this, so I was gradually starting to reflect on myself.

 

“No, we safely visited the Land of Mages and successfully persuaded the Archmage too.”

 

“Persuaded? You did, Your Highness?”

 

An incredulous question immediately came back.

 

I could see Demian making a “Hmm!” sound as he suppressed his laughter.

 

That bastard, really.

 

“See? This is the typical reaction, Your Highness.”

 

“I’m already keenly aware of how terrible my image is, so you don’t need to remind me, Grand Duke.”

 

“Oh dear.”

 

Demian smirked annoyingly.

 

‘I can’t even hit him.’

 

Mia, who had been reading the mood between the two of us, belatedly waved her hands.

 

“Oh no, Your Highness. I didn’t mean it like that.”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

What’s the point of saying anything.

 

After waving my hand dismissively, I immediately climbed the stairs to the second floor, using travel fatigue as an excuse.

 

However, before I could even finish climbing the stairs, I came face to face with Carlos who was coming down from upstairs.

 

Carlos looked me over silently and spoke curtly with an unimpressed expression.

 

“You managed to return alive.”

 

It was a dry tone for a homecoming greeting.

 

“Yes, I’m back.”

 

At my calm greeting, Carlos’s eyes narrowed.

 

Looking at him, I felt a subtle emotion. I couldn’t understand his psychology of acting like he didn’t care if I died, yet sending artifacts to Demian’s side.

 

While I was lost in thought, Carlos, who had been standing at the top of the stairs, started moving again.

 

But he wasn’t coming down.

 

He turned around and began retracing his steps.

 

Then he spoke to me, who was looking up at him questioningly from below.

 

“Follow me, I have something to tell you.”

 

“Right now?”

 

There was no answer.

 

Silence meant yes.

 

‘What?’

 

Though I couldn’t hide my puzzlement, I obediently followed behind him.

 

The place Carlos headed to was his study.

 

Crossing the room, he picked up something from his desk and handed it to me.

 

“There’s a problem.”

 

It was a letter envelope with the Temple’s seal.

 

‘…Why the Temple?’

 

My heart sank with a bad premonition.

 

We hadn’t even sent the guardianship documents yet.

 

As if confirming my premonition, Carlos added in a sunken voice.

 

“The Imperial Court made their move in the meantime.”

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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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