The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 33
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 33
When I suddenly opened my eyes, I was standing in a dark place.
Before my eyes were black, cold iron bars, and the floor was filled with blood.
‘What is this…? Is it a dream?’
The familiar smell of blood.
Dark and gloomy air.
This seemed to be a dream of the moment I was dragged to the underground dungeon.
Of all dreams to have, it had to be such a violent one.
I quietly waited for this dream to end quickly.
But something was strange.
I wasn’t the only one in the prison.
No, to be precise, I wasn’t standing inside the prison.
Where I was standing was the prison corridor.
The blood scattered on the floor wasn’t mine either.
‘…What.’
I could see another figure beyond the iron bars.
A body covered in blood.
Lying there powerlessly…
‘Carlos, Demian?’
Thump.
My heart sank.
Why.
Why are those people there.
I couldn’t hide my confusion and lowered my gaze.
And only then did I realize that a sword covered in blood was gripped in my hand.
‘…’
No.
This isn’t something I did.
I didn’t do such a thing.
That’s when it happened.
A phlegmy voice came from behind me.
-Look, Lorea.
-See how you finished off your father and brother.
The Emperor’s thick hand gripped my shoulder tightly.
It was strange.
Surely I shouldn’t feel pain since it was a dream, but I had the illusion that my shoulder was tingling.
I felt as if my body temperature was cooling rapidly. I shook my head compulsively.
‘No, I didn’t do that.’
I really didn’t know.
I didn’t intend to…
“Gasp!”
I urgently drew in breath and opened my eyes.
Fortunately, this time it wasn’t a prison.
Guest room at the Duke’s mansion.
The familiar ceiling came into view.
‘…It was a dream.’
I belatedly took deep breaths and gripped my chest tightly with my small hand.
My heart was still pounding.
“What kind of dream was that…”
Of all things, such a nightmare.
My throat was parched as if burning.
I had been supporting myself with my arm in an awkward position, neither sitting nor lying down, then got down from the bed and put on slippers.
I thought I’d go to the kitchen to shake off the nightmare.
A glass of water would probably help.
I was adjusting my chemise and about to leave the room.
Knock knock.
A small knocking sound came from the window facing the garden.
Startled, I quickly turned my head.
Some unfamiliar figure was hanging at the window.
‘…What.’
Their face was covered with a dark robe, making it hard to see.
My heart dropped with a thud.
‘Could it be an assassin?’
No matter how crazy the Emperor was, would he really send an assassin to the Ducal Palace, which has extraterritorial rights? That couldn’t be.
I stepped back with wary eyes and looked around the room.
Something that could be used as a weapon… there was nothing. At most, maybe the flower vase by the window?
‘What could I possibly do with that.’
Then, the red lips beneath the robe curved upward in an arc.
They were smiling.
But it was a bit strange.
That suspicious person… wasn’t they revealing their presence too openly to be an assassin?
No, do assassins ever knock in the first place?
Noticing the sense of incongruity made me even more confused.
That’s when it happened. The other person waved something from beyond the window.
What was faintly illuminated by the moonlight was…
“…Ah.”
It was the symbol representing the Moonlight Trading Post.
A crescent moon with two hands clasped beneath it.
The delivery Hella had mentioned.
I didn’t expect it to come this quickly.
I hurriedly opened the window.
Then the hanging figure nimbly climbed over the windowsill. It was a light movement, like a cat.
“You could’ve opened it a bit earlier. My arms were about to fall off.”
A sulky, youthful voice flowed out.
It wasn’t Hella’s voice.
Hella had a more… languid and leisurely voice.
This one felt somehow young and lively. Most importantly, it was a man’s voice, not a woman’s.
“What’s with that expression?”
The other person chuckled.
“Ah, are you disappointed it’s not the master?”
He removed his hood. Pink hair that had been hidden beneath the black clothes spilled out.
He looked to be about twenty years old, with mischievous teal eyes sparkling.
The man looked at me and opened his eyes wide.
“Wow, you’re really the princess. This is my first time seeing a princess.”
Staring blankly.
He looked me up and down as if observing some curious animal.
What kind of greeting is this supposed to be?
Am I imagining that I’ve been encountering all sorts of bizarre greetings I never once saw in 20 years, one after another since my regression?
Meanwhile, the man added with a bright smile.
“You’re smaller than I thought?”
…What?
“Ah, I guess it’s because you’re thirteen. You’re just a kid, really.”
What did this person just say?
Small? A kid?
He showed no hesitation whatsoever in making such disrespectful remarks in front of a princess.
I was so dumbfounded that I started glaring at him intently.
“What’s with those murderous eyes? Scary.”
The man burst into hearty laughter. Even seeing my stern expression, he didn’t seem to have an ounce of tension.
“It’s a joke, a joke. ‘Your Highness is beautiful’ – is that better?”
“…Just get to the point already. This is a delivery, right?”
“Geez, so cold.”
While grumbling, the man held out a long box he’d been carrying on his back.
It was an elongated box.
“Here, something the master sent. The holy sword of Prachatia.”
My heart skipped a beat.
I can’t believe this is actually coming into my hands like this.
There was a card attached to the top of the box. It was written in elegant handwriting, and the content was simple.
-Cute little miss, I hope the item is satisfactory.
There was no signature or name written, but I could definitely tell that Hella had written this.
“…You came quickly.”
“The master told me to handle it urgently. I don’t know what it was, but it must have been quite an important deal?”
The man shrugged his shoulders.
“Usually it takes at least a week. But I was surprised when she told me to make this trip in just two days. Are you well acquainted with our master by any chance?”
“I met her for the first time recently.”
“Really? That’s strange. The master isn’t usually such a warm-hearted person.”
Saying that, he started grinning again.
“But this is really fascinating. A princess making a deal with us. And for a holy sword? What are you planning to use it for?”
“Does the Moonlight Trading Post usually ask such things?”
“Hey, don’t be so rigid! I’m just curious. Our pretty princess is quite prickly for someone so small.”
“Hey, could you keep it down a bit?”
Not wanting to deal with him anymore, I ignored him appropriately and opened the lid of the box.
Inside lay a silver sword.
I could feel holy power gently emanating from it.
‘It’s real.’
It was definitely Prachatia’s holy sword. I was certain since I had seen Demian using it before my regression.
The divine artifact said to have been used by the legendary First Sword Master, one that contracts with souls.
If I give this to Demian…
“Wait, I have one more favor to ask.”
I called out to the man as I closed the box.
“Hm? What is it?”
“I’d like you to deliver this sword to someone else instead of me.”
The man’s eyebrows rose.
“Someone else? What, it wasn’t for Your Highness the Princess to use?”
I wanted to ask again how someone could use this with such thin arms, but I held back.
“Yes, deliver it to a boy named Damian Carter who’s at this mansion. Secretly if possible, and don’t reveal the source.”
“…Is that possible?”
“This is the Moonlight Trading Post, isn’t it? You should be able to do at least that much, right?”
At my confident request, the man thought for a moment then chuckled.
“I’ll have to ask the master. There might be an additional fee.”
“I don’t mind.”
Hella probably wouldn’t charge extra for such a personal request.
“Well, alright then. Got it.”
The man who readily agreed climbed back onto the windowsill.
“Ah, right. Seems like we’ll be seeing each other often. Well then, see you next time, Your Highness.”
The man grinned and tossed something at me.
It was a small business card with the Moonlight Trading Post’s emblem on it.
“Contact me anytime if you need anything.”
With a wink, the man jumped down from the windowsill.
…This is the second floor though.
I hurriedly walked to the window and looked outside, but he had already disappeared into the darkness.
‘…He’s fast.’
Truly befitting someone from the Moonlight Trading Post.
After staring at somewhere in the flower bed where the man had vanished for a while, I slowly closed the window.
For some reason, my heart was pounding.
‘Demian, this time you won’t have to lose your eyes.’
I was ready to make him a Sword Master.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————