The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 38
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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 38
‘Ah, seriously.’
Why are bad premonitions never wrong?
When I stiffly turned my head, Carlos was standing at a short distance away.
His gaze was fixed on Sion standing behind me. His eyes were cold. Displeasure was clearly visible.
“…Who are you.”
Each word was sharp.
It was a natural reaction since there was an unfamiliar face in the Duke’s Mansion. And without any prior notice at that. He must have looked like an intruder who had breached the security system.
Cold sweat ran down my back.
“Well, um….”
I quickly stepped between Carlos and Sion.
“This is the Archmage.”
“…The Archmage?”
Carlos’s eyebrows rose. His expression seemed to say ‘This kid?’
That was understandable. Though this wasn’t his true form, it was awkward for me to step forward and explain, so I just made an ambiguous expression.
“Yes. He’s someone I met when I went to the western Land of Mages before. I requested an analysis of the purification stone then, and he came because the results are ready.”
I hurriedly poured out my explanation.
Carlos’s gaze turned back to Sion.
From top to bottom. He looked him over coldly.
Even while receiving that gaze, Sion’s expression didn’t change at all. He just stood there. With the same languid face.
“…Usually when visiting someone else’s territory, sending a letter first is proper etiquette. Being close to the Princess must make you incredibly rude.”
Carlos’s voice lowered.
I could feel the pressure. An ordinary person would have been intimidated.
But Sion was.
“Knocking on doors is bothersome.”
“….”
“Going straight to Lorea seemed faster.”
Carlos’s eyebrows twitched. His expression was closer to bewilderment than anger.
And I wanted to scream.
I hurriedly squeezed between the two, pondering what the best thing to say would be. Nothing particularly came to mind.
“…Duke, well. The Archmage is.”
“I understand.”
Carlos raised his hand to cut off my words.
He sighed and looked at Sion again.
“…If you’re the Archmage, you must have something to say. I’ll guide you to the reception room.”
“Ah, no need.”
Sion waved his hand.
“I just need to talk with Lorea. It’s something the Duke can skip out on.”
Carlos’s eyes narrowed.
His displeasure deepened. It was natural since he was being told to leave his own territory.
I hurriedly intervened.
“As I mentioned before, the matter regarding the purification stone is something I personally requested from the Archmage. Since it’s my problem…. I’ll go hear about it separately.”
Carlos looked down at me.
His eyes seemed to ask what kind of secret this was.
But he didn’t ask.
Just as he didn’t ask about the source of the purification stone, this time too he didn’t dig deeper.
“It would be best not to pull any foolish tricks, Princess.”
It was a short answer close to a warning.
Turning around, Carlos added.
“Tell him to notify us in advance next time.”
And he walked down the corridor.
I watched until his back disappeared, then let out a big sigh.
“What, was that difficult?”
Sion asked nonchalantly.
“It’s because of you.”
“What did I do.”
“…Never mind. Let’s go for now. Let’s talk somewhere quiet.”
“How about the training grounds?”
“Later.”
I grabbed Sion’s wrist and walked in the opposite direction from the training grounds.
* * *
The place we arrived at was under the pavilion built in the East Garden. This was a particularly deserted place even within the Duke’s Mansion. Thanks to that, only the occasional sound of birds could be heard around us.
I sat on the bench inside the pavilion. Sion sat across from me.
“Now, let’s talk.”
“You’re in a hurry.”
Sion grinned and pulled out a small crystal orb from his chest. A red light gently swirled inside the orb.
“I analyzed the refined stone you mentioned.”
“Yes.”
“Well, to start with the conclusion… something interesting came up.”
When he flicked the orb with his finger, the red light inside rippled.
“This refined stone is different from ordinary refined stones.”
Sion’s violet eyes looked straight at me.
His languid gaze became slightly more serious.
“The purity is too high. The ones circulating in the market get mixed with impurities during the refining process. That’s why they’re called ‘refined stones.’ But this one doesn’t have any of that. I’ve never seen a refined stone like this.”
“….”
“So I was curious.”
Sion tilted his head.
“Where did this come from?”
“….”
I kept my mouth shut.
‘If I tell him it’s made from my blood, what kind of reaction would he show?’
Although I was the one who requested his cooperation, that aside, I couldn’t gauge his reaction at all.
If there was one habit I’d developed after my regression, it was not gambling on things I couldn’t be certain about.
There wouldn’t be a second chance in my life.
“I can’t tell you the source. Instead, I can provide you with as much material as you want for research.”
“Lorea has many secrets.”
“It just turned out that way.”
Sion stared at me for a while, then shrugged his shoulders.
“Alright. I won’t ask for now. But.”
He suddenly leaned forward. His violet eyes drew closer. He smiled mysteriously with those enigmatic eyes.
“Tell me someday. I’m curious.”
“…I’ll think about it.”
“Okay.”
Sion leaned back again. He yawned and looked up at the sky.
Then he suddenly asked.
“Have you ever been outside the Duke’s Mansion?”
Suddenly?
“Well, when I went to meet you…”
Sion shook his head.
“Not that, for fun.”
Of course I hadn’t.
Since coming to the Duke’s Mansion, the only time I’d gone outside was when I went to the West. Other than that, I’d been cooped up in the Duke’s Mansion.
I didn’t particularly want to go out, but more than anything, my status as Loreia was the problem. Even though I’d changed my appearance with an artifact, I never knew when or how I might be exposed. Who knows what excuse the Imperial Family might find. Living quietly was better for my well-being.
Perhaps realizing that my answer was a quiet negative, Sion, who had been staring at me intently, suddenly stood up.
“Let’s go have fun.”
“…What?”
“It’s my first time here, so I want to look around. Come with me.”
“Wait, what do you mean…”
Before I could finish speaking, Sion grabbed my wrist and pulled me along.
My vision flashed, and when I came to my senses, I was standing in the middle of the streets of the Ducal Palace.
My strength completely drained away.
To force this through so suddenly like this.
“…We really came out.”
“Yeah.”
Despite my sigh, Sion seemed completely unbothered as he looked around. I could feel the boy’s languid eyes subtly sparkling.
‘I knew he was someone you couldn’t reason with, but.’
Now that it had come to this, there was no other choice.
“…Let’s make it within an hour before we go back.”
“Okay.”
I hurriedly stopped Sion, who was about to drag me along again.
“Wait, wait.”
“What now. You said just one hour.”
“You’re not planning to walk around in those clothes as they are, are you?”
“Ah.”
Only then did Sion make a sound of realization and stop abruptly.
Right, good thinking.
Setting aside Sion in his flashy white robe, my appearance in a dress covered with ornaments was clearly screaming ‘I’m a noble.’
Two young nobles who looked to be in their early teens wandering around the Ducal Palace couldn’t help but draw attention.
“I forgot since it’s been so long for me too.”
Sion grinned sheepishly and snapped his fingers.
Then the dress I had been wearing just moments ago disappeared without a trace, and I was dressed in ordinary commoner’s clothes.
Sion had also changed from his robe covered in golden embroidery to an ordinary appearance wearing a bread hat and suspender pants.
…though I couldn’t do anything about my flashy face.
Sion made a “shh” sound while bringing his hand to his lips, then gently pulled my hand again.
“Let’s go now.”
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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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