The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 41

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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 41

 

One evening, the mansion was in an uproar.

 

“A letter has arrived from the Imperial Family.”

 

The butler’s voice echoed through the corridor.

 

My heart sank.

 

The Imperial Family?

 

I rushed to the study. Carlos was already tearing open the envelope.

 

His brow furrowed as he checked the contents.

 

“…What does it say?”

 

Carlos handed me the letter.

 

[We inform you that an imperial envoy will visit the Duke’s Mansion in 3 days.]

 

[Discussions regarding Princess Lorea Pryce’s return will be conducted.]

 

My fingertips turned cold.

 

Return.

 

It meant they would drag me away.

 

“3 days…”

 

“They’re rushing in hastily.”

 

Carlos dropped the letter onto the desk with a thud.

 

Though called a notice, it was essentially a notification. After pulling strings at the Temple to block written applications, now they were even sending an envoy.

 

‘This doesn’t feel good.’

 

* * *

 

As if that letter were indeed a notification, exactly 3 days later, the envoy sent by the Imperial Family arrived in front of the Duke’s Mansion.

 

The carriage door opened and a man stepped out. He appeared to be in his early forties, with neatly combed hair and sharp features.

 

Ceremonial robes embroidered with the imperial crest. A ceremonial sword at his waist.

 

His gaze as he looked up at the Duke’s Mansion was arrogant. It was as if he had come to his own home.

 

‘That face.’

 

I searched my memory.

 

Before my regression, I had encountered him several times at the Imperial Palace. One of the Emperor’s close associates. He handled diplomatic affairs, but what was his name again.

 

“I pay my respects to Duke Carter.”

 

The man stood before Carlos and bowed his head.

 

It was a respectful posture. But his voice carried an undertone of pressure. He was the type of person who smiled while his eyes didn’t.

 

“Following His Majesty’s command, I have come to request the return of Her Highness, Second Princess Lorea Pryce.”

 

He ‘requested’ the return.

 

A request, not coercion.

 

The word choice was clever. Within the Dukedom, all the Imperial Family could do was request. But that tone was unmistakably a command.

 

Carlos opened his mouth.

 

“You must have had a difficult journey coming from so far.”

 

“It’s only natural, as it’s an imperial command.”

 

“Right, an imperial command.”

 

Carlos chuckled.

 

It was laughter, but his eyes were cold.

 

“An imperial command. Seeing how you dare set foot in the Dukedom and make demands so boldly, I suppose the Imperial Family calls such things imperial commands these days.”

 

“…”

 

The envoy’s eyelids trembled slightly.

 

But he didn’t back down. For this type of person, shamelessness was a weapon.

 

“I understand the Duke’s displeasure. However, Her Highness the Princess is clearly a member of the Imperial Family. Isn’t it natural for His Majesty to wish for her return?”

 

“Natural?”

 

Carlos’s eyes narrowed.

 

“It’s been months since the Princess came to this territory, hasn’t it? Not once did you send greetings during that time, and now you want to take her away?”

 

“…”

 

“And by sending an envoy? If they’re father and daughter, wouldn’t it be proper to come personally? Ah, but come to think of it, His Majesty isn’t one to care about propriety.”

 

It was a cutting remark.

 

The envoy’s face hardened. But he soon composed his expression and spoke.

 

“I know what feelings the Duke harbors. But that’s a separate matter.”

 

“Separate?”

 

“Her Highness the Princess belongs to the Imperial Family. The Dukedom’s extraterritorial rights don’t change the allegiance of royalty.”

 

Carlos closed his mouth.

 

The envoy took another step forward. His eyes showed he thought he had gained the upper hand.

 

“Her Highness the Princess is His Majesty’s child. It’s not natural for a child to be away from their parent’s side. His Majesty is also very worried.”

 

‘Worried?’

 

I scoffed inwardly.

 

The person who tried to kill me was worried? Before my regression, I remembered those hands offering me a teacup laced with poison. Were those the hands of a worried father?

 

“I’ve only come to convey His Majesty’s will. If the Duke wishes to send me back from here, you’ll need to give me a satisfactory answer.”

 

“A satisfactory answer.”

 

Carlos crossed his arms.

 

“Then what if I give you an unsatisfactory answer?”

 

“I cannot leave this place until His Majesty’s will is fulfilled.”

 

It was a shameless declaration.

 

It meant he would hold out until his request was accepted. Harming an imperial envoy would be tantamount to declaring all-out war. There was nothing they could do.

 

Carlos’s jaw hardened.

 

“…What nerve.”

 

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

 

The envoy smiled smugly.

 

It was a snake-like smile.

 

* * *

 

The envoy really did brazenly settle into the Duke’s Mansion.

 

He occupied one of the guest rooms and urged Carlos for an ‘answer’ every morning. Carlos ignored him. But he wasn’t someone who would disappear just by being ignored.

 

The atmosphere in the mansion grew heavy.

 

When the maids encountered the envoy, they would bow their heads and hurry away with quick steps. Demian openly glared at the envoy. Mia paced in front of my room with a worried expression.

 

I naturally ended up holed up in my room. I didn’t want to run into the envoy if I went outside.

 

Then one day, I heard through Mia that Carlos was calling for me.

 

With a puzzled heart, I headed to his study, where not only Carlos but also Demian was present. He was leaning against the window with his arms crossed.

 

“Sit down.”

 

Carlos, seated at the central desk, pointed to the sofa with his chin.

 

As I nervously sat on the sofa, Demian also came to sit beside me. He looked over my face, which had grown gaunt over the past few days, and frowned.

 

“Are you eating properly?”

 

“…I am eating.”

 

“It doesn’t look like it. All the baby fat in your cheeks is gone.”

 

How much baby fat could a thirteen-year-old lose anyway.

 

“Quiet.”

 

At Carlos’s low words, Demian and I simultaneously shut our mouths.

 

“You know the situation.”

 

Carlos said while looking out the window.

 

“That bastard has been camping out here for five days now. I can’t just throw him out immediately, but I can’t hand over Loreia either.”

 

“Father.”

 

Demian interrupted.

 

“Can’t we just throw him out? Isn’t the Dukedom extraterritorial?”

 

“Extraterritoriality doesn’t mean you can kill just anyone. That’s an official envoy who has been delegated the Emperor’s authority. The moment we lay a hand on him, it’s tantamount to declaring all-out war.”

 

Demian fell silent.

 

Carlos let out a sigh.

 

“The Imperial Court cannot force laws upon the Dukedom. But since Loreia still belongs to the Imperial Family, they can make ‘requests.’ That bastard intends to hold out until his request is accepted.”

 

“Then how…”

 

“Well. It would be nice if there were grounds to throw him out.”

 

Carlos pressed his temples as if tired.

 

“He didn’t enter the territory without permission, and he brought an imperial decree, so he can claim it’s a legitimate visit. It’s a troublesome matter.”

 

“Without permission…”

 

At that moment.

 

Something flashed through my mind.

 

“Wait.”

 

I raised my hand without realizing it.

 

Carlos and Demian both looked at me simultaneously.

 

“What did you just say?”

 

“…What are you talking about?”

 

“Permission. You said he didn’t enter without permission.”

 

“I did.”

 

“…When the letter came from the Imperial Palace, did you send a reply giving permission?”

 

Carlos’s eyes narrowed.

 

“No.”

 

“Then did you welcome the envoy when he arrived?”

 

“Did it look like I did?”

 

Of course not. I thought you looked like you’d eaten shit.

 

Anyway, once my thoughts reached that point, my mind suddenly cleared. My heart began to race.

 

“Isn’t there a provision regarding residence in the extraterritoriality clause of the Empire’s constitution? About outsiders who stay beyond a certain period without permission…”

 

“…”

 

Carlos stared at me intently.

 

“It’s an old clause, so I don’t remember it exactly.”

 

“We need to check.”

 

I jumped to my feet.

 

Demian stood up with a bewildered expression.

 

“What’s this about, all of a sudden?”

 

“We’re going to the library. We need to find the Empire’s legal code.”

 

“What?”

 

“Hurry!”

 

I grabbed Demian’s wrist and dragged him along.

 

I burst through the library door as if I might break it and began urging him on.

 

“We need to find the Imperial Constitution. The one with the extraterritorial rights clauses.”

 

“How am I supposed to know that!”

 

“You grew up here!”

 

“I didn’t grow up reading law books!”

 

Demian grumbled as he searched between the bookshelves.

 

I searched the opposite side. Dusty old books. The history of the Dukedom, an introduction to territorial law, collections of legal precedents.

 

“Is this it?”

 

Demian lifted up a thick book. I could see an old circular emblem. It was the emblem that marked legal codes within the Empire. My eyes widened.

 

“That’s it!”

 

I urgently took it and flipped through the pages. I scanned through it until my eyes hurt.

 

Extraterritorial rights clauses… Extraterritorial rights special provisions… Special provision clauses…

 

“…Found it.”

 

My hand stopped.

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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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