The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 44

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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 44

 

“…Is that really okay?”

 

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

 

When I asked, unable to understand the suddenly unfolding situation, a puzzled counter-question came back instead.

 

“The Mage Tower and the Temple don’t get along well.”

 

“Ah, that.”

 

Sion rolled his eyes around.

 

The Temple that worships gods and the Mage Tower that pursues practicality naturally didn’t welcome each other.

 

No matter how much Sion had changed into a young appearance, there was no way they wouldn’t recognize an Archmage with this level of magical power entering the Temple.

 

Wouldn’t this just be stirring up unnecessary trouble?

 

Sion, who had been scanning my worried gaze, added.

 

“I won’t go to the Temple. I’ll get off halfway. Then it’s fine, right?”

 

“You’ll get off halfway?”

 

“Yeah, I told you I have business to take care of.”

 

Sion nodded his head.

 

‘If he’s not entering the Temple, it should be fine…’

 

When I didn’t readily respond, Sion tilted his head more and moved closer to me.

 

“Lorea needs someone to help her. And I can help. Then it’s good for both of us, isn’t it?”

 

It was a statement without beginning or end, but somehow, perhaps because the subject was the Archmage, I couldn’t find anything to refute.

 

‘It’s not good for both of us, but good for me.’

 

From Sion’s perspective, it would be much more convenient to go alone rather than traveling with us.

 

I couldn’t even guess how he knew to appear at exactly the right moment, or why he was so willing to help.

 

…Still.

 

“If you can help, I think that would be good.”

 

If I can receive help, there’s no need to refuse it.

 

At my small answer, Sion smiled as if he knew it would turn out this way.

 

“Then let’s go.”

 

“Where to?”

 

“To give notice.”

 

Sion grabbed my wrist and strode forward with big steps. Despite having a similar height to mine, his legs were somehow so long that his pace was fast, and I had to grab my skirt hem and almost run to keep up.

 

“Um, Sion. Wait a moment. You’re too fast.”

 

“It’ll be quick.”

 

He didn’t seem to have any intention of slowing down despite my request.

 

The place we arrived at, as if being dragged, was in front of Carlos’ study.

 

“A-are you serious?”

 

“Why, is there a problem?”

 

“It’s not that…”

 

Carlos definitely won’t welcome this, right?

 

Sion, who smiled brightly at my reluctant expression, opened the door without even knocking.

 

Creak.

 

Carlos, who had been sitting in front of his desk, looked up. Then he saw Sion standing next to me and his expression subtly contorted.

 

“What is this?”

 

“Hello, I’m the Archmage.”

 

“You wouldn’t be asking because you don’t know that.”

 

Carlos’ voice sank coldly. His gaze brushed over my wrist held in Sion’s hand, then turned back to Sion.

 

“Barging into someone else’s territory without notice is truly shameless.”

 

“Sorry, I think I lost that. My shame.”

 

“Have you already forgotten my words that I hoped we’d never meet again?”

 

“Too bad. Regrettably so.”

 

They won’t give each other an inch.

 

Carlos’ eyes narrowed.

 

“Is this about the purification stones again?”

 

“Yeah, no. There’s something that was just decided, so I wanted to let the Duke know too.”

 

Sion smiled with an innocent face. Somehow I was convinced that if I left this conversation to Sion, things would flow in a bad direction. I intervened before the atmosphere became more hostile.

 

“Um, Duke. When we go to the Eastern Shrine, could the Archmage come along too? He happens to have business in that direction…”

 

“I refuse.”

 

The rejection came back in less than a second.

 

I knew this would happen.

 

But Sion’s reaction was calm.

 

“Can’t be helped then.”

 

He tilted his head sideways and looked at me. His gentle eyes curved softly.

 

Then the boy stuck close to my side and whispered. Well, it was supposed to be whispering, but his voice was quite loud. Loud enough for Carlos to hear clearly too.

 

“Then let’s go separately.”

 

…What?

 

Carlos’ eyes narrowed slightly. But that was all. He just stared at Sion without any particular reaction.

 

“Lorea says it’s better to go with me. We’re close, you know.”

 

Sion smiled triumphantly, then tilted his head and leaned it against my shoulder with a deliberate tap.

 

“Right, Lorea?”

 

I couldn’t answer. I could neither affirm nor deny it.

 

In the end, I just smiled ambiguously instead.

 

Carlos was watching this scene with indifference.

 

There was irritation mixed in toward the suddenly appeared uninvited guest, but I couldn’t tell what other emotions lay beyond that.

 

After a moment, he set down his pen with a sharp tap.

 

“I thought someone calling himself an Archmage would be quite busy, but it seems you have nothing to do.”

 

“I told you. It’s because I want to be with Lorea.”

 

“Is spouting nonsense a characteristic of Mage Tower folk?”

 

“It’s true. The Mage Tower is boring. But Lorea is interesting.”

 

Sion shrugged his shoulders. His attitude was utterly relaxed.

 

“I have business in the Eastern Region. So I’m going along to keep from being bored. Lorea said it was fine.”

 

“….”

 

“Ah, I’m not going all the way to the Temple with you. Just partway. Right, Lorea?”

 

Sion looked at me with a bright smile.

 

‘Another face attack.’

 

Unable to withstand his sparkling gaze, I quietly averted my eyes.

 

“When Lorea is alone with the Duke, she feels suffocated. When she’s with me, Lorea likes it.”

 

“No, when did I ever—”

 

I could feel Carlos staring at me intently. His eyes seemed to ask ‘What are you going to do?’

 

More than that, wasn’t he going to refute the part about me feeling suffocated? Or was it not important enough for him to even care?

 

I looked back and forth between Sion and Carlos, then mumbled.

 

“…Having company on the journey would probably be helpful for me.”

 

The Eastern Region had dense magical energy. Considering Carlos’s physical condition, Sion would be a truly useful traveling companion. Carlos must know that fact too.

 

The reason I didn’t bother to mention it was because I didn’t want to create a situation where Carlos would have to ask the Archmage for a favor.

 

Sion immediately jumped in.

 

“See, Lorea thinks so too.”

 

A long silence flowed.

 

I hesitantly added in a small voice.

 

“We, we need to discuss the purification stones too. Since you said you have business there anyway, it would be good to go together.”

 

Even to me, it was a ridiculous excuse.

 

What more could I say from here?

 

Just as I was rolling my eyes around, Carlos’s gaze reached me. After watching me fidget with my hands for a while, he pressed his temple as if tired. His fingers were tense with force.

 

And then.

 

“Do as you please.”

 

…Huh?

 

“Really?”

 

When I brightened up and clenched my fists, Carlos’s gaze briefly touched me again. Though he quickly looked away.

 

“I don’t want to argue anymore. Handle it yourselves and get out now. You’re annoying.”

 

It was a dismissive attitude.

 

‘How rude!’

 

While I was quietly stamping my feet in frustration, Sion smiled brightly and spoke to Carlos.

 

“I’d appreciate it if you could prepare a nice carriage. The Eastern Region has dense magical energy, so using teleportation magic is tiring. Please make sure the cushions are soft.”

 

…It was going well until just now. Why is this Archmage making the atmosphere tense again?

 

Carlos’s pen, which had been moving diligently across the paper, stopped. He slowly raised his head. His eyes were cold.

 

“…I told you to get out.”

 

“So prickly.”

 

Sion pouted and headed toward the door. I quickly followed. If we stayed any longer, Carlos’s patience seemed like it would hit rock bottom.

 

Just before the door closed, I heard Carlos’s sigh. It was a deep, long sigh that truly conveyed exhaustion.

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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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