The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 45

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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 45

 

On my way back to my room after leaving the study.

 

“Your Highness Loreia.”

 

I turned my head to see Demian leaning against the corridor wall.

 

“Young Duke? What’s the matter?”

 

“Are you going to the Eastern Region tomorrow?”

 

“Yes. It was just decided.”

 

Demian started to say something but closed his mouth. His lips twitched. He looked like he had something to say but didn’t know how to say it.

 

“Be careful.”

 

Soon a blunt voice flowed out.

 

“As Your Highness surely knows, it will be dangerous. Outside the Dukedom is the Imperial Court’s sphere of influence. Don’t forget the self-defense techniques you learned, and if necessary, aim for vital points.”

 

This was followed by detailed worries. Be careful because it’s a region thick with dark magic, always be on guard because you never know what the Imperial Court bastards might do along the way.

 

I stared at him blankly, then tilted my head and asked.

 

“Are you worried about me, Young Duke?”

 

At my question, Demian’s ears instantly turned red.

 

“Me? Ha! Who said I was worried? As someone assigned to guard Your Highness, I was giving basic advice.”

 

“But you’re not coming with me this time. You’re not even my guard.”

 

At my clear response, Demian’s mouth stopped dead.

 

The way he stood there blinking his green eyes looked so foolish that I had to suppress the laughter that was about to escape.

 

“So… in the end, you’re just worried, aren’t you?”

 

“Who said that?”

 

Demian, who came to his senses belatedly, gritted his teeth and jumped in place.

 

‘The more I see him, the more childish he really seems.’

 

Before my regression, the Demian I saw at the Imperial Palace always showed me only cold gazes, so there was never an opportunity to talk like this at length.

 

Back then, I really hated Demian too.

 

But now that I look at him, there were moments when young Demian felt quite endearing. Of course, if I shared this sentiment directly, the aftermath would be no joke.

 

“…Anyway, be careful. Return safely.”

 

Demian grumbled and added quietly.

 

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

 

“I’m not worried!”

 

“I understand, thank you.”

 

“I don’t want to hear your thanks!”

 

Why does he keep shouting?

 

When I giggled and laughed, Demian covered his reddened ears tightly with both hands.

 

“Young Duke! Thank you so much for worrying about me!”

 

“Ugh!”

 

Demian turned around with a bright red face and walked away with big strides. Even while walking away, he didn’t let go of the hands covering his ears.

 

He’s really cute, I tell you.

 

“Really. I’ll return safely.”

 

I answered quietly to his back.

 

And as I watched his figure completely disappear around the corner, I suddenly thought.

 

‘He’s like an older brother.’

 

Grumbling while still taking care of me. Worrying while insisting he’s not worried. In the end, telling me to have a safe trip.

 

If I had an older brother, would it have felt like this?

 

Just thinking about it made my chest feel ticklish, as if a feather had been placed there.

 

‘…I think I like it.’

 

My fingertips became strangely warm.

 

* * *

 

That night.

 

I lay in bed looking up at the ceiling.

 

Tomorrow I would depart for the Eastern Region.

 

The Eastern Shrine. Once I complete the guardian registration there, I won’t have to be under the Imperial Court’s grip anymore. The Emperor’s edicts and the Envoy’s visits can no longer force me.

 

‘Of course, there will be a lot to do to completely escape.’

 

I’m sewing the first button to become free.

 

This time, absolutely nothing like dying in the Underground Dungeon as before my regression will happen.

 

Above all…

 

‘Carlos and Demian can be safe.’

 

Yes, now that dream was really becoming reality.

 

My heart was pounding.

 

‘I can do it.’

 

Anticipation, elation, and anxiety.

 

Various emotions mixed together, making my heart pound like a drum.

 

As much as I was looking forward to it, I was also scared. The Emperor wouldn’t stay still. Since sending an Envoy failed, he would use other methods. Perhaps there might even be an attack along the way.

 

‘It’s okay. Everything will be fine.’

 

I told myself. It will be fine. Definitely.

 

I closed my eyes.

 

Starting tomorrow would be a long journey.

 

* * *

 

The next morning.

 

When I opened my eyes, it was already bright outside the window.

 

I’m usually not one to sleep in, but today I overslept. It seemed to be because I tossed and turned last night and fell asleep late.

 

I hurriedly finished preparing and went outside.

 

A carriage was waiting in front of the Duke’s Mansion.

 

It was the finest carriage as Sion had requested. With plush cushions and minimal shaking, it looked perfect for long-distance travel.

 

“Wow, you really prepared a nice one.”

 

Sion looked around the carriage and nodded with satisfaction. He opened the carriage door to examine the interior, then clapped slowly.

 

“My back won’t hurt.”

 

Before boarding the carriage, I looked back at the Duke’s Mansion.

 

At first I thought it looked like ruins, but now it felt a little different. The white roses in the garden were sparkling in the morning sunlight. Mia was waving from the front door.

 

I would return before long. But somehow I felt sentimental.

 

The interior was spacious. It had facing seats. Carlos sat on one side, while Sion and I sat on the opposite side.

 

Sion stretched and said.

 

“This is my first time traveling by carriage.”

 

“If you disappear even now, I’ll see you off.”

 

Instead of reacting to Carlos’s sharp response, Sion leaned his head against my shoulder and his eyes lit up.

 

“Lorea, don’t you have any interesting stories?”

 

“All of a sudden?”

 

“I’m bored. The Duke won’t talk.”

 

Carlos’s eyelid twitched.

 

‘He completely ignored what he just said.’

 

I laughed awkwardly.

 

Surely before my regression, I wasn’t one to be pushed around anywhere either. Was it because I became younger? Being between the two of them felt exactly like being a shrimp caught between whales.

 

Sion, who had been playing around twisting my hair, asked.

 

“But what exactly do you do for temple registration? Just fill out paperwork and that’s it?”

 

“Originally, yes. It was a simple procedure that could even be done by letter, but the procedure suddenly changed… Even if we visit the temple, approval might not come right away.”

 

“I see.”

 

If it’s a temple in cahoots with the Emperor, they would desperately try not to grant approval.

 

Knowing this, yet having no choice but to head to the temple was regrettable.

 

Meanwhile, as we left the Dukedom, the scenery began to change.

 

The dense forest gradually became sparse, and before we knew it, a desolate plain spread out. The closer we got to the Eastern Region, the more the air changed. Heavy, murky, and somehow sticky. The demonic energy was growing thicker.

 

I glanced at Carlos.

 

His expression was unchanged. But his eyes were slightly furrowed. His breathing also seemed a bit rougher than usual.

 

Unless you’re a transcendent being who has lived for hundreds of years like the Archmage, an environment thick with demonic energy is like poison to magic users like Carlos. No matter how much purification stones are used for cleansing, it can’t be completely blocked.

 

‘It will get worse as we go further east.’

 

It was when I was endlessly watching Carlos with a worried heart.

 

Suddenly, Sion’s finger moved slightly.

 

At the same time, I saw something.

 

It was faint magic power quietly spreading from Sion’s fingertips toward Carlos.

 

‘Protection magic.’

 

Something like a thin barrier that filters out demonic energy. Quietly cast without being noticed, without Carlos realizing it.

 

I blinked.

 

Fortunately, Carlos didn’t seem to notice. He was still looking out the window.

 

Sion glanced at me.

 

And winked, closing one eye.

 

“It’s a secret.”

 

He whispered only with his lip movements.

 

I stared at Sion blankly, then mouthed ‘thank you’ in the same way and quietly turned my head.

 

Outside the window, the gray scenery continued endlessly. I couldn’t help but feel anxious. The premonition that the Emperor was plotting something also grew stronger.

 

‘It will be okay.’

 

For now, I had no choice but to believe.

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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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