The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 46

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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 46

 

At the same time, the Imperial Palace.

 

Emperor Helliod sat in his study, meeting privately with a retainer.

 

“A report just came in that they’ve left the Dukedom.”

 

“So he’s determined to go after all.”

 

Helliod’s fingers drummed against the desk. Tap, tap, tap. The rhythmic sound echoed through the quiet study.

 

“Who’s accompanying them?”

 

“Duke Carter, Loreia, and….”

 

The reporter’s voice paused momentarily.

 

“A young boy around Loreia’s age.”

 

Helliod’s fingers stopped. His eyes narrowed.

 

“A boy?”

 

“Yes, we’ve confirmed he’s not the Duke’s son. His exact appearance was difficult to determine….”

 

Silence fell.

 

Not a guard knight but a boy? Was that cunning Duke Carter plotting something again?

 

After a brief moment lost in thought, the Emperor’s eyes gleamed coldly.

 

“Proceed as planned.”

 

“Don’t we need to investigate further?”

 

“Even so, a Duke who’s left his territory is just a scarecrow. What could he possibly do in the Eastern Region full of demonic energy?”

 

The retainer nodded.

 

“I will not tolerate failure.”

 

“I will obey your command.”

 

The retainer bowed his head and withdrew.

 

Helliod gazed out the window. A clear sky stretched beyond.

 

“Lorea.”

 

A low, ominous voice flowed out.

 

“No matter where you run, you’re in the palm of my hand.”

 

Without purification stones, the Empire couldn’t be maintained. The nobles’ loyalty, his own magical stability—everything depended on purification stones. And only Lorea could create those purification stones.

 

He had to bring her back by any means necessary.

 

Whether alive or half-dead. Whatever it took.

 

The Emperor clenched his fist tightly.

 

* * *

 

Before long, it was evening with the sun setting beyond the horizon.

 

‘Carlos’s condition seems to be getting worse.’

 

Every time the carriage jolted, Carlos’s brow furrowed so slightly that it was clearly visible even from my seat.

 

Carlos seemed to be trying not to show it. His expression remained indifferent, and his posture didn’t waver. But the occasional trembling of his hands resting on his knees couldn’t be hidden.

 

His complexion was definitely worse than in the morning. Beyond pale, he had no color at all.

 

I glanced at Sion. Sion was staring blankly out the window.

 

If he was this bad even with protective magic being continuously cast.

 

I was the first to speak up.

 

“…Duke, are you alright?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

A lie.

 

When he clearly wasn’t fine.

 

‘But to suggest we rest here….’

 

Carlos wouldn’t readily accept it.

 

He was naturally skilled at enduring things, but he seemed particularly reluctant to show symptoms related to demonic energy in front of me.

 

‘Of course, he’d think showing weakness to me could become a vulnerability at any time.’

 

Until before my regression, that had been true.

 

‘What should I do.’

 

In the end, I was the one fidgeting restlessly.

 

Like a puppy that needed to go, I kept rolling my eyes around, opening my mouth slightly, then closing it tight repeatedly.

 

How much time passed like that?

 

Suddenly Sion stretched, then rubbed his head against my shoulder and whined.

 

“Mm, my back hurts.”

 

“What?”

 

“My back is stiff from riding in the carriage so long.”

 

It was out of nowhere.

 

‘Suddenly?’

 

A mage who’d lived over 800 years complaining about his back.

 

“Let’s rest somewhere. There’s a village nearby, isn’t there?”

 

With his head buried against my shoulder, Sion spoke to Carlos.

 

Carlos, who had been looking out the window the whole time, briefly glanced at Sion.

 

“We don’t have time.”

 

“Aw, it’ll just be for a moment. My back really hurts so much I can’t sit here anymore.”

 

Sion grumbled. He even irritably swung his legs that didn’t reach the floor like a child.

 

‘He’s acting more childish than me!’

 

Should I call this acting?

 

Or maybe his mental age became younger because his appearance became younger.

 

“Let’s rest, I said it hurts.”

 

Whether Carlos answered or not, Sion’s whining showed no signs of ending.

 

I glanced at Carlos with a bewildered expression. His complexion had become even paler than before. Sweat was also beading on his forehead.

 

‘…Ah.’

 

Only then did I realize something.

 

Just then, Sion lifted his head to look at me. His eyes were slightly smiling.

 

‘He doesn’t really want to rest, it’s because of Carlos.’

 

Sion moved his lips silently.

 

It looked like he was saying ‘Help me out.’

 

“I’d like to rest a bit too.”

 

At my words, Carlos fixed his gaze that had been directed outside the window on me.

 

“My back is also, a bit sore…”

 

Fatigue settled on Carlos’s face as he suddenly had to deal with two whining children. But he didn’t argue anymore either.

 

In fact, he looked like he didn’t even have the strength to argue.

 

“There should be a village nearby. Let’s go there. That would be good, right, Lorea?”

 

“Yes, I think a village would be good.”

 

A moment of silence passed.

 

“And…”

 

Sion looked out the window again and spoke. It was a different, lower voice than before.

 

“Someone’s been following us since we left the ducal territory. It’s not good to keep crossing through the forest.”

 

‘What is he talking about now?’

 

I blinked my eyes.

 

“Following… us?”

 

“Yeah. Quite a few of them. They’re maintaining distance to avoid being noticed, but they’re definitely pursuing us. So it would be better to go somewhere with more people around now.”

 

Sion spoke calmly. As if he were talking about the weather.

 

“Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”

 

“What’s the point of saying it. You’d just get nervous for nothing.”

 

Sion shrugged his shoulders.

 

“To shake them off, I’d have to use magic, but if I use magic recklessly here, it’ll only make things harder for the Duke. Am I right?”

 

A mischievous smile crossed his face.

 

“Are you still going to be stubborn? Duke.”

 

“…”

 

Carlos had no answer.

 

He didn’t seem particularly surprised either. He was just looking out the window as he had been doing all along.

 

‘…He knew.’

 

I was the only one who didn’t know.

 

These perceptive mages.

 

“If we keep crossing through the forest path like this, they’ll probably attack soon.”

 

“Going to a village won’t make us safe either.”

 

“At least there won’t be armed conflict in front of the people, right?”

 

“Easy to say. They’ll do something in the village.”

 

Sion added.

 

“The confrontation is unavoidable anyway. Duke, you know that too, don’t you? If we’re going to face them once anyway…”

 

Sion raised his head that had been leaning against me and spoke leisurely.

 

“A village with many watching eyes is better than an empty forest. It’s easier to create evidence and rumors too.”

 

He looked at Carlos with a grinning face.

 

‘I agree that it’s better to avoid armed conflict, but…’

 

What is Sion planning to do?

 

Not caring about my confusion, Sion kept staring at Carlos. Then he asked again.

 

“Don’t you think so too, Duke?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Carlos answered briefly. As if it were obvious.

 

‘Again, I’m the only one who doesn’t know.’

 

I stopped straightening my back due to tension and leaned back fully against the soft backrest.

 

It was because adding my words here didn’t seem like it would be of much help.

 

I just silently prayed that nothing would go wrong.

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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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