The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 5

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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 5

Carlos pulled out a palm-sized wooden box from the drawer.

“Once a week, you’ll need to fill this box completely. The deadline is until our sponsorship relationship ends.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Considering the effects of refined stones, what he was demanding was by no means a small amount.

‘The quantity is larger than I expected, but…’

Now wasn’t the time to be picky about such things.

“If you can’t do it…”

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

I answered hastily before he could even finish speaking.

Carlos looked at me for a moment with an indescribable expression.

“I hope you understand this doesn’t mean I trust Loreia.”

“I know. I don’t mind.”

Even as I answered that way, I couldn’t calm my pounding heart.

This was the moment the first button of my plan was being fastened.

He withdrew his gaze without lingering.

“I’ll take care of preparing the related documents myself. Is there anything else you need?”

“No, I’ll be going now.”

I jumped up from the chair without hesitation and stepped onto the floor.

Just as I was about to leave the study after giving him a light greeting.

“Wait.”

Carlos suddenly called out to stop me.

“Yes?”

“…Is there a particular reason you came to me?”

I wasn’t unaware of the intent behind that question.

There were countless people thirsting for refined stones. Among them were those who would have accepted my proposal more readily.

So why specifically House of Carter, Duke, the Imperial Court’s main enemy?

Unresolved doubt flickered in his gaze.

“Well…”

I was about to say something but closed my mouth.

‘Because if you’re my real father, I absolutely must keep you alive.’

What came out of my mouth was a completely different answer.

“If I’m going to entrust my safety to someone, shouldn’t they at least be the Empire’s only Duke?”

At my nonchalant answer, Carlos’s eyes that had been filled with doubt lost their light.

He quickly returned to his dry expression and turned his head away.

“If you’re thinking of acting like Loreia in my mansion, you’d better give up that idea.”

“If I had that intention, I would have screamed about your insolence for treating me informally first.”

“…It’s fortunate that you seem quick to understand your position.”

“I’ll be going.”

With a bow, I closed the door to the study.

***

‘It’s done.’

Returning to the guest room, I collapsed onto the sofa. My legs, drained of strength as tension left me, stretched out limply.

‘It’ll probably take about ten days.’

To officially establish a sponsorship relationship, documents had to be submitted to the temple.

Until then, the Dukedom, with its extraterritorial rights, would safely protect me from the Emperor.

‘At least I have some breathing room now.’

I lifted my left arm, which was throbbing with sharp pain.

‘One box per week.’

It wasn’t a bad deal.

Although I’d have to frequently reopen unhealed wounds, thinking of it as the price for my life made it bearable.

‘It’s a hundred times better than being bled dry.’

I no longer had to see the cold air of the research lab, the hard beds, or the nameless faces that stared at me dryly as if I were a test subject.

‘This actually worked out well.’

Once I give refined stones to the Duke and the Imperial Court can no longer control him, I can leave this place.

“One person left now…”

I turned my head to look at the table.

There lay another refined stone identical to the one I had given Carlos.

I hadn’t come all this way just to barely preserve my life.

To achieve my purpose, there was one more person I needed to visit.

‘I need to find a way to move while avoiding the Emperor’s eyes.’

Four days since leaving the Imperial Palace.

By now, the Emperor would have slowly begun to notice my absence.

I had to move before they began pursuing me in earnest.

“Still, for now… let me rest a bit.”

Perhaps it was because I felt safe. My body had grown heavy despite having slept for two straight days.

I slowly closed my flickering eyes.

***

“The princess has left the palace?”

Solar Palace Bedroom.

The Emperor, who had been about to go to bed, half-raised his body that had been leaning against the pillow.

Edgar bowed his head toward him with both hands clasped.

“Yes, I hear she disappeared three mornings ago.”

“Her petulance is acting up again.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Lorea was the Imperial Court’s troublemaker.

As if proving her impure bloodline at every moment, she would dart here and there.

Especially after learning that her blood was used for purification stones, whenever she was in a foul mood, she would leave the palace for days with only one guard knight.

As if telling them to desperately feel her necessity.

“What a troublesome wench…”

If he had known it would come to this, he shouldn’t have made her a princess but locked her in a deep underground dungeon to tame her.

When he had stolen the Grand Duke’s daughter who survived in her birth mother’s arms that day, he hadn’t had such plans.

If he hadn’t accidentally discovered that its blood was effective in refining purification stones, he could have used it as a suitable card to threaten the Grand Duke and then discarded it.

“Huu…”

The Emperor roughly ran his fingers through his graying hair.

“Fine. Leave it for now. In a few more days, she’ll return with a shameless face and recite what she wants.”

From what he could see, what she wanted this time didn’t seem to be jewels or accessories.

He recalled Lorea, who had feigned innocence with a clear face a few days ago.

“Don’t we still have plenty of purification stones? I called for them early thinking she’d be stubborn for a while anyway.”

“Yes, we still have plenty. However…”

Edgar added while gauging the Emperor’s mood.

“This time, the princess left without even taking a guard knight with her.”

“…Without a guard knight?”

Puzzlement settled on the Emperor’s constantly furrowed face.

“Yes. She has done this often before, but then she would return within a day.”

“Her rebellion is exceptional.”

Should he have coaxed and appeased her more to keep her then.

What kind of unreasonable demand was she trying to make by pulling this troublesome stunt.

“When she returns, grant her everything she wants. Right now, there’s nothing good about provoking that wench’s mood…”

The Emperor, who had been waving his hand dismissively, stopped abruptly.

“I’m really fine, Your Majesty. I want to rest for a few days.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I knew you would understand.”

“…Edgar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Has that thing ever called me Your Majesty?”

“…Since she began speaking, she has always called you ‘Father.'”

“Yes, she did.”

Even in official settings, she would address him informally, causing the ministers’ faces to crumple more than once or twice.

However, that day Lorea had definitely called the Emperor ‘Your Majesty.’

Realizing this fact, a strange sense of unease wrapped around the Emperor’s ankles.

“Edgar.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Dispatch a pursuit team for the princess. Secretly, so no one notices.”

The Emperor’s golden eyes gleamed strangely.

“It won’t hurt to be certain.”

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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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