The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 50

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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 50

 

As expected, the moment we entered the temple, I could feel the unsettled atmosphere.

 

The believers who should have been visible were nowhere to be seen, and instead I only saw priests coming and going, startled at the sight of us and hurrying away.

 

‘The news must have already spread.’

 

Well, the Emperor would have already sent word and then some.

 

That the princess would be coming to the Eastern Temple for guardian registration.

 

‘So that’s why they didn’t let the believers in either.’

 

Carlos seemed to have sensed the ominous atmosphere as well.

 

The temple interior was uniquely a zone free from magical energy, but even so, his constantly furrowed brow showed no signs of relaxing.

 

“Relax your expression, Duke.”

 

I whispered quietly to him, but unfortunately, it was words that wouldn’t work at all.

 

His fierce expression only grew fiercer as more gazes stuck to him.

 

Instead of adding more words to him, I quickened my pace.

 

I approached the priest who was handling guidance at the entrance.

 

I could clearly see the priest’s expression rotting away moment by moment as he watched my figure from afar.

 

‘He looks like he’s been hit by flying sparks.’

 

But what can you do.

 

I stood confidently before him.

 

Though it was actually almost a looking-up angle.

 

“I’ve come to register a guardian.”

 

“…I greet Your Highness the Princess.”

 

“Yes, I didn’t expect to come all the way to this corner temple in the east. But thanks to someone blocking guardian registration by letter, I had no choice.”

 

The priest cleared his throat with a cough.

 

“You must know the purpose, so could you call the person in charge? As you can see, my schedule is quite busy.”

 

“Please wait a moment.”

 

The priest who bowed his head quietly went inside.

 

‘Will it take about 10 minutes?’

 

Since Carlos’s condition still didn’t look good, I was looking around the corridor thinking to find a place to sit.

 

Before I could even take a step, the priest who had gone inside came back out and stood before me.

 

What, why is this so fast?

 

“…The person in charge?”

 

The priest made a troubled expression.

 

“I’m sorry, but the priest in charge is away from his post.”

 

“…Away from his post?”

 

“Yes. He had urgent business. As for when he’ll return…”

 

The priest couldn’t meet my eyes and trailed off.

 

Both avoiding my eyes and his clumsy speech – it seemed like he had “lie” written all over him.

 

‘Urgent business? On the very day we arrived?’

 

How ridiculous.

 

‘Isn’t the excuse too obvious?’

 

Even if I wanted to be fooled, there was too little sincerity.

 

But unfortunately, I was in no position to argue. If we caused a disturbance inside the temple, only we would suffer losses.

 

I pretended to think for a moment.

 

So, I only pretended.

 

I rolled my eyes once and smiled brightly.

 

“Then I’ll wait.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I’ll wait until the person in charge returns, what else. Where should I wait?”

 

This time the priest made a truly flustered expression.

 

He seemed not to have expected me to say I’d wait.

 

Of course.

 

If it were the Princess Lorea they knew, she would have been a bomb who wouldn’t be satisfied until she turned the entire temple upside down demanding they bring the person in charge before her immediately.

 

‘If I had acted that way, they would have made some suitable excuse to chase us out.’

 

Let’s see if I’ll fall for that.

 

As I stared up at the priest blankly, I could see cold sweat trickling down her forehead.

 

“What, don’t tell me there’s no waiting room? This is the Eastern Temple.”

 

“Ah, well.”

 

“My legs hurt.”

 

“Yes, yes. There, there… I’ll guide you to the waiting room.”

 

“Okay. Let’s go, Duke.”

 

I moved my steps as if to show off, and Carlos, who had been watching from a step behind, followed without saying anything.

 

Eventually, the place we were guided to as the waiting room was a small room in a corner of the temple.

 

The window was small, and the chairs were hard. It was closer to a storage room than a room for receiving guests.

 

It smelled dusty.

 

It seemed like it hadn’t been cleaned in quite a while.

 

‘They deliberately brought us to a place like this.’

 

When we passed through the corridor, I had seen other waiting rooms. Those were spacious and clean. They had large windows and chairs with cushions too.

 

The fact that they deliberately brought the princess here when such places existed meant…

 

‘So they’re trying to test my patience until I explode, is that it?’

 

It was such a shallow trick that I was dumbfounded.

 

‘I absolutely won’t fall for it.’

 

The priest bowed and hurriedly retreated.

 

Carlos sat down in a chair. His expression was indifferent, but he looked tired. The three-day forced march must have been too much. If it weren’t for the magic Sion had cast, we wouldn’t have even made it this far.

 

“…Duke, get some rest.”

 

“Mind your own business.”

 

“I will, once you rest.”

 

No answer came back.

 

I looked out the window.

 

The sun was slowly setting.

 

* * *

 

‘I expected this, but how is it that they’re not deviating even an inch from the plan?’

 

I looked up at the sky that had now completely darkened.

 

The sunset faded, night fell, and even after the moon rose high, the priest in charge never came.

 

Occasionally, other priests would come in and say “Please wait just a little longer” before leaving. That was all. They didn’t even look genuinely sorry. It was obvious they were just going through the motions.

 

At this point, I had no choice but to endure out of stubbornness.

 

I was determined to see just how long they would leave us here.

 

The problem was…

 

‘I’m getting sleepy.’

 

Not just Carlos, but the three-day journey had been a forced march for me too. Moreover, since I was in a thirteen-year-old body now, it was natural that I’d be twice as exhausted.

 

Just when drowsiness was overwhelming me and I thought I couldn’t endure any longer, the door opened and the priest who had guided us earlier entered.

 

“Um… it’s gotten too late today.”

 

I knew this would happen.

 

“The priest in charge seems unlikely to return today. We’ve prepared accommodations for you, so please rest there tonight and tomorrow again…”

 

“Do you actually intend to handle it if we come tomorrow?”

 

The priest stopped speaking.

 

“…I’ll do my best.”

 

I’ll do my best.

 

Not that they would do it.

 

“I’ll check the priest in charge’s schedule and contact you.”

 

“What have you been doing all this time if you haven’t even checked the schedule?”

 

“Well… the schedule is uncertain. It could take several days…”

 

Several days.

 

So that was it after all.

 

They won’t do it today, won’t do it tomorrow, won’t do it the day after. They’ll drag it out like that until my patience finally runs out, then use that as an excuse to somehow drive me away.

 

Once I’m driven out of the Eastern Temple, the only real option left would be the Central Grand Temple.

 

And the moment Carlos and I enter the capital, being dragged to the Imperial Court would be the predictable next step.

 

The priest nervously watched my expression.

 

It was the face of someone bracing for the barrage of irritation about to fly at them.

 

“Alright.”

 

I nodded.

 

“I’m sor…! What?”

 

“I said alright. Come back tomorrow, right?”

 

The priest looked bewildered at my ready agreement.

 

“What are you doing? Standing there looking dazed.”

 

At my follow-up question, she quickly snapped back to attention.

 

“Ah, yes! Then I’ll guide you to the accommodations…”

 

“Just tell me where the accommodations are. I’ll find my own way.”

 

“What?”

 

“I don’t need an escort. Would you want to be escorted if you were me?”

 

The priest hesitated at my sharp tone, then soon told me the location.

 

It was on the outskirts of the temple grounds, quite far from the temple chapel.

 

“Let’s go, Duke.”

 

Carlos stood up. His expression was indifferent. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or not. Though he’s always like that.

 

‘More than that, he’s been silent ever since we entered the temple.’

 

As we left the waiting room, I asked cautiously.

 

“Why haven’t you said anything?”

 

Only then did Carlos look down at me.

 

“Do you want me to do something?”

 

“It’s not that, but…”

 

“You seemed to have your own plan. I was just watching.”

 

“…Yes, that’s right.”

 

How did he know.

 

Carlos’s abilities would certainly make it possible, but seeing this whole situation just made me not want to obediently move according to their expectations.

 

At my answer, Carlos nodded as if he had expected as much.

 

“Then do as you wish.”

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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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