The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 54

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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 54

 

Moonlight Trading Post.

 

It was late at night. Outside the window was dark, and only the magic lamp on the desk glowed dimly.

 

Hella sat at her desk organizing documents.

 

Suddenly, the door opened silently behind her.

 

“I’m here.”

 

Hella’s expression became subtle as she reflexively turned her head at the youthful voice. A small boy was entering while clutching a small box.

 

“…What’s with that appearance?”

 

“Cute, right?”

 

Sion spread his free arm and grinned broadly.

 

“Won’t you say I’m cute?”

 

“Oh my, how unfortunate. An old geezer over 800 years old isn’t my type.”

 

“That’s too harsh…”

 

Sion muttered dejectedly and shuffled over to place the box on Hella’s desk.

 

“What’s this?”

 

“You’ll know if you open it.”

 

Inside were rare medicinal herbs. Something that only grew in the Eastern Region. It was a rare ingredient used for detoxifying magic.

 

Hella’s expression became subtle.

 

“Hmm, what’s the occasion?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Bringing me things I didn’t even ask for. And from the Eastern Region at that.”

 

Sion answered with an innocent face.

 

“Yeah, I’m kind, aren’t I?”

 

Hella narrowed her eyes.

 

Sion and Hella rarely interacted unless it was something special. The last time they had contacted each other was about 15 years ago, when magic had taken control of the continent.

 

Hella closed the box with a snap and asked disapprovingly.

 

“You’ve been holed up in the Mage Tower for a while, and now suddenly what wind has blown our Archmage here?”

 

“I’m hurt. I came because I missed you, Hella.”

 

“Don’t lie. It’s disgusting.”

 

“I’m sad, I’ve been falsely accused…”

 

Sion pretended to cry pitifully, sniffling.

 

Hella just watched the scene indifferently, resting her chin on her hand as if it wasn’t amusing at all.

 

After shrugging his shoulders for a while, Sion seemed to think it wasn’t working and wiped his expression clean, adding with a smiling face.

 

“There was something I needed help with.”

 

“Something you need help with?”

 

“Yeah. Someone I need.”

 

“…”

 

“Really cute.”

 

Hella raised an eyebrow.

 

Her gaze toward Sion was subtle.

 

“So you met again after all…”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Nothing, never mind.”

 

“Hella, you’re being weird.”

 

“Oh my, is me being weird a recent thing? And I don’t want to hear that from you. It’s insulting.”

 

Hella smiled gently and rested her chin on her hand. Between her gently folded narrow eyes, pale whites flickered.

 

Whether he knew about Hella’s gaze or not, Sion blushed his already rosy cheeks and muttered incomprehensible words.

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve felt this excited.”

 

Hella finally looked at Sion with tired eyes.

 

“When exactly are you planning to fix that habit?”

 

“What? Why are you scolding me?”

 

“Getting all worked up when something interesting happens. I told you to do it in moderation. Don’t you get tired?”

 

“Don’t say it like that. I’m having fun these days.”

 

“Right, that’s your problem. When something looks interesting, you jump in first and think later. What was it last time? Ancient civilization excavation? Magic formula modification? Do you remember what happened after that?”

 

“…Well, trial and error.”

 

Sion slyly rolled his eyes to the side and shrugged his shoulders.

 

Hella languidly crossed her legs and looked Sion up and down. If something could make someone who had lived over 800 years act like a child, there was only one possible cause.

 

Something Hella knew, but Sion didn’t.

 

“…So, was it good?”

 

“Yeah, it was good. It was cute.”

 

“Of course it would be.”

 

Hella looked almost half-resigned now.

 

Sion himself seemed to have no idea what Hella was talking about.

 

Instead, the boy cupped his hands toward Hella and asked with a shameless expression.

 

“Am I really not cute?”

 

Hella frowned.

 

“Disgusting. You’ve lived over 800 years.”

 

“That won’t do, you should like me.”

 

“Who should, that interesting kid you mentioned?”

 

“Yeah, the cute one.”

 

Hella didn’t respond anymore. Responding would only tire her out.

 

She suddenly recalled the young girl who had visited the Moonlight Trading Post not long ago. She had a bold face, yet couldn’t hide her nervousness. Though it was a slightly different appearance from the ‘past’ that Hella remembered….

 

“Your taste really never changes….”

 

“Hella, you’re really strange today. You only say strange things.”

 

“Even if it’s insulting.”

 

Sion looked up at Hella’s gently laughing face with dissatisfaction. That too was brief, as Sion turned around without lingering.

 

“Anyway, I gave it to you, so I’m leaving.”

 

“Already?”

 

“It’s boring being alone with you. Gloomy. You only say strange things.”

 

“Oh my, that hurts the listener’s feelings.”

 

“You hurt my feelings first.”

 

Sion, who spoke as if spitting out the words, stopped in front of the door and looked back.

 

“Hella.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Sion smiled. It wasn’t his usual vacant smile. Something deep was contained within it. The gaze of a being who had lived 800 years briefly flickered.

 

“I’m really having fun these days.”

 

“So?”

 

“Just. Don’t worry either.”

 

Sion shrugged his shoulders.

 

And just as when he had entered, he quietly closed the door and left.

 

Silence settled once again in the quiet room.

 

Hella, who had been staring intently beyond the door where Sion had disappeared with her chin propped up, lowered her gaze and traced the herb box with her fingertips.

 

A light murmur flowed out with a sigh.

 

“…That kid is thinking of getting involved in troublesome matters again.”

 

Even after going through all that, he was still distracted and acting foolishly.

 

Unlike the person involved who didn’t even know the seriousness of the situation, Hella’s dark expression showed no signs of clearing.

 

She twitched her eyebrows and pressed her forehead.

 

“This has become a headache….”

 

I hope it doesn’t become tiresome this time.

 

It was a futile wish.

 

* * *

 

The carriage rattled as it ran.

 

The dense Eastern Forests swept past outside the window. It was still an area thick with magical energy, but I could feel the air gradually becoming clearer as we moved away from the center. The sunlight filtering through the trees seemed to have grown a bit brighter too.

 

I looked down at the documents placed on my lap.

 

I read the official document with the temple’s red seal clearly stamped on it once more, tracing the letters with my finger.

 

I didn’t know how many times this was.

 

I think I’d read it more than ten times.

 

[Guardian, Duke Carter. Ward, Lorea Pryce.]

 

Every time that sentence came into view, I felt my cheeks flush red. The corners of my mouth crept up slyly. It was useless to try to suppress it.

 

My heart was pounding.

 

I did it.

 

I really did it.

 

“…You’re making a stupid face, Princess.”

 

A low voice came from across from me.

 

I raised my head.

 

Carlos was looking at me with an indifferent expression.

 

“Yes.”

 

I answered honestly. There was no reason to hide it.

 

“I’m happy. I’m so happy that it still doesn’t feel real. I keep checking to see if this is real. I’m worried it might be a dream.”

 

“….”

 

Carlos snorted.

 

It was a sound where I couldn’t tell if he was mocking or laughing.

 

Go ahead and mock me all you want.

 

I’ll be happy anyway.

 

Now I can legally stick around the mansion until I become an adult. I’ll make you the healthiest person in the world.

 

As I continued to smile brightly while scanning the documents, I suddenly let out a silent gasp.

 

It was because I remembered reality while being excited with joy.

 

Come to think of it….

 

“…This news must have reached the Emperor’s ears.”

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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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