The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 59

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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 59

 

Thud, it was the sensation of something sinking down.

 

“That’s…”

 

I kept opening and closing my mouth repeatedly.

 

I didn’t know how to explain it. My mind went completely blank.

 

What would happen if this secret was discovered? What if Sion said he would stop the research? What if he saw me as some strange being?

 

Sion let out a sigh.

 

“So I was right.”

 

His expression was indescribable.

 

I lowered my gaze and just gripped the blanket tightly with my uninjured hand.

 

“I wasn’t trying to deceive you.”

 

It was strange.

 

I hadn’t committed any crime or done anything wrong, yet I couldn’t understand why fear struck me first.

 

I just needed to say that I was born with a special constitution, that because of it I received the Emperor’s favor, but now I wanted to use it for other people instead of the Imperial Family. That’s all I had to say.

 

“So, Sion.”

 

“I’m not going to scold you.”

 

Perhaps feeling sorry for me trembling, Sion reached out his arm to comfort me.

 

“I’m just asking to be sure.”

 

The quiet boy’s voice poured down over my head.

 

“Lorea?”

 

“…”

 

“Won’t you look at me?”

 

At his continued urging, I slowly raised my head.

 

Sion was looking down at me with a calm face, as if he hadn’t taken his eyes off me for even a moment.

 

“I understand now why you didn’t tell me the raw materials. You asked for research and mass production because you can’t keep bleeding yourself every time, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I felt completely exposed.

 

When I first met him, I had acted confident to somehow avoid revealing the source of the purification stones and hide the cards I held, but now that everything was discovered, I didn’t know what to do.

 

A brief silence passed.

 

It was Sion who spoke first again.

 

“You said you could give me as many purification stones as I wanted.”

 

“…”

 

“Were you planning to cut your flesh every time to provide me with original purification stones until the research succeeded?”

 

I couldn’t answer.

 

Because that was correct. I was going to make purification stones with my blood and give them to Sion, so he could analyze them and find a way to mass produce them.

 

That was the best method for me.

 

“I heard you’re also giving them to the Grand Duke once a week.”

 

“…It’s not much.”

 

Somehow all the words coming out of my mouth sounded like excuses.

 

“Compared to the blood drawing at the Imperial Palace… it’s nothing. Now it’s much less than that. Less painful.”

 

Sion let out a long sigh.

 

He pressed his hand to his forehead. He looked like he had a headache.

 

“If I had known that blood was the raw material for purification stones, I wouldn’t have cooperated.”

 

Startled, my shoulders trembled.

 

I urgently grabbed Sion’s sleeve.

 

“No, you can’t.”

 

“Lorea.”

 

“That’s the only way. There’s no other method. Even the Imperial Family has been continuously searching for raw materials to replace my blood for purification stones, but they’ve failed every time.”

 

Even until the moment I died, the Emperor couldn’t find a substitute for my blood.

 

That’s why he dropped me into hell to somehow secure my blood.

 

I shook my head obsessively.

 

Sion’s gaze fell on me.

 

I had no way to interpret what kind of expression he was making.

 

Another low sigh flowed from between his teeth.

 

“…I understand for now.”

 

“What do you mean ‘for now’?”

 

I asked with an anxious voice.

 

What if Sion said he would stop the research?

 

What if he said he would withdraw because he didn’t like the secret of my blood?

 

“I’ll continue the research. But no more providing purification stones.”

 

“…What?”

 

“I can handle it myself. I’ve already received enough samples. I have plenty of materials to analyze. I don’t need your blood anymore.”

 

“But… without the original for comparative analysis…”

 

“I’ll handle that myself.”

 

Sion firmly grasped my hand and pulled it away from his sleeve.

 

Warm body heat was transmitted to the back of my hand.

 

“I can do this much on my own. Don’t underestimate me too much. I’m the Archmage.”

 

“I wasn’t underestimating you…”

 

“I’m competent, you know.”

 

Sion grinned broadly.

 

Only then did my anxiously racing heart find stability.

 

‘Thank goodness, it seems he won’t quit.’

 

With his free hand, he stroked my head. It was an affectionate touch, but somehow a little different from usual.

 

“You’re really such a fool.”

 

For the first time, he wore a serious expression. It wasn’t his usual blank face, nor his playful one. Though his tone was gentle, I knew he was tenderly scolding me.

 

My gaze naturally dropped downward.

 

“Do you think it’s okay to treat your body so carelessly? Drawing blood to make purification stones, then giving them to others. Cutting your flesh every single time.”

 

“….”

 

“You promised to be an interesting existence for me. If you keep getting hurt and suffering like this, it becomes boring. Then I’ll be disappointed.”

 

Sion spoke with a dry expression.

 

Even at his words that could have been either worry or reproach, I couldn’t give any answer.

 

‘Was there another way?’

 

All I had was the single weapon called purification stones. Without that, I would have died the moment I set foot in the Duke’s Mansion, let alone become the Duke’s ward.

 

But instead of making these rebuttals one by one, I quietly spoke to him.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

“For what.”

 

“For saying you won’t quit.”

 

“I don’t particularly want to receive that kind of thanks.”

 

I could see Sion’s brow furrow slightly.

 

“Then, um… thank you for worrying about me.”

 

“That’s only natural. If you collapse, the research gets delayed. And I told you it’s boring without you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Who would have thought the day would come when being called interesting would be so reassuring.

 

However, even after receiving Sion’s comfort that wasn’t quite comfort, there was another reason my mind couldn’t be at ease.

 

‘What do I do now.’

 

Since Sion found out, would it reach the Duke’s ears too?

 

Sion was one thing, but I couldn’t gauge at all how Carlos would react.

 

Would he think it didn’t matter much? Or would he pity me? Or perhaps be displeased by the fact that he was relying on purification stones made from my blood. Honestly, I hoped he wouldn’t care about it.

 

More than anything, I didn’t want to reveal how I was treated in the Imperial Court, how my blood was exploited. I didn’t want to gain sympathy over such things either.

 

The best thing would be not getting caught, but….

 

It was the moment my worried gaze turned toward Sion.

 

“I’ll keep it secret from the Duke.”

 

As if it went without saying, Sion answered calmly.

 

“But.”

 

He firmly raised his finger.

 

“You’ll keep purification stone provision to a minimum. It’s unsightly to squander them carelessly all the time.”

 

“…I understand.”

 

I nodded my head.

 

“Good. Then I’ll continue observing the Duke’s condition a bit more. I’ll stay here for a few more days until your body recovers.”

 

“…Here? At the Duke’s Mansion?”

 

“Yeah, it seems like it’ll take time for the Duke to wake up. Why, do you dislike it?”

 

“No. Thank you.”

 

Sion chuckled softly.

 

“If you’re grateful, get well quickly, Lorea. So I won’t be bored.”

 

I quietly nodded my head.

 

‘…Thank goodness.’

 

My secret had been discovered, but it wasn’t the worst situation. Sion would continue the research. And he would keep the secret too.

 

That alone made me feel relieved.

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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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