The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 66

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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 66

“…Guests?”

Demian looked down at the pile of documents with an expression of being at a loss for words.

“Why, is it not allowed?”

“It’s not that it’s not allowed, but….”

Demian scratched his head.

“Are you aware that the only guest who has visited the Dukedom in the past 10 years was Princess Loreia?”

“How could I not know that? Everyone’s busy avoiding us, calling it a cursed territory.”

“But how would you manage it?”

“I’m a princess, aren’t I?”

At my confident answer, Demian was momentarily at a loss for words.

No matter how much I was staying with another family, the fact that I was currently a princess receiving the Emperor’s favor hadn’t changed. Setting aside personal conditions, what noble in the Empire would dare refuse a princess’s invitation?

I snorted triumphantly.

“Didn’t you say before that you had no intention of acting like a princess?”

“That’s only when dealing with the Duke and Demian.”

“Ah, yes.”

Demian looked me over with a reluctant expression.

“So… what do you plan to do after inviting them?”

“First, I thought I’d try to get their attention.”

“Attention?”

I picked up the pen I had set down and tapped the paper with the nib.

‘There are currently no nobles in the Empire who are favorable toward the Duke’s house.’

Not a single one.

Unless Carlos appeared at official occasions looking much healthier than now, it would be difficult for news to spread outside the Dukedom when his activities were restricted to the ducal territory.

The Emperor was using the Temple’s voice. This demonic energy was all punishment sent by God, and House of Carter, which was particularly affected by it, was a family cursed by God.

So it was natural for nobles to avoid us.

There was no reason to take risks and join hands with a family treated as traitors.

‘I need to start step by step.’

The first step was simple.

Make the nobles who avoided the Duke’s house as if it were vermin have even the slightest interest in the Duke’s house.

“Look, Demian. Families that had mages in previous generations are likely to have bloodlines sensitive to magic, right?”

“You’re stating the obvious?”

“Looking at what I’ve selected, they’re all families with young ladies around my age. There’s a high possibility they’re suffering from demonic energy, even if slightly.”

Now that purification stones were becoming increasingly rare, such families would be suffering from the risk of demonic energy poisoning. Someone in the family, without fail.

“The moment the young ladies who accept my invitation set foot in the Duke’s Mansion, they’ll definitely feel it. That the demonic energy here is thin.”

The purification stones I made served as purifiers themselves. So if I spread purification stones throughout the Duke’s Mansion, people sensitive to demonic energy would quickly notice that the air in the Duke’s Mansion was different.

“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? What if the demonic energy in the Dukedom, which was supposedly banished for receiving God’s curse, is more comfortable than the capital?”

Of course, I couldn’t directly deny the rumor of being ‘a family cursed by God.’ But for now, that impression alone was sufficient. It would be even better if I could also show them Carlos’s condition.

Demian, who had been staring at me intently, finally opened his mouth slowly.

“You’re trying to plant the impression that it’s different from the rumors? The lower the expectations, the greater the reaction to unexpected situations.”

“Yes, you’re smarter than you look too.”

I nodded with a smile.

The Empire’s situation with purification stones becoming rare, the relatively clean demonic energy of the Dukedom contrary to rumors, the healthy-looking Duke, and the princess who left the Imperial Palace to form a ward relationship with the Duke’s house.

Could there be a more intriguing and suspicious combination from an outsider’s perspective?

“For now, I just need to give the feeling that House of Carter has ‘something.’ Stimulating curiosity.”

Demian chuckled. Though his expression was still complex, he looked better than before when he had been confused.

“Princess Loreia. You’re cunning.”

“Can’t you praise me with prettier words?”

“To be honest, I didn’t know Princess Loreia could think of such things.”

“I may be physically weak, but my mind is quite useful.”

Though it wasn’t something I should say myself, my skill in manipulating the Empire with the Emperor’s backing didn’t come from nowhere. Winning over nobles and planting seeds of doubt was what I did better than anyone.

‘The Emperor taught me that way.’

Though he probably didn’t know it would come back like this.

“Seeds of doubt start from very small triggers. And girls my age like to chatter. They’re also loose-lipped.”

“It’ll quickly reach their guardians’ ears.”

“Yes. There won’t be nobles wanting to associate with the Duke’s house immediately, but who knows when purification stones become scarcer than now. Given His Majesty the Emperor’s nature, when purification stone supply becomes difficult, he’ll cut off quantities from outer territories like this rather than the capital first.”

By then, Sion’s purification stone research would probably take shape too. Then we’d have far more cards to play than now.

Demian nodded. His expression showed understanding.

“You’re saying you’ll wait for opportunities until they become desperate?”

“That’s right. We shouldn’t act hastily. Now is the stage of sowing seeds.”

I confidently placed my hands on my hips and lifted my chin with all my might. Demian frowned with one eyebrow and laughed out loud.

“Was this your plan from the beginning?”

“I thought of the specific plan last night. Before that, I was pondering methods.”

“I had forgotten, but I clearly realized how Princess Loreia managed to spread her notoriety throughout the Empire at the age of ten.”

“I told you to praise me nicely.”

Strictly speaking, it was only notoriety among nobles who had crossed the Emperor, and until around sixteen, it wasn’t quite that image among common people and most nobles.

I looked Demian up and down with a sulky expression, then jumped up from my seat and said.

“First, I need to get permission from the Duke. It’s a tea party being held at the Duke’s Mansion, after all.”

“…Do you think Father will give permission?”

“Well. I’m planning to do it even if he doesn’t allow it. The Duke has no grounds to kick me out now, so what can he do?”

“You’re truly remarkable in many ways.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes, of course. Let’s go.”

Hmph, I snorted and stepped out into the corridor through the door Demian had opened for me. Demian followed behind me, chuckling softly.

* * *

“Why are you two together again this time.”

Carlos was leaning against the bed, looking through documents. Seeing me and Demian suddenly barging into his bedroom, he openly scrunched up his face.

By the way, handling territorial affairs even while bedridden—somehow Demian’s earlier comparison felt rather unpleasant.

‘To compare me to such a workaholic.’

I glared at Demian behind me for no reason and walked confidently toward Carlos’s bedside.

“Listen, Duke. I want to hold a tea party at the Duke’s Mansion. Will you give me permission?”

Carlos’s gaze lingered on me, then shifted to Demian beside me.

His face clearly said ‘what kind of nonsense is this.’

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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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