The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 7

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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 7

“A favor?”

“I need suitable transportation and an escort. I’d appreciate it if you could prepare them as quickly as possible.”

Carlos frowned at my request.

“Where did my words about keeping yourself safe just go?”

“That’s exactly why I’m saying this. I need to go to the West. I can’t travel such a long distance alone.”

Originally, I had planned to wait for a better time, but I changed my mind.

If this artifact could help me hide my identity even a little, it would be advantageous to move as soon as possible.

“Once we formally establish a guardianship relationship, the Imperial surveillance will become strict anyway. The necklace won’t be able to hide my identity then, so I think it’s better to move now while surveillance is lighter.”

The West was the land of mages.

It was also a place where magic users who hadn’t yet fallen under the influence of the Magi and didn’t have enemies inland gathered.

Most importantly, in that land…

‘He should still be there.’

I needed to meet that person as quickly as possible.

“You came asking for protection, and now less than two weeks later you want to leave the Dukedom…”

Carlos looked me up and down coldly.

His eyes held not a shred of trust.

“What reason do I have to grant that favor?”

“You already know that I came here avoiding the Emperor’s eyes. So if you’re truly suspicious of my actions, report to the Emperor. Tell him the Princess is here and to come take her.”

Carlos’s eyes narrowed at my confident attitude.

“It’s something I absolutely must do.”

“…Is it related to the purification stones?”

“Probably.”

Carlos remained silent for a while.

His expression showed he was trying to gauge what kind of plan I, who had fled here avoiding the Emperor’s eyes, was hatching.

Though he couldn’t possibly dream of what I was actually thinking.

‘He’d never even imagine it’s something to help him.’

Our gazes clashed in the air for a long time.

“…”

Carlos was the first to look away.

He closed his tired eyes tightly, then opened them.

“…I’ll think about it.”

That was the moment.

Bang!

“Father!”

The Study door burst open as if it might break, and a sharp voice rang out loudly.

Before I could even turn my head, a large shadow strode across the Study and slammed his hand on the desk with a thud.

“I heard the Princess came to visit, what on earth…!”

The boy who had been shouting in an agitated voice turned his head and froze.

Jet-black hair that was the symbol of the House of the Duke, green eyes that probably resembled his mother’s, a face that hadn’t yet shed its boyish features.

‘…Damian Carter.’

The eldest son of the ducal house.

And the man who should have been my older brother originally.

‘This is the first time I’m seeing his youthful face.’

The last face I remembered was more mature than now, and also more weathered.

Since he was always busy mocking me with that grinning face whenever he saw me, seeing him lose his composure was unfamiliar.

He seemed to recognize me belatedly despite my changed eye and hair color, and his face contorted with displeasure.

“How dare you set foot in this place, Your Highness the Princess.”

A murderous voice fell over my head.

“I knew you were insane, but I never thought you’d be this completely mad. Are you now planning to gamble with your own life? If that’s why you crawled in here…”

The endless stream of sarcasm that followed made my head spin.

Of course.

Where would the mockery bombardier go?

Unlike Carlos, Demian didn’t hesitate to insult royalty even in front of me. And he did it very cleverly, just enough to avoid being arrested for lese majeste.

I couldn’t even count how many times this bastard had raised my blood pressure during private meetings.

Of course, I didn’t just sit still back then either, but the situation was a bit different now.

“Demian, that’s enough.”

“But Father!”

“Stop.”

Carlos waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed, restraining Demian.

“Princess. It would be best if you left now.”

“Yes, understood.”

At Carlos’s timely instruction, I immediately stood up from my seat as if I’d been waiting for it.

Carlos was one thing, but there was nothing good about facing an agitated Demian.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

I quickly passed by Demian with hurried steps.

‘Let me avoid running into him.’

I deliberately ignored the sharp gaze that persistently followed me until the very moment the door closed.

* * *

The study after Lorea had left.

“Father, what are you thinking? Why that damned bitch of all people…!”

“Lower your voice. It’s making my head ring.”

Carlos, who had restrained Demian from raising his voice again, leaned back in his chair.

“How was the eastern territory?”

“…Monster attacks have increased recently. I’ve dealt with all the nearby habitats, so it should be fine for a while.”

“It seems the magic energy has already reached below the mountain range.”

“We’re supplying purification stones regularly. We also have the purification stones we bought recently, so it’s not something you need to worry about yet.”

Carlos slowly nodded at Demian’s answer.

The fact that the eastern territory of the dukedom, close to the center of magic energy, was still running smoothly was thanks to Demian and his knight order.

“So, about the task I assigned you.”

“I investigated, but there was no information about the purification stones you mentioned anywhere in the capital or the Empire. From what I found through the guild, even the Imperial Family seems unaware of their existence.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. But what exactly are these purification stones? An effect dozens of times greater than regular purification stones?”

Instead of answering, Carlos took out a palm-sized box and handed it to Demian.

Demian’s eyes widened as he checked the contents.

Dozens of dark red purification stones were piled high inside the box.

“What is this…?”

“The princess brought them. She said she could provide as many as we want. However, on the condition that I become her guardian.”

“…Guardian? What do you mean by that?”

Demian’s face was colored with confusion.

He had spoken harshly in anger earlier, but had she really gone completely insane?

“Whatever wind has blown her way, she asked me to protect her from the Imperial Family.”

“What does that…”

“It’s exactly as I said.”

Demian’s face crumpled with frustration.

“That’s ridiculous. She’s the Imperial Family’s demon who receives all of the Emperor’s favor. What reason could that woman possibly have to need protection?”

Lorea Pryce was the worst kind of human.

How many people had been ruined by a single word from that cruel princess? And what about how she wielded the common people at will, backed by the Emperor’s power?

Demian spoke through gritted teeth.

“She must have some other ulterior motive. How can you trust that cunning witch when you don’t know what tricks she might pull?”

“Yes, I know. It is suspicious.”

Carlos closed the box.

“That’s why you will monitor the princess.”

His sunken red gaze stared beyond the study door where Lorea had disappeared.

“Whether she’s truly innocent or not, we’ll know by watching.”

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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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