The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 70

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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 70

“What is it?”

“It was sent from House of Harper.”

Carlos placed the letter down on the desk with a thud.

Indeed, the envelope bore the seal of House of Harper. The crest carved into the red wax. After being quiet for a whole week, it seemed they had finally sent a letter.

‘It’s here.’

I cheered inwardly but didn’t show it outwardly.

Carlos propped his chin on his hand at an angle and asked.

“Didn’t you invite Harper Countess to the tea party a few days ago?”

“Yes, I did.”

I thought he was just casually scanning the young ladies he encountered that day, but apparently he had grasped who I had invited all along.

His observational skills are truly sharp, I tell you.

“May I take a look at the letter?”

Instead of answering, Carlos gestured toward the letter with his chin.

I interpreted this as willing permission and approached the desk to pick up the letter.

“It’s a letter of regards.”

Literally, it was filled with trite greetings written at length. Expressing gratitude for Her Imperial Highness’s grace, how their daughter had enjoyed her time, wishing for good health, hoping for His Grace the Duke’s recovery, and so on. It was the typical format of aristocratic correspondence.

But reading between the lines was different.

Though there were no words saying ‘we would like to visit,’ it was full of signs that they wanted to become closer. I could feel them beating around the bush, unable to speak directly. The letter was quite long too.

If it were just ceremonial regards, there would be no need to write this extensively.

No, they wouldn’t have even thought to write such a letter to the Duke’s Mansion in the first place.

It was a letter with transparent intentions.

‘The news must have spread for certain.’

At this rate, it seemed it wouldn’t be long before letters arrived from other noble houses as well.

While the Duke might be holed up alone in his territory, other nobles usually exchange news with each other even between distant territories.

As I was unknowingly grinning with satisfaction, Carlos asked in a prickly voice.

“So this is what scheme you and Demian were plotting together.”

“A scheme, you say.”

I replied while putting down the letter.

“It’s strategy.”

Even the same words can sound different depending on how you say them, yet he always interprets things so negatively.

Like father, like son, really.

“The Duke’s house is too isolated right now. So I thought we might try creating some connections. You know, don’t you? That our current position and military strength are woefully inadequate to face the Imperial Family.”

Carlos looked at me. His gaze was unreadable.

“House of Harper will be a good ally. All the families I invited to the tea party will be.”

Led by Keinz Countship, all the families I had invited to last week’s tea party were those maintaining ambiguous positions.

While they currently maintained friendly attitudes toward the Imperial Family due to the strong imperial authority, if you went back just one generation, there were families that had maintained neutrality or supported the nobles.

‘Opportunists.’

They belong to no one’s side. They don’t belong to the Emperor’s faction or the nobles’ faction, walking a tightrope while maintaining neutrality.

That also meant that depending on what attitude we took, we could win them over to our side at any time.

Among them, Harper County was geographically advantageous too. Located in a position directly connected to the Capital, information flowed quickly there. If we established connections with them, it would become easier to hear news from the Capital as well.

“You may already know this, but Harper Countess suffers from magic sickness. She inherited a strong magical bloodline from her mother. Though she doesn’t seem to properly handle magic power.”

Carlos’s eyebrows twitched at my words.

“The Countess would be the same. And Harper Countess visited the Duke’s Mansion and confirmed the Duke’s condition, which was better than expected. That means they have reason to extend their hand first.”

“So that’s why you forcibly dragged me out to the garden.”

“Yes, the young master did well. We’ve been working well together lately.”

I smiled brightly and looked straight at him.

“This is an opportunity, Duke. We’ve created a reason for the other party to approach us without us having to extend our hand first.”

“….”

“I’ll say it again, the Duke’s house needs allies. There are limits to remaining isolated like this.”

Carlos stared at me with sharp eyes for a long time.

I know what he’s contemplating.

When the Duke’s house was completely isolated by the Emperor, not a single noble in the Empire extended a helping hand. They thoroughly turned away and conspired with the Imperial Family to cover up the carriage incident involving the Duchess and the Duke’s daughter, pushing Carlos into the abyss.

The main reason Carlos thinks of all the nobles in this country as vermin was because of this.

Because they tormented him when he lost what was most precious to him.

‘But right now, every single person is precious.’

I quickly added.

“It’s not like we’re asking to meet right away, but wouldn’t it be fine to at least reply to the letter?”

Carlos’s gaze turned to the letter.

“…I’ll consider it.”

What followed was a compliant answer. I could see him sliding the letter paper with House of Harper’s seal into the first drawer of his desk.

‘Got it.’

I couldn’t help but smile broadly.

Carlos, who glanced at me sideways, hesitated and stiffened.

“…Why are you smiling?”

“Well, I’m happy that the Duke accepted my proposal.”

Because that means I can be of at least some help to these people. For now, that was enough.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

It was just as I turned around to leave the study with a satisfied smile.

Carlos Carter, who had been staring at me intently the whole time, suddenly spoke up.

“Loreia. You haven’t been attending breakfast.”

Suddenly?

Why is he bringing up breakfast now?

Bewildered by this random change of topic, I answered in confusion.

“Well… I eat alone in my room?”

Carlos’s expression changed subtly.

“Members of the Duke’s Mansion have breakfast together in the Dining Hall unless there are unavoidable circumstances. No exceptions.”

“What?”

Since when?

“But I haven’t heard anything about this until now… Mia has been bringing my meals separately every single time.”

Carlos narrowed his eyes. He looked somewhat displeased.

“That was when Loreia was a guest. Now you’re a ward, aren’t you?”

“But even after we finished the guardianship contract… Ah.”

Come to think of it, Carlos had collapsed before I even arrived at the Duke’s Mansion after establishing the guardianship relationship. Since then, there hadn’t been any occasion to come out to the Dining Hall for meals.

Still, even so. How can he suddenly bring this up out of nowhere like this?

While I was too dumbfounded to say anything, Carlos glanced at the clock on his desk.

“Instead of standing around like this, let’s go have lunch now. The timing is just right.”

“…What?”

I stared at Carlos in bewilderment as he got up from his seat.

Right now?

Suddenly eating together like this?

“Demian should have finished his morning training by now, so we can call him too.”

“No…”

I stared at him in a daze, blinking repeatedly.

Carlos gave me an indifferent look. His eyes seemed to say ‘what’s the problem?’

“To the Dining Hall.”

Leaving only those words behind, he walked out first with leisurely steps.

‘What the heck…?’

I stared blankly at his retreating figure before hurriedly following after him.

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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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