The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 75

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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 75

Duke’s Study.

Sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the desk.

Carlos lazily propped his chin on his hand. Harper Count, sitting in the chair across from him, trembled his legs with a face clearly showing nervousness.

Tea and refreshments were prepared on the table, but neither had touched them.

“It’s been exactly 11 years since I’ve seen your face.”

Carlos spoke first. Though his voice was indifferent, there was no mistaking the barb in his words.

Cold sweat ran down Harper Count’s back.

11 years.

It meant there had been no contact even once since the incident with the Duchess and the Duke’s daughter.

Among the Marquises of the Borderlands, how many had paid their respects to the House of the Duke after that day? Still, he couldn’t help feeling guilty.

“I should have paid my respects much earlier, but there were various circumstances…”

“Circumstances.”

Carlos snorted.

Harper Count’s face turned pale.

“Let’s skip the useless talk. It’ll only tire us both.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

Even while flustered, Harper Count rolled his eyes around, carefully observing Carlos with sidelong glances.

Rumors said he was dying. That he had been tainted by dark magic and could no longer function as a human. Having lost his wife and daughter and been steeped in madness, his condition would surely be twice as miserable.

There were even stories circulating that the House of the Duke, having earned the Emperor’s hatred, would soon collapse.

But.

‘He looks perfectly fine.’

The Carlos before his eyes didn’t look sick at all. His complexion was good, his eyes were alive, and his posture was straight. He didn’t look like someone who was dying.

His daughter, who had recently received an invitation from Loreia, had said so. The Duke she encountered that day looked strangely healthy. He didn’t seem like someone poisoned by dark magic.

It was unbelievable.

Harper Count had sent a letter to House of Carter, Duke with half-doubt, unable to fully believe it.

But seeing the Duke sitting perfectly fine before his eyes, he truly couldn’t help but believe it.

‘How did he recover?’

Questions filled his head, but no matter how shameless he might be, he couldn’t suddenly ask for the secret at their first private meeting in over a decade. It would be too obvious.

“Since I came to pay my respects, I prepared a small gift.”

Instead, Harper Count smiled gently and placed the bundle he had brought on the table.

“It’s a specialty from our domain. It’s nothing much, but I would be grateful if you would accept it.”

Carlos nodded indifferently.

“I will continue to pay my respects frequently. As a border lord, I would like to maintain good relations with the House of the Duke.”

“Good relations…”

Carlos repeated. This time there was an openly crooked smile.

Harper Count continued speaking while breaking out in cold sweat behind his back.

“By the way, I’m relieved to see you looking healthy. I was very worried hearing only rumors, but seeing you in person, it seems my concerns were unfounded.”

“Oh, so you were thinking of me all this time? How surprising.”

“Haha…”

Despite his efforts, the atmosphere became even more chilly.

Carlos seemed to have no intention of being lenient with the noble who came crawling after a full 11 years.

If Lorea, who had told him to win over Harper Count, saw this, she would be truly appalled.

The Count sighed inwardly. He was worried he might actually suffocate to death from the pressure.

Come to think of it, even before being poisoned by dark magic, the Duke had been the most ruthless in the Empire. Why had he forgotten that?

If he had known it would be like this, he should have come with other family heads instead of requesting a private meeting.

Regret was creeping in.

“…Your Grace. Actually, there’s something I’ve been curious about all along.”

“It seems you didn’t come to inquire about my well-being, but to satisfy your curiosity.”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“I’m joking.”

He said it was a joke with a face that didn’t look like he was joking at all.

Harper Count bit down hard on his tongue.

After a moment of silence, he continued with difficulty.

“Well, it seems Her Highness Loreia is staying at the Duke’s Mansion. I was wondering if something happened? I heard you became her guardian…”

“You’re quite quick with this kind of news for someone who hasn’t shown his face around here.”

“Well, that is…”

“This is also a joke.”

Carlos chuckled lowly, seemingly amused by Harper Count’s face turning pale in real time. Of course, only his mouth was smiling.

His crimson gaze was still coldly scanning Harper Count.

“I was half-doubtful even after hearing the rumors, but my daughter came back from the Duke’s Mansion last time and chattered on so much. I couldn’t contain my curiosity…”

Carlos tilted his head with an expressionless face.

“Do I have an obligation to answer that?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant.”

The Count’s mouth opened and closed.

The Imperial Court and the House of the Duke stood at perfect opposite ends. No one would be unaware that the current Emperor regarded the House of the Duke as a thorn in his side.

But of all people, why was Loreia, who had been as hostile to the House of the Duke as the Emperor himself, staying here? Why had the Duke allowed it?

Everything was full of mysteries.

Carlos tapped the armrest with his finger.

“It’s as you know. I am Loreia’s guardian, and Loreia has become my ward.”

“Y-yes. That’s right.”

Carlos, who had been watching the Count’s sweat-drenched face with his chin propped up, smiled smoothly.

“Simply put, it means the Princess has become a person of House of the Duke.”

The Count’s expression became peculiar.

“Does that answer your question?”

It didn’t answer anything at all.

‘A person of House of the Duke?’

Were those words really from Carlos Carter’s mouth?

Whatever it was, something had definitely changed between them.

‘Could it be related to the Duke’s improved condition?’

If his guess was correct, he would need to observe House of the Duke even more carefully.

The Duke was definitely holding something. Something attractive enough to win over even that haughty Princess.

Carlos asked leisurely.

“Do you need more of an answer?”

“…No, that’s fine. I was being rude.”

The conversation that followed was purely formal. Trade discussions between domains, possibilities for resource exchange. Surface-level topics were exchanged, but his mind was elsewhere.

But he couldn’t ask. The atmosphere had turned cold twice already. He might accidentally touch a nerve again.

The Count quietly swallowed a sigh.

‘Was this trip for nothing?’

No, it wasn’t completely for nothing. At least his relationship with House of the Duke hadn’t worsened.

But what would he tell his wife? His wife who had been waiting with hope.

He was pondering with a complicated expression.

Carlos, who had been sitting across from him observing the Count’s complexion with interest, spoke up.

“Well then, let’s put aside this tedious talk and get to the main point.”

“…Pardon?”

“Someone as quick with calculations as you wouldn’t have come just to exchange trivial pleasantries. You have something you’re curious about, don’t you.”

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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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