The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 76

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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 76

“Th, that is…”

Count Harper stammered.

Even though the Duke had personally set the stage for him, he couldn’t figure out how to bring up the topic. Ask how he recovered? Request to share that secret?

No matter how he thought about it, it was too shameless a request.

Moreover, hadn’t they already faced two awkward silences in their earlier conversation?

For Count Harper, it was a situation that made his mouth go completely dry.

While the Count hesitated, Carlos slowly opened his mouth.

“I hear your wife and daughter are suffering from demonic energy.”

Count Harper flinched, his shoulders trembling as he pressed his lips tightly together.

“So that’s why you came to see me. Because you’re curious about the reason for my improvement.”

“…”

“Can you deny it?”

The Count’s gaze wandered here and there.

‘When he was trying to start the conversation, he glared at me with sharp eyes, and now he’s saying it outright?’

What exactly was he trying to accomplish?

At first, he had planned to ask indirectly, making all sorts of excuses.

But the other party had cut through all those preliminaries and seen right through his true intentions, leaving him speechless.

“So, that is…”

“So?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

There was no point in denying it further. The Count bowed his head deeply.

“I’m ashamed, Your Grace. I came here knowing it was a shameless request. My wife is very ill. My daughter too.”

“I know.”

Was there anyone in this Empire who knew the agony of suffering from demonic energy better than Carlos? He answered matter-of-factly.

The Count continued slowly with his head still bowed.

“However, according to my daughter’s words from last time, Your Grace the Duke looked to be in very good condition. She said the Duke’s Mansion wasn’t a mansion covered in demonic energy either.”

“She saw quite a lot during her mere two-hour stay.”

Carlos muttered nonchalantly.

Then he pulled something from his chest.

A small crystal with a subtle pink glow was placed on the table.

“I wouldn’t even call it much of an answer.”

The Count’s eyes widened.

“This is…”

“I simply no longer need the Imperial Family.”

Carlos said calmly.

The Count looked down at the crystal in disbelief.

He could feel a faint but definite energy.

‘A purification stone!’

He closed and opened his eyes several times, but it was definitely a purification stone.

‘I can’t believe it.’

The purification stone Carlos had presented was subtly different from the Imperial purification stones he had seen before. The quality of the energy was different, one might say. It felt more pure, more clear. He couldn’t sense the impurities that were mixed in the Imperial purification stones.

“Did you make this yourself? How on earth…”

The Count raised his head. His eyes were shaking.

“I don’t think I’m obligated to tell you that much.”

Carlos replied leisurely.

The Count’s mind raced with complex thoughts.

The Duke, of all people, had created a purification stone? How exactly? It was known that only the Imperial Family could make purification stones.

Wait.

‘Could it be.’

Was that cunning Princess staying at the Duke’s Mansion because of this?

A half-demon with dirty mixed blood, not of pure Imperial lineage. Even at the mere age of thirteen, she knew better than anyone how she needed to move to survive. The fact that she had survived this long by manipulating the Emperor, the sun of the Empire, and making enemies of the legitimate princes and princesses proved this.

‘If she found out that the Duke had created a rival to the Imperial Family and sided with him…’

It would be an absurd assumption for anyone else, but if it was that cunning half-blood Princess, it was possible.

At least the Count thought so.

At the same time, hope bloomed on his face.

If only he could obtain that purification stone. If only he could stand on the side of the House of the Duke.

“Your Grace the Duke!”

Count Harper shot up from his seat. The chair slid backward with a screech.

“Please tell me! How can I obtain it?”

“…”

“If you would just tell me that, I’ll do anything! Anything!”

The Count bowed deeply. It was almost a prostrating posture. He had long since thrown away any dignity as a frontier noble.

His wife’s pale face came to mind. His wife growing weaker by the day. The sleepless nights tormented by demonic energy. When he held her hand by the bedside, he could feel her fingertips growing cold.

The Imperial purification stones had their limits. The distribution was decreasing, and the effects weren’t as good as before. The physician had said that at this rate, she might not make it past next year.

But with that purification stone.

With just that, he might be able to save his wife.

“Your Grace, please….”

The Count’s voice trembled. His eyes reddened.

Carlos remained unmoved. His gaze looking down at the pleading Count was cold.

“I said I would give you an answer.”

He slowly reached out and took the purification stone that had been placed on the desk.

“I don’t recall ever saying I would show kindness.”

The Count’s face hardened with despair.

“What do you mean.”

He asked with the expression of someone who had instantly fallen into the abyss.

To show hope and then snatch it away right before his eyes.

“I believe I’ve given you an answer, so please leave now.”

It was an order to leave.

“Your, Your Grace….”

“I have work piling up, you see. It’s difficult to detain guests any longer.”

The Count was at a loss for words.

Certainly the Duke had shown him something. But that was all. There was no mention of how to obtain it, how to acquire it.

He knew this attitude was natural.

That the House of the Duke had no reason to show kindness to Harper Count.

Nevertheless, for someone desperate, urgent emotions took precedence over reason.

In his heart, he wanted to grab onto the Duke’s trouser legs and beg. But he couldn’t endure any longer. With the order to leave already given, persisting would only crush his dignity.

Still.

‘I learned one thing….’

He had confirmed that the House of the Duke had the answer. Today wasn’t a wasted trip.

Next time he came, he would definitely obtain it.

“…I understand, Your Grace.”

The Count bowed his head in greeting.

“I will visit you again next time.”

* * *

“Your Highness, the Count has come out!”

At Mia’s excited announcement, I calmly stepped out into the corridor.

I had to time this well. Not too early, not too late. It had to be natural. As if we met by chance.

I tucked the herb bundle I had prepared in advance into my bosom.

I heard footsteps. Harper Count appeared around the corner. As expected, his expression was complicated.

‘He looks like he’s aged ten years in that short time.’

Well, Carlos wouldn’t have treated him kindly.

But from the looks of it, he seemed to have at least confirmed the purification stone somehow.

“Oh my.”

I stopped walking, pretending I had just happened to encounter him while passing by.

“Harper Count. How nice to meet you here like this. It’s been a while.”

“Your Highness the Princess.”

Harper Count looked at me with surprise and quickly bowed his head.

“Did the private audience go well?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

It was a formal answer. He said it went well, but his expression said otherwise.

“That’s a relief.”

I smiled gently, pretending not to know.

“You must be going through a lot of hardship, Count.”

“…Your Highness.”

The Count looked at me with complicated eyes. There was anxiety, and at the same time, wariness. He seemed confused that none other than the Princess was saying such things.

I took out a small bundle from my bosom with a benevolent expression.

“Here, please give this to your wife.”

“What is this?”

“It’s herbs. They say it’s good for magic contamination. I’m growing them myself in the Duke’s Mansion garden. I heard you’ve been having headaches over the purification stone distribution issue lately.”

The Count took the bundle. He had a bewildered expression.

“You didn’t think I wouldn’t know? I am a Princess, after all.”

At my brazen answer, Harper Count’s mouth opened and closed. He seemed to be pondering something, then hesitating repeatedly.

“Your, Your Highness the Princess. By any chance.”

“Hmm? Do you have something to say?”

“…No, it’s nothing. I apologize for the rudeness.”

In the end, the Count closed his mouth with a sigh.

‘It’s like he’s walking around with “I have serious concerns” written all over his face.’

I watched him for a moment, then deliberately lowered my voice. I pretended to casually check if anyone was around. I intentionally created a secretive atmosphere.

“I know what you want to say, Count.”

“…Pardon?”

“We’re probably thinking the same thing.”

Saying that, I smiled mysteriously.

“…Your Highness.”

The Count’s voice trembled. He looked like he wanted to ask something more. But I had no intention of saying anything further. This was enough for now.

“I’ll be going now. Make sure to give the herbs to your wife.”

I gave a light greeting and turned around.

“…Thank you, Your Highness.”

I could feel the Count’s gaze on my back. Complex, wavering, and somewhat filled with hope.

The corners of my mouth curved up slightly.

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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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