The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 89

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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 89

It had already been a week since Lorea fell asleep.

For the first few days, even her breathing was precarious.

With her breath continuing faintly as if it might break at any moment, the doctors couldn’t leave her bedside all night. No one knew when her breathing might stop.

But as time passed, her breathing became much more stable, and color returned to her face that had been nothing but pale.

The problem came after that.

The girl did not wake up. No matter how long they waited.

“We cannot determine the cause.”

The doctors all shook their heads in unison.

There were no external injuries, her breathing was stable, and her pulse was normal, but they didn’t know why she wouldn’t open her eyes. They said exposure to extremely dense magical energy could be the cause, but even that wasn’t certain.

“Duke.”

Sion dangled his legs from the windowsill and looked across at Carlos.

“How about getting some sleep? At this rate, you’ll collapse first.”

No response came back.

Carlos was still only looking at the girl on the bed. His face showed he hadn’t eaten or slept properly for an entire week. Dark shadows had settled under his eyes, and his cheekbones appeared more prominent.

“Are you really going to keep doing this?”

Sion hopped down and crossed the room, poking Carlos’s shoulder with his finger.

“You used to find Loreia so bothersome.”

Sion muttered. It was a low voice like he was talking to himself.

“This is why dishonest types are troublesome.”

Carlos’s shoulders stiffened slightly.

But he still didn’t open his mouth. Sion shrugged and said nothing more.

Instead, he shifted his gaze to Lorea.

He could see the girl’s arm exposed above the blanket. A white, slender arm. Sion’s eyes slowly traced over it.

‘It’s strange.’

She must have drawn blood to block the magical energy.

Whether she cut the back of her hand or her palm, there should have been a wound somewhere. But when Lorea was found, there were no wounds anywhere. Only bloodstains were abundant, but it was impossible to tell where the blood had come from. As if the wounds had healed by themselves.

And the pit that had been full of magical energy.

That place was filled in as if by magic. So cleanly that not even a trace of magical energy could be found.

‘That wasn’t magical energy that could be resolved with just that amount of blood.’

Sion’s eyes narrowed.

His pupils moved rapidly. As if trying to recall something in his mind. After staring down at Lorea’s arm like that for a while, Sion suddenly stood up.

“You’ll keep staying here, won’t you, Duke?”

“….”

“I have somewhere to go for a moment. Something came up that I need to check.”

Sion left the room without waiting for an answer. A blue light flickered and he disappeared in an instant.

Silence settled over the room.

Carlos just stared at the sleeping girl’s face.

Color had returned to her pale face. Her breathing was stable too. She was alive. She was definitely alive.

So why wouldn’t she open her eyes?

Carlos swept his tired face with one hand. His rough palm passed over his eyes and down to his chin.

Should he not have brought her here in the first place?

That thought crossed his mind. If she hadn’t come to the Dukedom, she wouldn’t have had to worry about magical energy outbursts. She wouldn’t have had to run off alone and spill her blood. She wouldn’t be lying there with such a pale face.

But he knew that was wrong thinking. If this child hadn’t come to the Dukedom, she would be dying in the Imperial Palace by now. Slowly, in the Emperor’s grasp. She was a child who had come all this way because she hated that.

Then he should have protected her better from the beginning. He shouldn’t have let her go alone.

‘…What am I even doing?’

Carlos suddenly didn’t understand himself.

Guarding this spot for an entire week, enduring without proper sleep. To call it a guardian’s sense of responsibility felt somehow strange.

He couldn’t understand why his heart felt like it was sinking. Why his chest felt stuffy just looking at that small face. Why he felt so anxious watching Loreia who wouldn’t open her eyes.

It had been a bothersome contract. An unwanted guardianship. So why.

The more he thought about it, the less he understood. Only the sense of desperation was clear.

“…Just wake up.”

A low voice flowed out. Without him realizing it.

“Please.”

There was no answer. The girl was still sleeping quietly.

* * *

I opened my eyes.

I could see a white ceiling. A familiar pattern. A familiar color. I felt like I’d seen it somewhere, but where was it? My head was foggy and I had to think for a while.

‘…Where is this?’

My memories slowly returned. The report that magical energy was leaking out. Running there. The black pit. Cutting my arm and bleeding. And collapsing.

‘Ah, it’s my new room.’

The new room I received at the Duke’s Mansion. A room much better than when I first came. That was the ceiling. I had returned alive.

I tried to sit up. But my whole body ached. My arms and legs were heavy as a thousand pounds, and even moving my head slightly made dizziness wash over me. How long had I been lying here? In the end, I gave up even turning my head and just rolled my eyes.

And I froze.

Someone was sitting in a chair placed right next to the bed. It was Carlos, asleep with his arms crossed and head lowered.

Why was Carlos here?

‘…Had he been here the whole time?’

I felt bewildered. How. Why.

Questions chained together, but before my thoughts could organize themselves, Carlos opened his eyes.

Red eyes met mine.

Carlos froze completely. His half-awake face instantly became alert. His eyes widened.

“…Loreia?”

“….”

“Have you come to your senses?”

There was strength in his voice. I nodded my head. My throat was stiff and no words would come out.

Carlos shot up from his seat. The chair slid backward with a creaking sound.

“I need to call a doctor… no, the Archmage….”

I grabbed the hem of his clothes as he frantically tried to turn around. I barely managed to catch it with my fingertips since I had no strength, but Carlos immediately stopped.

As if bound by iron chains, he stood completely still and looked down at me.

“It’s alright, isn’t it?”

Those words barely came out. My voice was cracked, almost close to a whisper.

Carlos blinked. His expression showed he didn’t understand what I meant.

“The domain, I mean.”

I barely managed to continue speaking. My throat was so dry that even swallowing saliva was difficult.

“Nothing got damaged, right? Because of the mana….”

I was worried that the mana might have burst out. That the domain might have been ruined. That the nobles might be going around badmouthing House of the Duke. That everything I had worked so hard to build might have collapsed. That’s why I asked.

Carlos stared down at me blankly.

His red eyes wavered. His face was unreadable, showing no hint of what he was thinking. His lips trembled slightly.

After staring at me silently for a long while, his face suddenly crumpled.

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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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