The Puppet Villainess’s Splendid Rebellion - Chapter 90

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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 90

Carlos’s face crumpled.

It was an expression I’d never seen before. A complexly distorted face that I couldn’t tell if it was angry or sad. His red eyes were looking down at me.

“…Your Highness.”

A low voice flowed out. It seemed like he wanted to say something more, but his lips just twitched before closing again. After a moment of silence, he exhaled like a sigh.

“Are you in your right mind?”

“…Pardon?”

“It was magical energy condensed dozens of times over. Didn’t you claim to know about magical energy as well as the Emperor? What on earth were you thinking when you jumped in there?”

His voice dropped low. He was definitely angry, but I couldn’t tell what he was angry about. I stared up at him blankly.

“I just… I didn’t want all my efforts to go to waste…”

“Did you think I would be grateful if Your Highness did such a thing? I’ve been watching and protecting you all this time, and now you’re gambling with your own body?”

Carlos’s voice grew louder. It wasn’t his usual low, blunt tone. He was noticeably agitated.

“Why did you go alone? You could have waited for a report, so why did you have to rush out first…!”

His voice trembled at the end. His red eyes were shaking. I didn’t know what to say and just opened and closed my mouth.

Then Carlos suddenly cut himself off.

“…Never mind.”

He pressed one hand to his forehead. After letting out a long breath, he turned his head away. The agitated energy from before rapidly subsided.

“…I said something unnecessary.”

An awkward silence flowed.

Carlos still had his head turned away, and I still didn’t know what to say. I felt like I should speak, but I didn’t know what words to use, so I just blinked.

Then the door burst open.

“Your Highness!”

It was Demian. He looked like he had rushed here frantically. He was out of breath, his eyes were bloodshot red. His clothes were disheveled too. I could tell at a glance that he had run here urgently.

“Have you really awakened?”

Demian rushed to the bedside. His eyes were reddened. He looked like he was about to cry, or rather, like he had already been crying.

I saw Carlos quietly step back. Then he left the room without saying anything. I heard the sound of the door closing.

‘…What was that about.’

I was bewildered, but before I could think about it, Demian grabbed my hand.

“Do you know how worried I was? Are you trying to make all my hair fall out now?”

His voice was trembling. His large hands shook slightly.

“Are you really okay now? Is there anywhere that hurts?”

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

I barely managed to answer. My voice wouldn’t come out properly.

“This time, even if Your Highness is stubborn, it won’t work.”

Demian said firmly. Though tears were welling up in his eyes, his voice was resolute.

“You must rest for a month.”

“A month?”

“No, two months.”

“…”

Somehow I felt like the future was going to be tiring.

* * *

Why are bad premonitions never wrong?

From that day on, Demian put aside all his sword training and stayed by my side like he was serving me. He was already there when I opened my eyes in the morning, and he watched over me until I fell asleep at night. Bringing me water, taking care of my medicine, covering me with blankets.

It got to the point where Mia laughed awkwardly, saying she had nothing to do.

“Demian, aren’t you going to training?”

I asked while leaning against the bed eating porridge. Demian was carefully peeling an apple beside me. He was cutting it without a single mistake, and I thought this was where his skill with a sword came from.

“I’ll go after you finish all of this.”

Along with his calm answer, a piece of apple was offered to me.

“You said that yesterday too!”

“Yes, and you finished it all yesterday too.”

“…”

I had nothing to say. Demian smiled and brought the apple closer. I ended up taking it. It was sweet. Annoyingly delicious.

“Is it okay for someone who’s supposed to become a Sword Master to act like this?”

“Your Highness’s health comes first.”

“You used to act like you’d die if you didn’t awaken as a Sword Master as soon as possible.”

“Right now, I feel like I’ll die if Your Highness doesn’t eat.”

“…”

I didn’t know what to say, so I took another piece of apple. What an impossible person to win against.

After finishing the porridge, I suddenly remembered.

“What about the Grand Duke?”

Demian’s hand stopped.

“…Ah.”

I trailed off. My gaze shifted slightly to the side.

“He seems quite busy these days.”

I hadn’t seen Carlos since that day. The last time was when he woke up with a scrunched face and left. He didn’t show up at meal times, and I hadn’t run into him in the corridors either. It seemed like he was deliberately avoiding me.

I wondered if I should visit his study.

I felt like I should apologize for something. But I didn’t even know what I should apologize for, and somehow I felt that going to see him now would only backfire. It felt like if I bothered him unnecessarily, things would just become more awkward.

“…Did I do something wrong?”

I muttered.

Demian looked at me for a moment, then reached out his hand. His large hand gently stroked my head.

“Father is worried about Your Highness, that’s why.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. That’s just how he is. When he’s worried, he tends to avoid people.”

I didn’t quite understand what he meant, but I nodded anyway.

Just then, a breeze blew in through the window. The curtains swayed gently. It was strangely warm wind. Even though it was winter.

“Lorea, you’re awake?”

I heard a familiar voice. When I turned around, Sion was sitting on the window sill. I had no idea when he had arrived. The door hadn’t even opened. Are all mages like this?

“I was worried.”

Sion jumped down from the window sill and strode over to me, pulling me into a tight embrace. My body stiffened at the sudden hug. He smelled of fragrant herbs.

“What are you doing?”

Demian asked sharply. His voice was full of wariness.

“Well, because I wanted to see Lorea.”

Sion answered nonchalantly. Still holding me in his arms.

“You’re the one who disappeared before Her Highness even woke up?”

“Ah, right.”

Sion let me go and nodded. Then his eyes lit up as if he remembered something.

“Actually, I had something to tell you about that. It’s fortunate that Lorea is awake.”

Sion turned to look at Demian.

“Could you give us some privacy?”

“…Excuse me?”

Demian frowned. Before he could answer, Sion snapped his fingers. Instantly, Demian’s body was swept toward the door. The door opened by itself, pushed Demian out, and slammed shut. It all happened in a flash.

“What?!”

I heard a panicked voice from beyond the door. There was also the sound of knocking. I could hear him shouting, “Archmage! What do you think you’re doing!” but Sion paid no attention.

“…Sion?”

I looked up at Sion in bewilderment. It was hard to process what had just happened. Sion sat down beside the bed and wore an unusually serious expression. The playful glint in his eyes had disappeared.

“Lorea.”

“Yes?”

“I think I’ve figured out the secret of your blood.”

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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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