The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10

Reponya drew in a sharp, quiet breath at his abrupt remark.
‘Could he have noticed why I’ve been wandering around?’
The Duke tapped her leg—the one that looked as though it might snap—and spoke.
“If you keep moving about on that leg, I’m afraid it really will break someday.”
“Hmm?”
Bones didn’t shatter from walking. Surely a man like this knew as much. What was he talking about?
“I’m thinking of summoning a craftsman soon to build you a wooden carriage to ride in around the Mansion. Once it’s finished, you’ll travel by that instead.”
Reponya narrowed her eyes and studied the Duke.
It was an excuse—or perhaps he’d noticed something amiss and was moving to stop her.
‘But it’s already too late.’
Thanks to her diligent wandering, she’d already finished mapping the interior of the main house.
“Understood.”
The Duke patted her back, pleased by her lack of resistance.
“Daughters are complicated creatures.”
His broad hand, despite its fearsome appearance, seemed practiced at handling children. Perhaps from raising his two sons directly.
The massive palm that looked capable of delivering terrible blows moved with surprising gentleness in its patting.
Growl.
The moment the tension eased, a thunderous cry erupted.
Both the Duke and Reponya’s gazes converged on a single point.
Growl.
‘Tactless belly!’
Reponya’s stomach, silent until now, could hold back no longer and announced itself loudly.
“Quite vocal,” the Duke observed.
He smiled brightly, clearly delighted.
“It’s coming to find the Duke—ah, it’s because I haven’t eaten anything yet.”
“That’s my fault.”
The Duke acknowledged his error without hesitation, even as Reponya offered her embarrassed excuse. His ready admission startled her—a nobleman of such pride and dignity yielding so easily.
The Duke left the Grand Conference Hall and headed toward the dining hall. Reponya naturally wrapped her small arms around his neck.
After carrying her around constantly these past days, it had become routine.
“Reponya. Don’t you have questions?”
“Hmm?”
“You don’t ask where we’re going, and you didn’t ask why when I said not to wander until the carriage is finished.”
…
“Reponya. I’ve never seen you ask why about anything.”
He meant that she didn’t needlessly pester him with questions, and didn’t stubbornly demand explanations—she was refreshingly uncomplicated. In other words, it was praise.
“I’ll keep working hard.”
Reponya murmured the words under her breath. The Duke entered the dining hall, saying once more, “Daughters are truly difficult creatures.”
“Bring meat.”
Though it was late morning, the Duke called for meat as the child’s first meal and carefully seated Reponya.
While the table was being set, neither of them spoke.
After some deliberation, the Duke finally broke the awkward silence.
“I see you’ve changed your Hair Pin. It suits you well. You look lovely.”
Reponya reached up and touched the Hair Pin—the first one she’d ever worn in her life.
Even though the compliment was surely only about the Hair Pin, her face flushed without reason.
As if such a beautiful Hair Pin could possibly suit her.
“Duke, I heard you’d already eaten.”
“But it’s lonely to dine alone.”
Reponya lifted her head, as if she’d heard something odd.
“Ah. Not you—I meant myself.”
The Duke added the clarification and ordered his own meal prepared. If he hadn’t eaten in the early hours before dawn, barely an hour or two had passed since his last meal—and now he was eating again?
“I’ve heard so much nonsense since this morning, it’s made me hungry.”
Was he doing this so they could eat together?
Reponya ran her fingers over the Fork, on which a chirping chick was drawn. As all the food arrived, the Duke began eating with practiced efficiency.
Reponya picked up her utensils and followed suit.
“Reponya. Does it taste good?”
“Yes. It’s delicious.”
“I should reward the chef. Tell him to come to my study during the afternoon break.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Watching the duke eat with such appetite and without pause, it seemed he really had been quite hungry.
‘He’s eating together with me out of consideration. As if that’s likely.’
Reponya relaxed her expression and ate her meal comfortably. Whatever else might be said, she agreed that the chef deserved a reward.
‘I wish I could eat like this again later.’
That wouldn’t happen. Once she left this Mansion, she wouldn’t be able to enjoy food like this, or this comfort, ever again.
‘I should savor it all while I’m here.’
As Reponya focused on her meal, the duke’s hand finally stilled.
A butler approached quietly and offered the duke a cup of digestive tea.

* * *

A week had passed since the retainers arrived at the Mansion.
They moved about very busily.
“Do you know how great the Kraiton Family is? It’s the highest Noble House in the Empire after the Imperial Household itself. How could you, of all people—”
“Wow. So I was adopted into such a great family. Thanks for telling me. But if that’s true, then I’m the daughter of the highest Noble House after the Imperial Household… so it’s okay to call me ‘you’?”
They tried to intimidate the child by emphasizing just how prestigious the family was.
“Your Grace, my Ring has gone missing! It was a precious gift from my wife! The young lady seemed to want it so much earlier—could it be—”
“Is this the Ring you lost?”
“My Ring! So the young lady did steal it after all! …Your Grace! This is clearly a criminal act! How can a crime occur in the Guard House that protects the Empire’s peace and safety? We cannot simply overlook—”
“She came into my bedroom earlier and snuck it in. The duke and I both saw her do it.”
They tried to ruin her reputation by falsely accusing the child of theft.
“Your Grace. I believe the young lady is suspicious. I suspect she may be a Spy sent to destroy this family….”
“What’s a spy?”
They attempted to drive a wedge between the child and the duke.
“Young lady. I will give you as much money as you want. If only you would leave this family….”
“Your Grace. They said they’d give me money if I leave the family. How much should I ask for?”
They tried to convince the child by offering her money.
And all of it failed, cleanly and completely.
“This is no ordinary child.”
Late at night.
The retainers gathered in secret to confer.
“She doesn’t leave the duke’s side from morning to evening, so there’s no time to sow discord.”
“We should have recognized it when she barged into the Grand Conference Hall. It seems she’s already decided to put down roots here.”
“She’s a cunning child. A child who doesn’t know her place has developed ambitions.”
They’d thought they wouldn’t need any grand scheme to deal with a five-year-old, but that was arrogance.
“We can’t afford to go easy on her just because she’s five. If she’s this greedy now, what will happen when she grows older?”
The retainers exchanged glances heavy with meaning. Murderous intent pooled darkly in eyes that had been dull moments before.
“We’ll hire mercenaries, kidnap the child, and kill her.”
“I agree.”
“We should choose someone skilled with no loose ends.”
No matter how clever a five-year-old was, she couldn’t stand against seasoned mercenaries.
The retainers played their final card.
“As those who serve the Kraiton Family with loyalty, we have a duty to protect the family. We regret this, but it’s necessary.”
“Of course. All of this is for the Kraiton Family.”
“It’s the fault of that child for being so greedy. We’ve warned her endlessly.”
The retainers reached a consensus.
They unanimously agreed to kill the five-year-old child.
After exchanging a few more words, they dispersed quietly, having settled on hiring assassins.
All trace of the retainers vanished, and only the sound of night birds remained.
Reponya emerged from her hiding place behind a pillar, where she had concealed her presence the entire time.
“Trash.”
After Kraiton put Reponya to bed and left.
She noticed the retainers seemed to be gathering in secret, so she followed them quietly.
“Hah.”
She’d suspected the retainers would devise some new scheme since all their plans had fallen apart.
But she never expected them to settle on killing a five-year-old child.
“Children struggle to survive wherever they go.”
Reponya, her short arms folded across her chest, gazed up absently at the moonlit night sky.
‘If I just leave him alone, he’ll find the treasure and slip away on his own.’
A capable mercenary with no lingering attachments, after all.
Reponya smirked, recalling the words her servants had spoken of him.
“That’s me, though.”
Among the many children the Pope had taught, Reponya had been called the star pupil—the eldest daughter who excelled at everything.
As Reponya returned to the main house, she glanced upward.
The Duke’s study window still burned bright with lamplight, whether from the press of business or something else.
‘He spends all day playing with me and still trying to work—no wonder night is his only free time.’
With servants running about in chaos, Reponya hadn’t yet been assigned a Guard Knight.
Kraiton seemed aware of this, lately observing the knights with careful attention.
‘The servants would hardly miss it either.’
So they would move to finish their business before any guard was assigned to her.
Reponya hummed softly as she made her way to the bedroom.
“Hmm-hmm-hmm.”
Of course, having never heard actual music, her humming was a dreadful affair.
The moment she stepped into the bedroom, a warm glow wrapped around her. According to the Duke’s insistence that children must never be cold, the hearth in Reponya’s bedroom was never allowed to go out.
The servants made their rounds each hour to manage the ventilation and tend the fire—soon enough, one would arrive.
Reponya lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
She steadied her breathing and feigned sleep; right on schedule, a maid slipped into the room.
The maid checked the hearth’s embers, opened the windows for air, and even verified that Reponya was sleeping soundly before carefully closing the windows again and withdrawing.
Once the maid was gone, Reponya rose slowly and made her way into the private chamber adjoining the bedroom.
It was a space she used primarily for changing clothes. Humming that same tuneless melody, she retrieved the Alcohol Fragrance she had kept hidden there.
Sniff, sniff. The scent truly was lovely, every time.
She opened the window, and a gentle breeze drifted in.
“Master of this bedroom, I’m sorry.”
Reponya offered a casual apology to the true occupant—the real Kraiton daughter—and hurled the Alcohol Fragrance toward the hearth from a distance.
Crash!!
Glass shattered, and flames erupted. The terrifying blaze danced in the draft before leaping to the curtains.
Whoosh!
The embers consumed the golden drapes, spread to the velvet curtains, and then quickly devoured the carpet, wooden chairs, and sofa.
The Pope had taught her that when destroying evidence by burning a mansion, one should use lamp oil or Alcohol Fragrance—whatever lay about.
By using what was already in the house, there would be no way to determine who had set the fire.
‘This should be enough.’
The carpet near the bedroom door burned away, blocking the exit within moments.
With all her preparations complete, Reponya made her way to the bed deeper within the bedroom.
‘How long will it take, I wonder.’
She lay down on the bed in the exact same position the maid had seen her in.
On the bed, in the bedroom filled with roaring flames.
“Your Grace.”
Reponya closed her eyes as though drifting into sleep, the corners of her mouth drawn up in a smile.
“You’d better notice quickly. If you’re too slow, I’ll die.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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