The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 27

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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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Episode 27

“What?”
Reponya’s request had caught Pelens off guard. He stopped what he was doing and turned around.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I haven’t even told the Duke about this.”
“What is it?”
“There’s something I left behind at the place where I used to live.”
There isn’t. It’s just a convenient excuse.
“Because I came here so suddenly back then, I couldn’t bring it with me. I haven’t mentioned it because I was worried everyone would find it tiresome if I asked to have it retrieved.”
“That Empty House you lived in?”
Reponya, the actual owner of the house, clenched her fist secretly as though aggrieved.
“Y-yeah, I, the Empty… the Empty House.”
It wasn’t an empty house. The owner was standing right here.
“You’re my escort anyway. I thought it would work if we went together, so I asked. If it’s not possible, then I guess it can’t be helped….”
Reponya stretched out the end of her sentence.
Of course, she was planning to come up with a suitable reason to slip away from Pelens midway. She had memorized the geography of the Capital and the exact location of the underground passages precisely enough that there would be no problem.
Pelens seemed to hesitate for a moment. Reponya waited for his answer without pressing him.
“Couldn’t you just tell one of the knights to bring it? Belik knows where the house is, so I could just order him.”
“It’s hidden, so it’ll be hard to find. And I want to collect any other things worth taking while I’m organizing.”
There was no way anything like that existed. She’d had no money—what would she possibly have to collect?
But Pelens, ignorant of such poverty, felt no suspicion and simply nodded.
“All right.”
That settled it.
“Then I’ll go ask Father about it.”
“Really?”
Reponya’s face brightened. She could go out to make the report.
“You’re the best.”
Pelens laughed and opened his arms wide. Reponya nestled naturally into his embrace now.
The Wooden Horse that had been submerged in water was undergoing a test run after several additional safety mechanisms had been added.
As a result, both the Duke and Pelens had carried Reponya around all day until she’d grown accustomed to being held.
“You look so pleased. Your face is bright.”
“Yeah.”
“Then while we’re out, should we stop by a general store on the way back?”
“A general store?”
“Yeah. We can browse around, see what’s there.”
What did they sell at a general store? Since she’d never learned about such things, Reponya simply nodded her head.
“Sure! Let’s do that.”
Nothing mattered. It was just an outing for the sake of the report anyway.
‘Though I am curious what’s in a general store.’
Pelens began planning the outing in detail. Since Reponya knew nothing of such things, she remained silent rather than add her own words.
‘What if the Duke doesn’t give his permission?’
No, surely not.
There was no way he’d refuse when they were taking out one of the reckless second sons of the Kraitan Family, who wielded the Aura, as an escort.
…Was there?
Anxiety settling over her, Reponya looked at Pelens and clenched both fists in encouragement.
“You have to get permission. You understand?”
“Reponya. I’ve been causing trouble and dealing with Father since I was little—it’s been years now. I know the pattern by heart, so you don’t need to worry.”
“You’re the best.”
You’re the best… you’re the best… you’re the best….
Words he’d never heard before in his life rang in Pelens’s ears like a long, lingering tinnitus.
Pelens slammed his palm on the desk and sprang to his feet.
“All right. Then I’m going to ask Father for permission to go out right now. Wait here for a moment.”
Pelens strode out with grim determination. Reponya waved her hand, wishing him well.
“Gasp, h-huff, I, I checked with the Chef… huff, there’s no poison in this Dessert, b-but? Young Master Pelens, where did he….”
The moment Pelens left, an Attendant—a vassal’s son—returned carrying the Dessert.
He was the same Attendant who had been scolded earlier for bringing it without even checking whether it contained poison first.
Reponya clicked her tongue and poked the cake the Attendant was holding with her finger. Then she popped the frosting-covered finger into her mouth.
“You’re something else.”
“Pardon?”
“The Chef wouldn’t have put poison in it. You know how much he adores me.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Honestly, things would’ve been so much easier if you’d just done well from the start. But what’s done is done—I made this mess myself.”
Reponya shook her head firmly and turned away.

And then.
“No. I won’t permit you to go out.”
The fragile hope shattered entirely when Duke Kraitan refused Reponya’s outing.

* * *

Pelens, who had told her not to worry, returned saying he was the one who needed to worry now.
The Duke’s opposition seemed far more severe than anticipated.
Watching Pelens return defeated, Reponya shook her head.
“And here I told you to trust only you.”
“Father—I never expected Father to be this unyielding. I’ve never encountered such refusal before. When I said I’d run away from home, he told me to go ahead. When I said I’d sell off the family’s mining rights, he said to do as I pleased. He even permitted me to marry a man just to see how far he’d actually go. But to refuse me an simple outing? I never saw that coming.”
Well, that was because Pelens was a blood son and Reponya was an adopted child.
Swallowing back words that would only chill the atmosphere, Reponya sighed.
The report was due in three days, and she had to go out. She hadn’t anticipated the Duke would refuse the outing altogether.
Reponya shot up from her seat.
“Ponya. Where are you going?”
Pelens, sprawled out and deflated by defeat, asked.
“I’m going to ask him why.”
Reponya marched toward the Duke’s Study with determined purpose, her footsteps quick and resolute.
“I’m coming with you.”
Pelens followed close behind the small Reponya. She didn’t hesitate, walking straight toward the Duke’s Study.
Even from a distance, the servants could read “I am serious right now” written all over Reponya’s face, and they cleared a path for her.
When they arrived at the study entrance, the Butler standing guard bowed.
“I greet you, Miss.”
“Is the Duke inside?”
In her effort to maintain her stern expression, her pronunciation wavered slightly.
“Yes, he is. Shall I announce that you have arrived, Miss?”
“Yes. Right now.”
The Butler cleared his throat and informed the Duke within: “The Miss has arrived with great determination. The Second Young Master is with her as well.”
Shortly after, a command to enter came from within, and the Butler opened the study door.
Reponya stepped inside. Upon hearing that Reponya had come, the Duke set down his documents and rose from his desk, walking forward.
“Ponya.”
The Duke spread both arms as if to embrace her. Ordinarily, she would have rushed into them without hesitation, but today was different.
Her body, accustomed to the gesture, nearly moved toward those open arms on instinct, but Reponya planted her feet firmly and held her ground.
She wasn’t in the mood for his embrace right now.
“I came to ask why.”
“My, my. Refusing my embrace? You must be angry.”
Of course she was.
To project strength, Reponya crossed her short arms. Then she walked past the Duke and sat down on the study’s sofa.
…Though her height fell just short of reaching it properly, so Pelens had to pick her up and set her down correctly.
“Bringing Pelens along tells me exactly what you’ve come to ask about.”
The Duke smiled and instructed a servant to bring refreshments for Reponya, then settled himself on the opposite sofa.
“I said I wanted to go out, and the Duke refused. Is that right?”
Reponya also crossed her short legs. She was certain that crossing both her arms and legs would create an icy atmosphere, but somehow it wasn’t working.
In fact, with both arms crossed and legs crossed, maintaining balance on her small frame proved difficult, and she swayed slightly side to side.
This useless body of hers.
Reponya quietly uncrossed her arms and pressed her palms against the sofa to steady herself so she wouldn’t topple over.
“I want to go out.”
“Ponya.”
“Let me speak first.”
The Duke nodded at Reponya’s demand and waited patiently, gesturing for her to take her time.
Reponya loosened her tongue and spoke carefully to avoid slurring her words.
“As you well know, I came in a rush. There were things I couldn’t bring with me from where I was staying.”
“Mm.”
“So I’d like to go back and collect them.”
“If it’s merely a matter of gathering belongings, I’ll send knights. Ponya.”
“They’ll have difficulty finding everything. And I’d like to look around while I’m there—take anything else I might have forgotten.”
She drew out the very excuse she’d offered Pelens, word for word. The Duke frowned, rubbing his furrowed brow as if wrestling with the matter.
‘He’s the sort of man who said he’d understand anyone’s affection for rescuing even a wooden horse from drowning. There’s no reason he wouldn’t understand this.’
Reponya felt victory approaching and smiled to herself.
“Ponya.”
The Duke opened his lips, exhaling a long breath.
“I’m truly sorry, but an outing is out of the question.”
And so she was defeated, utterly and completely.

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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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