The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 31

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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 31

The Cottage looked nothing like the last time Reportia had seen it.
Everything had burned away until only the skeletal frame remained, and even that had collapsed entirely.
The fire had been so long ago that not even ash drifted through the air anymore. The devastation was so complete that scarcely a trace of anything else could be found.
‘Who on earth…’
Reportia stared blankly at the Cottage, now reduced to ash and ruin.
It had been her sanctuary—a refuge she’d carefully assembled piece by piece with money she’d quietly saved, hidden away from the Pope’s gaze.
Of course, she’d always meant to abandon it once her work was finished.
Still, it was the first space that had ever truly belonged to her. The only place where she could be honest with herself, without need for pretense or masks.
Seeing nothing remain but a ruined shell felt like watching her own future crumble before her eyes.
“Come now. Don’t just stand there, Belik. Search around and see if anything’s left.”
Felens, noticing Reportia’s dazed expression, urged Belik forward. Buddy and Becky picked carefully through the ash as well.
Predictably, there was nothing.
Reportia glanced around the perimeter. The fire had consumed only the house itself—there didn’t appear to be any damage to the surrounding area.
‘The house is completely melted and collapsed, but the surroundings are untouched. That means whoever set this fire watched it burn from start to finish.’
For the house to be consumed this thoroughly would have required a long-burning fire. In such circumstances, the flames would naturally have spread to nearby areas.
Or else people would have noticed the fire and come out to extinguish it.
But there wasn’t even soot on the surrounding structures. No signs of anyone attempting to fight the fire.
There was only one possibility.
‘Someone used a Mana Stone to deliberately burn down my house where no one would see, watched until it was done, and then cleaned up after themselves and left.’
But why? What was the reason? There’s nothing left here worth destroying.
Reportia, thinking coldly, opened her lips as she watched her companions sift through the ashes.
“Let’s go back.”
Felens, Belik, Buddy, and Becky all fixed their eyes on Reportia.
“It’s fine. Now that I think about it, they weren’t that important anyway.”
“But Reportia. You said there were things you needed to—”
“It’s fine.”
It was all just an excuse for going out anyway.
“Let’s go back.”
There was no point wasting time here.
‘On the way back in the carriage, when we get close to the Underground Passage near the place we saw, I’ll say I’m not feeling well and ask to rest for a bit, then slip away.’
If Reportia suddenly vanished, they might worry or grow suspicious, but that couldn’t be helped.
There was no knowing when she’d get another chance to go out.
Her best option was to play the part of a thoughtless five-year-old who’d impulsively wandered off after something interesting.
“That’s enough, all of you.”
Felens, observing Reportia’s expression, issued a quiet but firm command.
Everyone stopped at once.
“We’re leaving.”
The moment Felens gave the order, Reportia was already turning around.
Reportia climbed into the carriage without hesitation, and Felens followed. The rest of the group had no choice but to do the same.
Buddy and Becky sat on the driver’s bench, while Belik mounted a horse separately.
Soon the carriage began to move. Reportia rested her chin in her hand, gazing out the window at the scenery rushing past.
Fortunately, Felens didn’t speak, giving her space to think clearly about who had burned the house and why.
The atmosphere in the carriage was heavy and oppressive, very different from when they’d set out.
After traveling for some time, Felens suddenly rapped on the carriage wall.
“Stop the carriage.”
The already-tense driver brought the carriage to an urgent halt.
Reportia, who’d been watching for the right place to slip away, turned to Felens with a confused expression.
‘Why did he stop it suddenly?’
Felens opened the carriage door and stepped out. Then he extended his hand toward Reportia inside.
Reportia tilted her head, puzzled.
“Me? I’m getting out too?”
“Of course you are.”
Wasn’t he supposed to go alone? As Reportia awkwardly began to stand, Felens laughed.
“Was there someone else in the carriage besides you? Did I miss someone?”
Felens spoke playfully as he carefully lifted Reportia down from the carriage.
The carriage came to a stop in front of the General Store.
“Oh? This place.”
“You said we’d stop by and look around when we went out and came back.”
Right. Now that he mentioned it, they had talked about that. He hadn’t forgotten.
“Um. But right now I—”
“Reportia.”
She’d been about to say they should just leave since she wasn’t in the mood, but Felens smiled as though he understood everything and took her hand.
“Come on.”
The large General Store catered primarily to nobility, so it apparently used special glass windows to keep passersby from seeing inside.
Pulled along by Felens, Reportia stepped into the store.
A bright chime rang out to announce the customer’s arrival, and warm air enveloped her.
“Wow.”
From outside, she could see nothing, but the interior was remarkably spacious. And it was filled with fascinating items that drew the eye.
There were Cloud Lamps that floated weightless in the air, powered by Mana Stones, and lamps whose colors shifted continuously as they rotated, apparently constructed with multiple high-grade gemstones.
There was a Doll House modeled after a mansion, and a toy Horse and Carriage Model that ran endlessly in place.
The melancholy that had settled over her from seeing the burnt house was forgotten—everything here was simply too wondrous.
“I greet the second young master of the Kraitan Family.”
A staff member approached and bowed to Felens. Seeing Belik and his companions Buddy and Becky following behind, the employee clearly recognized them as members of the Kraitan Family.
“We were not informed of your visit in advance, and I apologize for not greeting you properly.”
“It’s fine. I just wanted to look around.”
“Of course. I’ll be waiting over there, so please call if you need anything.”
The staff member was courteous, Felens seemed at ease, but Reportia felt awkward and hung back at a distance.
Felens smiled and drew Reportia to his side.
“Reportia. You can look at anything you want. If you want to touch something because it’s interesting, go ahead. And if there’s something you’d like to have, we can buy it.”
“Buy it? But we haven’t asked the Duke for permission.”
“I don’t need to report to Father every time I spend money. Besides, today I’m only using my Activity Allowance from him.”
“You’re going to buy it for me?”
“Yes.”
Felens answered as though there was nothing odd about it, then began looking around at the merchandise.
Apparently this was his first time visiting the General Store too, because he kept murmuring “How interesting” as he examined each item.
‘Did he come with me just because of me?’
Reportia trotted along at Felens’s side.
“What’s this?”
As Felens murmured the question, the staff member hurried over to explain.
“This is a Voice Communicator. If two people each keep one, they can hear each other’s voices even from far away. You set an activation word, and when you call it out, you can hear the other person’s voice and even know their location. They’re typically used by engaged couples.”
“Then never mind that one. What about this?”
“Those are Gem-based Coloring Tools. Because the gems themselves are ground away as you color, the drawings sparkle when light shines on them. This is a product you can only find in our shop.”
“Oh, so the pictures would shine even more?”
“Yes, exactly. Unlike ordinary coloring tools, these use gems to fill in the color, so they sparkle much more brilliantly. These lower-grade gem versions produce duller colors, but if you look at these premium ones here, we’ve used the finest gems, so the colors are incredibly vivid.”
“I see.”
“The highest-grade Gem-based Coloring Tool was just completed yesterday, so if you purchase it now, you’ll be the first user in the entire empire.”
Had he lost his mind? Coloring with gems? A single top-grade gem was enough that two adults could live frugally for a year.
Even a lower-grade gem alone would allow two adults to eat comfortably for three months.
And he wanted to use them as coloring tools?
Reportia was struck with shock at the spending habits of nobility she’d never even imagined.
“I’ll take this one.”
Felens pointed his finger at the highest-grade Gem-based Coloring Tool.
Reportia’s head snapped around.
“I’m buying all of the newly completed products.”
He’s insane. Not just reckless—actually insane.
“And those Cloud Lamps and that one too. Oh, and the Horse and Carriage Model and the Doll House.”
The madman was on a rampage. He was pointing out with perfect accuracy every single item her gaze had lingered on when they’d entered the store.
“And that pink rabbit doll too.”
The display shelves of the General Store began emptying at alarming speed.
Reportia’s jaw fell open. Apparently sensing something was off, the other nobles browsing the shop also stared at Felens with slack jaws.
The burnt, collapsed house that had occupied Reportia’s thoughts was long forgotten. With a madman going on a spending spree right before her eyes, she couldn’t think of anything else.
Felens, noticing her stare, spoke matter-of-factly.
“They’re all for my sister.”

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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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