The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 59

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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 59

Reponya’s face had gone cold and rigid as she stared straight ahead—or more precisely, at the two brothers conducting their pointless debate directly in front of her.
‘So loud.’
The moment Buddy informed them that Reponya had woken, the two brothers rushed to the bedroom.
Fortunately, since they’d kept it carefully hidden from the household staff to avoid drawing attention to the Estate, everyone believed Reponya had simply returned from an outing to clear her mind.
While Reponya washed and changed her clothes, the two brothers—unwilling to leave—waited at length, and upon meeting her, they immediately examined her physical condition.
Then they launched into a barrage of questions: had she slept well, was she cold, did she have nightmares?
After hearing all of Reponya’s answers, the two brothers began a heated quarrel.
“Listen, Fellens. What exactly do you think House of Craitan is?”
“And you? Don’t pretend to be impressive when you’re the one butting in late.”
“Right. You’re still a child who hasn’t even graduated from the Academy yet, and all you have is your Activity Fund.”
The reason for their quarrel was simple.
Havelian had brought gifts to present to Reponya, and Fellens had grown jealous upon seeing them.
“I’m going to graduate properly this year.”
“Everyone’s plans are perfect on paper.”
“Just watch—I’ll place first in this year’s Graduation Exam, receive my Knight Appointment, and become Buddy’s official protector.”
“I placed first too. You’re taking the Graduation Exam alongside children younger than you—if you can’t place first, shouldn’t it naturally fall to me to become Reponya’s protector?”
“I’m going to break your record, just you wait.”
“I doubt you’ll shatter a record like that so easily.”
Havelian arranged the documents with a small laugh, a hint of scorn playing at his lips.
“I’ve heard no one’s ever beaten my record yet.”
Havelian turned his head sharply, his expression softening in an instant as though it had never been cynical at all.
“Reponya.”
Beaming so brightly his eyes nearly disappeared, Havelian handed her the documents he’d been arranging.
These were the very gifts that had sparked the quarrel.
“Here. I’ve sorted everything out.”
“…….”
“Confused? That’s understandable. Let me explain slowly. This document proves that the Toy Shop on 11th Street belongs to you.”
Reponya looked at the papers with bewildered eyes, wondering if this could possibly be real.
“And this one proves that all of 3rd Street, from here to here, is yours.”
Was it really right to hand over all these shops to merely an adopted child?
“What’s a few properties to House of Craitan? You ought to have at least this much.”
Havelian smiled contentedly as he pressed the documents into Reponya’s hands.
This was the true cause of the brothers’ heated quarrel.
When Havelian heard that Fellens had presented a gift to Reponya using his saved Activity Fund from a general store, he spent every last bit of the Activity Fund he’d accumulated during his Academy years, the enormous compensation he’d received during his years as a Knight, and the stipend he’d earned as an instructor at the Officers’ Academy to purchase these properties.
Yes—that money he’d donated to the orphanage.
The very money the Director had returned to him.
All of it now belonged to Reponya.
“Teacher.”
“But we agreed to call each other brother and sister.”
Ah, yes. She’d said as much before falling asleep.
Reponya nodded and corrected herself.
“Yes, brother.”
The moment she called him that, Havelian’s expression crumpled as if he might weep.
‘Why, why is he like that?’
Just moments before, while arguing with Fellens, he’d seemed so cold that not a drop of blood would flow if you stabbed him with a sword!
“I suddenly remembered how you called me just before boarding the Carriage.”
Havelian wrapped his hands around her small ones holding the documents, his voice trailing softly.
Now that he mentioned it, she had called him “brother” in desperation just before climbing into the Carriage.
Fellens, standing behind with his arms crossed, clicked his tongue and tapped Havelian’s shoulder.
“Don’t cry, brother.”
Reponya’s eyes widened in surprise. Fellens was comforting Havelian? Despite baring their teeth at each other whenever their eyes met, they truly were brothers after all.
But the next words made her reconsider.
“Buddy will see and pick up bad habits. If Buddy cries and rubs her eyes raw, what then? If you’re going to cry, go do it over there.”
Fellens gave Havelian a gentle kick with his foot.
Right. These two really were remarkable brothers.
Reponya let out a sigh and parted her lips.
“Brother.”
At Reponya’s call, both brothers turned their heads at once. Reponya flushed and corrected herself.
“F-first brother.”
“Sure, Reponya. Can I call you Reponya too?”
She couldn’t exactly tell Havelian he couldn’t.
“Um, well, that’s fine… but are you really sure I can have this?”
Reponya waved the documents in her hand.
“What if the Duke says something about it?”
“Father? I bought these with my own money and gave them to you as a gift, Reponya. Why would Father have anything to say?”
Havelian looked thoroughly bewildered.
“Silly. If Father complains, I’ll scold him myself, so don’t worry.”
Even Fellens seemed unable to grasp the situation.
Was it normal to spend an entire fortune—gifting an adopted daughter who wasn’t even a true daughter of the House—shops and establishments of this magnitude?
Since neither of them seemed to understand, Reponya began to wonder if she was the strange one.
As Reponya stared at the documents with a confused expression, Fellens stepped closer.
“Silly, why are you overthinking it? He’s giving you a gift—just accept it.”
“…But it feels like too much for me.”
“He has more money than I do. It’s fine to accept.”
“Yeah, you’re right. And I did you wrong, Reponya—truly wrong. This isn’t some cheap apology bought with money, but… I’d be happy if you’d accept it anyway.”
Still unused to the act of receiving, Reponya nodded and fingered the documents nervously.
As a warm blush spread across Reponya’s cheeks, both brothers gazed at her with contentment.
Unable to bear the awkwardness any longer, Reponya hastily changed the subject.
“S-speaking of which, Fellens—did you manage to sort out that Leave of Absence Form situation from the Academy?”
“Oh, that.”
Fellens turned his head and fixed Havelian with a pointed look. Havelian lowered his eyes guiltily, as though confessing to a crime.
“That was something your older brother created to separate me from you, Reponya.”
“What?”
Reponya’s eyes widened in shock as she turned to face Havelian. He had already turned away entirely.
“And he even deliberately checked when Father would be away and timed it all perfectly.”
Wow. Reponya covered her mouth in astonishment.
‘He really does do things properly.’
She’d thought it mere coincidence that the Duke and Fellens both happened to be away on urgent matters at the same time, but it had all been Havelian’s machination.
‘A true heir to House Craitan!’
Reponya was marveling inwardly at his flawless execution when a soft knock sounded, and Becky—who had stepped out momentarily—entered.
“My lady. The Duke requests your presence in the Conference Room.”
Finally, it had come.
Reponya tucked the documents she’d been holding into a drawer and hopped down.
“I’m on my way.”
There was only one reason the Duke would summon her to the Conference Room now.
Time for the servants to face justice.
Initially, she’d turned a blind eye to the malice the servants displayed, choosing to maintain balance between their hostility and the Duke’s inexplicable kindness—a safer path. But now her mind had changed.
‘They dared try to abandon me?’
This was no longer safe malice. They’d laid hands on her directly. Next time, assassins might come.
Just as they’d discussed from the beginning.
‘Of course Fellens is here as my guard… but the future is unknowable.’
Reponya took a determined step toward the Conference Room.
In that same instant, her body was lifted into the air.
“…Huh?”
“I’ll carry you.”
It was Havelian, his face bright with the eagerness of someone who’d been waiting to do this.
“What? That’s my job. Let Reponya down.”
“When it comes to looking after our youngest, whose job is it really?”
“What do you mean? I’m your brother’s sister too. If you’re going to do that, carry me instead.”
“I’d prefer if my brothers didn’t say such gross things.”
“If you’re so keen on carrying your sibling, why don’t you carry me?”
The image alone—of Havelian struggling to hoist the much larger Fellens—made laughter bubble up involuntarily.
“Pfft.”
As Reponya burst into genuine laughter, both brothers snapped their heads around, eyes widening.
It wasn’t the first time they’d seen her smile, but it was the first time they’d witnessed her laugh with such unguarded, genuine joy.
A bright smile bloomed across Fellens’s face. He stretched out his large hand and reached over to ruffle the hair of Reponya, who was nestled in Havelian’s arms.
“What is it, cotton-puff? That smile looks lovely on you.”
“I’ve been wanting to ask you for a while now—what do you even mean by calling the youngest cotton-puff?”
“Because she looks like a bunch of cotton all bundled up. Look, look.”
At Fellens’s words, Havelian turned his head to regard Reponya.
“Cotton-puff isn’t quite right, though…”
“……?”
“I’d say ‘cotton-wisp’ fits better, wouldn’t you?”
Cotton-wisp? Was that because of her hair color and the way it curled just slightly?
“Whether it’s puff or wisp—Reponya’s coming with me. Hand her over.”
“Fellens, you’ve been carrying her around plenty already.”
Reponya wiped the smile from her face and gestured to Havelian to put her down. He obliged without protest, setting her gently on her feet.
Reponya took Fellens’s hand in her right palm and Havelian’s in her left.
“How’s this?”
Her capable voice made both brothers nod as if entranced.

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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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