The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 80

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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 80

The moment Reponya finished speaking, Havelian shot to his feet.
Called a prodigy from birth, he had likely never tasted defeat at another’s hand in his entire life.
‘When I first investigated House of Craitan, Havelian’s grades were always listed at the top.’
His mind was so sharp that during his Academy years, he’d even pointed out flaws in the professors’ lesson plans, or so the records said.
And that was far from all. As befitted the heir to House of Craitan, he’d mastered Aura at a young age and excelled in Swordsmanship as well.
After graduating from the Academy and becoming a Knight, he’d distinguished himself so thoroughly defending the Empire at the border that they’d begged him to remain in service.
An emotionless killing machine.
A man without close friends, indifferent to family, solving everything alone.
That was how everyone had assessed him.
‘He’s experiencing it for the first time—being surpassed by someone else.’
Fellens, who’d deferred his graduation for years now, was certainly scoring far more easily than Havelian, taking the test seriously against children. Still.
“Brother.”
Reponya seized Havelian’s hand as he stood staring at his score.
Havelian turned his head and looked down at their joined hands.
“You two really are brothers, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“Fellens came after you and left his mark on the Academy. Who else would erase your name and carve his own in its place? Right?”
She hoped this first taste of defeat wouldn’t curdle into despair. Especially not if that despair stemmed from Fellens.
“So when Fellens gets back, let’s congratulate him. What do you say?”
When Fellens had first returned to the Estate, his warning had been simple: House of Craitan has no family.
She hoped he no longer felt that way.
Havelian said nothing, merely watching their joined hands.
‘His mood’s already soured?’
Just as Reponya was about to speak again, Rudeuum—who’d been quietly observing Fellens’s test with arms crossed—opened his mouth.
“So what if brothers take turns leaving their names? Records that fragile break soon enough anyway.”
Rudeuum needled Havelian deliberately, his tone dismissive.
“Ha.”
Havelian laughed as if amused, then placed his large hand atop Reponya’s head and stroked it gently as he replied.
“I doubt House of Craitan’s marks are so easy to break.”
Havelian’s expression, quietly murmured as it was, showed neither disappointment nor despair—which was a relief.
“Reponya.”
“Hmm?”
“I didn’t mean to worry you, but I suspect I did?”
Reponya faltered.
‘He noticed I was worried?’
She’d simply hoped Havelian wouldn’t let his first defeat become despair, that his bond with Fellens wouldn’t fracture.
She’d feared things might worsen—feared Fellens might come to see Havelian as something other than family.
That was all it had been.
“Reponya. We’re family. Aren’t we?”
At his question, Reponya went rigid.
We’re family.
She couldn’t tell whether that ‘we’ included her or not.
She, who’d approached under a false identity with clear and deliberate purpose, could never truly be family to House of Craitan.
“Even if Fellens and I argue, it’s only a family quarrel. We won’t scatter and vanish. Don’t worry. We’re family.”
Reponya flinched. It was as though her deepest, most shameful thoughts had been exposed.
She’d been terrified that if Fellens rejected Havelian as family, he’d reject her too and leave.
If a blood brother could be cast off as not family, surely casting away Reponya—with no blood tie—would be far easier.
She was still searching for words when—
“Champion! Fellens Craitan!”
The announcement rang out, and Fellens’s name echoed across the Training Ground. Both Havelian and Reponya turned their heads toward it.
Fellens stood alone, sword in hand.
“Wow!”
First Place in both written and practical exams, and now victory in the special trials too.
“He really is First Place in the Graduation Exam!”
Reponya jumped up, unable to contain her joy. At that moment, Fellens—standing in the Training Ground with sword in hand, scanning the stands—met her gaze.
Reponya beamed at him with a look of genuine approval. But instead of laughing lightly as he usually did, Fellens walked toward where she stood.
He stopped directly before her, dropped to one knee, and raised his sword in both hands.
“Reponya Craitan.”
Fellens spoke her name.
“From this day forward, I swear to become your sworn guardian and shield you with my blade.”
Reponya’s eyes widened in shock. The entire Garden was filled with watching nobility.
This declaration, made before all those nobles, was effectively announcing that House of Craitan’s notorious second son had become the formal protector of an adopted daughter.
‘Why would he do something like that…?’
As she’d anticipated, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Certain words reached her ears.
The second son’s scandal, the adopted child, an Aura Master, questions tinged with doubt.
No one could fathom why Fellens—an Aura Master revered by mere existence—would take on the role of Reponya’s formal guardian.
‘I don’t understand it either.’
As Reponya’s eyes darted about in confusion, a soft laugh escaped from beside her.
Following the sound, she turned to see Duke Craitan smiling.
“Your Grace?”
He wasn’t even scolding Fellens for acting on impulse—he was simply laughing.
“Fellens has always been the type to act first and think consequences later.”
“That’s not exactly a virtue, Your Grace.”
“Congratulations, Reponya. Now that it’s publicly known that Fellens is your guardian, no one will dare lay a hand on you—unless they’re willing to face him instead.”
Reponya glanced back at Fellens. The eyes that had been fixed on her moments ago were now turned elsewhere.
‘What’s he looking at?’
Following his gaze, she spotted a familiar face.
‘Marquis Delcon?’
Ah—now that she thought about it, when the commotion had started and everyone had taken their seats, the students preparing for the Graduation Exam had all been warming up in one corner of the Training Ground.
Fellens had been there as well, of course.
As an Aura Master, there was no way he could have missed such a disturbance.
‘Oh. So he heard that whole conversation?’
That’s why he’d deliberately made the Knight’s oath so simply, so publicly—so everyone would hear and see.
“Congratulations, Fellens.”
Reponya spoke at roughly the same volume she’d used when talking with Marquis Delcon.
The moment the words left her lips, Fellens turned to face her. He nodded gratefully and smiled lightly.
‘He really did hear everything.’
Reponya managed an awkward laugh in return.

* * *

The Academy’s Graduation Exam had ended.
Though the scores from the specialized skills portion remained to be seen, barring any surprises, everyone could plainly see that Fellens would take First Place.
“Cotton-head, did you see? Didn’t I tell you I’d graduate in First Place? I don’t lie.”
The moment Fellens approached after finishing the exam, he swept Reponya into his arm and spoke.
“Congratulations, Fellens!”
“No need for congratulations—this hardly amounts to anything.”
“You were amazing back there.”
“Yeah? Well. Hey, Duke Billemen. What brings you here? Did you come to cheer me on?”
Fellens turned to Rudeuum, his tone markedly different from when he spoke to Reponya. Rudeuum simply bobbed his head with a curt expression.
“Mm.”
His manner suggested complete indifference.
‘When did he say he’d come to cheer on his first disciple, just moments ago? Is he embarrassed?’
Reponya smiled in quiet satisfaction. Just then, Havelian, who had been standing a pace behind, approached Fellens.
“Fellens.”
Upon seeing Havelian, Fellens pulled one corner of his mouth up in a grin.
“Did you see me break the record? You were so confident it would never be topped, and look what happened—”
“Congratulations, Fellens.”
“…?”
Fellens, mid-smirk, fell silent at Havelian’s genuine felicitation, his expression going blank.
It was the face of someone hearing such words for the first time.
“Wait—what? Did I mishear something?”
Fellens asked, bewildered.
“Truthfully, I didn’t think you could pull it off.”
Reponya, nestled in Fellens’s embrace, arched her brow and flicked a meaningful glance. Struck by her gaze, Havelian hurried to continue.
“I think I’ve been misjudging you, Fellens. You’re the type who follows through when you set your mind to something.”
That’s right, that’s right.
“Even as a child. When you said you’d cut down the tree in the Garden because it was casting a shadow over your room, everyone tried to stop you — but you did it anyway.”
“…….”
“And at the Princess’s birthday party, everyone told you not to release a frog into the cake, yet somehow you managed it.”
I understand — you’re someone who, once you’ve decided to do something, sees it through.
…Is this supposed to be a compliment?

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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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