The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 81

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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 81

Reponya tilted her head slightly to check Fellens’s expression.
Fortunately, he didn’t look displeased.
“…What? You’re acknowledging me? Are you feeling alright?”
Hmm. So this counts as acknowledgment.
“No.”
Havelian shook his head.
“We’ve bickered so much I forgot, but it just occurred to me that you’re my sister.”
“What? Stop spewing gross things. Out of the blue like this.”
“I’m congratulating you on your Graduation Exam results, and for surpassing my record, Fellens.”
Havelian gave Fellens’s back a light, affectionate pat. Fellens grimaced and twisted away from his touch, but made no move to curse at him.
‘Like family.’
Just as Havelian had said, it really did feel like family.
That was when it happened.
“Your Grace, the Duke of House Craitan. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Someone approached Duke Craitan with a formal greeting. The Duke, who had been quietly observing the two brothers’ conversation, turned his head toward the voice.
“Student Council President Alexia.”
Student Council President? Was she the Student Council President of this Academy?
‘…The one who had a Magic Stone stolen from her by Fellens when she went out. The Student Council President who had been sheltering Fellens all these years, deliberately failing his Special Aptitude Exam to avoid graduating.’
Suddenly, Alexia’s back view struck her as pitiful.
“It must be reassuring to have sons of such excellence.”
Duke Craitan nodded lightly and glanced back at his two sons. His gaze finally settled on Reponya.
“My good fortune.”
Both Havelian and Fellens turned their heads away with an oddly awkward expression, as if neither quite knew how to respond to the Duke’s refusal to deny the praise or the sentiment.
There was an unmistakable awkwardness between father and sons. Duke Craitan let out a light chuckle and turned to face Alexia.
“How is the renovation of the Annex Building and the dormitories progressing?”
“Quite well, thanks to your generosity. You provided support far exceeding the damages caused by the Magic Stone that Fellens took, so I’m truly grateful.”
It appeared that the Duke had funded the renovation of the Annex Building and dormitories as compensation for the Magic Stone Fellens had stolen.
“And this must be Duke Billemen. I’m honored to meet you for the first time.”
Alexia turned to Rudeuum beside Duke Craitan. Rudeuum gave a light nod in acknowledgment.
“This is your first visit to the Academy, I understand. Would you like me to show you around personally?”
Ah. So that’s why the Student Council President came out in person…
‘Recruitment!’
She must have come after hearing the news that Rudeuum, who was the subject of hot rumors these days, was visiting.
“I didn’t come to see the Academy, so there’s no need for a tour.”
Normally, Rudeuum, as the heir to House Billemen, should have been attending the Academy long ago.
Children of nobility typically enroll at age eleven, but heirs enroll even earlier, receiving systematic instruction from the Academy in things their private tutors cannot teach them.
But Rudeuum had not been able to. Not by choice—he had been left to fend for himself, beset by assassins, and thus unable to attend.
“Rudeuum. Don’t say that. Why don’t you take a look around?”
Reponya, nestled in Fellens’s arms, offered quietly.
“You’re not attending now, but you never know what the future holds.”
“The future?”
“Yes. You might want to attend the Academy later.”
Rudeuum furrowed his brow and fell silent as if lost in thought.
“What about you, Reponya?”
“Hmm?”
“Might you want to attend the Academy someday too?”
“Me? Well.”
How wonderful it would be if one could simply attend whenever one wished.
Rudeuum’s future and Reponya’s future were not the same.
Reponya’s future rested entirely in the hands of Duke Craitan.
If she were not the Duke’s daughter, there would only be more things she couldn’t do, no matter how much she wanted to.
“Perhaps.”
Reponya swallowed all those unspoken words and replied lightly.
Rudeuum fell into thought. But soon he shook his head.
“Never mind. If I enrolled in the Academy now, it’s obvious how the Duchess of House Billemen would react. I can’t do everything I want just because I wish to.”
Reponya’s face crumpled before Rudeuum had even finished speaking.
Not everything one wishes for can be done—that was the thought she’d just had to herself.
Reponya had learned to give up before she ever learned to dream of the future. Even now, that was true.
But why are you saying such things? You shouldn’t be like that.
‘One person giving up is enough—that should be me.’
Reponya was about to say something.
“Why don’t we just have a consultation and look around a bit together?”
Duke Craitan stepped forward.
“Duke Billemen. Surely that much is possible?”
“Of course. I’ll guide both of you to the Student Council Office.”
Alexia, the Student Council President, seized the moment without hesitation, as if she’d been waiting for just this chance.
Rudeuum’s face darkened.
“There’s no need—”
“What, a nine-year-old giving up already? I never taught you that. Did I not always say that Swordsmanship was about perseverance and effort?”
Fellens looked at Rudeuum and shook his head pointedly.
“I’m not some little child—”
“Since you came to cheer me on today as my first student, I’ll come along as your guardian. …Brother, watch Reponya for me.”
Fellens handed Reponya over to Havelian’s arms and took hold of Rudeuum.
“By the way, the rule in House of Craitan is: do what you want to do. Understood? Reponya.”
Was there really such a rule?
‘But why did he say that while looking at me?’
Reponya nodded at Fellens’s words. Fellens smiled gently and headed toward the Student Council Office with Duke Craitan, coaxing and soothing the reluctant Rudeuum along.
Rudeuum turned his head back sharply, looking at Reponya as if seeking help, but was soon drawn away and out of sight.
‘He didn’t want to go—did I push him anyway? Will he be alright?’
Reponya watched the retreating figures of Alexia and the other three with worried eyes.
“Don’t worry, Reponya.”
Havelian, noticing her concern, smiled gently.
“Father and Fellens both care about Duke Billemen and want to help him.”
“Huh?”
“He ascended to his dukedom without a single person at his side, and he handles everything himself without ever having been taught anything special. He’s never even asked me for help or consulted my opinion. Even when dealing with the assassins that Duchess Billemen sent.”
“…”
“He resembles someone an awful lot. The two of you are very… so that’s why you get along?”
“Huh?”
“Anyway, that’s why Father and Fellens went with him, so you don’t need to worry too much. With Fellens attending the Academy, he’ll be even more helpful.”
Duke Craitan had raised both his sons himself, and Fellens was currently attending the Academy, so it would be fine.
“I haven’t been to the Academy in a while either. How about a walk, Reponya?”
Reponya nodded. Havelian strolled through the Academy with Reponya held in his arms.
“When winter breaks and spring comes, this almond tree will bloom beautifully. Have you ever seen an almond tree in bloom?”
Reponya shook her head.
“It’s very beautiful. I’m looking forward to the spring when I’ll see it with you, Reponya.”
“Do I have to come to the Academy to see it when it blooms?”
“No. We can plant one at the Estate.”
Havelian, seated on a large wooden bench, set Reponya down. Then he removed his outer coat and draped it over her, who was already warmly dressed.
The impeccably neat Havelian’s coat was now wrinkled all over.
“I’m not cold. Buddy and Becky dressed me warmly in Fur Clothing.”
Reponya fluttered the white Fur Clothing to show him.
“I know. I can see.”
“You should wear this.”
“When you work with Aura, the weather doesn’t affect you much, so I’m fine. Just keep it on yourself, Reponya.”
The cold winter wind blew. Whether it was because she was warmly dressed, or because of the Heat Stone in her pocket, or perhaps because of the outer coat Havelian had draped over her, it wasn’t very cold.
When she was younger, she used to get frostbite and blisters walking around in weather like this.
“Reponya. I said it would be good to find a Private Tutor, but if you want to attend the Academy instead, that’s fine too.”
“Huh?”
“You’re neither me nor Fellens. Genius or not, if you want to play, then play. If you don’t want to study, then don’t.”
Was Fellens’s victory earlier really that shocking?
Why is he suddenly saying this?
“After hearing what you said earlier, I’ve been thinking. When I was young, I never paid attention to Fellens’s grades or what Fellens did.”
“Huh?”
“I knew I had a better mind than others and that I could do whatever I decided to do. So when I saw Fellens unable to keep up with me, I didn’t understand. When I was young, I drew a line—Fellens couldn’t follow me, so we were walking completely different paths. I thought that way until not long ago.”
Havelian, who had been looking up at the sky, turned his head to the side and looked down at little Reponya.
“When Fellens surpassed my record today. And when you told me we were siblings and family after all, Reponya—the feeling was strange. I never held back for Fellens or eased my pace, waiting for him to catch up properly.”
“…….”
“So nothing you said bothered me. Reponya.”
Havelian spoke as though he understood everything Reponya had been worrying about.
“Sometimes you remind me of myself, and other times you’re like Fellens. When I see you, I understand Fellens better—and when he sees you, he’ll understand me.”

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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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