The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 86

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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 86

The New Year Ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace. It was a sacred ritual to welcome the new Imperial Year.
“Wow.”
Reponya, visiting the Imperial Palace for the first time, let out an exclamation without thinking.
As the massive iron gates of the Imperial Palace opened, the Grand Garden stretched out before her in sprawling magnificence that seemed to have no end, and beyond it rose the overwhelmingly grand facade of the Imperial Palace itself.
Intricately carved stone pillars soared to tremendous heights, and above them glittered ornaments of gold that dazzled the eye.
The sturdy stone walls spoke of their fortitude, and the colossal sculptures placed throughout conveyed an air of majesty.
It inspired such reverence that the word “beautiful” hardly seemed adequate.
Reponya stood frozen in the open carriage door, her jaw slack.
“Reponya.”
Duke Craitan, who had descended first, called to her and extended his hand. Coming to her senses, Reponya accepted his escort and stepped down from the carriage.
As she walked alongside the Duke along the intricate stone path leading to the Imperial Palace, Havelian and Fellens followed behind.
‘I’m attending the New Year Ceremony.’
It was something she had never dared imagine.
Now six years old, Reponya had grown a little taller. Not long ago she had seemed like a mere infant, but now she bore the unmistakable appearance of a young child.
“Duke Craitan, Craitan’s First Son, Craitan’s Second Son, and the young lady of the house now enter!”
The gatekeeper announced loudly and pushed open the massive golden doors that led into the hall.
The thick doors, studded with polished gemstones that gleamed brilliantly, swung open, and the four of them stepped inside.
As they walked across the mirror-bright marble floor into the hall, a chandelier studded with hundreds of candles came into view.
On the high ceiling was painted a delicate mural, and at the beginning of that mural stood the imperial throne.
As though all history began with the Emperor.
‘The Imperial Palace truly is… different.’
Had Duke Craitan not held her hand, she would never have dared to set foot upon that pristine marble.
“Reponya. You can relax your shoulders. It’s all right. We’re here, so there’s no need to be so tense.”
Havelian whispered softly from behind. She was clearly so nervous that tension visibly gripped her frame.
Reponya quickly straightened her posture.
This was a place where all the high nobility of the capital gathered.
It was different in both scale and the number of nobles from Rudeuum’s succession celebration party before.
She could not bring shame upon the honor of the Craitan Family in a place like this.
All eyes were upon them. Fortunately, having already endured many stares during the procession on the streets at the Harvest Festival, she found it easier to accept them now, drawing upon that memory.
“We honor you, Duke Craitan.”
As the Duke walked, the nobles present offered their respectful greetings. Duke Craitan replied lightly and proceeded toward the center of the hall with Reponya.
The young ladies watched Havelian and Fellens following behind Reponya, their faces flushing with shy embarrassment.
It was an entirely natural reaction, considering the stack of letters from young ladies requesting to be escorted by them to today’s New Year Ceremony had accumulated at the Estate.
‘My brothers really are… handsome.’
Viewed objectively, tastes might differ, but both possessed striking features.
Perhaps because she thought of them as brothers, Reponya found nothing in the least romantic about either of them.
Some of the braver young ladies even approached the two directly.
“C-Craitan’s First Son. You look exceptionally fine today. My younger brother was enrolled as a cadet at the Military Academy where you are stationed, and—”
“I do not engage in private conversation with the families of cadets. It would be unfair, as other cadets might believe they are being treated preferentially due to personal connections. Excuse me.”
“Craitan’s Second Son. I saw you place first in this year’s Academy Graduation Exam. To be honest… I went there to cheer you on. Today, even if not for the first dance—would you honor me with a dance?”
“I disdain dancing. Excuse me.”
Of course, courage alone did not guarantee a favorable outcome.
“She looks just like the late Duchess…”
“No wonder they suddenly decided to adopt…”
In the corner, the voices of noblewoman could be heard gossiping about Reponya. Though their voices were muffled by their fans, the hostile gaze they directed was precisely clear.
But Reponya kept her spine straight and maintained proper posture. She had learned from the Pope that one must not let one’s face betray what one sees, what one hears, or what one feels.
Watching Reponya’s composed demeanor, no one imagined that this six-year-old child had overheard their slander.
Duke Craitan gave the noblewomen a warning glance before taking his place beside Reponya.
“Reponya. If there’s anything you’d like to eat, feel free to have some.”
In such circumstances, there was no way food would settle in her stomach. Despite the Duke’s encouragement, Reponya simply shook her head.
‘Has Rudeuum not arrived yet?’
Reponya’s eyes searched the hall for Rudeuum, the one person she knew. But whether because the hall was too vast or because there were too many people, it was difficult to spot him.
‘I wish I’d brought that Green Jewel.’
She couldn’t say exactly where in the hall he was, but at least she could have known whether he had arrived at the Imperial Palace or was still on his way.
‘It feels like it’s been so long since I saw him.’
Amid all the busyness, Rudeuum had sent word several times by letter.
She had meant to write back, but the sight of his precise handwriting made her own crooked script feel shameful—so she had never sent a single reply.
‘I never even properly greeted him for the New Year.’
She had planned to answer his New Year’s greeting today, but with so many people and such a vast hall, she worried they might not meet at all.
It was then that Reponya, unable to hide her disappointment, cast her eyes about the room.
“His Majesty the Emperor, the foundation of the empire, and Her Majesty the Empress, the light of the realm, make their entrance!”
The doorkeeper announced their arrival more grandly than ever before. The nobles who had been exchanging light conversation or dancing all stopped and turned their heads.
The Emperor and Empress descended the staircase with leisurely grace, followed by a prince and princess. The Crown Prince, who had gone abroad to study, had sent word that he could not attend due to poor weather, and indeed he was nowhere to be seen.
The Emperor reached the foot of the staircase and stood before the imperial throne, accepting the Golden Cup and Spoon from his attendant.
—Ting, ting, ting.
The bright, crystalline ring of metal striking metal echoed softly through the hall.
“Thank you all for gracing this occasion with your presence.”
His weighty voice cut through the silence and carried across the room.
“I wish for this year to bring abundance, prosperity, and peace throughout the empire. I hope you all will enjoy yourselves.”
His words were few, but they carried great weight. Then the Emperor extended his hand to the side.
At that, a man who had been waiting stepped forward.
“…!!”
In that instant, Reponya felt as though someone had seized her by the throat.
‘Pope Pretes.’
How could she have forgotten? At this time of year, the Pope always journeyed to the Imperial Palace—to attend the New Year Ceremony and offer Prayer so that the newly arrived Imperial Year would know peace under God’s protection.
It was so ordinary for the nobility that no one had thought to mention it beforehand, and so she had not thought of it either.
As Pope Pretes stepped forward, Reponya found herself instinctively stepping back.
“I pray that God’s peace shall dwell in this new Imperial Year.”
The voice that had gnawed at her for so long and driven her to the edge of the abyss rang out loud and clear.
Reponya clenched her fists, biting the inside of her lip hard enough to draw blood. She had been certain that when they met again, she would mock him or strike that smug face of his.
But fear—the kind that a decade under the Pope’s direct care had carved into her very body—was another thing entirely.
“May the Lord speak abundance for the full, harvest for the living, and great peace—”
Pope Pretes’ Prayer continued. His Holy Power spread through the hall like an all-encompassing presence.
Everyone gazed upon it with joy and smiled. But to Reponya, it felt like poison gnawing at her life.
Reponya lifted her head and straightened her spine. Even as her clenched fists trembled and blood welled from the inside of her lip, she refused to let it show.
She stood firm on both legs and stared directly at Pope Pretes.
Duke Craitan, Havelian, and Fellens spoke to her from beside her, and she was certain she had responded calmly with a smile, but she could not remember what she had said.
But judging by the lack of concern, she must have managed to respond well enough without letting anything slip.
‘I want to leave.’
Her chest felt clogged, as if she had swallowed yarn. That suffocating yarn seemed to swell and push against her insides, threatening to burst forth from her mouth.
And then Pope Pretes’ gaze, sweeping across the hall, fell upon Reponya.
Just as the composure she had thought unshakeable began to waver and finally crumble—
“Ponya.”
A small hand reached out. In the same moment, it covered her eyes and wrapped around her shoulders, gently turning her away.
Through the gaps between the spread fingers, Reponya’s world spun.
The dreadful figure of Pope Pretes vanished, and in its place, familiar golden eyes came into her view.
“Surprised? It’s been so long—I’m glad to see you.”
Reponya slowly lifted her head.
“I was waiting for you to write back.”
The yarn that had swollen with suffocation dissolved away like silk, leaving no trace.
“Ponya. Congratulations on welcoming the new Imperial Year.”
It was Rudeuum, now ten years old.

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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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