The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 87

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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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87

It had been two months—or was it only a month and a half?—but Rudeuum seemed to have shot up in that time.
He was taller than the last time she’d seen him, and he carried himself with a maturity beyond his years.
“Reponya?”
Rudeuum tilted his head, looking down at her with curiosity when she didn’t answer.
She’d felt suffocated just moments before, her chest tight and airless. But now that Fretes the Pope had vanished from sight, the weight had lifted somewhat.
“During the sacred prayers of the New Year Ceremony.”
Fellens stood beside Rudeuum and murmured under his breath, flashing him a meaningful look.
“The little snowball’s receiving divine grace right now, so don’t bother her, Duke Craitan’s heir.”
“No sense of the moment at all.”
Rudeuum clicked his tongue and gave Fellens a light shove.
Then, with natural ease, he positioned himself beside Reponya.
Because Rudeuum had shifted to stand beside her, Fretes the Pope’s face was now hidden from view.
‘He couldn’t have… known, could he?’
Reponya studied Rudeuum quietly. The timing had been too perfect, but it couldn’t be. It couldn’t.
If he’d known and helped her anyway, that would mean he also knew she was the Pope’s spy.
And Rudeuum, as head of House of Billemen—one of the great noble families—would never simply overlook a criminal if he knew the full truth.
Fretes the Pope’s voice rose in prayer.
That voice, which had gnawed at her for so long, sounded strangely tedious now.
She only wanted this moment to end.

* * *

The Pope’s prayer concluded. Fretes did not so much as glance at Reponya.
Duke Craitan had gone to speak with the Emperor and Empress, while Havelian and Fellens conversed with the imperial princes and princesses, whom they hadn’t seen in some time.
Because the Emperor and Duke Craitan had been lifelong friends, their sons had grown up naturally with the imperial children from childhood, and they seemed to maintain a quite intimate bond.
She’d worried they might introduce her as well, but fortunately that didn’t happen.
Her brothers had suggested she join their conversation with the royals, but Duke Craitan had stopped them.
Duke Craitan had told them to go speak with Rudeuum, whom they hadn’t seen in ages, and had kept Reponya firmly at a distance from the royal family’s gaze.
‘Perhaps he doesn’t care to present an adopted child to them.’
She understood well enough. This adoption charade would end someday anyway.
Just as Duke Craitan had decided her Adoption without consulting her brothers’ wishes, he would decide her Disownment the same way, regardless of what they wanted.
Reponya and Rudeuum had moved to a quiet corner of the Party Hall and talked at ease.
“When did you arrive? You weren’t here earlier.”
“Were you looking for me?”
Rudeuum laughed, delighted. This was only the second time they’d met at a formal gathering since the succession celebration party, and his bearing in everyday clothes felt distinctly different.
Perhaps because it had been so long, the distance between them felt somehow greater.
Reponya answered lightly, trying not to show it.
“…Not looking, exactly. I just happened to see you.”
“Isn’t that the same thing as looking?”
“It’s not. It’s different.”
In truth, she’d searched the hall the moment she arrived and found him, but she was too embarrassed to admit it.
“Is that so? I thought you were looking for me and was pleased.”
Despite her firm denial, Rudeuum remained unruffled.
“I wanted to give you my New Year greetings. That’s why I was… looking.”
Reponya fumbled through her words, changing the subject. Rudeuum let out a soft laugh.
“But you just said you only happened to see me.”
When she gave him a light glare for his relentless teasing, a thin, airy laugh escaped. With his hands clasped behind his back, Rudeuum stepped slightly to the side, completely shielding her from the view of others, and continued the conversation.
“I arrived after the Pope’s prayer began.”
“So you searched me out the moment you got here?”
“Of course. Who else would I talk to in this place?”
At Rudeuum’s casual assertion, Reponya laughed as if bewildered.
There were many who wished to converse with Rudeuum, Duke of House of Billemen.
Reponya was the only one here with time to spare.
Duke Craitan didn’t have it, nor did Havelian and Fellens, and neither did Rudeuum.
The other nobles were all striving to find some way to break the ice and forge connections with them.
Of course, no one at the Party Hall wanted to speak with Reponya, an adopted daughter.
“I thought with the hall so vast and crowded, we might miss each other and I’d have to leave without seeing you.”
“Impossible.”
Rudeuum spoke with quiet certainty.
“I could never fail to recognize you, Reponya.”
His casual assurance sent a flutter of warmth through her chest.
‘If Rudeuum hadn’t been here, I’d still be standing alone in this crowd.’
Whether he sensed her thoughts or not, Rudeuum glanced around before turning back to her.
“What have you been up to all this time?”
“Well, I made snowmen and had snowball fights. And I learned to knit—though it’s terribly difficult. Oh! And while you were away, I studied more with Havelian. He’s been teaching me so much.”
“Did you make a snowman for me?”
“Hm?”
Reponya hesitated. Since her own snowman had melted, she hadn’t made another one, so she’d never made one for Rudeuum.
“You didn’t make me a snowman?”
Rudeuum caught the slight pause and raised an eyebrow.
“I forgot.”
“What about the Duke’s snowman?”
“We made that one together—my brothers helped.”
“And the snowmen for my older brother and younger brother?”
“Well, I didn’t make those alone either. We all made them together.”
“And yours?”
“I made mine myself.”
“Then mine—”
As she listened to his logic, Reponya found his demanding tone so absurd she laughed.
“You can make your own.”
“If I make one at the Billemen Estate, mine would be standing alone.”
Reponya flinched. She’d never considered it before—Rudeuum didn’t even have anyone to build a snowman with.
“…Next time it snows, I’ll make yours first. I’m a snowman-making genius now, after all.”
Coming from Havelian, who was actually a genius, her promise carried weight. Rudeuum suppressed a smile and nodded solemnly.
“Then I’ll have to come see it. I’m looking forward to it.”
“All right. I’ll show you what a truly beautiful, perfectly round snowman looks like.”
“By the way, Reponya—do you know something?”
“Know what?”
“This winter won’t see any more snow.”
Rudeuum spoke with such certainty, smiling as he said it.
“How could you possibly know that?”
“Who knows.”
Rudeuum answered casually. Reponya tilted her head—was there truly a way to predict the seasons?
“Then what will you do?”
“Since I won’t be able to make mine this winter, I’ll wait until next winter.”
Next winter.
“I’ll come see your snowman next winter.”
Rudeuum promised the coming winter as naturally as breathing.
‘I don’t know if I’ll still be here by next winter.’
Watching how he’d hesitated to introduce Reponya to the royal family today, she feared disownment might come soon.
‘I just wish it would snow again this winter so I could make him one.’
Reponya opened her mouth, speaking the thought aloud.
“Rudeuum—what about you?”
“Me?”
“I heard a rumor. You tried to buy Stone Mountain, but the other nobles outbid you every time.”
Reponya whispered carefully, wary of eavesdroppers.
“Ah, that.”
“Are you all right?”
At her worried question, Rudeuum chuckled softly and shook his head.
“I’m fine.”
“But they say everyone’s keeping their eyes on it, planning to outbid you again in the future.”
“True. Even though Stone Mountain looks utterly worthless, they’re all scrambling for it. Last time, one noble paid ten times the market price just to secure it.”
“Everyone saw how you bought a barren island and opened a new Trade Route. They think you’ve found something, and they’re betting on it again.”
“Reponya.”
“Yes?”
Rudeuum looked extraordinarily pleased about something. How could he be so content after losing all those Stone Mountains he’d meant to acquire?
“You’ve been listening rather intently to rumors about me.”
“What?”
“You haven’t missed a word about me.”
Rudeuum laughed.
The fact that someone took an interest in him seemed to delight him.
“We’re friends, so it’s only natural.”
“Is that so?”
“And here I am, worrying myself over you. Is this really the time for such things?”
“It’s important. Nothing’s more important than this.”
“Don’t joke about it.”
“I’m serious. There’s nothing more important, Reponya. Because those Stone Mountains I lost truly amount to nothing.”
“Hmm?”
“The Stone Mountains I’m actually looking for are quite specific. They must be large, entirely barren of flora and fauna, and situated in complete isolation with nothing around them whatsoever.”
“Stone Mountains?”
“Yes. If there’s any vegetation or wildlife, it would burn.”
“Burn? What do you intend to burn?”
“It’s not something I’d be burning.”
Reponya, struggling to follow the thread of conversation, tilted her head quizzically.
“I thought I’d purchase one first and decide what to do with it later, since I hadn’t found anywhere quite to my liking yet. But then everyone saw me buying and rushed to purchase Stone Mountains themselves.”
So Rudeuum had needed a Stone Mountain for purely personal reasons.
The others, witnessing this, assumed he was attempting something grand once more and purchased worthless mountains at absurdly inflated prices?
‘The nobles who bought Stone Mountains will be furious when they find out.’
What would their reaction be upon discovering they’d paid far above market value for useless hills?
‘But why does he want Stone Mountains in the first place?’
If a mountain was truly barren like that, it couldn’t sustain agriculture and held no value as land—there’d be nothing to do with it.
Was he planning to start a wildfire on it?
Reponya wondered, but she held her tongue. She had no need to know every detail of Rudeuum’s personal affairs.
There was no reason to ask about everything simply because she was curious.
It was precisely then that Reponya turned to leave.
“Lady Craitan.”
A weighty voice called out to her. Reponya turned.
“I would like to have a word with you.”
It was the Emperor.

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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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