The Villainess Duke Lady Hides Her Identity - Chapter 88

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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 88

Reponya was taken aback when the Emperor suddenly addressed her. She could have sworn she’d been speaking with Duke Craitan just moments ago.
But the Duke had vanished from sight.
Aware of the sudden focus of attention upon her, Reponya hurried into a proper curtsy.
“Your Imperial Majesty, I am honored.”
Rudeuum bowed alongside her, and the Emperor acknowledged them both with a nod before turning his head.
“Duke Billemen. I shall borrow the young lady for a moment.”
“Your Majesty, I confess I did not expect you to seek out the young lady of House Craitan before myself.”
Rudeuum’s face hardened visibly. It was clear he disapproved of the Emperor taking Reponya away.
“Ha. Duke Billemen. A man’s jealousy is an ugly thing indeed.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Though at your age, such trivial feelings steal your sleep—you lie awake tearing at your hair all night. I understand entirely. As you can see, I myself have already lost some of mine to precisely such torment.”
Rudeuum’s eyes narrowed. Standing in the Party Hall of the Imperial Palace with all the nobility watching, he could not contradict the Emperor’s words.
“Young Lady of House Craitan. Would you grant me some of your time?”
The Emperor extended his hand. Reponya exchanged a glance with Rudeuum before carefully taking the Emperor’s hand, as though it were the greatest honor.
“This way.”
As the Emperor and Reponya departed the Party Hall together, the eyes of every nobleman followed them. But the Emperor’s escort soon formed a wall of bodies, cutting off their view.
‘Should I have spoken to him before leaving?’
It was the first time she’d slipped away from a gathering like this without telling the Duke or her brothers, and a thread of worry wormed through her.
“Your Majesty…”
“Mm?”
“Should I not inform the Duke that I’m leaving?”
The Emperor, who had been walking as they left the hall, came to an abrupt stop. With him, the servants and knights trailing behind halted as well.
“Are you concerned the Duke will worry?”
“Yes. And I didn’t tell my brothers either.”
Reponya spoke carefully, testing the waters. Was he annoyed that she’d dared speak first?
She watched his expression anxiously, trying to gauge his mood.
“…Young lady.”
The Emperor’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial murmur. Here, there was no Duke to aid her, no two brothers, no Rudeuum—no one to help if something were to occur.
Reponya straightened her wits and answered softly, “Yes?”
“Would it truly be so wrong to hold you?”
“No. I mean—yes?”
“We’re heading to my Private Secret Garden. Your legs might grow tired, so might I carry you there?”
The words were spoken with exquisite courtesy, yet they were utterly absurd.
“No. That won’t do.”
Reponya answered respectfully, though her expression betrayed her bewilderment. The Emperor lifted the head he’d been bowing.
“What if I asked not as Emperor, but as your father’s dearest friend? I believe you call me Uncle. Could I not hold you in that capacity?”
“…I would prefer not.”
“My own daughters are grown now and no longer allow their father to carry them, you see. Yet here you are—six years old and impossibly charming. It’s the first time in my life I’ve envied Duke Craitan.”
The Emperor lamented as though in genuine anguish. Reponya’s face grew cold.
“Worried about not having informed anyone before leaving—how adorable. Don’t fret. The Duke attended to a small errand at my request, and I’ve already sent word to him, your eldest brother, and your second brother informing them of your whereabouts. There’s nothing to concern yourself with.”
“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Adorable, truly adorable.”
The Emperor murmured the same words to himself as he resumed walking.
‘I’ve thought it since we met at the harvest festival procession—he truly is peculiar.’
Reponya followed quietly. They left the Imperial Palace and entered the Grand Garden, then made their way toward the Private Secret Garden, a place only the Emperor could access.
“Without my permission, no one may enter this place. Unlike the common gardens, it reflects my personal tastes entirely. I do hope it pleases you.”
“Yes. It is magnificent, Your Majesty.”
“Then I shall grant you leave to visit whenever you wish. Why not come keep me company when you’re bored? My grown children rarely wish to converse with me these days.”
A playful glint danced in the Emperor’s eyes.
“I should mention—I’ve never granted my own family unrestricted access to this place. Should you accept, you would be the first. Doesn’t that sound enticing?”
No matter how adorable a six-year-old child might be, there was no reason to allow her free access to the Emperor’s Private Secret Garden.
Reponya chose her words with great care.
“It seems to me, Your Majesty, that this place is better suited for cutting flowers than for conversation.”
“Cutting flowers?”
“The Empress seldom visits this place, I understand, so she may not have seen the newly bloomed flowers. If you were to cut the freshest blossoms and present them to Her Majesty as a gift, I’m certain she would be most pleased. Therefore, this garden is better suited for cutting flowers than for idle talk.”
Her refusal to engage as his conversational partner was also his way of telling them to enjoy a pleasant conversation between husband and wife.
The Emperor let out a satisfied chuckle, his shoulders trembling with barely contained mirth, and nodded.
“I knew you’d refuse. I was curious how you’d do it—but you’ve presented me with a method I never would have thought of myself. Yes, that’s it. There are days when the Empress doesn’t see these flowers that I see every day. They’ll make a fine gift for her, a pleasant diversion. A most discerning proposal, young lady.”
“You are too kind to say so.”
The Emperor tapped the seat beside him with his palm. Reponya, who had hesitated a moment, quietly shifted to sit at his side.
“Duke Craitan and I are old friends, and he is like a brother to me. I had many brothers once, but I have none now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Whenever a child was born to House of Craitan, I would rush to see them myself. Of course, Duke Craitan did the same for me.”
Their bond seemed deeper than she had imagined.
‘Is that why he was reluctant to introduce me?’
There would be little reason to present a child engaged in adoption play to a man like a brother.
“That’s why I wanted to speak with my old friend’s daughter. I’d been meaning to invite you, but the Imperial Palace has been so chaotic lately.”
Perhaps not. If today’s reception was any indication, Duke Craitan would never have consented to such an invitation in the first place.
“Yet I find myself the beneficiary instead. Very well—in return, I shall grant you whatever you wish. Speak freely, young lady.”
Whatever she wished? Reponya lifted her lowered head.
“Mind you, this is not a test like before—you may truly ask for anything. A sovereign does not go back on his word.”
Whatever she wished. Reponya furrowed her brow and cast her gaze downward.
‘…Was there ever such a thing?’
Her life had been nothing but the daily struggle to survive. All she had ever hoped for was that she would be alive tomorrow, fifty days from now, and still be living ten years hence, twenty years hence.
In such a life, she had never once paused to imagine what she might want, never yearned for anything to possess.
……
So instead of answering, Reponya maintained a long silence.
The Emperor, disconcerted by such prolonged quiet from a child of six, spoke up.
“Young lady. You haven’t fallen asleep, have you?”
“Surely no one would dare to sleep at Your Majesty’s side.”
“Then why have you nothing to say? Young lady.”
A typical six-year-old was at the age when desires first bloom, when children begin to compare what others possess with what they have.
An age when wants sprout forth, and if something is right before their eyes, they must have it.
“Perhaps you have so many wishes that you cannot speak them all? If so, tell me everything at once. I can listen and we can decide together which would suit you best.”
“…Must I answer right now?”
After a long, serious deliberation, Reponya asked.
“Is there a problem?”
“At present, I have nothing I wish for, Your Majesty.”
“What?”
“But this is an opportunity Your Majesty has graciously offered, and I dislike the thought of declining it simply because I have nothing to ask for now. Surely someday I will want something.”
One must accept what can be accepted.
Reponya, yesterday five years old and today six, spoke with utter precision.
“Might I defer my answer for now, Your Majesty?”
The Emperor stared at her with his mouth agape—not merely precise but surgical, the way she seized upon every advantage.
“How extraordinary….”
“Your Majesty?”
“How can you be so sharp? Well, yes. You may defer it. When you find something you want, tell me and I shall grant it.”
“Thank you, thank you so very much, Your Majesty.”
“But tell me, young lady. How can you have no immediate wishes? Do you not have a doll play set?”
“A doll…play? Ah, well, I do have a Rabbit Doll that my brother gave me.”
“…Just that? No outfit-changing set?”
“Outfit-changing? Whose outfit do you mean?”
“Surely you have a tea party play set at least?”
At the familiar words, Reponya nodded.
“When I visited the General Store with Fellens the other day, one of the staff gave me a Teapot Toy as a gift. Now that I think of it, it was quite curious, though I’ve never actually used it.”
“Not that—a proper tea party play set.”
“…I don’t believe I have one of those.”
“You lack so many things, yet claim you want nothing?”
Reponya tilted her head in puzzlement.
“I don’t much care for toys, Your Majesty.”
“Good heavens. What do you even do with yourself then?”
What did she do? Reponya considered her usual days.
“I play tag with Fellens, and I study with Havelian….”
“I’m sorry—what?”
The Emperor’s face contorted in disbelief, as though he had heard something utterly impossible.
Why are you so taken aback?
Reponya tilted her head thoughtfully, and the Emperor merely laughed, a soft sound that filled the silence.
After a long moment lost in thought, the Emperor spoke at last.
“You truly want for nothing?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Even if I were to ask you to refuse the Disownment Papers that Duke Craitan offers?”

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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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