Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 131

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life

Chapter 131

Valentina clenched her trembling hands into tight fists to hide them.

Mockingbirds could only repeat human words to relay messages; two-way communication or visual surveillance was impossible.

However, just the sound of her father’s voice that the mockingbird imitated was enough to make Valentina’s shoulders stiffen with tension every time.

The words Duke Dantalion conveyed through the mockingbird didn’t end there.

“The information you’ve been sending has been unsatisfactory. If you can’t prove your usefulness, there’s no need for you to remain there.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

She barely managed to hide the tremor in her voice.

After hearing Valentina’s response, the mockingbird tilted its head and flapped its wings.

Flutter.

After the mockingbird left.

Valentina, who had been standing in place for a while, collapsed into a chair as if crumbling.

Belated regret washed over her.

It would be difficult to hold out much longer by passing along worthless information.

Why had she optimistically thought that peaceful days like today would continue tomorrow?

He was still here as a spy, and his life was bound by curse magic, held in his father’s grasp.

In the end, nothing had changed from when he first came here.

Valentina, who had been holding her forehead, casually looked straight ahead and was startled.

Just as Melody had said about growing much taller, the definite physical changes were now visible to his eyes as well.

If he returned like this, it would only be a matter of time before Duke Dantalion discovered his secret.

Then should he run away with the money he had saved up, however little it was, as he had told Lev?

“It’s impossible…”

The curse magic carved into his heart.

As long as his father, who had become the medium for it, was alive and breathing, escape was impossible.

So those words he had said to Lev were actually just bravado. Even knowing this, at some point Valentina had begun to believe his own lie.

Using black magic to squeeze a child’s heart to death would be burdensome even for them.

So if he could avoid the Duke’s eyes like this, and someday Duke Dantalion lost his life to accident or old age.

‘Then maybe I could meet Lev and Tiya again.’

To think he had truly believed such complacent and vain thoughts.

Something must have happened to his head while staying here.

The peaceful daily life he had lived in this manor had dulled his vigilance.

“I can’t go back like this.”

The next moment, a venomous glint that had long been forgotten appeared in Valentina’s eyes.

Valentina began piecing together the fragments of information he knew.

Duke Dantalion viewed Count Valoz, who was investigating large-scale tax evasion in the South under imperial orders, as a thorn in his side.

While he had sent him to Vladijef Manor to find even one weakness, the Count had been taken away by Imperial Investigators, so he wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

It was obvious he would move to frame the Count with another false charge.

And for this purpose, Duke Dantalion had recruited Bren from the manor.

He didn’t know what Bren was trying to deliver to him, but if it would harm the Count, it would harm him, not benefit him.

‘But why did he tell me to bring that item to Lev’s room?’

Until recently, Lev Vladijef was just a terminally ill young master who could die tomorrow without it being strange.

Even if they framed him with some charge, it wouldn’t deal a fatal blow to the Count.

Valentina, who had been pondering for a moment, belatedly realized something and let out a small exclamation.

“Maybe it’s not targeting Lev, but Lev’s room is the purpose.”

Whatever Bren was holding, it would only be meaningful if it was discovered in the depths of the manor, in the Count’s study or at least Rodion’s office.

Although the Royal Knights were currently searching thoroughly, neither the Count’s study nor Rodion’s office were places a mere low-ranking servant could freely enter.

To enter those two places, closer associates would be needed, but recruiting them wouldn’t be easy.

However, there was an exception.

The employees caring for Lev often visited Rodion’s office to report on Lev’s health condition.

‘There’s a spy among Lev’s employees that Father recruited.’

If he placed the item he received from Bren in Lev’s room, someone would likely take it and head to Rodion’s office.

Though it was only speculation, he had figured out Duke Dantalion’s purpose.

Now Valentina had two choices.

One, follow Duke Dantalion’s orders and cling to this manor a little longer to buy time.

Two, disobey Duke Dantalion’s orders, fail to prove his usefulness, and return to Dantalion Castle as is.

Valentina’s lilac eyes darkened as he stood at the crossroads of choice.

* * *

Rodion’s office.

A small flame unsuitable for a summer day was lighting the fireplace.

Standing in front of it, Rodion fed papers one by one into the fireplace with a tired expression.

The Royal Knight Order had failed to find the evidence they sought in the Count’s study.

He thought they would give up around then, but they requested to search his office on the grounds that Rodion was responsible for managing the manor.

Well, it was called a request, but it was practically coercion. Should he be grateful they at least gave him some time?

‘There shouldn’t be anything incriminating, but…’

With things having come to this, he couldn’t let his guard down.

While sorting things that could be used against them and important information that others shouldn’t know, feeding them to the flames.

Knock knock.

A polite knocking sound was heard.

“Come in.”

He thought it would be Father’s aide Anton or the butler.

“Lord Rodion. I came because I have something to tell you privately.”

At the doorway he turned to look at stood Valentina.

Rodion hurriedly composed his expression. A gentle smile appeared on his face that had been deeply tired.

While moving his feet to push some documents scattered on the floor into the shadows.

“Isn’t it hot? I’ll prepare some cool tea right away…”

“No. It’s fine. I don’t want others to hear our conversation.”

Rodion, who was about to call a maid, hesitated.

Somehow Valentina’s expression and tone were different from usual. He had always been careful with his conduct so that even his footsteps wouldn’t be heard, and had never properly asserted his own opinion.

Soon Valentina, sitting across from Rodion, hesitated for quite a long time. Rodion didn’t rush him and waited for him to speak.

Finally, Valentina opened his mouth.

“Among the employees caring for Lev, there’s a traitor to the Vladijefs. Soon they’ll plant a suspicious item in Lord Rodion’s room.”

Strength entered Valentina’s fists that had been placed obediently on his knees.

A heavy tension flowed from Valentina’s face as if awaiting a death sentence.

Rodion, who focused more on his expression and hands than the information he conveyed, answered while still maintaining his smile.

“Thank you for giving me valuable information. I had been keeping in mind that there might be a spy anyway, so thanks to you I can save some trouble.”

“…?”

Doubt gradually appeared on Valentina’s face as he listened to Rodion’s response with his mouth clenched shut.

And he asked back as if puzzled.

“Is that all?”

“Do you need something more? Ah, if you need a reward-“

“No, that’s not what I mean…”

Valentina’s gaze dropped to the floor.

He tried to compose his expression, but it didn’t work as intended.

Valentina asked with his head deeply bowed.

“Aren’t you suspicious about how I know that information?”

“…”

A brief silence.

Perhaps it would have been better not to ask. Unlike what she had prepared herself for, Valentina couldn’t bring herself to face Rodion.

However, at the words that followed, Valentina had no choice but to lift her head.

“Valentina. Your feelings about not wanting to return home haven’t changed, right?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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