Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 153

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

Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life

Chapter 153

What did the man from Riant see, and what does he want?

What did the Duke find out from him?

No, was what he said even true to begin with?

Hiding all that anxiety and suspicion beneath an obedient smile, Valentina pushed her teacup toward the Duke and spoke.

“Well. I don’t remember much about what happened in the village…”

She deliberately trailed off and added.

“If you wish it, Your Grace, I could meet with that man and find out his intentions.”

The Duke said nothing and stared at Valentina as if sizing her up.

After a long silence, the Duke answered halfheartedly, as if bringing up something that had already passed.

“He’s already dead. My subordinates handled the matter poorly.”

Ah, so a man from Riant Village really had come to the manor.

Before she could verify the truth of his words, he had died, so the Duke deliberately brought up this story to gauge her reaction.

The Duke then continued in a much softer tone.

“When my business in the Capital is finished, let’s return to the South together.”

“To the South… you say?”

Though she had already expected this. Perhaps deep down she had hoped that Lev and Tiya’s plan would work and the Duke would change his mind.

Valentina carefully opened her mouth calmly, trying not to appear too desperate.

“If you could give me just a little more time, I think I could completely win the trust of this Family’s people.”

A calculating smile crossed the Duke’s lips.

“Even when selling livestock, you need to hold an auction to get a high price. If we make them a little more anxious, they’ll pay a much better price.”

Under the table, Valentina’s fist clenched.

“So during the remaining time here, you’ll stay at the Capital Dantal Estate.”

“…Yes.”

Though she had somehow overcome the immediate crisis, Valentina knew. Suspicion had already been planted in the Duke’s mind.

And he would never overlook the sprout of that suspicion.

At this crucial growth period, if she returned to the South and was placed under the surveillance of countless employees, his secret would be exposed in no time.

Then before returning to the South.

‘I have no choice but to kill him.’

If she killed the Duke, the medium for the curse magic would disappear. Then she would be free.

Valentina’s gaze briefly turned toward the Duke’s teacup. Being so suspicious, he hadn’t even touched his tea.

Killing him would become even more difficult once they returned to the South. Then now, while the Duke was in the Capital, was her only chance.

* * *

The next day, Valentina finished preparing to leave Vladijef Manor.

Her hands had been light when leaving her room, but by the time she reached the first floor foyer, they were overflowing with so much that her hands weren’t enough.

“Lady Valentina, please stay healthy!”

“Thank you for sharing flowers with us all this time!”

“Please return safely.”

These were all farewell gifts from the people who had come out to see her off.

Among the employees gathered together were naturally Tiya and Lev, as well as Rodion.

People’s gazes were particularly focused on Lev and Valentina.

After all, it was essentially a public proposal, and they had to continue this act for a while. Lev scratched the back of his head and reluctantly muttered.

“…Take care.”

“Really, Young Master. You’re so dishonest.”

“I must be crazy, really.”

Pushing aside the grumbling Lev, Tiya stepped forward.

“Valen, do you really have to leave? Are you going to the South like this?”

Valentina tried to smile as if nothing was wrong and answered.

“I’ll be staying at the Capital Dantal Estate for the time being.”

Though it would really only be for the time being and she’d soon have to return to the South.

Unlike when she was in front of the Duke, Valentina momentarily forgot to manage her expression, and her face darkened.

Seeing this, Tiya whispered in Valentina’s ear as if she had decided something.

“Hey, Valen. Would it be okay if I kidnapped you?”

Valentina’s eyes widened for a moment, then she finally burst into laughter. Tiya pouted with an indignant expression.

“I’m not joking, I’m serious…”

Valentina, who had barely stopped laughing, nodded while wiping away the tears that had formed in her eyes.

“I know, I know you’re serious.”

After a brief silence, Valentina quietly added.

“It just… reminded me of the role-play we did before.”

“Role-play?”

Tiya, who had asked back, soon remembered the role-play game they had all done together for Father’s emotional education.

In that role-play, Valentina was the Princess kidnapped by a dragon, and Tiya and Lev were the Prince and Hero who set off on an adventure to save the Princess.

Faced with the twist that everything had actually been the Princess’s doing, Tiya had said exactly the same thing as now.

“If the Princess had wanted to leave the Kingdom, I could have kidnapped the Princess and taken her somewhere no one could find, and we could have lived happily until we died.”

Both when she heard those words then and now, Valentina couldn’t envision a future where everyone would be happy.

She simply understood the Princess who couldn’t trust people and ultimately couldn’t even ask for help, and said brightly.

“Don’t worry about me. We’ll probably… see each other again.”

“You promised!”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t a lie.

Once everything was finished and she became free, he definitely planned to visit the Vladijef Family again. Though she didn’t know when that would be.

Valentina turned around with a smiling face until the very end. And like the Princess in the story, she got into the Dantal Family’s carriage to deceive everyone.

* * *

The Capital Dantal Estate had been bustling day after day due to the Duke’s visit to the manor after a long time.

Though the Duke’s stay in the Capital was only a mere two weeks, during that time the employees were on edge at every footstep, watching their master’s mood.

This was because Duke Dantal’s temperament was extremely difficult.

Therefore, the lights in the manor rarely went out even until dawn, so they could respond to the Duke’s summons at any time.

But tonight was different.

In the dead of night when even the nocturnal beasts held their breath.

An eerie silence had descended upon the Dantal Estate. As if time had stopped, everyone without exception, whether beast or human, had fallen into deep sleep.

Even though Valentina knew that no one would wake up for a while, she crossed the corridor barefoot to avoid making the sound of shoes.

Her bare feet moved forward, cutting through the faint smoke that filled the corridor.

Eventually, Valentina’s steps stopped in front of the Duke’s bedroom.

She carefully placed the incense burner in front of the door, being careful not to inhale the scent of the dream herb flowing from it.

Though she had already taken an antidote, the sleep effect of the dream herb was so powerful that her consciousness was hazy. Valentina barely drove away the drowsiness through the pain of biting the flesh inside her mouth.

And she moved Rose, who was sitting on her shoulder, to the windowsill and whispered softly.

“You stay here, Rose.”

She didn’t want to show Rose what would happen inside this room. After forcibly removing Rose, who was squeaking in protest, Valentina entered the Duke’s bedroom.

Relying on the moonlight to approach the bed, Duke Dantal was sleeping deeply, intoxicated by the sleep incense and unaware that someone had entered.

Valentina stared blankly at that peaceful face, then took out what she had prepared.

The blade of the small but sharp dagger glinted ominously in the darkness.

She gripped the dagger’s handle and held it straight so the blade pointed toward the Duke’s heart.

This opportunity would never come again.

The security of the Capital Dantal Estate, more lax than the southern Rose Castle.

The Duke who had let his guard down, and the dreamgrass she had secretly gathered in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.

Finally, the wall-embedded flues and ventilation shafts that connected throughout the manor, allowing the smoke of dreamgrass with its powerful sleep-inducing effects to spread.

All those conditions had aligned together with astonishing perfection.

And so now, Valentina had obtained a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to kill the Duke.

“There are plenty of reasons to kill him.”

Valentina whispered as if speaking to herself.

If she didn’t kill this man, she would die.

She hated this man enough to want to kill him.

Having made her decision, Valentina raised the dagger high.

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