Chapter 2

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Villainess Imprinted with the Male Lead 11

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“By any chance, when exactly was the research discontinued?”

“......At least 150 years have passed, I believe.”

“......!”

It might seem like the relatively recent past from a broad perspective, but 150 years was no small number.

‘But things have changed a lot since then.’

The Empire’s magical scholarship had advanced at a rapid pace, reaching a level far beyond what it had been in the past.

With that in mind, if she used the research journals stored in the Duke’s household as a guide, wouldn’t there be at least some possibility?

‘No matter what, it’s better than charging headfirst into this alone with nothing to go on.’

She couldn’t just sit idly by because the outcome was uncertain. The Duke was in the same boat, with no clever solutions of his own.

Luciana was confident that while Richt might not immediately embrace her proposal, he wouldn’t outright reject it either. After all, he wanted to deny the Imprint more than anyone.

“......”

She recalled the faint red eyes that had gazed at her as she woke that morning, finding him lying beside her.

The lingering afterimage in a corner of her heart: Richt’s dazed stare.

The ownerless guilt and faint fear she’d felt upon seeing those eyes, which summed up his devastated emotions in a single glance.

“Your Grace.”

Richt’s gaze turned to her at Luciana’s call, his transparent eyes gleaming with resolve.

“It might be overstepping, but about that research you said was discontinued... Could I take it up?”

“......You mean you, my lady?”

Doubt colored his questioning voice.

As expected, Richt didn’t accept Luciana’s proposal right away.

‘The male lead doesn’t know I’m an expert in this field.’

To earn his trust, she gave a brief rundown of her credentials and her plans going forward.

“......”

She’d graduated from Silor Academy.

Richt listened silently, then regarded her with an expressionless face.

Holding a degree meant she was qualified to work as a magical artisan right away. Her claim of trying to erase the Imprint through magic aligned with the direction of past research as well.

“Even with generations of capable people pooling their efforts, it all ended in failure. I can’t imagine you succeeding alone.”

Still, Richt remained skeptical. He didn’t distrust her skills outright, but he wasn’t ready to wholeheartedly approve either.

“But scholarship has advanced tremendously in the 150 years since then.”

“......”

It was a fact, so he didn’t deny it.

“As Your Grace says, I’d be woefully inadequate on my own, but with the research journals at hand...”

“Are you saying you want access to documents that are practically the family’s deepest secrets?”

“......Yes, that’s right.”

Even under his pressing tone, Luciana didn’t back down.

Since she wouldn’t yield, Richt fell deep into thought.

‘There’s a nondisclosure agreement, so no worries about leaks.’

Besides, at this point, retrying the research was the only viable option they had.

Objectively speaking, Luciana’s suggestion was the most realistic and promising path. It might even succeed, potentially returning things to the pre-Imprint state.

‘This is the best course.’

The longer the silence stretched, the more Richt leaned toward accepting her idea.

“......Very well. We’ll do it that way.”

“Really?”

If they could just break the Imprint, what couldn’t they do? Rather than wallowing in pessimism, Richt decided to focus on the possibilities.

“I’ll have the relevant materials gathered and sent to you as requested. For that, we’ll need a way to stay in touch...”

As if shedding his earlier reluctance, he moved things along briskly, then paused to choose his words.

Meeting via large social gatherings like this worked once or twice, but long-term, it was far too inefficient.

After a moment’s consideration, he proposed a solid solution.

“I own a building on Lordwell Street No. 128. It seems perfect for exchanging letters.”

“Lordwell...”

It wasn’t a bustling commercial district year-round, but a quiet spot on the capital’s outskirts with little foot traffic. Richt said he’d have someone deliver the items there in two days.

‘I can have Mary run the errands. I’ll need to come up with a plausible excuse.’

Luciana agreed to his plan and decided they’d communicate the same way in the future if needed.

“While you’re working on solutions, let me know if you need help procuring materials or anything external. I’ll provide whatever support is required.”

“Ah... Thank you so much.”

She hadn’t expected help to this extent. Surprised by his unexpected kindness, Luciana smiled awkwardly.

He must be this accommodating despite having little reason to trust her because he was just as desperate to remove the Imprint.

‘Since no one’s stationed at the meeting spot, replies will take time. He said once a week...’

Still, the conversation had gone well. That was a relief.

Luciana memorized the address Richt gave her, then looked at the Duke standing beside her.

“Let’s be careful until we can fully sever the Imprint.”

“Music to my ears.”

She absolutely did not want people—especially the female lead—to find out she’d Imprinted with the male lead.

‘I wasn’t worried he’d go blabbing about it anyway, but better safe than sorry.’

Was that all the business they had?

They’d signed the nondisclosure agreement and discussed solutions. Their affairs were more or less settled.

“Then, if there’s nothing else...?”

“......!”

Oblivious to the storm brewing right in front of her, Luciana asked innocently. Richt bit his lip—uncharacteristically—and glared at the innocent garden.

‘What’s with him now?’

Luciana shot him a puzzled glance.

‘......Damn it.’

Feeling her odd stare, Richt muttered yet another curse under his breath.

Rut. The stark word stuck in his throat like glue.

“Your Grace...?”

“......There’s something I didn’t mention this morning.”

Only after she asked again did he finally part his lips.

‘He forgot something? Then why does this feel so ominous...?’

She clutched her fan against the strange sensation creeping over her entire body, hoping it was just her imagination, like a passing breeze.

“In cases of Imprinting, the werewolf instincts take hold, bringing on a rut every winter.”

“Pardon? R-Rut...?”

Without thinking, Luciana recalled a famous documentary from her past life.

Animals fervently engaging in noble mating rituals each season for the propagation of their species.

‘No way... He’s saying I have to go through that... with him?’

No... right? Yeah?

She desperately hoped it was all her unfounded delusion.

Luciana looked up at Richt with pleading eyes, but the Duke offered her something without giving her time to compose herself.

“Take this.”

Her bewildered gaze fixed on a bracelet adorned with beads resembling amber.

“This is...?”

Not ordinary gems—those were mana stones.

It looked like a common accessory at a glance, but Luciana, well-versed in magic, instantly recognized it as a Magic Artifact.

“Try injecting mana into it.”

“L-Like this...?”

Gauging the amount, Luciana channeled in the equivalent of what she’d use to brew a small potion.

Flash!

The mana stone on the bracelet lit up, then quickly went dormant as if nothing had happened.

“We don’t know the exact timing, but soon enough, the mana stone will glow.”

Confirming the artifact had properly recognized its owner, Richt finally met Luciana’s eyes.

Why was this?

Seeing her frozen stiff, clutching the artifact, twisted something in his chest.

He couldn’t bear to look into those eyes right now, so Richt turned his gaze back to the chilly outdoors.

“......That means I’m summoning you—the rut has begun.”

“!”

“Use the Magic Artifact to come straight to my bedroom. Do it just like you did, and the spell will activate automatically.”