Chapter 25

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Villainess Imprinted with the Male Lead 32

-----------------------------------------------------------------

“Pushing you aside... it wasn’t on purpose.”

“……”

“I apologize for what I said back then, too. I was rude.”

“No, I mean...”

Why is he suddenly acting like this?

Luciana swallowed a sharp breath as she watched the duke slump like a rain-soaked beast in an instant.

A heavy silence descended at the same time.

In the awkward atmosphere, Luciana, who had calmed down along with it, bowed her head deeply toward the cream-colored case extended toward her.

She was a reader who had faithfully finished the original story. She knew full well that the male lead’s personality was far from gentle.

But knowing it in her head didn’t mean her heart wasn’t hurt.

Now, some time later, she had mostly gotten over it, but it would be a lie to say his actions hadn’t wounded her.

“You’re right. You were wrong, Your Grace.”

“……!”

Richt froze at the calm voice admitting it so matter-of-factly.

It was as flat as discussing yesterday’s weather, yet a faint trace of hurt lingered beneath it.

In that moment, he felt cornered on the edge of a cliff.

Even Luciana’s darkened, sunken gaze felt entirely his fault.

“……I’m sorry.”

“……!”

What did he just say...?

Luciana stared at the duke in disbelief.

She had never expected an apology from the male lead. Not with their difference in status, and from the original story alone, she was nothing to Richt.

‘But why...’

It was a clumsy voice, but one filled with sincerity.

It didn’t seem like mere words to ease his own guilt.

Besides, what occasion would an imperial duke ever have to seek forgiveness from anyone?

The fact that Richt was the one approaching first and bowing his head wrapped Luciana in a strange sensation every time she recalled it.

“You didn’t do it on purpose.”

Luciana looked at Richt sitting across from her and asked.

“……Then why did you do it?”

It was closer to simple curiosity than resentment. If it wasn’t intentional harm, then there must have been some reason of his own.

“That’s……”

Richt seemed about to open his mouth with difficulty, then closed it again.

‘Damn it.’

The moment he recalled it, his limbs went cold as if he were a corpse.

Thump. Thump.

A desperate heartbeat, like someone had ripped out his heart and pressed it to his ear, overwhelmed his entire body.

‘Huh...? His face suddenly looks...’

Luciana spotted Richt’s paling complexion and stiffened her own expression in response.

His eyes looked anxious, as if seized by something.

She had met him face-to-face periodically until now, but this was the first time she’d seen him go so pale.

His red eyes kept avoiding hers, wavering, which had been nagging at her since earlier.

“Your Grace...? Eek!”

Startled as well, Luciana instinctively leaned toward him, but the duke abruptly stood from his seat, breaking the flow.

‘That scared me.’

Luciana patted her chest and glanced at the hand gripping the table as she rose.

‘……It’s something he can’t talk about, then.’

She hadn’t examined his face closely, but between his rare agitation and her intuition, Richt didn’t seem likely to explain in detail.

“……You don’t have to force yourself to tell me. I’m fine now. It’s all in the past.”

“……”

If that was Richt’s will, then so be it.

Luciana opted to gloss over it, tidying up the messy situation.

She hadn’t asked out of a true desire for an apology anyway, so she had no intention of pressing further.

“……Take the Lunet, Lady. It’s my way of making amends.”

“Ah……”

Richt pushed the gem toward Luciana with a stubborn attitude, as if refusing any more refusals.

‘It feels too extravagant for just an apology gift.’

Luciana wondered if she could really accept it and glanced at Richt’s face.

Unfortunately, the duke seemed determined not to relax until he placed the Lunet in her hands, refusing to even look at it.

‘He doesn’t look like he’ll take it back, so no choice. I’ll tuck it away somewhere out of sight.’

In the end, Luciana gave in to his stubbornness and took the cream-colored case along with the artifact.

“Then, I’ll see you next time.”

“……Yeah.”

Why had the male lead suddenly reacted like that?

A small question lingered in a corner of her mind, but Luciana pushed her curiosity aside and returned to the mansion for now.

“Hah, huff.”

In the dead of night, where the damp, fishy winter stench assaulted his nose.

A man in a sweat-soaked hood gasped for breath up to his jawline as he fled.

‘He must’ve realized I lost the mark.’

In truth, he was as good as dead the moment he fled, but the man couldn’t stop his running feet.

“Damn it! The path...!”

Seeing the blocked wall, the man’s face twisted in terror and despair.

‘No way. If I linger here, that guy will definitely...!’

Shing—!

“Argh!”

“You hid well all this time.”

A dagger flew from behind in an instant, embedding in the man’s calf.

Ignoring his agonized writhing, the suspicious group narrowed the distance step by step.

“Like a rat... If you failed the mission, you die. Got it?”

“……!”

Wasn’t it about exposing the organization’s mark?

The man, clutching his leg and rolling, froze at the unexpected words from his superior.

“What are you talking about? I did exactly as ordered! Right in the duke’s cup... Krrgh!”

“Shut up. Who told you to speak?”

The apparent leader of the group jammed his boot heel into the man’s mouth.

“Your mission failed. We ended up letting the duke slip away.”

“Ugh, mmph...!”

Why was that his fault? Why pay for the mistake with an innocent life? The man trembled at what felt no different from venting frustration.

Bloodshot tears of injustice streamed from his eyes.

Swish.

With a tongue-click, the boot lifted from his mouth, and at the nod from his once-master, two waiting organization members approached with blades drawn.

Stab!

The sound of flesh pierced rang out twice.

Soon, the large body collapsed limply onto the cold ground.

“Hm. Clean kill.”

As if that wrapped up loose ends.

“Leave the body. The guards will handle it.”

No trace of regret colored the dry command.

‘Annoying. Guess I’ll have to set up the board again soon.’

With those words, they vanished into the darkness.

After deciding to meet in Richt’s bedroom instead of the bothersome Lordwell Street No. 128, Luciana spent a couple of brief moments with the duke.

“You’re here.”

“Should I sit here again today?”

Was it because she’d been coming and going a few times? Luciana moved through Richt’s bedroom quite naturally now.

‘Even with a shawl on... doesn’t this woman know shame?’

He was very conscious of Luciana wandering about in her thin chemise, but he didn’t show it and headed to the table.

“Oh, I have some good news.”

“What is it?”

Richt focused intently at the first upbeat news he’d heard.

“A few days ago, I finalized the base combination. It looks like we can finally move to the next stage...”

Luciana handed Richt a memo, and he silently scanned the list.

“It’s different from the materials I requested before.”

And why were there so many detailed notes for each item?

Richt raised an eyebrow at the fine print annotations.

“Some are tricky to store, so if you prepare them exactly as I noted, it should be fine. There are quite a few, though...”

“Doesn’t matter. My aide’s handling the prep anyway.”

“Ah...”

In other words, he was just footing the bill.

‘Well, money talks.’

Whatever the case, research wouldn’t be possible without Richt.

Luciana nodded quietly and looked at him to wrap up today’s final business.