Chapter 32

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Villainess Imprinted with the Male Lead Chapter 39

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She froze.

"What? Who came to the Spring Festival?"

Her head turned to the left, following their gazes.

"!"

Finding him amid the bustling crowd wasn't difficult at all. His striking height and appearance stood out even among the most eccentric people.

Luciana let out an involuntary sigh upon spotting Richt.

She'd always known he was strikingly handsome. Still, seeing him so meticulously dressed up—like he was gunning for the goddess of spring herself—left her mouth agape.

'No wonder the original story hyped him as top-tier handsome.'

There was a strangely seductive glint in his eyes as he adjusted his gloves and scanned the surroundings.

She couldn't help wondering why he'd gone to such lengths, but her heart was brutally honest.

'...He really is gorgeous.'

Could her heart ever have pounded this hard just from looking at someone's face before?

Luciana tried to mock herself for the sheer absurdity of it, turning her gaze away.

'Huh? Who's that...?'

Then she naturally spotted Richt's partner and widened her eyes.

It was an unexpected face.

A tall woman with straight silver hair framing her jawline and pale green eyes. Luciana had never seen her in high society before, yet she felt oddly familiar.

'Wasn't she the vice-captain of the Karanta Knights? She appeared briefly in the original story.'

Her name was Even, if memory served.

'Yeah, that's right. Loyal to a fault and obsessed with her sword.'

So... she really couldn't show up with the heroine like in the original.

As Luciana reminded herself of her altered reality, another question bubbled up.

Because of the imprint, things had gone off the rails. Until he and the duke returned to their innocent pre-relationship days, the protagonists' romance was dead in the water.

'Then why on earth would the male lead bother coming to the Spring Festival?'

This had actually nagged at her ever since he'd asked her to be his partner.

In the original story, he'd brushed off even the flashiest invitations with disinterest. The only reason he'd attended the Spring Festival was Deborah's sweet pleading to be her partner.

But their one-night mistake had blocked the protagonists' romance, and Richt's heart—supposed to fall for Deborah by now—was unchanged from the start.

'So what's the reason for dragging a different partner all the way here? The Spring Festival was something the male lead despised in the original.'

Digging into why Richt had come only led her deeper into confusion.

Come to think of it, he'd seemed rattled ever since she'd rejected his partner request.

'What's his deal? Something tells me I shouldn't pry any further...'

As Luciana hesitated on instinct,

Tap tap.

"...Sis?"

"Huh?"

Louis, who had been quietly by her side, suddenly nudged her lightly with his elbow.

'If you're gonna call me, at least say something. Is this another one of his lame pranks?'

Luciana shot a sideways glare at Louis, who had called her over yet stared awkwardly ahead, then absentmindedly looked straight forward.

"?!"

No way—the male lead was heading... right... this way?

It was unmistakable. The man approaching her was Richt.

'Why is he coming straight here? He wouldn't try to act like he knows me, right? More importantly... he looks seriously pissed...'

For a split second, Luciana wondered if she'd done something unforgivable to him.

Richt rarely showed his emotions unless something major happened. His tightly pressed lips and hardened gaze made it clear he was in a foul mood.

'Sh-should I pretend I don't see him and slip away now?'

But against her wishes, the crowd parted like the Red Sea with every step he took, creating a clear path straight to her.

"... "

And Richt's steps halted right in front of her, without a single inch of error.

Gulp.

The sound of someone swallowing was stark in the sudden silence.

Luciana wanted to ask Even, standing beside him, what the hell was going on with their duke. But seeing Even's equally flustered face, it seemed this was Richt's solo act.

"A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I am Luciana Leslie, daughter of Marquis Leslie."

"Louis Dalton, second son of the Dalton Count family. It's... an honor to meet you."

Whatever the case, to onlookers, it looked like Duke Cassio had taken an interest in nobodies like them and approached.

By high society rules, when someone of higher status initiates conversation with inferiors, it implied a significant offer to connect.

'If I get tangled with the male lead even a little, I'm done for.'

Already burdened by dozens of probing stares, Luciana kept her eyes down, avoiding his gaze as much as possible.

"...Richt Cassio."

He seemed annoyed by her standoffishness at first, then belatedly realized they were technically strangers in public and played along formally.

'Didn't we agree not to act like we know each other in public? So why does he keep staring...!'

Why bother walking over here if he was just going to treat her like a scarecrow?

'Is he pressuring me to focus on research and get results fast so the imprint doesn't leak?'

Either way, it felt like he'd shown up at the Spring Festival just to torment her maliciously.

As Luciana racked her brain on how to navigate this mess, Richt's sharp gaze suddenly turned to Louis.

"The Dalton Count family?"

"Yes? Yes, Your Grace. Louis here."

"...?"

What? Suddenly interested in Louis...?

Luciana wasn't the only one caught off guard; Louis nodded blankly with a dumbfounded look.

'I thought he was staring right through Sis with some interest. Guess I was wrong?'

Why would a duke bother with me?

Unlike his eldest brother, Louis wasn't the heir, and aside from being good with numbers, he had no standout talents.

"Dalton—that's the territory in the southeast, right?"

"...Yes. The silk from our lands fetches high prices for its quality."

"You must excel in textiles."

"That's right."

An awkward, forced smile wouldn't leave Louis's face.

'This is awkward.'

He wanted to bolt, duke or no duke, but thinking of the potential family gains from any connection, he had to keep talking.

'Or does he have some grudge against me? He seems friendly enough in conversation, but his face looks ready to throw a punch.'

He hoped it was just a misunderstanding, but that glint in his eyes said otherwise.

Those sinister red eyes scanned him silently, like a beast sizing up prey.

At that moment.

"Thank you for saying so."

"...Sis?"

Luciana, who had been quietly listening, suddenly cut in.

She was stepping up to rescue her cousin, who had instantly become Richt's prey.

"The Dalton Count family is my father's family too, after all."

"What did you just...?"

Was the lady of House Leslie from the Dalton Count family?

"Pardon? Oh, Louis is my cousin."

"...!"

Luciana found Richt's shock baffling but answered steadily.

He really seemed clueless—or perhaps the revelation hit like a bombshell.

Richt's eyes widened belatedly upon learning the truth.

"I see..."

Cousins. His tension deflated the moment she said it like it was set in stone.

"Ha."

How much had he agonized over this veiled mystery of a partner?

He'd worried she might fall for the infamous playboy of high society, or worse, that they might make eyes at each other, tormenting him with every stray thought.

That's why his expression had been so rigid until now.

Louis wasn't on Richt's list of potential partner candidates, but he cut a rather flashy figure.

And he seemed awfully close to Luciana too. How could he not feel urgent?

'So that's what it was. All of it.'