Chapter 38

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Villainess Imprinted with the Male Lead Chapter 44

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I wonder if Luciana was truly pleased with the gift that bastard handed her.

'...More than mine?'

The fact that something snatched from him by the skin of his teeth had been used to win her favor made his guts twist even more. Seeing that man flash his white teeth in smug satisfaction was utterly infuriating.

"I went all out preparing it just for the lady, you know."

'What a joke. Bracing himself to buy something like that.'

Every time he strutted around like he'd bestowed some grand treasure, Richt's knuckles clenched so hard they ached. He wanted nothing more than to charge over and hurl that scheming body into oblivion.

'But if I did that...'

He'd already made several blunders today.

Each time, that face asking, "Forgot our promise?"

"..."

If he repeated the same mistake now, he'd face her sharp glare for sure.

'I have to pretend I didn't see it and turn away.'

Imagining those chick-like eyes filled with disappointment in him slowly brought his senses back to reality.

It was just hard to suppress the instincts surging up in an instant, but he was aware of his situation.

So he tried to force his heavy feet to turn away.

"!"

But when a hand full of ulterior motives slithered like a snake toward Luciana's waist, the rationality he'd barely held onto evaporated in a flash.

'That bastard.'

His eyes chilled like a cold breeze, freezing over in an instant.

As the fingertips traced along her waistline, Luciana's face stiffened.

The moment he caught a glimpse of the faint fear in her expression, even if only for a split second, a fierce rage boiled up.

And so Richt charged forward without a second thought, striking the nape with the edge of his hand.

Not enough to make him foam at the mouth, but packing as much force as possible—quick and precise.

Thud.

In the end, Dmitri toppled over spectacularly, and the price of delivering justice followed right after.

"Wha—why is Duke Cassio...?"

"Isn't that Lady Leslie?"

"Who's the guy on the ground?"

A man collapsed on the grass, a woman pale as a sheet, and Duke Cassio huffing like he was furious.

A vague picture formed in the nobles' minds as they stared at the three, and suspicion quickly took root.

Whispers endlessly swirled around the two men vying for one woman.

Duke Cassio, Lady Leslie, interest, love triangle, and so on. Only after hearing the endless speculation about him and her did Richt snap back to his senses.

'Damn it.'

He hadn't met Luciana's eyes yet, but even without checking her demeanor, he could guess the expression she wore.

"Wh-what's going on here!"

To make matters worse, three or four guards who noticed the commotion came rushing over and stood before them.

Since he'd caused the incident, cleaning it up was his responsibility too. Richt spoke up to the knights of his own accord.

"...Some guy was bothering someone who clearly didn't want it."

"Bothering, you say...?"

As the guards' eyes turned in unison to Luciana standing behind him, Richt reflexively stepped in front to block their view.

"Do I need to spell it out?"

"N-no, sir!"

The knights, disciplined by his icy tone, hurriedly checked the unconscious young noble's face.

"He's... completely out cold."

Even shaking him hard didn't bring him around.

"I used just the right amount of force, so no threat to his life."

"I-is that so."

For something like that, his nape was awfully red...

'As long as no bruise forms, it'll be fine.'

That was when they gazed at the utterly motionless Dmitri with pitying eyes.

"What's all this commotion?"

"We greet Your Highness the Second Princess!"

Unnecessary drama at the event she'd prepared herself. The princess, who had come in person upon hearing the news, wore a sour expression.

"Well, you see..."

The knights who'd jumped to their feet hurriedly reported what they'd heard.

"...An uneducated fly buzzing around high society. And daring to do it at my party, no less."

Calling trash like that a noble of this land. The princess looked down at the fainted Dmitri with disdain before turning to Luciana.

"Lady. Is everything I heard true?"

"...Yes, Your Highness."

Luciana hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose quiet affirmation.

It hadn't been serious enough to warrant knocking him out cold, but she had indeed felt discomfort and a slight fear in the process.

"He tried to force himself on me as a dance partner..."

As she added details to help them understand, she glanced sideways at Richt standing beside her.

She'd tried to fend off Dmitri on her own. She hadn't dreamed Richt would intervene.

"So Duke Cassio stepped in to help?"

"How surprising. He seems like the type who wouldn't blink if someone died..."

The nobles, who'd been watching with keen interest, began murmuring among themselves again, eyes on Luciana and Richt.

And as if fate were toying with her further.

"Ah..."

Unfortunately, Deborah was right there in the middle of it too.

As everyone buzzed that the duke had stepped up for Luciana, Deborah blinked rapidly, unsure how to react.

'Of all people, Deborah too...!'

Spotting the blonde belatedly, Luciana's eyes darted around in distress.

She just hoped Deborah wouldn't take this seriously. What if this caused more issues with the original story?

'C-calm down. It's fine. This is just a minor commotion.'

In the storm-before-the-calm atmosphere, all that supported her was her own fragile, constant self-reassurance.

"The duke stepping in is unexpected."

"..."

Like the others, the Second Princess alternated glances between Luciana and Richt before probing him.

'Hmm. Fresh gossip.'

With Duke Cassio involved, it piqued her interest regardless of the truth.

But the princess, eyes narrowed like a cat spotting prey, shrugged in a way that didn't suit her and doused her budding curiosity.

"Never mind. No point grilling you—it'd just trouble the lady."

It was a dance request, sure, but what happened was obvious. He'd probably groped her with his filthy hands and pulled some low-class prank.

'Does he think this is some nighttime revelry? Can't even pick the time and place.'

Even she, who loved juicy rumors, had her limits. Better to quash commotions that could turn into sordid scandals quickly.

Unlike subtle gossip lovers, the lady before her looked like even this much attention was overwhelming.

The princess patted Luciana's clearly troubled shoulder reassuringly and guided her back to her seat.

"As host, let me apologize on behalf of that rude fool."

"No need, Your Highness. Please don't trouble yourself."

"Well... if the lady says so, I'm grateful."

The princess withdrew her gaze from Luciana's rote response and addressed everyone.

"Now, everyone, let's head to the center. The highlight of the evening is upon us."

"Oh, they're about to announce this year's most beautiful lady."

"Selena took it last year. Wonder who it'll be this time."

The Second Princess smoothly restored order, gathering the scattered nobles.

Luciana sneaked a glance at Richt without drawing notice. She wanted to chew him out horns-out furious, but the bustling crowd forced her to play ignorant.

"Huff, huff... Sis, you okay?"

"Ah, Louis."

He looked unusually disheveled, as if he'd run over in a hurry.

"That... sorry."

"It's not your fault."

Hearing the news late, Louis rushed over, rubbing the back of his neck and apologizing nonstop.

Some scum had been rude to her. If he'd been by her side, this wouldn't have happened.

Feeling guilty too, Louis only watched her expression.

"Still..."

"Enough. Let's go. The finale's about to start."

"What? But..."

Shouldn't they at least greet the duke properly?

Louis's eyes flicked toward Richt.

But Luciana's grip tugging his arm was firm, leaving him no choice but to follow with a uneasy look.