The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 14

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Chapter 14

Translator: Yonnee

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“He mentioned a soulbond, or something…”

Richt’s explanation about imprinting suddenly came to mind.

“If it affects the mind, it should be similar to magic.”

If that were the case, ordinary methods wouldn’t be able to break the imprint.

The only skill she had was magical manufacturing, but it wouldn’t work on the imprint.

“Maybe…?”

Her eyes widened as if a cloud had lifted, bringing sudden clarity.

Like someone possessed, Luciana headed straight to the lab. Turning the doorknob, she entered and was greeted by the familiar interior.

Though it lacked any decorations and seemed a bit plain for a noble lady’s room, the bookshelves lining the walls and the subtle scent of herbs made it feel cozy.

The idea that had flashed through her mind was this: create a potion to nullify the imprint using her skills.

‘It’s what I do best.’

Swallowing dryly, she recalled the one talent she could boast about.

After deciding not to live according to the original story, she had pursued a different life—one that included studying magical manufacturing.

She had been fascinated by combining various ingredients, like something out of a fantasy game, and had proudly earned a degree from the academy.

This was an unusual choice for a noble lady without rights of succession or intentions of entering society. Such young ladies usually focused on the marriage market early to find suitable husbands.

“If I look at it optimistically, it might be possible.”

Even if the chances were slim, she had to try if there was any possibility.

One fortunate thing was that Luciana had a natural talent for magical manufacturing.

“…I know. It’s such a vague issue that it might be too much for a newbie who just graduated from the academy to handle, but.”

Richt had threatened her to keep his identity a secret. He’s just so intimidating.

She couldn’t just blabber about a secret that would undoubtedly cause a stir if it got out.

Of course, the ducal household, firmly entrenched in noble society, wouldn’t easily see their power shaken, but given the nature of the imprint, which could easily be used as a weakness, it wasn’t easy to entrust this matter to external institutions.

“I need to do something, anything, even if it’s grasping at straws. And the male lead knows the most about the imprint, so if we work together, it should be okay, right?”

When they meet on the balcony later, she must not forget to discuss this.

For now, with no sharp solutions in sight, she had no choice but to wait patiently until it was time to go to the imperial palace.

There was still time before then… should she sit and go through some books?

Trying to do something from a state of nothingness would be futile. But Luciana felt that if she didn’t do something, she wouldn’t be able to feel at ease.

So, she sat down and turned the pages of her books for a long time.

* * *

The office, so quiet it was almost desolate, felt dark even though it was still afternoon and the sun hadn’t set.

“……”

Richt sat alone in the heavy silence, his beautiful face deeply furrowed in thought.

‘Did I lose consciousness?’

His tightly set lips were firmly sealed.

Richt revisited every detail of his conversation with Luciana that morning, determined to dissect it. However, no matter how much he doubted and argued, he couldn’t deny the fact that he had spent the night with a woman while in a drunken stupor.

For someone like him, who usually exercised extreme self-control, yesterday’s lapse was incomprehensible and impossible to accept.

‘There must be some other underlying cause.’

The higher one’s position, the more enemies one had.

‘Whoever that damned rat is…’

His red eyes narrowed thinly, like a snake’s tongue, filled with malicious intent.

‘Luciana Leslie. So that woman is innocent after all.’

The earnest voice that had repeatedly professed her innocence and the clear eyes that had vehemently rejected any association with him carried no hint of deceit, forcing Richt to dispel his distrust.

“Im, imprint? What?”
“What, why… why won’t it come off?”

He recalled Luciana’s shocked face when she heard the word “imprint” and her futile attempts to rub off the mark on her wrist until her skin was completely red.

“…Damn it.”