The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Translator: Yonnee
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“Rodwell…?”
It wasn’t a bustling commercial district but rather a quiet area on the outskirts of the capital. Richt said he would have someone bring the materials there in two days.
‘I’ll have Mary run the errands for me. But I’ll have to come up with a good excuse, though.’
Luciana decided to follow Richt’s suggestion and agreed to communicate through similar methods when necessary in the future.
“If you need any assistance with obtaining materials or external resources while you’re exploring solutions, I’ll provide whatever support you require.”
“Oh… thank you so much.”
She hadn’t expected such help. Surprised by his unexpected kindness, Luciana awkwardly smiled. The fact that he was willing to go to such lengths despite not fully trusting her likely meant that Richt was desperate to break the imprint as well.
‘Since there won’t be anyone stationed at the meeting place, it might take a little while to receive a reply. He said he’d send someone every week…’
In any case, she was glad their conversation had gone smoothly.
Luciana memorized the address Richt had given her, then looked at the duke standing beside her.
“Let’s just lay low until the imprint has been completely severed.”
“Good. We’re on the same page.”
The last thing she wanted was for people, especially the female lead, to find out about her imprint with the male lead.
‘I never planned to go around broadcasting it, but it’s better to be safe.’
Was there anything else that needed to be discussed?
They had signed the confidentiality contract and talked about a potential solution. It seemed like their business had come to an end.
“So, there’s nothing else you need to discuss, right?”
“……!”
Completely unaware of what was about to happen, Luciana asked innocently.
Richt, however, bit his lip—a rare gesture for him—and stared intently at the garden.
‘What’s with him now?’
Luciana glanced at Richt with a puzzled look.
‘…Damn it.’
Feeling Luciana’s curious gaze on him, Richt muttered yet another curse under his breath.
The first thing that came to mind was mating season.
That stark term made him feel like his mouth had been glued shut.
“Duke…?”
“There’s something I didn’t get a chance to tell you this morning.”
Only after Luciana asked again did Richt finally speak.
‘He forgot something? Then why does this feel so ominous?’
Luciana clutched her fan tightly as a strange feeling washed over her like a cold breeze.
“When wolves become imprinted, they experience mating season every winter with a heat or a rut.”
“Excuse me? M-Mating season…?”
Luciana involuntarily recalled a famous documentary she had once seen in her previous life.
Animals, driven by their instincts, engaging in noble acts of mating for the sake of species propagation during certain times of the year.
‘Wait, no way… does he mean that I have to spend it with him?’
No way… Right? Right?!
Desperately hoping she was misunderstanding, Luciana looked up at Richt with wide eyes, but without giving her time to process, the duke handed her something.
“Take this.”
Her bewildered eyes landed on a bracelet adorned with amber-like stones.
“This is…?”
It wasn’t an ordinary piece of jewelry. It was a mana stone.
While it looked like a simple accessory, Luciana, with her knowledge of magic, immediately recognized it as a magical artifact.
“Try infusing it with mana.”
“L-Like this…?”
Luciana measured the amount of mana and infused it with just enough power to create a small potion.
Pop!
The mana stone glowed momentarily before quickly fading back to its dormant state as if nothing had happened.
“I’m not sure when, but the mana stone will light up again in the near future.”
After confirming that the artifact had properly recognized its owner, Richt finally looked at Luciana.
But for some reason, seeing her frozen in place holding the artifact made his heart tighten strangely.
Feeling that he couldn’t look her in the eye, Richt turned his gaze back toward the chilly wind outside.
“…When that happens, it means I’m calling for you. And it also means my rut cycle has arrived.”
“!”
“When that happens, use the artifact to come to my bedroom immediately. The spell will activate on its own, just like you did earlier.”
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