The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 35

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Chapter 35

Translator: Yonnee

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“It’s just a joke, so don’t make that face. You’ve been busy studying.”

Lorrain lightly poked the space between Luciana’s brows, then gently cupped her somewhat weary-looking sister’s cheeks with a concerned expression.

“Are you overworking yourself?”

She didn’t look extremely exhausted, but the slight dark circles under her eyes and her dry skin suggested she hadn’t been sleeping well and had been too absorbed in her research.

“Working hard is good, but make sure to pace yourself.”

“Haha…”

It’s not like I can control that…

Luciana smiled awkwardly, hiding the truth she couldn’t speak about. Lorrain, with a knowing shrug, spoke kindly.

“Lucy, as always, I know you’ll do great.”

“…Brother.”

It was a simple statement, but knowing the sincerity behind it, she couldn’t help but feel her heart warm.

These were precious people she didn’t have in her previous life.

“Yes! I will!”

Those words, encouraging her to succeed, felt as though they were urging her to navigate the tangled fate of the original story. For the first time in a while, Luciana found herself smiling with renewed resolve.

“It’s about time for me to go.”

“Yes, it’s already that time.”

The marquis and her husband, who had been watching their two children with affection from afar, patted Lorrain on the shoulder, exchanging simple but heartfelt goodbyes.

“Take care of your health.”

“You too, Father. I’ll write once I arrive.”

After exchanging warm farewells with everyone, Lorrain patted Luciana’s head one last time before stepping into the carriage to depart.

“Hyah!”

With the crack of the coachman’s whip, the carriage smoothly rolled forward, soon disappearing beyond the gates of the estate.

‘By the time Brother returns, I’ll have broken the imprint and greet him with no worries.’

Luciana watched the carriage fade into the distance until it was no more than a small dot, firmly resolving in her heart.

* * *

“Hah…”

After completing four long hours of sword training from early in the morning, Richt leaned back in his bath, letting the water soak his body as he tilted his head.

It had been a long time since he had immersed himself so deeply in training, even skipping meals. As he finally allowed himself to rest, the fatigue hit him like a wave.

Richt had thrown himself into unscheduled training in an attempt to exhaust his body and drive away the distracting thoughts that kept creeping in, like overgrown branches.

“…The intervals are getting shorter.”

Though he didn’t want to admit it, it was the truth. More and more, his concentration broke as the image of her flashed in his mind.

With each passing day, he thought of her more often, and he was becoming slower at realizing it.

For Richt, who was approaching the mating season, these changes felt particularly unsettling.

As the winter’s chill intensified, he felt as though he were precariously holding on, like a sandcastle built too close to the shore.

He couldn’t shake the fear that he might suddenly collapse.

Every time he caught himself naturally thinking of his imprint partner, a deep sense of despair settled over him, like a traveler lost in the wilderness.

“…Come to think of it, Lik should be back at the estate by now.”

Had that woman brought any significant news?

Richt rose from the bath, dried himself off, and slipped into a robe before leaving the bathroom.

Now dressed more comfortably, the duke headed straight to his office.

As expected, a familiar box was sitting prominently on the table.

Richt took the key from his drawer and unlocked the box, pulling out a letter. For a fleeting moment, he imagined he could smell her faint scent on it, but he pushed that foolish thought aside as he broke the wax seal.

「 Greetings, Your Grace. This is Luciana Leslie.

As winter has truly begun, the weather has become much colder. I hope you’ve been doing well during this time. 」

Reading the polite greeting at the start of the letter, Richt unconsciously felt the corners of his lips twitch.

“…Damn it.”

Luckily, he quickly caught himself and managed to regain his composure, but the fact that he understood why he had reacted that way left him feeling irritated.

Smiling over such a perfunctory greeting, written purely out of politeness…

Ridiculous!