The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Translator: Yonnee
—
‘I haven’t even finished making the suppressant potion.’
By the time she learned about the mating season, winter had already set in. The time had been too short to complete the potion, and the attempt had ended in failure.
‘There was information about this in the documents Richt sent…’
Luciana recalled the contents with a dark expression.
Imperial Year XXXX, Month XX, Day XX
This year, His Grace’s rut came earlier than the previous year. (Further research on the timing seems necessary.) The problem was that due to an unprecedented blizzard, the Madam’s return to the estate was delayed by at least five days after her visit to the capital.
His Grace’s condition worsened with each passing day, and everyone was working day and night to find a solution. We burned sleep-inducing incense in his bedroom to calm him temporarily, but as soon as he regained consciousness, he was consumed by intense urges once again.
After 24 hours, he developed a high fever, and after 72 hours, he began destroying nearby objects and repeatedly attempted to leave his quarters, forcing us to render him unconscious. His heart rate was irregular, and we feared for his life […]
Reading it again only heightened Luciana’s anxiety. The symptoms the previous duke experienced were even more severe than what Richt had described—if anything, they were worse.
‘I had no idea that dragging this out could endanger his life.’
If any harm came to Richt due to her inaction, it would be something she could never allow to happen.
Moreover, the information on the back of the document suggested that the longer the s*xual impulses lasted, the longer the rut would continue.
The previous duke, whose rut usually ended after a single day, had taken a full week of isolation in his bedroom to recover.
“Ugh!”
At that moment, Luciana let out a short groan. While lost in her thoughts, a sudden pain flared in her wrist.
“The mark…”
It felt like sharp needles were pricking her skin, an unpleasant sensation covering the area.
‘Is it because of the mating season?’
Although the research journal hadn’t mentioned anything about this, Luciana was almost certain. There was no other reason for the mark to suddenly hurt like this.
‘Could I be affected too? If this keeps up, the pain will only worsen.’
For now, it was bearable, but as time passed, the burning sensation began to intensify.
Bzzz… bzzz.
The signal was still active, and her mouth felt dry, as though it had been scorched.
There was no other path left for her. All she needed to do was infuse the artifact with a small amount of mana.
And yet, it was as if something was holding her down, preventing her from moving even a finger.
Luciana stared at the magical device with trembling eyes, like a flickering candle on the verge of going out.
* * *
“Agh… ugh…”
In the darkness of his bedroom.
“Haa…!”
Richt, who had gone to bed unusually early, suddenly woke up, feeling a strange, unfamiliar sensation wash over his entire body.
He clutched his chest, gasping for breath as if enduring intense pain.
He looked around in a panic, as though something important had been snatched away from right under his nose.
His desperate hands wandered aimlessly over the cold, empty space beside him, searching for warmth that wasn’t there.
“…Luciana.”
Damn it.
The moment he muttered her name in a deep, husky voice, Richt realized the situation he had dreaded had finally arrived. He grabbed the artifact from his bedside table.
He wouldn’t be lying if he said he hesitated before infusing the dormant magical device with mana.
But his instincts, which craved the embrace of his mate, crushed any other thoughts.
Breathing heavily, Richt waited for Luciana to respond to the signal and come to his bedroom.
Images of her long, fragrant hair, her soft, delicate skin filled his mind, refusing to leave.
This was his first time experiencing the mating season. Witnessing himself crumble, like sand slipping through his fingers, Richt gritted his teeth in frustration.
‘Has it been nearly two weeks since the ball?’
The only thing he’d shared with his mate during that time had been lifeless sheets of paper, devoid of any warmth. He had been suppressing his instincts for a considerable amount of time.
Maybe that was why he felt such an overwhelming desire to see her now, to the point that he could barely stand it.
It wasn’t just about wanting to spend the night together—he wanted to feel her presence completely, to share something deeper with her.
Want to read more? Advanced chapters are available on Patreon! (for selected novels only)
≪ Discord ≫
≪ Novel Updates ≫