The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Translator: Yonnee
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“……!”
‘What did I just think?’
Richt snapped back to his senses, abruptly aware of the unfiltered voice of his inner thoughts.
‘Damn. Why is my body acting on its own…?’
It felt as if he had lost control, possessed by some ghostly impulse. Though he had often struggled against his instincts, this was the first time his body had moved entirely on its own.
Richt exhaled anxiously, clearly unsettled.
Observing him closely, Crevian finally spoke up.
“Your Grace?”
“Ah.”
“Is there something you wanted to say to me?”
“Just… it’s been a while.”
“…Indeed. Not since His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration last year.”
As a high-ranking noble herself, Crevian had exchanged words with Richt on occasion, but their relationship was hardly personal.
‘Were the Duke and I ever on casual terms?’
The Richt he had seen at high society events was a man who shunned social interaction unless it was strictly business.
That the duke would initiate conversation without any pressing political or business matters to discuss seemed strange.
‘Something about the duke seems off today.’
His breathing was slightly irregular, and his gaze wandered awkwardly, as though he were concealing something.
“By the way, I thought I heard you say ‘Lu’ just now, Your Grace.”
“You must have misheard, Marquis.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, Marquis.”
That couldn’t be right. Crevian regarded Richt with suspicion, doubting the duke’s quick denial.
‘Had he mistaken me for Luciana?’
It wasn’t uncommon for nobles to mistake her and Luciana at a glance, particularly those not close to them. Initially, Crevian thought Richt had made a similar error.
‘Then again, this is Duke Cassio we’re talking about.’
Even among Crevian’s acquaintances, many mothers bemoaned their daughters’ unrequited affections for the duke, his cold attitude causing them endless heartache.
The notion that Richt would take an interest in Luciana seemed unlikely.
“…Perhaps I did mishear.”
Though she remained somewhat doubtful, Crevian decided to take a more practical view.
“If you’ll excuse me, I should be heading back home.”
“Of course, Marquis.”
With a slight bow, Crevian departed without hesitation.
“Why have you sought out Marquis Leslie all of a sudden, sir?”
“…It was nothing important.”
Logan was curious about Richt’s contradictory actions but, sensing the tension, wisely held his tongue.
“In any case, we should proceed to the audience chamber. If we delay any longer, we might be late.”
“Let’s go.”
Yet, as Richt hurried along, his expression remained tense, refusing to ease.
‘Did I really…’
Dreaming of Luciana and reacting to it had been one thing, but now, he had rushed toward someone merely for resembling her.
He felt an inner voice scolding him for his lack of composure, but the entire event had happened so quickly that he hadn’t been able to control himself.
Once bound, the soul’s love for their partner is no longer left to choice.
The bitter truth he had long avoided weighed heavily on his mind. The curse of the bond had already begun, and he knew he could not escape it.
He had poured his energy into resisting his base instincts, yet now Richt was forced to reflect on the subtle changes he could no longer ignore.
* * *
With his morning tasks completed, Richt enjoyed a quick lunch at a nearby restaurant before diving into his afternoon appointments.
By the time he had inspected a plot of land he had been eyeing and finalized the purchase contract, it was already past three in the afternoon.
“Is that everything for today?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Then let’s head back to the estate.”
“One moment, please. I’ll send for a carriage.”
Logan pulled a few coins from his pocket and approached a boy who lingered nearby, offering his services to nobles in need of quick errands.
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