The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 56

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Chapter 56

Translator: Yonnee

—

Richt raised an eyebrow as he gazed at the shimmering runet.

‘If I go back empty-handed today, I’ll just repeat the same cycle again.’

His tired eyes, strained from an all-nighter, ached faintly.

‘I refuse to deal with sleepless nights any longer. Buying this is purely for that reason.’

Birthday or not, what annoyed him most was the trouble Luciana caused him. The sole reason he had returned to this shop was to silence the persistent voice of his instincts.

“I’ll send someone later to pay for the item and collect it.”

“Of course! Whatever suits your convenience!”

‘Damn it. What nonsense have I been up to since yesterday?’

Richt pulled his hood further down, wary of anyone recognizing him, and hurriedly left the shop.

* * *

“Miss, happy birthday!”

“Mary!”

Luciana warmly greeted Mary, who arrived early in the morning carrying a gift box.

“My goodness, you didn’t have to go to such trouble.”

“I’m your closest maid. This is the least I can do!”

Mary beamed, swiping her finger under her nose with pride.

“Thank you for the thoughtful gesture.”

“Hehe, you haven’t seen anything yet! There’s another gift for you, Miss!”

So early in the day—barely 7 a.m., and even before the party began?

‘Did Mother and Father prepare this?’

Soon, another box was delivered to Luciana.

She accepted a letter and a yellow-ribboned gift from Mary with a puzzled expression.

“Huh?”

‘This… is from my brother?’

Noticing the name signed at the bottom of the letter, Luciana’s eyes widened. Could it be that he timed it perfectly to arrive on her birthday?

Her bright eyes, filled with joy, carefully traced the handwritten words.

「 Dear Lucy,

Happy 21st birthday!

I wish I could say this to you in person, but unfortunately, I have to settle for a letter.

How have you been? I’ve been so busy that I barely notice how the days pass. But it’s not entirely bad—it reminds me of the old days. Perhaps it’s because I’ve returned to the estate after so long.

By the way, the manor hasn’t changed at all. The little rose garden you loved so much is still there. It’s winter now, so the flowers have withered, but every time I walk through it alone, I recall the times we strolled hand in hand. 」

The heartfelt letter, steeped in nostalgia, continued at length, awakening long-forgotten memories.

Reading the closing remarks, which wished for her health and happiness, Luciana bit back a sniffle and carefully untied the ribbon of the gift.

“A music box?”

“Oh my! It’s from the renowned Fayela Atelier!”

Mary let out a small gasp as she pointed to the engraved initials in the corner.

“Look! Doesn’t it remind you of someone, Miss?”

The music box featured a small girl hugging a teddy bear, spinning joyfully.

The girl, clad in a white dress with frilled sleeves, was as enchanting as the melody of the music box.

“Oh my! It looks like the Young Marquis commissioned this music box just for you!”

“What? The atelier is so popular that it takes six months just to finish an order. When did he even start preparing this?”

The girl’s cotton-candy-like hair and sunlit eyes inside the music box were an exact likeness of Luciana’s younger self.

“My brother really is something else.”

“Hehe. Oh, it’s too early to be this delighted, Miss! The party will undoubtedly be splendid!”

Now then, it’s time for you to get ready to be the star of the ball.

“Mary… Can’t I just dress modestly?”

“No way! The star must shine brightly!”

Ignoring Luciana’s shy protest, Mary grabbed a comb and grinned mischievously.

* * *

‘Uuugh, I’m exhausted.’

The birthday ball concluded successfully.

Thanks to the guest list being limited to ladies closely tied to the family or acquaintances since her debutante, there were no social issues to fret over.

Luciana looked at the mountain of gifts behind her and then at the wooden box on the tea table.

‘This process is so inefficient, no matter how I think about it.’