The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Translator: Yonnee
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“Pushing you to your limits… I didn’t do that intentionally.”
“……”
“I also apologize for what I said back then. I was rude.”
“No, I mean…”
Why was he acting like this all of a sudden?
Luciana’s breath caught as she watched the duke, who seemed deflated, like a drenched puppy left out in the rain.
A heavy silence followed, blanketing the room.
Caught in the awkward atmosphere, Luciana, now much calmer, lowered her head toward the cream-colored case extended in front of her.
She was a diligent reader who had fully read the original novel. She understood well that the male lead’s personality was far from gentle.
But just because she knew this in her head didn’t mean her heart hadn’t been hurt.
Although time had passed, and she had brushed off much of the pain, it wasn’t a lie to say that his actions had left her wounded.
“You’re right. What you did was wrong, Your Grace.”
“……!”
Richt froze at the sound of her calm acknowledgment.
Her voice was casual, as though she were merely commenting on yesterday’s weather, but beneath that tone was a faint trace of the pain she had endured.
For a moment, he felt as if he were standing at the edge of a cliff.
Even her somber, sunken gaze felt like a weight of responsibility pressing down on him.
“…I’m sorry.”
“……!”
What did he just say…?
Luciana stared at the duke in disbelief.
She had never expected to receive an apology from the male lead. Not socially, not based on her status, and certainly not if she went by the original story—where she was essentially nothing to Richt.
‘Then why…?’
His voice, clumsy yet sincere, didn’t seem to be an attempt to simply rid himself of guilt.
Come to think of it, what could cause a duke of the empire to seek forgiveness from anyone?
And yet here he was, bowing his head first, willingly. The more she processed that fact, the more Luciana felt an unfamiliar sensation stirring within her.
“So you didn’t do it on purpose?”
Luciana met Richt’s gaze as she asked,
“Then… why did you do it?”
Her question was closer to genuine curiosity than reproach.
If he hadn’t hurt her intentionally, there had to be a reason behind his actions.
“That’s…”
Richt began to answer, but the words died in his throat.
‘Damn it.’
The very thought of it sent a chill through his body, leaving his hands and feet as cold as a corpse.
Thump. Thump.
It felt like someone had ripped his heart out and pressed it against his ears—the desperate sound of his heartbeat echoed through his entire body.
‘Huh…? His complexion suddenly…’
Luciana’s expression stiffened when she saw how pale Richt had become.
His uneasy eyes, as if haunted by something, and his restless gaze that refused to settle on her—everything about him seemed off.
Despite having met with him regularly, this was the first time Luciana had seen him this shaken.
“Your Grace…? Eep!”
Startled, Luciana instinctively leaned toward him, but the flow was interrupted when Richt abruptly stood up from his seat.
‘Goodness!’
Placing her hand on the table, Luciana calmed her racing heart and looked at her hand in slight bewilderment.
‘Does he find it too difficult to talk about?’
She hadn’t had a chance to study his face closely, but considering his rare display of unease, she doubted he would explain anything in detail.
“There’s no need to force yourself to talk about it. It’s okay now. It’s all in the past.”
“……”
If that’s what Richt wanted, then so be it.
Luciana decided to let it go, choosing to wrap up the disorganized situation with a vague statement.
She hadn’t asked for a sincere apology, nor did she intend to press him any further.
“Take the runet, Lady Luciana. It’s a token of my appreciation.”
“Ah…”
Richt pushed the jewel case toward her with a resolute demeanor, making it clear he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
‘This is too much to be just an apology gift.’
Luciana hesitated, wondering if she should accept it, and subtly glanced at Richt to gauge his reaction.
Unfortunately, the duke seemed determined to have the jewel leave his possession, as he wouldn’t even look in its direction.
‘He doesn’t seem to want it back, so I have no choice. I’ll take it and stash it somewhere out of sight.’
Eventually, Luciana relented and packed the cream-colored case along with her artifact.
“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave. Until next time.”
“…Yes.”
Why was the male lead reacting that way so suddenly?
Though a small trace of doubt lingered in her heart, Luciana set her curiosity aside for the moment and returned to the mansion.
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