The Unlikely Imprint of the Villainess and the Male Lead - Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Translator: Yonnee
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“‘What’s that supposed to mean?’”
In a tone that sounded almost like a nag, Luciana paused, and the longer she hesitated, the more anxious Richt became.
‘Why am I babbling on to Richt like we’re best pals?’
After furtively glancing around for a moment, she awkwardly scratched her cheek and began.
“I already have a partner I’ve promised to go with…”
“What?!”
“Oh my gosh!”
His sudden outburst startled Luciana.
I mean, is having a partner really something that surprising?
‘His expression… why is he acting like that again?’
Judging by the deeply furrowed brows, it was as if he were interrogating her like a reporter probing for details—and that was as absurd as the sun rising in the west.
‘I just can’t make heads or tails of it. At times like this, the best policy is to get out of here quickly.’
Today’s Richt was like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
Exhausted of the energy needed to deal with him, Luciana quietly rose from her seat.
“Anyway, that’s how it is. I appreciate your words, but… I don’t think we can attend together.”
“Wait…!”
Pop!
Richt reached out his hand belatedly, but Luciana had already vanished into thin air.
“Hah.”
She already has a partner to accompany her?
‘Who on earth could that be…’
In the midst of intense confusion, his heart pounded wildly.
Richt, still unable to recover from the shock, stood dumbfounded, staring at the empty space.
* * *
Swish! Swoosh!
The dull sound of a wooden practice sword slicing through the air resounded grimly.
“Hey, who got the boss all riled up from the morning?”
“Go ask him what happened.”
“Ah, no! I’d only get on his bad side for nothing.”
The three knights, stretching and warming up, sensed Richt’s ferocious aura and scrambled away as if fleeing.
‘I mean, I know it’s the boss, but his stamina is honestly monstrous.’
It had only been two hours since he stormed into the training yard and grabbed a wooden sword without warning.
They were all sitting ducks off to the side as they watched Richt, who had been absorbed in training without a single break.
Just from his minor movements, it was clear how agitated he was at the moment—swinging the sword mercilessly as if he’d cut someone down without hesitation.
Because of that, no one dared approach Richt, and the training area was remarkably deserted.
Perhaps another thirty minutes had passed like that.
“Haah, huu.”
Finally, as if the venting session of training had ended, Richt threw his wooden sword to the floor, wiped the sweat from his brow, and grumbled.
“I already have a partner I’ve promised to go with…”
The words that had struck him like lightning a few days ago echoed in his mind.
‘A partner, huh. Does that mean she has someone else in mind?’
What began as mere curiosity had, with the passage of time, blossomed into an uncontrollable anxiety.
Richt felt an unpleasant sensation crawling over his nerves and pressed his lips together.
‘Damn it. Who the hell is it?’
Every time he got a moment to catch his breath, he was driven to the brink by his burning curiosity about the man occupying Luciana’s side.
He knew all too well that even if he stayed distant from the social scene, the term ‘partner’ didn’t simply mean someone to enter together.
They had to dance together at least once, and the inevitable, subtle touches and exchanged glances during that process were, needless to say, significant.
Even if Luciana had merely sought an escort for the Spring Festival, spending a long time together—even just exchanging a few looks—could lead to something more…
His expression drained of color in an instant, like a ruin scorched black.
“……”
When he first checked the invitation, Richt had been firmly resolved not to attend.
Yet now, the jealousy toward Luciana’s partner and the gnawing anxiety that her affections might turn to someone else had deeply entwined themselves in his chest.
‘The Spring Festival… they say you need a partner to attend.’
Ridiculously, the only noble lady Richt had come to know recently was Luciana.
Of course, no one would refuse a request from him to be his partner except someone who already was betrothed.
If he wanted to attend, he could have sent an invitation to a suitable family even now, but the very thought of escorting a woman whose face he didn’t even know filled him with revulsion down to his very toes.
No. I have to be there, if I want to keep an eye on those wretched goons who’d dare try to act on their dark impulses with Luciana.
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