The Villainous Mastermind Gets Lucky in His Later Years - Chapter 19

It’s amazing that even when he moved nervously, his elegance was still evident despite his young age.

Getting up from his seat, he looked down at Doah with an arrogant gaze and said,

“So, have you achieved what you’ve been wishing for?”

“……”

So he’s asking why she was still here.

Doah was speechless for a moment.

Because she absolutely did not accomplish what she wanted.

“…His Highness was resolute.”

“Ha, resolute.”

Angelus scoffed briefly.

As if saying, of course he is.

“Have you ever tried to look back on your past behavior, even a little bit? I’m sure Father did not feel any sincerity in anything that you’ve said.”

Instead of getting riled up from his words, Doah lowered her gaze.

It was to hide the two eyes that had a defiant gleam.

‘What a troublesome kid.’

However, there’s no way for her to express her frustrations in front of a grand duchy’s heir.

If the grand duke really wouldn’t let Bunny leave this castle, then she’d have to stay here and bear with it all somehow.

And if she got emotional and provoked the young duke first, then they might restrict her movements and punish her. In the end, she was the only one at a disadvantage here.

‘Both of them really want to bite me like two crazy snakes right now, huh…’

In this case it would have been better to say yet to whatever he was saying unconditionally, like a mere puppet with no other choice.

Unless he could use his head even a little, then he’d figure out that she was only trying to force herself.

“You’re right.”

She tilted her head slightly and closed her large doll eyes halfway, her thick lashes casting two shadows.

As if she was truly crestfallen.

“It wasn’t the truth and I was just complaining, so that must be why His Highness flatly refused my request.”

As the long shadows fell over her red eyes, the already fragile image she had became even more pitiful

The clear, transparent eyes containing a hint of light thickened in the shade, and moisture started pooling at her eyes.

“I must have been very frustrated after living in the spire all that time. His Highness had allowed me to stay in the Central Palace, and I got a little excited, so… I made a slip of the tongue because I just wanted to go outside the castle even for just a short time.”

A face that infuriatingly resembled Ophelia’s.

A face that gave off such a delicate air that one mistake just might break her.

“How could I ever give up my peaceful life in the Credel residence? This is the only place where I belong.”

Bunny would not ever be able to live peacefully within the walls of Credel.

Angelus was well aware of that.

He had already been briefed on how Ophelia’s maids had been treating Bunny all this time.

However, he thought that this was enough to compensate for all the troubles.

Bunny should be feeling better now.

Even when she’d hear such insulting words, she’d continue gloating about her position and would just keep clinging to him while saying, ‘Older Brother!’

But right now…

“I’ll be good from now on. The role of Princess Ophelia’s decoy—I’ll do it perfectly. I’ll never do anything to disparage the reputation of House Credel.”

As though choking up in tears, Doah stopped talking for a moment, but she continued speaking.

“Then one day, I hope that I can walk around freely outside the castle.”

“……”

Angelus’ chest felt tight.

“Brother, when can I go outside the castle by myself?”

“It’s not going to be dangerous, I promise. Dad even gave me all the mage escorts!”

“It’s only going to be a little while…”

It was getting harder and harder to breathe.

All the guilt that had been buried deep inside, those that had never escaped from their confines during his entire life. They were all surging up.

The voice he missed so very much started scrambling through his head.

Those memories that happened so long ago came up so vividly.

“……”

“Young Duke?”

Was it because the silence stretched out for too long?

At Doah’s call, Angelus slowly let out all the breath that had been trapped.

‘It’s all in the past.’

His sensitive nerves had been honed so sharply just now, but they started to dull.

Even now, that memory remained as a deep scar upon his heart. But rather, this pushed aside personal feelings and made him see the future.

Whatever Bunny meant to do, the important thing now was not to expel her from the household right away.

‘A fake ducal princess must exist in this castle.’

Ophelia was the symbol of peace.

Therefore, it was even more difficult to let the world know that she had been cursed.

But what if she didn’t show up in high society until she came of age?

‘Then the household’s honor will plummet.’

Those who didn’t know the full story would make up all sorts of rumors behind their backs.

Of course, it was important to pass on the curse properly, but they also needed to think about what would happen after Ophelia would return home later.

Wasn’t that the only reason why Bunny had been selected out of that many orphans in the first place?

He had forgotten in the meantime.

There was no other choice.

He had never been able to talk to Bunny properly at all.

He didn’t even expect that she’d be able to fill the role as Ophelia properly.

‘But strangely, you started acting obediently.’

She didn’t seem to be acting as she had before. Thus far, at least, by the looks of it.

However, he couldn’t trust her just yet.

‘If she could maintain at least this obedience in the future…’

If Bunny could be educated thoroughly, then they could announce that she had been miraculously healed of the endemic disease.

This could also be used to their advantage and people would think that apart from being the symbol of peace, she was also beloved by God.

After taking all of this into account, he finally answered.

“This is the last time I’ll believe you.”