Chapter 6
“I Am the Villainess, but I’ve Imprinted with the Male Lead ”
“What? Father was that worried?”
“Hmm… more like Father was, yes.”
“Haha…”
Even if staying out overnight after a ball was considered normal and common, the embarrassment was a separate matter entirely.
Especially when thinking about her father, who doted on her even more than her brother did—how was she supposed to face him? Her vision already darkened at the thought.
“I-I should go greet him quickly.”
“By now, Mother and Father should have already been informed of your arrival. Let’s go up together.”
“Okay.”
Luciana naturally linked arms with Lorain as they headed toward the office.
* * *
“Lucy!”
“F-Father…”
As expected, the moment Luciana entered the office, a voice rang out.
The middle-aged man with neatly tied silver hair and yellow eyes bore a striking resemblance to her—there was no doubt he was her father.
“Are you just getting back now?”
Terzion, who had been pacing anxiously, rushed over and hugged his daughter, checking her from head to toe to make sure she wasn’t injured.
‘Anyone would think I survived a battlefield…’
Even though she was already an adult, being treated like a child was slightly embarrassing—but it was clearly affection, so she quietly let herself be held.
“Good. You seem unharmed.”
Tch. That’s a bit much.
Luciana could only give an awkward smile at her father’s overly relieved reaction.
His eyes, just like Lorain’s, were filled with suppressed anger—clearly directed at her “overnight partner.”
“Ter, stop that and sit down. Luci isn’t a child anymore. Lorain, stop scowling—you’re embarrassing me.”
“Darling…”
“Cough. Yes, Mother.”
It was the Marchioness Leslie who calmed the two men burning like firewood in a fireplace.
Unlike Luciana, she had sharp, cold features, but she efficiently restored order.
“Hm.”
After sipping her tea, the Marchioness spoke to Luciana.
“You look tired, Luci. Will you be able to attend the New Year’s Ball tonight?”
“Yes. I already promised my partner I’d attend…”
Attending consecutive late-night balls was exhausting, but the New Year’s celebration was one of the empire’s biggest social events, so most nobles were expected to appear.
‘And I promised to meet His Grace there.’
Luciana sighed internally as she remembered.
An imprint.
She had so many things to discuss with Richt, but she had been forced to leave the ducal residence early due to his schedule.
“Let’s continue the rest at the New Year’s Ball. We can meet privately on the balcony when the time is right.”
That was the last thing Richt had said.
“…I see.”
The Marchioness noticed Luciana’s unusually drained expression but assumed it was fatigue and changed the topic.
“Then go rest. You’ll soon be busy preparing for the ball.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Oh, Luciana. You’re not coming home late again today, are you?”
Cough!
“L-Luci, really?”
For a moment, Luciana could feel all eyes focusing on her answer.
“No…!”
Sigh of relief.
“Good.”
“I’m glad you made the right choice.”
As she quickly denied it, two relieved breaths followed.
‘Ugh… so embarrassing…’
One more overnight stay and I won’t survive this.
Flushed red, she escaped the office.
* * *
“Luci.”
“Huh?”
Walking through the hallway with Lorain, who had stood up alongside her, he suddenly turned to her with a serious expression.
“You can be honest with me.”
“About what…?”
Her head tilted in confusion, but his expression darkened further.
Lorain had already noticed how she subtly stiffened whenever the topic of staying out overnight came up.
“Did that guy from last night… threaten you or something?”
“W-What are you talking about all of a sudden?!”
Luciana was shocked twice—once at the sudden mention of Richt, and again at the ridiculous misunderstanding.
“I’ve noticed. You get tense whenever it comes up.”
“Ah…”
So he noticed after all.
“I don’t need you to force yourself to tell me, but did he do anything inappropriate? Or pressure you?”
“Brother…”
Despite his calm tone, concern was clearly layered in his sky-blue eyes.
“No, it’s nothing like that. I’m just… a little embarrassed.”
She shook her head sincerely.
‘If anything, I’m the one who caused trouble…’
Even though it wasn’t entirely her fault, everything felt complicated because she had deviated from the original story.
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
“Then that’s good…”
Lorain looked at her with complicated emotions.
“If anything ever happens, tell me. I don’t care who that guy is—I’ll make sure he never appears in front of you again.”
“What?”
“You don’t think I can? I’m not joking.”
“Brother…”
Right. Lorain had always been overly protective of her in the original story too.
‘But… brother… what do I do? The guy I slept with is the Duke of Cassio…’
Even as a viscount, Lorain couldn’t compare to Richt in status or influence.
If she told the truth, he would be completely shocked.
She swallowed the truth as she parted from him at her room door.
* * *
“This is bad… now I even have to lie to my family…”
Luciana lay on her bed, sinking into worry.
“I can’t believe an imprint happens even without love…”
She recalled her conversation with Richt.
“Could it be… some kind of mistake?”
In her understanding, imprinting usually happened when there was strong emotional attraction or a special bond.
She and Richt weren’t lovers, so she couldn’t accept that a single night had turned them into “mates.”
Even with evidence, she remained confused.
“I told you. Intent doesn’t matter.”
Richt had then explained:
First, wolf-human descendants only ever bond with one mate in their lifetime. The Cassio ducal family inherits this trait—once they feel emotional attraction, their hearts are inevitably drawn to that person. But that alone is not a complete imprint; physical union is required to fully bind as eternal mates.
Second, as stated, imprinting is triggered by sexual union. Once physical intimacy occurs, imprinting is unavoidable regardless of intention. Afterward, instinct gradually recognizes the partner, and emotional attachment follows—but this only applies to those with wolf blood.
For others, it is irrelevant.
Luciana belonged to the latter case.
In short, she had been disastrously caught in it by pure bad luck.
