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Chapter 11
I’m the Villainess, but I Was Imprinted with the Male Lead
“Do you know exactly when the research was stopped?”
“…It’s been at least 150 years.”
“…!”
At a broader glance, it might be considered the distant past—but 150 years was by no means a short time.
But a lot has changed since then.
Imperial magical science had advanced at a remarkable pace. Compared to the past, its level was entirely different now.
If she used the research logs stored in the ducal house as a guide, wouldn’t there still be a chance—however small?
Either way, it’s better than blindly groping in the dark.
She couldn’t just sit idle because the outcome was uncertain. And the duke was in no better position than her.
Luciana was certain Rihit would not immediately welcome her proposal, but he also wouldn’t reject it outright. He, more than anyone, wanted to deny the existence of the imprint.
She recalled the faint red eyes she had seen this morning when he woke and looked at her lying beside him.
That hollow, dazed gaze still lingered in her mind like a fading afterimage.
A sense of guilt that had nowhere to go—and a vague fear—rose in her chest as she thought of his devastated expression.
“Your Grace.”
At her resolute call, Rihit turned his gaze to her clear eyes.
“If it’s not too presumptuous… may I continue the research that was halted?”
“…You, Lady?”
His tone carried doubt.
As expected, he did not immediately accept her proposal.
He doesn’t know I majored in this.
In order to earn his trust, she briefly explained her academic background and future plans.
Rihit listened silently, his expression unreadable.
Graduating from Silona Academy meant she was qualified to work professionally as a magical engineer. Her proposal—to use magic to break the imprint—was also aligned with past research directions.
“Even with many skilled individuals working together in the past, they failed. I don’t believe you can do it alone.”
He remained skeptical. Not because he doubted her intelligence, but because it was not something he could easily entrust to anyone.
“But academically, a lot has changed in 150 years.”
“….”
That much was true, and he did not deny it.
“As you said, I may not be enough alone—but there are research logs as well…”
“Are you asking me to hand over classified ducal documents?”
“…Yes, I am.”
Luciana did not back down despite his pressure.
Seeing her unwavering stance, Rihit fell into thought.
The secrecy oath ensures nothing will leak…
And at present, there was no better alternative than attempting research again.
Logically speaking, her proposal was the most realistic and promising option. There was even a chance—however slim—that they could succeed and return things to before the imprint.
This is the best option.
As silence stretched on, Rihit’s mind slowly tilted toward agreement.
“…Very well. Do as you propose.”
“Really?”
If it meant breaking the imprint, there was nothing he wouldn’t do. Instead of despair, he chose to focus on possibility.
“I will gather the relevant documents and send them to you. However, we will need a means of communication…”
As if switching gears, he began moving quickly.
Meeting only through large social events like this was inefficient at best.
After a moment’s thought, he suggested something more practical.
“I own a building at 128 Rodwell Street. It should serve well for exchanging correspondence.”
“Rodwell…?”
It was not a bustling commercial district, but a quiet area on the outskirts of the capital.
He said he would send someone in two days to deliver everything.
Mary can handle errands… I’ll just need a believable excuse.
Luciana agreed.
“If you require materials or assistance during your research, I will provide full support.”
“Ah… thank you very much.”
She hadn’t expected even that level of help. Luciana gave an awkward smile, slightly taken aback.
He’s doing this much… he must really want the imprint gone.
“Until the imprint is completely broken, let’s be careful.”
“As you wish.”
There was no way she intended to let others—especially the heroine—find out she was bound to the male lead by imprint.
Not that I planned to broadcast it anyway, but still.
Is that all for today?
They had signed the secrecy contract and discussed a solution. Their business together seemed finished.
“So… is there anything else you’d like to say?”
“…!”
Luciana asked innocently, unaware of what was coming.
Rihit bit his lip and stared at the garden instead, unusually unsettled.
Why is he acting like that now?
Luciana glanced at him suspiciously.
“…Damn it.”
Rihit muttered under his breath—how many times today, even he had lost count.
The word rut season surfaced in his mind, and his mouth felt sealed shut as if coated in glue.
“Your Grace…?”
“…There’s something I didn’t tell you this morning.”
Only after her prompt did he finally speak.
Something he forgot? Why do I suddenly feel uneasy?
She tightened her grip on her fan.
“Those who are imprinted are affected by wolf instincts… and during winter, they go through a rutting period.”
“…What? R-rutting…?”
Luciana immediately thought of documentaries she had seen in her past life.
Animals driven by instinct, compelled to reproduce during specific seasons.
Don’t tell me… I have to spend that time with him?
No way. Right?
She desperately hoped it was just her imagination.
But before she could calm down, Rihit silently handed her something.
“Take this.”
Luciana stared at a bracelet adorned with amber-like stones.
“…What is this?”
It was a mana stone.
To her, trained in magic engineering, it was immediately recognizable as a magical artifact rather than a simple accessory.
“Try infusing your mana into it.”
“L-like this…?”
She channeled the amount of mana equivalent to making a small potion.
Fshh!
The mana stone lit up briefly—then went still, as if nothing had happened.
“Eventually, on a certain day, the stone will glow.”
Rihit confirmed that the artifact had recognized its owner.
For some reason, seeing her frozen with the bracelet in hand made something inside his chest twist.
He couldn’t look at her eyes.
So he turned his gaze back toward the cold wind outside.
“…When that happens, it means I have called you—and that the rut has begun.”
“…!”
“Then use the artifact to come directly to my bedroom. It will activate automatically if you do it like before.”
