I Awoke as an Imprisoned Villainess-Chapter 34 - Im counting on you

Perhaps sensing the slight softening of Violet’s thoughtful expression, Claude, who had been looking at her with concern, quietly opened his mouth.

“Actually, not long after Sophia replaced you, I asked the royal magician and the grand duke if there was any way to switch bodies”

I had expected that they would do so.

Violet nodded, and Claude opened his mouth again cautiously.

“The royal magician said it was impossible. The grand duke has yet to reply”

“The magic of substitution was invented by me, you know. That’s why I’m the only one in the world who knows this magic”

But Violet took a sigh.

“…It’s inspired by an ancient forbidden magic formula I saw at my uncle’s house before I was excommunicated. Perhaps my uncle would see that the magic of substitution which is said to be impossible, is not impossible. The fact that he hasn’t responded yet suggests he is watching the situation”

Even if she put the powerful and effective forbidden magic into use, switching places is a near-dream.

So the grand duke may be skeptical— but he knows Violet better than anyone else in the world, so he’s sure to think it’s possible.

“Forbidden magic...”

“I have to say though. It doesn’t matter if a genius uses it. I’m not the only one, my uncle used to use it too”

She said flatly to Claude who had a bitter look on his face.

As the name of the forbidden magic implies, it is forbidden to use it. The cost of this powerful effect is that even the slightest lapse in technique can result in serious mental and physical disabilities.

(…Nevertheless, if my uncle really is the culprit, it would be dangerous if he comes to know that I switched places with this girl)

The slap in the face to Lily that led to Violet’s imprisonment. The grand duke would have realized that it was because she realized the connection between Johannes’s case and her mother’s death.

And the grand duke should think that if Violet swapped places with someone, she must have been searching for the culprit.

Violet, in Sophia’s body, has been moving exactly like what Sophia has been rumored to be. The fact that the recluse has made her social debut may be somewhat of a change, but it isn’t a terribly unnatural one, considering her age of sixteen.

However—Violet has just stabbed Lily with words in Sophia’s body. If she and the grand duke are connected, then it’s only a matter of time until they realize the person she switched with is Sophia.

(…I screwed up. I was in a fit of rage)

I should have stabbed her after I got my body back.

Violet is not that much of an egoistic woman to be willing to put a little girl she has nothing to do with in danger, even if she has some issues with Arbuthnot.

(If I stayed with her any longer, she’ll be on his radar even more)

Now that we know Johannes’s illness is caused by some witchcraft, her abilities as an apothecary won’t be needed.

Although there are secret escorts, I should keep my distance from Sophia.

Violet turned her eyes to Sophia who was listening to the conversation meekly.

“You. You heard what I just said, didn’t you? ...My uncle who might be the culprit, might find out that I switched places with you”

“Eh? Ah, yes! Since he’s the grand duke, and even a hero, it’s not surprising if he already knows about it...”

“That’s right. I, for one, feel somewhat responsible for getting you involved. I’ll give you a secret escort, so you can relax and leisurely hole up in Count Alcott’s house for a while...”

“Eh? ...Ah, you mean you want me to take a leisurely break for about five minutes and then work myself to death…?”

Sophia tilted her head with a puzzled expression. Violet frowned as Sophia didn’t get what she meant to say.

The expression on her face scared Sophia a little, but she still said, “Even though the symptoms are under control, I think His Highness’s body might be in danger if he doesn’t get better soon...”.

“I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t studied enough about the Plauni and Replan that my grandfather mentioned, but I’m sure that the ancient documents left behind by my mother can tell us a little more about them. If a potion could be made to stop the effects, we could see traces of the magic power”

Then we would be able to find the culprit.

Sophia said the final line with her eyes downcast and her tones lowered.

(—I thought she was just a normal, weak-minded girl who was frightened all the time)

Of course, she also has an unusual love of medicine. Violet was surprised to see she was more strong-willed than she had expected.

“…I’m worried about leaving Sophia alone. Although I’m not sure who the culprit is, but as long as they’re careful enough not to leave any evidence behind, it might be harder for them to get to her if you and I are by her side, since they would try to avoid causing a scene”

Claude said this with a complicated look on his face. I thought this inflexible man would agree that we shouldn’t involve a weak girl who has nothing to do with this.

Violet was surprised by the unexpected turn of events—and immediately raised her lips slightly.

“…Fine. I’m counting on you, Sophia”

When I called her name for the first time, Sophia blinked her eyes and smiled happily.

“I want you to make a potion that will counteract the effects of Plauni and Replan within today”

“Eh!?!? I-i-it’s already evening though..!?”

Wasn’t I supposed to have a leisure break for five minutes...!? Violet had a smile on her face as she silenced Sophia who was making a fuss.

~~~~~

When we arrived at the count mansion, the party was already at its end.

The eyes were on Sophia who was apologizing to the invited guests for not being at the table due to feeling unwell and was saying the final ending words.

The handkerchiefs that she ordered Sophia’s half sister to make to harass her(*Julia) were well received by the guests. After all of it was given away, I told Sophia that I ordered her half sister to make three-hundred of them to which Sophia widened her eyes, turned pale, and looked at her half sister with pity.

What a foolish girl. I might have to come and check on her periodically,

After all the greetings, Violet and others headed to the storage room where even the dogs would cry tears of misery if they were told to live there from now on.

“This is...”

Claude’s tense face paled at the sight of the room, which it was unthinkable that a sixteen year old lady had ever lived in.

“Wahh, seeing it after a long while, ...the room sure is a little bit horrible”

But Sophia, looking so embarrassed, looked at the bed and said, “Ahh, the medicinal herbs are withering...!” “Ah, This medicine has turned a color I’ve never seen before...!?” She acted as if she was busy lamenting and being curious.

But she soon remembered her purpose, huffed and hurried to the bookshelf, which was the only magnificent thing there.

“There’s an ancient document around here...Ah there it is!”

Sophia carefully took out several faded and tattered old books.

She gently but quickly turned through them one by one. Written in an ancient language that only a few people could understand anymore, she went through them with great speed.

Translator’s Notes:

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

I can give so many excuses for being not on time really. The most blunt one is that I’m struggling with procrastination. I’m overwhelmed with wanting to do a lot of things. I can’t use my brother’s computer whenever I like and the electricity in my city is always out for five hours minimum each day. I can’t juggle the tasks ‘I need to do vs I want to do’ very well. Anyways putting the rant aside, the first arc is ending in about another 12 Chapters. I think I’ll try to finish it within this month then take a break before doing the next arc. Thank you so much for reading this and please don’t be mad because I don’t update frequently as I said I would T-T.