I Awoke as an Imprisoned Villainess-Chapter 37 - You should think about who you hang out with

The royal palace, which I saw for the first time in my life, was such a glittering place that it almost made my eyes hurt.

Unlike me, who looked out of place as if I might be accused of some crime just by walking in the palace, Violet sama and Claude sama were not intimidated at all, walking with a straight back and a stately air.

“His Majesty, Her Majesty. And His Royal Highness is already waiting for you in audience the chamber”

Claude sama said as we walked down the long, long corridor.

He had informed them of our visit first thing in the morning.

“I have already informed them that there is something important to discuss. It should be clear of people”

“Yes”

Violet sama nodded.

“If it’s just these three people, I’m pretty sure I can get them to take the medicine on the spot if I tell them. —Let’s hurry up before unnecessary hindrances get in the way”

“That line somehow sounds like setting up a flag...”

I just said that, and Violet sama gave me a glare.

~~~~~

When we arrived at the audience chamber, there was His Majesty, Her Majesty, and His Highness, Johannes.

Then, there was another stranger.

“…!”

As soon as they saw this person, Violet sama and Claude sama became alarmed and braced themselves.

Dressed in a black cloak, the person was tall and sturdy. His black hair was slicked back, giving a good view of his fearless face. He had a large, old scar from his left eyebrow to under his eye.

Above all, he was overflowing with so much magic power that even I, an insensitive person, could notice.

I immediately understood that he, who was smiling softly, was the grand duke.

“—Long time no see, Violet”

The grand duke said in a low voice that echoed in my ears.

“Uncle...”

“I’m not impressed that you stayed out the same day you left the tower, Violet. —And you should think about who you hang out with”

The grand duke then turned his softly narrowed, indifferent gaze on me.

I wondered if he meant this for me. As I was puzzled by the words he said, Violet sama who was standing right next to me, let out a voice as if she had calmed down.

“Who I hang out with is none of my uncle’s business, and why is uncle here?”

“The same as you. I came here to talk to His Majesty about something important, but I guess I was a little earlier”

“Something important?”

Violet sama raised her eyebrows and turned her attention to HIs Majesty who was sitting on the throne. At that gaze, His Majesty raised his eyebrows as if a little troubled, nodded his head and said, “It’s a serious matter” then turned his keen eyes on me.

I gulped at the not-so-good-natured glances from His Majesty and the grand duke.

—I wonder why they are looking at me like this. Is it because I’m out of place, not worthy of the royal palace...?

I knew I should’ve waited at home...and as I trembled with regret, His Majesty opened his mouth without looking away from me.

“Violet. Are you sure she is Sophia Alcott?”

“…What’re you gonna do if she is?”

When Violet sama looked at His Majesty with a strong, alert look in her eyes, the grand duke smiled, narrowed his eyes again, and said, “His Majesty is concerned about your association with a criminal”.

“Eh...!?”

Criminal...!?

The grand duke’s words startled me, and I couldn’t help but let out a strange voice.

Violet sama and Claude sama beside me also gasped, and Claude sama called out his name.

“A criminal? You’re mistaken! She is...”

“I know. She is the granddaughter of Arbuthnot. —-The medicines she makes are also under royal control, and it is forbidden to buy or sell them without permission ...You probably have an idea about I mean, right? The young lady of Alcott”

Violet sama and I gasped.

I know too well. It’s not a false accusation, a misunderstanding, a ruse, or anything else; I have committed a crime.

Cold sweat was trickling endlessly.

I couldn’t make any excuse, and Claude sama’s expression became tense. Violet sama’s voice was filled with agitation as she spoke, “Your Majesty”.

“It is true that Arbuthnot medicine was sold. But it was her stepmother who arranged it, and she didn’t even know that she was an Arbuthnot. If you are going to catch her, her stepmother should be first...”

This content is taken from freёnovelkiss.com.

“Violet, that’s unreasonable. Of course, her family was also included in the investigation, but it was said that the young lady of Count Alcott family was a notorious villainess and no one in the Alcott family was above her. Based on that, at this point, we have to assume that the young lady of Alcott did this on her own initiative”

When the grand duke said, “Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?” His Majesty had to nod with a reluctant face.

“The Arbuthnot medicine may cause disorder, depending on what it is. Even if it is her own medicine, it is preposterous to sell it off. ...Some punishment will have to be meted out” (*Meted out=to give or order a punishment or make someone receive cruel or unfair treatment)

“Your Majesty, please wait. Let me explain first why I’m here with this girl today...”

“Violet”

Violet’s words were interrupted by the grand duke who quietly called out her name.

“Your conduct towards the young lady of the Count Redgrave family in front of the public at the announcement party of her engagement was beyond terrible. His Majesty, the duke(*Violet’s father), and I have been indulging you up until now, —but you behaved in such a way that would be unforgivable without a good cause. Everyone, including me, have decided that we must watch over you with some caution. Your words and actions will have to be regarded as unreliable for the time being”

“Besides,” The grand duke smiled softly.

“—For example. Yes, for example. Suppose that the young lady of Alcott came here with the medicine meant for the royal family. But now that she is provisionally a criminal, that medicine will require a great deal of time and careful investigation”

With his back to His Majesty and His Highness, the grand duke muttered with his lips alone, “You have lost”.

“…!”

Violet sama muttered something with a small voice. An immense magic power that shook the area was released from Violet sama’s body along with the wind.

She’s angry. And I’m sure she’s trying to get me to escape. Violet sama didn’t even glance at me, for some reason, I thought so.

Seeing Violet sama like that, the grand duke smiled softly. It was the complacent smile of the strong.

“Violet. You are my former student, my lovely niece, and my treasure. —But you are a little too mischievous”

The grand duke waved his finger and muttered something, and Violet sama’s eyes suddenly widened and she clutched her throat.

“Now you won’t be able to talk for a while. —What are you doing being absentminded? Seize her”

The grand duke ordered in a sharp voice to the knights who were waiting in the corner.

The knights came towards us in a huff.

I quickly backed away, but they quickly closed the distance. The knight who reached out to catch me was so close that I was unable to move my legs and closed my eyes shut.

What should I do? I wondered if Violet sama would be okay. And if I was caught, His Highness— I cursed myself for being so foolish, and then I sensed that the knights were bewildered.

“!”

I opened my eyes and saw Claude sama standing there as if to protect me.

Translator’s Notes:

The grand duke was so irritating this Chapter with his know-it-all altitude and so were the titles. In the previous Chapters too, the girls’ titles were usually something like ‘Young Lady of ‘rank’ ‘noble’ family’, but I changed some in various ways like ‘Blah blah’s daughter’ ‘Young lady of blah blah House/Household’.