The Villainous Duke Lady Hides Her Identity Chapter 12

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Lephonia hadn’t intended to escalate the matter. She simply needed a safe place.

She believed it was best to stay vigilant, making sure the vassals and the Duke kept each other in check, so that past evils wouldn’t have the chance to grow again.

If the vassals were falsely accused of something they hadn’t done, it would only deepen the suspicion and hostility directed at her.

‘No.’

If this incident were revealed to be a fabrication, she might be blamed—or worse, punished.

Lephonia suddenly rose from her seat.

‘Looks like I need to go to Duke Craytan’s office, quickly.’

Buddy and Becky had said they would check whether it was okay to visit and then come back with an answer, but this wasn’t the time to wait.

‘What if he’s already figured out I’m the culprit?’

Without hesitation, Lephonia left her room. The estate was still in chaos—no knights were guarding her door.

‘Alright. Let’s go.’

She stepped forward on her still-unhealed leg. That was when it happened.

“Hey.”

Thud. Whoosh—!

“Huh?”

Someone grabbed Lephonia by the shoulder. Before she could react, a strange sensation of being lifted filled her, and in the next moment, she was spun around and thrown backward.

Her legs lifted off the carpet, and by the time she regained her senses, she found herself cradled in someone’s arms.

“What’s this?”

A light, almost amused voice came from above.

Turning her head, Lephonia saw the person holding her at his side.

Their eyes met—his expression was mildly irritated as he looked down at her.

He had silver hair, tousled and whipping gently in the wind, unkempt and wild.

With brows and lashes that arched slightly upward, his features carried a sharp, foxlike edge.

His cold blue eyes were piercing, like shards of frozen glass, and the few undone buttons on his coat gave his otherwise severe appearance a strangely relaxed air.

“Hey.”

And then came a blunt question, spoken without hesitation, as if it were perfectly normal to talk that way to someone he’d just met.

“You—who are you?”

He was a man who didn’t care to be polite to strangers.

‘He must be… the troublemaker, second son of this house…’

It wasn’t hard for her to guess his identity.

Pallenz Craytan.

The second son of House Craytan. The infamous troublemaker.

He was already an Aura Master, just like his father, Grand Duke Craytan, which explained his youthful appearance. He looked about the same age as Lephonia, who was now nearly grown.

“Who are you, wearing that face, in my house—and walking out of my father’s room?”

His words were aggressive. His tone was sharp and threatening, as if he wouldn’t hesitate to act if he didn’t like the answer.

Pallenz narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.

‘There’s no way he doesn’t know I’m adopted.’

Lephonia stayed quiet and studied his expression. If he had truly mistaken her for a stranger, he would have already drawn his sword.

He wasn’t asking because he didn’t know. He was asking because he already had.

‘He already knows everything.’

Slowly, Lephonia parted her lips.

“Who are you?”

“What?”

“I don’ know you. The Duke said I gotta be careful with strangers. If you wanna know who I am, shouldn’t you tell me who you are first?”

There was no reason for her to back down. Pallenz didn’t hold the family heirloom, nor was he the head of the house—he couldn’t force her out.

Still watching him with suspicion, Lephonia brought her small fist down firmly on his arm.

“Put me don.”

She had spoken more than she expected. Her tongue was starting to loosen.

“Ha.”

Pallenz, who had just been hit in the arm by a five-year-old, let out a quiet laugh, as if he found the situation amusing.

He gently set Lephonia down on the carpet.

“My name? You’d be surprised if you knew.”

“Won’t be surprised.”

“Sure? It’s Pallenz Craytan.”

As if trying to see how she’d react, Pallenz casually introduced himself.

“You’ve never heard of the second son of this household? He’s known as the troublemaker, so they say he needs to be managed like a dog on a leash.”

Pallenz bent his knees and met the eyes of five-year-old Lephonia.

“I’m that second son.”

Unlike his teasing words, the eyes staring at Lephonia were filled with suspicion, wariness, and even anger.

He was trying to hide his true feelings from the five-year-old, masking them behind casual speech.

But the fact that he had shown up unannounced made one thing clear—he had heard about the adoption and had come to oppose it.

Should I greet him too?

While Lephonia hesitated, Pallenz brushed back his hair with a motion that felt almost mocking.

“Something… feels off.”

“Huh?”

“Hah. This time, what kind of con artist is Father being scammed by? Looks like they really came prepared.”

“Huh?”

“Hey, kiddo. Where’d you get that face?”

Face? Lephonia touched her cheek.

“This is just… my face.”

“Haven’t you learned that you get punished for doing bad things?”

Lephonia’s lips tightened. Was he seriously insulting her just because of her face?

She knew he had come to oppose the adoption, but to insult her face—this was too much.

“Hah. Already had it all planned, huh? … Kiddo.”

“Lephonia.”

Lephonia didn’t avoid Pallenz’s sharp gaze and spoke while meeting his eyes.

“Lephonia Craytan.”

Pallenz’s face twisted into a menacing expression. For a five-year-old, it was terrifying enough to make someone want to cry and run away.

Yet Lephonia spoke calmly.

“I’m not being adopted because I want it, br…”

…I don’t think calling him ‘Brother’ is right either.

Lephonia paused, closing her lips as if lost in thought. Then she spoke again, with a quiet determination that seemed to push back a surge of emotions.

“…You know it too.”

“You?”

The voice that came out was so forceful it was almost ferocious, despite coming from a child.

“If you oppose this adoption, don’t come to me—go to the Duke instead.”

Pallenz’s eyebrows drew together.

“Coming to a five-year-old… that’s shameless. I don’t get why adults act like this toward me.”

“Adults? Ah, the vassals came. Are you talking about them?”

“If there’s anyone to cancel the adoption, it’s not me but the Duke. If you don’t like it, go complain to him. Anyway, my opinion doesn’t matter. If you persuade the Duke… cough, cough!”

She said too much at once. Lephonia wiped her face with her sleeve and dabbed at the moisture in her eyes.

Lephonia took a deep breath and exhaled shakily. Then she said,

“The one who took me from the street and adopted me is the Duke. So just talk to the Duke. Got it?”

“Hey, wait.”

“I’m busy. Bye.”

Lephonia turned away with a brisk farewell. She had to hurry to the Duke’s office—wasting more time was pointless.

She decided to settle things before they got any bigger.

Only then could she spend her remaining time here in peace.

Lephonia’s small steps quickened. As she moved, she turned her head slightly.

“Why are you following me?”

Pallenz, who had been quietly trailing her, scratched his neck awkwardly.

“Do you know why it smells like ashes around here?”

“You could’ve just asked someone else.”

“Everyone else seems busy.”

“I’m also bu— cough, cough!”

“Then maybe answer quickly, kiddo.”

Even though she had already said her name, he still called her “kiddo.” Lephonia glanced at Pallenz and cleared her throat.

Because she looked like a child, Pallenz—despite all the rumors about him—seemed to be doing his best not to let his irritation show.

“There’s a fire in my woom.”

Ah. Tongue… Lephonia’s face twisted slightly as she spoke slowly and clearly.

“That’s why there’s a burnt smell around the house. They’re checking who started the fire and if it’s out for sure. So I need to hurry. Got it?”

Now his curiosity has been solved, right?

Lephonia turned and, with renewed strength, began walking quickly. But Pallenz, with his long legs, followed easily, matching her pace without effort.

After a few steps, Lephonia stopped again.

“Why are you following me again?”

“I still don’t get it. I wanted to ask more, but you walked off first.”

“If you’re that curious, you should’ve graduated from the academy by now.”

“Did you know I never even graduated from the academy?”

“The Duke told me.”

“Our father’s never too busy to brag—just not about my achievements. He brags about my flaws instead. Anyway, you said your room caught fire?”

“Yeah. So what?”

“What were you doing at the time?”

Pallenz’s eyes glinted, suddenly sharp.

‘What is this? Why is he asking me that? Is he suspicious of what I said?’

Lephonia answered, her expression tense.

“I was sleeping.”

“Sleeping? In a room that was on fire?”

“Yeah.”

Pallenz, who had been chewing over his words, stepped closer to Lephonia. She swallowed against her dry throat.

“Kiddo.”

“Y-yeah?”

“You said you’re five years old, right?”

Pallenz pulled back his hand. Was he going to hit her? Lephonia didn’t know, so she instinctively flinched and closed her eyes.

“But you talk really well. When I was five, I was just mumbling.”

Then Pallenz placed both hands on Lephonia’s shoulders and lifted her slightly off the ground. Startled by how high she was, Lephonia instinctively grabbed onto his forearms.

“Kiddo, did you know you’ve been shaking this whole time?”

She blinked. Her body really had been trembling ever since she woke up.

“Because I just woke up from fainting.”

Seeing the hesitant Lephonia, Pallenz let out a small sigh. Still holding her, he began walking with steady steps.

“Kiddo, whether you tricked my father or not, that’s another matter. For now, since you’ve been given the Craytan name, no one can touch you.”

“Huh?”

“If someone sets the fire in your room, they’ll be punished for attacking a Craytan. Death is only natural.”

Death is only natural.

Lephonia—no, the one who had set the fire—flinched.

“Are you going to Father’s office? I’ll take you there.”

Pallenz’s face turned cold in an instant.

Just moments ago, he’d been speaking casually. But now, his sharp gaze alone was enough to make Lephonia tremble.

‘Wait. That, that…’

Lephonia hesitated, looking down at her trembling legs dangling awkwardly from Pallenz’s hold. Her position was strange—he wasn’t holding her properly. Instead, she was slung awkwardly under his arm, legs swinging.

“What—what is this?! Put me down!”

“It’d be weird to hold a con artist properly. But even if you’re a shaky five-year-old fresh out of an accident, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna ignore you.”

“Ignore me! Please ignore me. Just ignore me!”

Trembling, Lephonia covered her face with both hands.

“You’re right, kiddo. The one who adopted you—and the only one who can cancel it—is Father. So the blame falls on him, not you. And instead of asking for an apology, I’ll just say this.”

Pallenz’s voice shifted—serious, heavy.

“If you’re hoping to be part of this family, if you’re expecting to become his daughter… you should give up on that.”

“…”

“There’s no such thing as ‘family’ in this house.