A Strange But Effective Villainess Life - Chapter 197

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Side Story – Episode 36
* * *
Antesiani’s popularity was truly remarkable.
Edmund and I made a point of staying by the baby’s side diligently. We were not the kind of parents who left her entirely to the wet nurse and merely showed our faces occasionally.
Yet despite our efforts, Edmund and I could not be with the baby constantly. We each had our own responsibilities. Edmund had to attend to matters related to the Imperial Palace, and I found myself increasingly occupied with other work.
“That’s why I wish we had something like this.”
This was precisely why I had instructed the Academy to develop baby care products and magical tools.
“The baby seems to find comfort in repeated vibrations. If we could keep her gently rocked at a consistent pace….”
I was too preoccupied with childcare to conduct research myself, but I could endlessly provide ideas for what was needed. I genuinely believed that developing magical tools to ease childcare was truly work for the Empire’s benefit.
“And the mobile shouldn’t just sway randomly in the breeze—it should move with regularity so the baby can watch it for extended periods….”
As I laid out my ideas, the researchers eagerly took notes.
“First, we should automate what’s currently done manually. And I’d like something that could substitute for breast milk. Didn’t we research something similar when I was in the Riloni Principality? What was it called—formula?”
A new frontier in magical tool development was opening up.
“I think we could implement it using the Aprilpa technique roughly.”
Dennis, who had become the second Dean following me, nodded and instinctively sensed that the Empire’s birth rate would rise considerably.
“And the baby is… truly beautiful. It’s a shame watching her grow.”
I furrowed my brow and murmured.
“I wish I could record this moment somehow…. Painting takes too much time, but is there some way to capture a moment?”
“Ah.”
Dennis blinked and suddenly jumped to his feet.
“What if we utilized a substance that reacts to light?”
“That’s it!”
I too cried out in delight at the idea that had suddenly occurred to me.
“We could capture an instantaneous image! Light can be controlled with lenses!”
Dennis and I excitedly began writing out a research proposal right there.
“How about we call it a camera.”
It was a moment that proved my passion and abilities in magical engineering had not faded even after giving birth.
“Keep researching it. Bring it to me whenever you hit a wall. I’ll think about it whenever I have time too.”
Happiness radiated from my face as I continued to pursue my favorite work at my own pace.
In any case, both Edmund and I occasionally left Antesiani’s side, and there was someone who watched for precisely those moments—Alex. Whenever an opportunity arose, he would rush over, scoop Antesiani into his arms, and beam with contentment.
“Whew, really….”
And until I returned, he happily smiled while touching Antesiani’s wriggling hands and feet.
“This really reminds me of when Kiana was little…. I think it was something like this. Though of course she wasn’t nearly this docile.”
Alex murmured as he recalled his faint memories of my childhood.
“She didn’t eat well, didn’t smile much either. Her personality was so difficult that she cried all day long.”
I thought to myself, ‘Is he criticizing me?’
“I need to hold her plenty before I head north.”
Alex said as he stroked Antesiani’s cheek.
“I’ve left the north unattended for too long. I’m planning to depart in about a month.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes. Soon the monsters will be swarming, so I’ll be needed.”
Originally, Alex had always wanted to converse with Kiana, but he’d always found it difficult because they lacked common ground. However, after Antesiani was born, whenever the topic turned to the baby, he could chat endlessly—and all with peaceful, beautiful words at that.
In a way, his wish had come true. Speaking with Kiana naturally now, without any awkwardness.
“I should head back soon. I need to tell Julius something.”
Alex spoke with eyes that held a subtle sense of ambition.
“That I’m going to seriously take up his mantle.”
“Yes, brother.”
Kiana smiled softly as she looked at Alex, who seemed at peace.
“Come visit whenever you like. We’ll visit you anytime too.”
“All right.”
Alex laughed as he brushed back his short blonde hair.
“I should pay my respects at the Prelai Ducal Residence too. To Grandfather, Father, Joshua, and my nieces and nephews.”
Alex chuckled to himself, thinking of how he could never have imagined this happening in the past. Kiana, watching him, felt similarly moved.
The three siblings had each wandered in their own way at one time. But now it felt as though everything had found its proper place. All of them cherishing family within that precious embrace, building new families as well.
So the House of Prelai was no longer fractured.
* * *
The North, the Prelai Dukedom.
Alex had been away for several months. And there was someone filled with tremendous hope—Hitten and Dolores.
Life in the North had always been harsh and difficult. Even sitting still, this frozen land where one trembled from the cold made every day of the most grueling work unbearable. Yet whether Alex was present or absent made all the difference in the world.
The time Alex spent in the North had been truly hellish. Every evening, he would approach them and vent his anger freely, so Hitten and Dolores had become terrified of nightfall.
Then one day, Alex suddenly left for the Capital. For them, it was an enormous blessing.
“Please… Please….”
Hitten prayed every night.
“Please let Alex Prelai never return again….”
With each night he grew accustomed to his absence, the wish became only more desperate.
Then one day.
“You know the monsters will be migrating soon, right? Before that happens, we’re starting a major cleaning of the ducal castle! After that, I’ll be too busy to have time!”
The day came for a massive cleaning of the ducal castle. Naturally, Hitten and Dolores were conscripted as well. As they continued with the menial tasks, their life in the Imperial Palace felt like nothing but a dream.
‘… If only Mother hadn’t been so greedy.’
Hitten ground his teeth, blaming others rather than reflecting on his own actions. Already, he and Dolores had reached the worst terms with each other, each blaming the other.
“Now, clean! Scrub! Even the corners!”
The maid assigned to Hitten happened to be extremely particular. If he’d been assigned to a careless maid, he could have gotten away with pretending to work, but he wasn’t so lucky. In truth, the place Hitten had begun cleaning was Alex’s room, though Hitten had no way of knowing.
“You need to wipe every corner of the bookshelf carefully! Hurry!”
Hitten ground his teeth as he cleaned the empty room. It was cold and exhausting, simply painful. The only consolation was that Alex Prelai wasn’t here….
“Did you hear that, Lena?”
“Huh? Hear what?”
As Hitten was cleaning diligently, he heard maids whispering among themselves.
“Alex is coming up from the Capital!”
Hitten stopped mid-wipe as he was cleaning inside a desk drawer, his breath catching in shock.
“Really? I thought he’d stay in the Capital longer?”
“Apparently not. It seems he’s planning to stay here permanently as Julius’s successor!”
It was truly terrible news.
The mere thought of Alex Prelai coming here made Hitten’s head spin. Just imagining Alex made his vision blur and his stomach churn. That nightmare… was about to unfold again?
Hitten eventually staggered and collapsed to his knees. At the same moment, the desk drawer he’d been cleaning clattered to the ground.
And….
“Huff, huff, haaack….”
A small note wedged in the corner of the drawer fell out as well. Hitten clutched his chest, feeling as though he couldn’t breathe.
“What? You’re not putting the drawer back? What are you doing?”
The Maid shouted with fierce eyes, but Hitten couldn’t hear her. His body simply trembled with fear.
“No, no, this can’t be… this can’t be….”
And the note gleamed with undeniable presence.
“Nooooooooooo! No! No! I hate this! This can’t happen! I don’t want this!”
Hitten screamed and thrashed about.
“What? Why are you resisting when I’m telling you to put the drawer you dropped back?”
And following the Maid’s tattling, Hitten received a thorough beating from the Knights of the Prelai Ducal Territory.
【End】

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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