Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 110

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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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Chapter 110

“It has been quite some time, Titania.”
It was a warm and intimate evening dinner. A cozy family meal to welcome me back to the Imperial Palace after so long away.
The moment the Emperor spoke, every eye at the table turned toward me. The gazes of the Empress and Prince Brian were particularly sharp—like daggers. If I tried to eat in this atmosphere, I’d choke for certain.
I forced down the turbulent feelings rising inside me and smiled as brightly as I could—at the Emperor, who regarded me with such evident pride.
“Your Majesty! Oh, I’m so overwhelmed! The Rose Palace is absolutely beautiful!”
“Of course, of course. You are as lovely as the roses of the Imperial Family. I instructed the gardeners to spare no expense in cultivating the finest roses. Does it please you?”
“It pleases me immensely! I feel as though I’m living inside a bouquet!”
-And wasn’t it you complaining that just having roses planted in the Rose Palace wasn’t enough? (o.o;)
‘So this is what we call white lies for social survival.’
I maintained an expression of genuine emotion while my mind wandered elsewhere entirely.
But the Rose Palace truly had been arranged to my satisfaction.
Working through Lisianthus with my repeated demands—”More passages! Hidden passages! Make it so no one can follow!”—had borne fruit. Only after Sara had been dismissed and Mary, sufficiently discouraged, along with the new servants had all vanished did Debbie finally guide me through the concealed corridor.
By some means or other, they’d managed to tunnel an entire passage underground, allowing me to slip in and out through the rarely-frequented rear entrance of the Imperial Palace without anyone’s notice. Beyond that, my chambers now contained a double wardrobe—one that used optical illusion so cleverly that when you looked inside, it appeared unremarkably narrow, yet it contained a hidden compartment easily large enough to conceal a person.
I’d devised multiple safety measures, but truth be told, with Cleo and Natalie joining forces, I couldn’t be entirely certain what they might attempt.
“My goodness, of course you’re the brightest flower among them all, Princess Titania. How was your journey? I heard so many rumors I was quite worried.”
Cleo smiled and turned the conversation toward me, speaking as though nothing whatsoever had happened. Her natural manner was truly impressive.
By now, I’d expected the Emperor would lift her confinement. Still, the fact that she wasn’t wearing the Ocean of Stars brooch she’d flaunted so proudly before, and dressed so unusually conservatively, showed that she remained cautious.
Brian, unlike his mother, hadn’t managed perfect composure—his gaze toward me was particularly sharp and hostile.
It was a pity that his mother’s acting skills, which performed so flawlessly before the Emperor, couldn’t be shared—the way she smiled while delivering poisoned barbs: “I’ve been hearing some strange rumors, but you did conduct yourself properly, yes?” I couldn’t help but admire her technique. No, actually, if I mimicked her, I’d be the one in trouble.
“Thanks to your concern, everything went smoothly. Oh, that reminds me! Since I’ve traveled so far, I’ve prepared gifts!”
I clapped my hands, signaling the attendants to enter. As I’d instructed beforehand, they filed in carrying boxes and placed one in front of each member of the royal family seated at the table.
The Emperor was the first to open the ornate crimson velvet box before him. A fragrant aroma wafted across the table.
“For Your Majesty, I procured a Holy Vessel—petals from the sacred World Tree preserved in holy water. It’s said to purify evil intentions and invigorate the body. I thought it might benefit your health, Father.”
The Emperor’s mouth fell open as he broke into a beaming smile.
“Oh! This is truly a precious item. Wherever did you obtain such a thing?”
“Though shameful to admit, I managed to acquire it through everyone’s help. It would have been impossible without reaching the Southern Region.”
The story was grand, but the object itself was not so extraordinary. The World Tree is precious because it carries the essence of the world, but these petals had already lost their vitality—they were merely an exquisitely rare and expensive perfume. Cleo opened her gift while maintaining her smile.
Fabric so supple it rippled without even the whisper of a sound unfurled—a deep, dark blue-green like a captured night sky. Cleo’s eyes shifted subtly.
“It’s a precious fabric from abroad. Even the finest cloth merchants in the Southern Region couldn’t determine what material it is. The High Priest examined it and assured me it’s safe for human skin, but I thought such an otherworldly luster would look out of place on an ordinary person. I believe if you, the beautiful Empress, were to have a dress made from this fabric, how stunning you would appear?”
“…….”
Cleo fell silent for a moment, her eyes subtly narrowing as she tried to discern my intention. I simply smiled at her, unbothered.
“Oh my, Titania. How could you think of me so kindly! Yet to give me such precious fabric… Looking at this elegant color, wouldn’t it suit Her Majesty the Empress far better?”
She was deflecting—making it clear she didn’t understand my intent and passing the responsibility to the Empress. At that very moment, the Empress, who’d been sitting quietly, opened her own box. Hers contained a simple black cameo brooch engraved with an eagle symbolizing the House of Integria.
“No one but I could receive this.”
“It’s a humble piece unworthy of Your Majesty’s dignity, but I felt it was something I could only give to you. I purchased it the moment I saw it.”
The Empress immediately fastened the brooch to her dress. We’d coordinated in advance, so the Empress was wearing a neat grey-toned gown today.
“How could I, alone, be greedy enough to accept two gifts the young princess brought for her family? Besides, this is truly beautiful fabric—only someone of the Empress’s stature could do it justice. I’ll accept it without further objection.”
“……Well then, I suppose I shall. Since the fabric is precious, I shall use it for something equally precious.”
Cleo accepted the gift with a smile, sensing she could deflect no further. Prince Brian and Prince Adrian both opened their gifts.
Their gifts were unremarkable—a pair of ordinary short swords. The hilts were carved from the dense wood that grows only in the Southern Region, each adorned with gemstones of different colors.
“Ha ha, Princess. The gifts for the princes are nearly identical. Are you favoring one brother over the other?”
The Emperor spoke in jest.
“Since they’re both men, I thought I could discern what would suit Her Majesty or the Empress, but for my brothers… I confess I had no idea what they might prefer. Still, these are precious items inscribed with prayers to drive away Magic Beasts and grant blessings.”
As I smiled radiantly, Brian’s eyes darkened. Why, after someone had just been chased down by a Magic Beast and knocked unconscious, would he receive a gift inscribed with prayers to drive away Magic Beasts and grant blessings? He looked positively annoyed.
Exactly. I sent it to annoy him. Ha ha. If he dislikes it, he shouldn’t have passed out from a Magic Beast.
I’d deliberately distributed these gifts before the Emperor precisely to see these reactions. The Emperor was beaming with delight at his present—it would be difficult for anyone who wasn’t utterly foolish to reject their gift or show displeasure in front of him.
“Titania, thank you. I’ve gained precious items thanks to you.”
“Not at all.”
As Adrian and I exchanged warm words, Brian remained silent as if glue had been pasted to his lips. Cleo pinched his side where no one else could see. Brian forced out words of thanks to me, his voice clearly strained.
“…Thank you, Titania.”
“I hope you find it useful, brother.”
“I shall, certainly.”
His tone was so deliberately sinister it was clear he’d rather use that short sword on my throat than on any Magic Beast, but I simply smiled innocently, as if I’d noticed nothing at all. Just as I thought the gift ceremony might be winding down with all the laughter and pleasantries, Cleo suddenly dropped a bomb.
“Oh, Titania. Isn’t there one more person who should receive a gift?”
“…Excuse me?”
A chill ran through me suddenly. My instincts blared a warning, pounding like a frantic heartbeat.
“Well, it’s only fair to say—Your Majesty, while you’ve shown great affection to this lacking Empress, there was in fact another great beauty in the Imperial Palace. Titania, though you were so small when you grew up without a mother, you’ve forgotten even your own birth mother at times, haven’t you?”
“…….”
Cleo drew out her words meaningfully. The Emperor coughed awkwardly. He too had completely forgotten about Elaine despite having repeatedly instructed that her “absence” be properly acknowledged at these meaningless family dinners.
It felt like I’d been struck from behind, but I couldn’t simply accept this. I forced myself to speak.

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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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