Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 121

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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 121

Still, having received Fabric as a gift in public, she had no choice but to wear something made from it. The Fabric had passed inspection and been declared safe, yet she must have felt uneasy regardless.
So Cleo tucked away the Fabric I’d given her somewhere deep and secure, then had something tailored from what she already owned—something she would never normally wear to an occasion like this: Fabric containing genuine Demon Beast Byproducts. I confirmed this fact through Sara.
The jeweled gemstone set into the sword I’d gifted Brian was a Mana Stone capable of Location Tracking. I’d thought she might destroy the sword or send it outside the Imperial Palace altogether. But since it was a gift received by the entire family before the Emperor himself, if later the Emperor said something like, “Now that I think of it, didn’t you receive that sword? Let me see it,” Cleo apparently decided it would be troublesome. She’d had it stored in the secret vault of Daisy Palace that Sara reported on. And inside, the Fabric I’d gifted remained intact.
Cleo probably misunderstood. She thought something had been put into the cup passed to Elaine and the Empress at the Banquet Hall. Perhaps she’d even hoped that examining the cup and the wine would turn up something.
I didn’t tamper with the wine at all.
As for the liquid inside the cup that Sara deliberately shattered right next to Cleo—well, that’s a different matter entirely.
The liquid splashed onto Cleo’s dress and the hem dissolved. Black smoke rose up, and both the Empress and Elaine inhaled it. Since the plan would fall apart if Cleo or the Emperor breathed in the smoke, I deliberately blocked it from reaching them both using the Power of Wind.
The Cufflinks on Adrian’s wrists and the Jeweled Button I’d attached as decoration to my dress were Mana Stones for Purification. It wasn’t the exhausted World Tree Leaf that recovered the Empress and Elaine—it was Adrian and I, who subtly positioned ourselves beside them and activated the Mana Stones.
As for the Laxative she’d mixed into my drink—that was rather amusing. She didn’t know that I could purify something like that with the sword’s power!
But I anticipated that once she saw me drinking the Laxative and remaining perfectly fine, she would assume I’d swapped out everything in the cup and would demand an investigation in that direction.
Ha! Go ahead and work hard at it. If Brian had been even slightly less dense, I could have enjoyed watching Cleo march forward confidently to devour us, only to trip over her own feet and crash—for much longer.
“I’ve heard that after Cleo received the Fabric from me, she repeatedly summoned the merchant who had been providing it to her regularly. Our suspicions were correct.”
Hecate’s Tavern had finally succeeded this time in investigating the merchant who had entered the Imperial Palace. While they hadn’t grasped the complete truth, it was only a matter of time. Raymond, who knew all the before-and-after details of the sudden commotion Adrian and I had caused before the nobility, spoke with a long sigh at the end.
“But to do that directly before the nobility…. Was such a method truly necessary?”
“I wanted to test Sara one last time.”
To cause a commotion near Cleo, break a cup, and splatter its contents onto her dress.
Of course, unless Cleo’s attention was heavily occupied elsewhere, she would be able to tell who was responsible. If she suspected, “Wait, Sara—what are you doing here right now?” it would be over. I’d given her the task expecting she’d be distracted watching whether I drank the laced liquid, but it was a near-gamble. And Sara pulled it off.
“I wanted to make it difficult for anyone to make a move when faced with pitiful children standing on the brink of losing their mother before everyone’s eyes.”
The nobility weren’t fools, so they wouldn’t simply believe everything they saw was entirely true.
Honestly, the timing was far too convenient. Some nobles likely suspected that the whole thing had been orchestrated in advance.
But it had always been the Empress Consort’s specialty—to crush and mock an opponent even while knowing the game was rigged.
I did deliberately have Valentina brought in at that exact moment, partly because I expected there would be some kind of counterattack.
“And I was curious about Elaine’s reaction.”
Would she be angry? Shocked at thinking she was dying? Startled at discovering what scheme I’d concocted?
Elaine, who was so frail that it was noteworthy for her to leave her own palace, showed no surprise whatsoever at the state of her body as she barely opened her eyes after collapsing.
She didn’t express anger about how such a thing had happened. Her eyes were dry, as if scattered flour made from dried flower petals. She didn’t noticeably take Cleo’s side, and though she followed Valentina’s insistent words on the surface, I couldn’t read her true feelings.
When I first saw her at the banquet, I was so shocked that I couldn’t properly assess her. After bracing myself and looking again, I could finally collect my thoughts. And then I understood.
Yes. That person truly acts as though her own life doesn’t matter in the slightest.
‘Sister, are you really all right……?’
Bibi, who had hesitated to use a Communication Orb to contact me even while sending letters and dolls, finally reached out to me just before I orchestrated this whole affair, her face looking ready to cry.
‘It’s not your fault, Bibi.’
Watching her eyes cloud with guilt, I smiled calmly.
‘It’s neither your fault nor mine.’
Well, people can wobble a bit in life. Feel sorrow. Hesitate to believe.
That’s all right.
I turned over again and again the thought I’d had on that day when petals were scattering.
I’ll be all right.
I remembered the golden eyes of the man who apologized to me again and again, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Hearing those words didn’t immediately fill the hole in my chest. I couldn’t fully believe every word either. I simply decided not to resent or blame him for anything.
If being born as Elaine’s daughter, as a Princess, wasn’t my sin, then being born as the Young Duke of the Castrain Family and being betrothed to me against his will couldn’t be a sin either. I would accept his kindness as purely kindness. I wouldn’t waver with inferiority complex…….
I couldn’t ruin my life by being trapped in anger, lingering attachment, and obsession.
Reflecting on the existence of Elaine, I suddenly had this thought. Yes. She didn’t want to, but she entered the palace, bore a child she didn’t want, and could even resent that child.
She could live in forgetfulness, then much later, finding her child’s way of living displeasing, grasp hands with another and scheme.
How was that any different from the original Titania’s life?
In another sense, weren’t they a strikingly similar mother and daughter?
Never given a chance to live differently—rotting away inside the palace, existing only to blame others.
Since I’d awakened to the Memories of Past Life, gained the strength to stand against vile people, and begun a new life—if there are people who worry about me, send me gifts, and wish good things for me, then I should simply plan to live well and happily with those people going forward.
“And because I believed that if I were ever truly in danger, you would help me.”
Having backing is more reassuring than one might think. Though they hadn’t appeared alongside us at the Banquet Hall, members of the Castrain Family had occupied their place and watched over us.
Both Adrian and I could relatively rest easy. Even if the Empress Consort had tried to openly kill me, there would have been no problem.
Ha! The Castrain Family is on my side. In times like these, it really is reassuring.
Seeing my face break into a wide smile, Raymond’s eyes widened. That was when it happened. Beside him, Lisianthus deliberately cleared his throat with a loud cough.
“Of course we would. I’d follow you to the very end of hell itself.”
“No, hell isn’t necessary.”
“If you told me to smash up anywhere in the Imperial Palace, I’d smash it up.”
“Just hearing you say that makes it sound like I go around destroying things wherever I go.”
-……(◔ᴗ◔)…….
‘What is that expression?’
-Oh, no, I’m always a sincere and diligent sword for a sincere and sincere contractor!(⌒⏑⌒)!
‘I—well, of course I’ve set a few fires and hit a few people, but it was all for noble reasons!’
As the sword and I bickered briefly in our hearts, someone knocked on the door. It opened, and a maidservant with a familiar face approached carefully and bowed her head to me.
“…Ah, Elaine has asked to meet with you, Your Highness Princess Titania….”
It was the message I’d been waiting for.

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After Brian was dragged out of the Imperial Palace, the banquet concluded ungracefully. The Emperor left his seat, putting on a show of harmony with Valentina and Elaine. At a glance, they looked like a truly affectionate relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
The Empress and Adrian, using the pretext of poor health, followed in his wake. Titania also slipped out of the Banquet Hall with surprising speed. Cleo left with her teeth clenched, and whispers from others reached her ears.
“It’s a disgrace, a disgrace.”
“I never would have thought Prince Brian was so…. arrogant.”
Tee-hee, heh-heh. Whispered mockery, voices lowered.

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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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