Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 145

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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 145

I finished my meticulous grooming—every hair and detail attended to, yet styled to appear effortless—and broke into a doll-like smile.
“I’ve missed you so much, Father!”
I hadn’t missed him at all. Ideally, I’d never have to see him again. The Emperor laughed heartily at me, grinning away like a service worker forced to entertain a difficult customer.
“Ah, my little songbird! Have you been well? Your Debutante went off without a hitch, I trust? Come to think of it, I really ought to have made an appearance at that grand ball myself and danced with you.”
“Oh, really now.”
As if. Brian had just been disgraced, and the Emperor certainly had no intention of throwing an Imperial ball in my honor—yet here he was spouting pleasantries. Ha.
The Emperor was an irresponsible father.
Not that I hated Titania. He simply doted on her as one might pet a favorite animal, with no thought of actually raising her or taking responsibility.
And that, naturally, made it all the worse.
If he had simply ignored me consistently, young Titania would never have harbored hope.
She wouldn’t have clung to the belief that the Emperor was her last resort, wouldn’t have spoken it like a broken record, wouldn’t have thrown tantrums at the Castrain Family while insisting he would take her side. Yet despite all those claims—that His Majesty treasured her so—she’d never received a single concrete token of his genuine favor.
“Your mother’s constitution has always been delicate, so it must have been terribly confining to remain within the Palace walls during your Debutante preparations. How fortunate you are that your aunt has taken you under her wing now.”
“By His Majesty’s grace, I’ve been safe and sound within the Palace all this time. Is there anything wrong with that? People have been most curious about the newly renovated Rose Palace!”
“Ah yes, have they?”
I was in no position to prattle on comfortably about the Rose Palace refurbishment. Not after the ball.
My Debutante had become the subject of everyone’s gossip overnight. It was exactly as I’d anticipated.
The Young Lady of the Orland Count Family, to whom Brian had asked to dance, claimed illness and refused all visitors, locking herself away within her family’s residence. The Countess of Orland similarly turned aside the flood of letters with polite excuses that she was too occupied with her daughter’s care.
A single display of reformation by Prince Brian wasn’t enough to sway the noble houses’ support entirely. Still, everyone began to recalculate—perhaps things might take a different turn from here on.
The High Society instead descended en masse upon the Lande Marquis House.
The Marquis House responded that they were refraining from private engagements due to a distinguished guest’s presence. With both families at the heart of the matter turning away visitors, everyone else simply watched and waited, observing the Castrain Family’s response—mine and Raymond’s in particular.
…Which meant the Emperor must have received lessons in succession politics too. He should know that ignoring High Society trends was unwise. Even if he’d heard that Brian had appeared unexpectedly at my Debutante to beg forgiveness, he hadn’t considered that I might play an indirect role in the struggle over imperial succession from my place beside Adrian.
On a scene so crucial, on my Debutante day no less, I’d simply played the part of a pretty, empty-headed canary, prattling on about the Rose Palace.
“Hah, well then, you should have invited some of the other young ladies to the Rose Palace to show it off. With roses in full bloom, it would be a shame for you to enjoy that view alone.”
“Your Majesty is quite right.”
“Cleo, the First Empress, was worried that as a proper Debutante, you might lack appropriate clothing and jewelry. Not to worry—your aunt will handle all that well enough—but I’ve ordered someone to send adequate furnishings to your palace. If anything is lacking, do ask for more.”
“Oh, Your Majesty, thank you so much!”
Alarm bells blared in my head. Warning! Warning! What has Cleo done now?
“I hear Brian came to celebrate at your Debutante?”
…….
At the sound of the Emperor’s voice, I blinked slowly, careful not to show my agitation. Beneath his words ran a thread of fragile hope.
“Hmm. When I heard he’d shut himself away without even venturing outside, I thought, well, he must be reflecting on his actions. But it seems he still remembers that you are family, and that even if he’s in disgrace, he should at least congratulate you on your Debutante. Isn’t that commendable?”
“Yes, I was truly delighted that Brian came to celebrate! In hindsight, I wish Adrian had danced with me too. If I’d known in advance, I would have sent him an invitation!”
I kept smiling, playing the part of a simpering younger sister who treasured her brothers, and caught the faintest flicker of irritation cross the Emperor’s face.
“Oh, I see. So our Titania and Adrian have grown quite close recently, have they?”
Never mind that I’d been in a coma after rescuing Bibi, barely awoken in the Empress’s palace, and had only just made my entrance at the Imperial ball on Adrian’s arm—and now it’s “recently” they’ve become close?
From the Emperor’s perspective, however, it seemed he didn’t like the idea of Adrian and Titania becoming so intimate that they excluded Brian.
The sheer unconscious favoritism on display—and ironic, given that until now it was Brian who’d been systematically isolating Adrian and Titania from himself.
“Adrian is better-looking, isn’t he? In terms of appearance alone, most people say there are few men who could even rival my betrothed. Well, not that Brian isn’t handsome too. But on my Debutante day, I simply wanted to dance only with the most handsome man.”
I pouted my lips like a thoughtless child with no ulterior motive, only concerned with looks, and the Emperor’s expression softened.
“Well, the boy is certainly fine to look at.”
“Your Great-Aunt preferred a quiet Debutante, so the celebration was modest in scale, but still, young men from quite respectable families attended. Yet none came close to my betrothed or Adrian!”
“Ha! You journeyed all the way to the southern reaches and back, and still found no man to compare? Ha ha! It seems our daughter can only be satisfied with the Young Duke of the Castrain Family.”
The Emperor tapped my shoulder lightly and posed his question in a measured tone.
“Tell me, does it seem to you that your aunt’s heart has softened somewhat? Does she appear ready to forgive Brian?”
“Well, his sudden appearance certainly startled her. And me too.”
“I see, I see.”
“I think she felt a little hurt, though.”
“……Hurt? She did?”
The Emperor’s face showed clear signs of deliberation. Like a child carelessly spilling an adult’s secrets, I opened my mouth and poured out every detail.
“Yes, she said he lacked consideration! For a noblewoman, there are only three days in a lifetime when she may stand out with honor: her Debutante, her wedding, and her funeral. How could he expect to be forgiven if he overshadowed her younger sister’s Debutante? If he truly wished to apologize, surely there were other opportunities—that’s what upset her.”
“Mm… I see. That boy, well, since your aunt doesn’t leave the Palace often, he was simply doing his best to…”
“And furthermore, she was upset that he violated Imperial Etiquette in the first place, and then violated it again in his apology. She said that no matter the circumstances, people are watching, and such basic rules must be observed—only then could she forgive him openly, so that others might see she had reason to do so.”
“Ah…”
The Emperor frowned and summoned the Head Servant, who stood in shadow beside him. He murmured something, though of course it was all audible.
“What rules are you referring to?”
“It is a custom that has largely fallen into disuse, but there exists an unspoken law: when someone of lower rank commits an offense against someone of higher rank, they must present a Precious Item of a color befitting the nature of that offense…”
As the Head Servant, obligated to memorize the Palace’s rules, etiquette, and history, offered this explanation, the Emperor’s face took on the expression of someone discovering yet another tediously archaic ordinance in existence.
I couldn’t agree more. Valentina, the Empress Dowager, had already told me with a laugh: “People think fifty years is ancient history. But fifty years ago, people were living their lives just as they are now. I plan to exploit that misconception quite well.”
Even when Valentina was young, this had been a rule more honored in the breach than the observance. So long as some elder even older than she didn’t emerge to complain about why such a dusty law was being resurrected now, it was no concern of ours.
“Well then, yes. If he observes at least the formal rules, perhaps those tedious old gossips outside the Palace will hold their tongues. Tell me—did your aunt mention what she would find satisfactory?”
“Ah, well…”
I made a show of being hesitant, glancing about nervously.
“She asked me not to speak of it outside, saying there’s no dignity in making Imperial Family matters loudly known…”
“Tsk! Am I a stranger? I’m your father!”
“Of course. But I hope you’ll keep it confidential from my aunt…?”
Confidential? Hardly. Every twist in this conversation had been carefully orchestrated with her beforehand. The Emperor nodded, grinning like a street peddler bribing a child with candy.
“This task, well… it seems it might be rather difficult for Brian…”
“What sort of method are we discussing?”
The Emperor pressed me eagerly, impatience written all over his face.

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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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