Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 150

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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 150

Adrian watched the carriage recede into the distance for a moment, then whistled softly as he made his way through the Imperial Palace. There was somewhere he needed to be.
The summer heat beat down fiercely, warming the sand of the Temporary Training Ground. Adrian laughed naturally, as if he himself were a sunflower turning toward the rays.
“It’s been a long time, Gregory!”
“…Your Highness Adrian?”
Gregory, who had been swinging his sword through the air, froze at the sight of him, his expression turning stiff.
Most of the Imperial Palace Forces who had escorted Titania all the way to the southern reaches had returned in dire straits. Cleo had been enraged.
Gregory in particular, once her trusted subordinate, now remained under a Suspension Order, confined to his quarters within the Imperial Palace. Considering the custom of providing long leave or allowing recovery at one’s own residence for a person of his rank and ability, even if he were a senior official—
Even Cleo, for all her power, could not simply discard or execute a Royal Guard commander-grade officer, no matter how straitened her circumstances had become. The best she could do was destroy his pride and block his path to advancement.
And so, even if she snubbed Gregory for a time, everyone knew she would eventually reinstate him.
Because of this, though he received no proper salary and had to subsist on meals provided in the Imperial Palace Quarters, the flow of food and bribes smuggled to him by fellow soldiers and peers had never completely ceased.
Especially not in recent days, since the matter of Prince Brian had become the talk of the court.
“You’ve heard that our Titania is leaving the Imperial Palace today, haven’t you? Now that I think about it, I found myself missing you. How have you been?”
“I failed to protect the safety of Your Highness properly, so I deserve the punishment I receive.”
“Ha, I heard your men scattered in all directions too? From what I gather, Gregory did his best—it just seems like unfortunate circumstances piled on top of each other. Titania was concerned about it too.”
It was a lie. Adrian showed no discomfort.
That girl would certainly sell his name when the occasion called for it. Though he harbored no illusions that his present company would swallow such falsehoods wholesale.
Adrian’s narrow, upturned eyes surveyed the empty Training Ground. The sand worn into the floor, Gregory’s movements as his sword carved through the air—
“Still, it seems Her Majesty Cleo takes an interest in you. The way you’re warming up suggests you have work coming soon?”
“A knight’s duty is to keep his body sharp through constant training. I simply fulfill that duty.”
“Then nothing’s amiss?”
“…What business brings you to see me?”
Odd. He used to know how to curry favor with the royal family, Adrian thought coldly.
“I have no escort of my own, you see. Unlike Brian, I’m not blessed with social grace or good friends outside the palace.”
“…”
Gregory’s expression remained as if he were chewing something bitter. As Cleo’s man and Adrian’s near-enemy, he couldn’t fathom why Adrian would visit and feign friendship.
“So I need a guardian knight to accompany me at the Hunting Competition His Imperial Majesty is planning to hold.”
“A Hunting Competition? You intend to participate?”
Gregory could not hide his surprise. Adrian gave a slight shrug.
It was true that the Emperor had been considering holding a Hunting Competition. But given that recruiting Brian’s return through such a spectacle by putting his own name forward seemed rather unseemly, the Emperor was currently scouting among the great noble houses to borrow a name instead.
Yet this man already knew a Hunting Competition would be held. Adrian, having finished his light probing, smiled.
“Well, it’s a good opportunity, isn’t it? Mother’s health still hasn’t improved. If I could win and make her happy, that would be something.”
“Your Filial Piety is truly remarkable.”
“Truth is, I can’t very well drag capable knights who are doing their work well within the palace. But you—you have no duties at the moment, so it shouldn’t cause much hardship to ask. That’s why I’m here.”
Both speaker and listener understood this was empty pretense.
Yet Gregory was of lower rank and had just admitted he was not occupied with duties. To refuse outright would be awkward.
“Of course, it would be a great honor to assist Your Highness Adrian. However, as I am essentially under confinement for failing to properly serve Her Highness Titania, appearing at your side in an official capacity would only bring shame upon you, I fear.”
At Gregory’s polite refusal, Adrian expressed his regret.
“Ah, is that so? What a pity. I thought you’d be reliable and a great help to me. Then, what of your subordinates?”
“My subordinates?”
“There’s been considerable turnover within the Imperial Palace, hasn’t there? Given all that’s happened. Some dismissed, some reassigned, and so on. Since you yourself have lost your salary, surely some of your men face hardship. If you could recommend a few, I’d be grateful. I could offer them financial assistance at least.”
Gregory fell silent for a moment, as if even this request was difficult to refuse. What Adrian said was fact. Gregory himself had been forgiven only because Cleo chose to hold him in reserve for later use. The other soldiers had borne the brunt of her anger. They weren’t killed, but expelled from the palace or demoted to minor posts. Many had lost their salaries.
Even if Adrian used them for some scheme, they were too insignificant for Cleo to care. And it was true that Adrian had no loyal forces of his own—
“…If that is your wish, I shall select and recommend some men to you. Would commoners be acceptable?”
“Yes, as long as they’re capable.”
“Understood. Is that the extent of your business?”
“Well, I’ve interrupted your training without notice. I’ll take my leave now. I’ll make good use of the men you recommend.”
“Farewell.”
Adrian waved to Gregory and departed the ground with a light step. Once a sufficient distance had opened and the Training Ground was no longer in sight, he clicked his tongue softly.
“Are you there?”
“Yes~!”
It was Debbie, her voice cheerful. While Adrian had been speaking with Gregory, she had swiftly searched the Quarters and the Training Ground area and was now returning, brushing off her skirts.
Just as she’d been about to leave after seeing Titania off, Adrian had asked her—saying it was also for Titania’s sake and begging her to spare a moment—and she’d followed along and done him a small favor. Now she emerged from thin air in an instant, smoothing her dress.
“How was it?”
“Yes, there really are signs of someone else! Many others besides Gregory visited that place repeatedly! That Training Ground itself seems like bait too.”
“Thank you.”
Whoosh—a gold coin flew. Debbie caught it deftly.
“Normally, the only one who can give me orders is Her Highness Titania, you understand?”
“Hmm, so you’re saying my payment falls short. I heard you like pretty things. Would this suffice as payment?”
Adrian rested his palm beneath his chin, tilting his head with a smile. When Debbie saw the prince’s beautiful smile—his eyes narrowed in amusement—she widened her eyes.
“…Wow! You really do look just like Her Highness Titania! Where did I put that Image Stone—I should capture this and show it to the princess together with—”
“Ha ha ha ha.”
Adrian let out a short laugh, watching Debbie maintain the posture of a collector rather than someone merely admiring.
“That girl probably doesn’t like having her own image captured, does she? If you want to collect Image Stones, you’ll have to make do with mine.”
“What?”
Debbie tilted her head.
“How would you know that?”
“Since she ‘changed,’ has she ever taken pride in her appearance? She’s only ever seen it as a tool. Well, given the environment she was in, it couldn’t be helped.”
The child who had once acted as though her beauty was her only value had now transformed into someone indifferent—as if asking, what does my appearance matter?
She still took care with her grooming because it made dealing with people easier, but it was worlds apart from the girl who once admired her hair and eye color in the mirror.
Moreover, though she accepted help from the House of Castrain, she seemed reluctant to be treated permanently as their beneficiary or to remain bound to them forever. There was no chance she’d welcome having her image preserved on an Image Stone.
Adrian thought his sister pitiful for this excess of conscience.
If Adrian had been Titania, he would have behaved more shamelessly. Not so callously as to strip a person to their bones, but having already made something his own, he would have savored it.
But Titania was far too good a child.
So good that she gradually came to see even this unscrupulous older brother as family.
So good that even against an enemy, if there were grounds for pity, she would falter without realizing it.
“Perhaps I should try a little harder…”
So family is the instinct not to show roughness before a sister, Adrian thought. Despite the height of summer, his smile held no warmth.
It was the smile of a snake hidden in the shadow of a tree.

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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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