Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 201

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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 201

The Northern Region went to great lengths to welcome Titania.
In place of the Snow Sleigh she had ridden out on and met such a disastrous end, they constructed a custom one-person Snow Sleigh that was the collaborative work of Rasper, Pan, and the blacksmiths themselves. It even had a space for a pet so Gemina could ride safely alongside her. They tried to press all manner of other gifts upon her as well.
But Titania deflected everything as effortlessly as an impenetrable shield against an all-piercing spear.
Ha ha, that’s really cool. Ha ha, I really like it. Wow, but I’ll have to leave these behind.
She was kind as ever, drawing her usual mysterious walls in the strangest places……
So she was the same Titania as always. And yet, somehow, she had become even harder to approach than before. Bibi couldn’t understand why.
The relationship between Pan and Rasper had also come to light. While the fact that Pan was the Magic Tower Master of two generations past hadn’t been revealed to everyone, the general sense was that they were both talented mages with connections to the Tower, and people had begun to piece things together accordingly.
And so, public opinion of Titania could hardly be worse—in the best way possible.
Remembering how she’d delighted in riding the dog-drawn sleigh, it wouldn’t have been strange if, with the work done, she’d relaxed somewhat and played in the Northern Region before departing.
But Titania stubbornly insisted on leaving right away. Even Bibi’s playful coaxing fell on deaf ears.
“The Capital situation is making me anxious.”
……
The decision not to hold the Dedication Ceremony was shared only with the people of the Northern Region.
By mutual agreement, for the sake of various circumstances, they would maintain the pretense of the ceremony outside the Northern Region, continuing the ritual in name only.
Everyone knew how much the Northern Region was bound to the Dedication Ceremony, and its necessity had vanished overnight. If the world learned that it was Titania who had made this possible, suspicion alone would breed countless problems before the truth could even be established.
Not least because of the Emperor—a petty-minded man who couldn’t bear the thought of his own child being held in higher esteem than himself.
Yet Titania smiled so gently, her eyes seeming to gaze at somewhere infinitely distant, and Bibi felt her heart sink into her chest.
“…Sister. Does something hurt?”
“Hm? No, I’m fine. Look, I’m completely strong now. Even Lisianthus can’t beat me anymore.”
“……Though I suppose that’s why little brother has been spending all day practicing water manipulation with that sullen look on his face.”
Bibi let out a small sigh.
Titania showed no sign of hiding the fact that she had become completely powerful, that she was now special. One manifestation of this was what amounted to demolishing Lisianthus.
‘Yeah, so you got incredibly strong all of a sudden. But when it comes to swordsmanship alone, I still have the edge, right? What? You’re saying Fire Power is allowed? B-but—I can’t exactly fight you with my full strength. This is insane……’
‘If you win, I’ll stop complaining and take you on that outdoor camp you were whining about. Group survival training in the middle of the night with dogs and colts and no people—however it goes.’
‘…Well, not exactly, but shall we give it a shot!’
…Through some version of that conversation, Titania had a complete brawl with Lisianthus.
Whether Raymond fretted nervously beside them or not, whether Rasper exclaimed beside them ‘Wow, I never imagined such diverse applications of that technique!’, Titania succeeded in burying Lisianthus into the ground using her power in every conceivable way.
Lisianthus’s spirit broke completely, grinding his teeth and muttering ‘I’ll become someone who can burn absolutely anything in this world.’
Of course, from that rough play emerged Titania’s conclusion:
‘I don’t need an escort anymore!’
……
‘You’re right, Raymond. That’s wonderful! The road to the Capital is busy, so there’s no need for you to join us, is there?’
……
The Castrain Family’s protective escort had been rejected.
But though they had agreed not to overstate or spread word of what happened in the Northern Region, they couldn’t simply let a major benefactor of the household depart as if she were being shunned. It was a matter of basic hospitality. They couldn’t be a family that ignored a betrothed. So everyone pushed back against Titania’s request.
In the midst of this, Titania even met privately with Castrain. Neither of them disclosed the contents of that meeting to anyone……but frankly, what was most frustrating was something else.
What was truly exasperating was a different matter altogether.
Bibi glanced sideways at the person next to her.
…It was clearly Raymond, and his expression looked terrible.
“Yes. If you would permit it, both Bibi and Rasper wish to travel to the Capital as well. If you absolutely must depart for the Capital now, then perhaps the children could accompany……”
From Bibi’s perspective, it was something like: ‘Wow, my brother is actually using both me and Rasper as an excuse.’
It felt like watching a fastidious bureaucrat who lived and died by rules and principles secretly slipping someone a Snack Basket as a bribe.
“Ha ha, that won’t do.”
And that bribe of a Snack Basket was tossed through the air. Bibi could have sworn she saw the imaginary ears and tail of the canine form frost over instantly.
That’s strange—she could have sworn the canine was definitely the younger brother……
……
“What would there be to do if we went to the Capital now? Besides, information about Rasper could be dangerous if word spread wrong. Ah, is it because of studies? Even so, if we go together now, it’ll attract too much attention. Go secretly later, I’ll arrange it.”
Raymond had succeeded in joining her.
But he seemed to believe that in order to crack even slightly through Titania’s wall—the barrier she erected with such a bright smile—he would need the help of either Bibi or Rasper, the ones she was just a bit more fond of. It was a reasonable thought……
If only it actually worked.
“Ah, you’re missing your siblings? Don’t worry. I felt it last time too—when the Castrain Family mobilizes its full resources, it really is incredibly fast getting to the Capital. Just drop me off and come back down again.”
“……That wasn’t what I meant to say.”
“Summer’s passed while I’ve been here, and the Castrain Family doesn’t stay in the Capital much anyway. Soon enough the whole family will be reunited. How nice~.”
Bibi held back from saying, on Raymond’s behalf in silence, that ‘the whole family also includes you now in this situation, and that’s what makes it nice.’
Either way, they resolved to grant Titania’s wishes.
They couldn’t unconditionally demand kindness based solely on her being a benefactor. The fact that she’d saved the Castrain Duke himself yet asked for nothing in return and withdrew suggested there was a reason. Perhaps Raymond too was wrestling with a rake-like pain in his chest for reasons he couldn’t name, which was why he remained silent.
The Castrain Duke himself seemed ambiguous—aware yet unaware—of something, but since even Bibi’s playful coaxing couldn’t get him to speak, there was nothing to be done.
Titania cradled Gemina in her arms, tenderly stroking Bibi’s Hair Strands.
“I’ll go now. Let’s see each other again when I come to the Capital next year.”
…In other words, you’re saying there’s no need to see me this year? Right?!
Green eyes watched as Bibi’s feet bounced impatiently. She had already said her farewells to the rest of the family, and now was sharing this last goodbye with Bibi, who was trying to hold her back.
“I feel reassured seeing you, Bibi, and the Castrain household. You’re such a warm, happy family.”
So this sister spoke as if observing a landscape that had nothing to do with her, her smile gentle and distant.
Like a fairy who had frozen to death on a snowy day, lingering as only a spirit, watching from the lakeshore where new shoots had sprouted—a family visiting the water’s edge—speaking to no one while hiding her body in the lake’s shadow.
Taking in the warm light with her eyes, saying it’s alright, wishing them well. Speaking blessings with her lips. While I myself am like a snow brick that would crumble to dust with just a poke from someone’s fingertip.
So of course Raymond was scratching at his own insides until he became ash, and Lisianthus was circling Titania like a dog that had slipped its leash. There had always been hints of it, but lately it was especially pronounced……
‘…But.’
She’s smiling right now, after all.
“Be well and healthy. You promised with your sister.”
When she says goodbye and asks to see me again with a healthy face, then. So.
“……Yes. I promised with you.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say the opposite while facing that smile. And so Bibi helplessly exchanged her final farewells with Titania.
In just a few years, she decided, she would regret not grabbing her sister’s ankles right then and clinging to her like a wet towel.

* * *

I should have refused the escort. What is this? I knew the other side would come at me with all sorts of struggles and attacks, so going alone would have been fine.
But that didn’t work out, so here we are.
Ha ha ha ha, what misfortune dogs me. I can’t even die as I please, yet living is such a chore~.
-…Contractor, you need to pull yourself together.
I was about to slap my own cheek back to sense when I identified the person before me and stopped. It was Raymond, frozen pale blue.
To explain the situation:
While returning to the Capital with the Castrain Family’s escort forces, another incident had occurred.
This time, the methods were somewhat more cunning.
There was a small village where people who secretly worshipped the Dark God—commonly called Dark Cult followers—had settled.
From that village, they had seduced and brainwashed residents from nearby villages, distributing hostages throughout tunnels they’d secretly dug underground. Naturally, Magic Beasts were scattered throughout as well.
They weren’t exceptionally strong Magic Beasts.
And the Dark Cult followers themselves—nothing grandiose about them. Just the dregs of the earth, like Kosheay, who wanted Immortality using Dark Power or whatever petty nonsense.
Overall, it was a plan that was desperate to put me in danger. So even I, with experience from my previous world, fell for it helplessly.
“…Your Highness Titania.”
I laughed with Raymond staring at me so desperately beside me. At least my facial muscles were intact.

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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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