Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 204

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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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Episode 204

“Say, Your Highness.”
Debbie stole a glance at me.
More precisely, ever since I’d affixed my seal to the Annulment Agreement and sent it off to the Castrain Ducal House, she’d been watching me closely. Had Bibi said something to her?
Now, after several years had passed, Debbie wore her affection for me plainly. Whenever I dressed well and went laughing to a Banquet with Adrian, she’d bounce about as though she’d grown wings herself. At some point, the thought struck me that it might not be wrong to call her my own household rather than the Castrain Ducal House’s—and that had troubled me.
“Yes? What is it?”
“…Lately, you’ve been purchasing jewelry and gowns rather frequently, haven’t you?”
“Looking for a new Betrothal candidate?”
Clang! The tray Debbie was holding clattered to the floor. It was unlike her. I deliberately ignored her stiffened lips and turned to Sara instead. “Yes, Sara. Let’s go with Peridot for today’s jewelry—the one the Imperial Consort gifted me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“A-a new Betrothal c-candidate?”
“His Majesty has already approved it, and from what I can tell, it seems he’ll announce it today.”
“T-today?!”
Debbie let out a sound like a creaking hinge, as though she hadn’t heard a thing. It was unusual for her, who ordinarily smiled through everything with shameless ease.
The face of the Emperor appeared in my mind—the day I’d gone to ask him to break the engagement quietly, so rumors wouldn’t spread. He’d looked like a fisherman who’d caught three fish with a single bait.
On the surface, he’d consoled his daughter over the broken Betrothal, saying, “Well, if you and your betrothed have grown so distant, there’s nothing to be done,” and given his approval. But behind closed doors, he’d immediately pushed forward with marriage talks with the Grove Kingdom.
An International Marriage Alliance was, above all else, an International Marriage Alliance. Aside from the Emperor’s eagerness to be rid of me as soon as possible, the dignity of a nation meant it couldn’t be settled in a day or two.
He’d announce it once the talk of my Engagement Annulment with the Castrain Ducal House had faded from people’s lips, and then I’d be sold off overseas. Ha ha ha.
But the Emperor, it seemed, had some tact—he hadn’t openly asked whether I meant to become the second wife of a neighboring king mere moments after Engagement Annulment from a handsome, well-born, and capable betrothed.
Well, that was a matter of time anyway.
“I have some sense of propriety myself, you see. I don’t particularly want to leave for a distant kingdom. If I secure one decent candidate for a husband and create a scandal around it, what will His Majesty do?”
“…”
Debbie’s lips moved silently. I knew well enough what she wanted to say.
‘In that case, why break the Engagement in the first place…’
That won’t do. I’m about to become a free Titania.
“Your Highness, wouldn’t it be wise to think about this a bit longer? There are plenty of reasons to skip the Ball. Just a little more thought, please…”
“Whether I attend the Ball or not won’t change what His Majesty announces.”
While Debbie tore at her hair in a way unlike herself, my preparations were completed.
It was a far more elaborate outfit than I typically wore. From hair to feet, diamonds, pearls, and Peridot gleamed brilliantly.
Adrian, long accustomed to playing my partner, greeted me in formal wear of white with mint-green accents. Seeing how plainly I glittered, he let out a weary, “Wow,” as though he’d grown tired of it all.
“You’ve really decided on this, haven’t you…”
“Today’s concept is ‘I may have broken my Engagement, but I’m so beautiful and young that I can find a suitable husband whenever I please.'”
“…Are you trying to provoke the Imperial Consort?”
He saw right through me.
Cleo was desperate to send me overseas. More precisely, was she planning an assassination attempt after I’d been sent abroad?
But if I married a domestic noble and settled here, I’d become an eyesore she couldn’t ignore.
There was something that would irritate her even more.
I placed my hand on Adrian’s arm and walked toward the Banquet hall, simply smiling.
“You said you wanted to leave quietly, so why deliberately provoke the Imperial Consort?”
“Because if Cleo doesn’t get involved, it won’t be strange if I suddenly die young.”
Even if it’s been years, the Castrain Ducal House will remember very well what I’ve accomplished. I’ve healed ordinary wounds on my own, defeated Magic Beasts with blood, and even restored Orto to health. Even I think, ‘What kind of insane ability is this?’
If the gang that attacked us in the Southern Region comes at us again, the story would be different, but Jeong said, ‘It seems like they’re stockpiling power.’
“Honestly, I still can’t say your plan is a good one…”
A loud voice announced the arrival of Adrian and myself. Adrian whispered quietly near my ear.
“The aftermath will be your responsibility. …I hear the Castrain Ducal House members, who’ve been in seclusion in the Capital, are attending today.”

* * *

Today there were more people than usual.

“Your Highness, the attention you’re drawing is… considerable.”
Joon was the heir-apparent of the Orland Count Family, a vassal house of the Castrain Ducal House, and used the excuse that his succession hadn’t yet been confirmed to maintain contact with me like a cunning man. Even I, who’ve officially almost severed ties with the Castrain Family, agreed to his continued friendship because there was no more effective way to signal that I’d grown distant from my former betrothed than to appear cordial with a “rival in love.”
“Right? Why are you dressed so… childishly today?”
Meribell threw a rather blunt remark at me. The way I immediately flustered and began stammering excuses at her must have looked like a squirrel scattering acorns from a basket.
“Of course I’m not saying you’re not beautiful! It’s just that you’ve draped yourself so rudely in jewelry that it’s amazing your beauty doesn’t die under the shine of the gems, but other people will think the Princess…”
“…thinks I’m foolish. That I’m showing off by draping myself in jewels.”
“Why then? You should dress most elegantly, most beautifully, most glamorously!”
I saw the Emperor seated in the center, the Imperial Consort Cleo beside him, and the Empress sitting at some distance from them both. Cleo flashed a triumphant smile in my direction.
“…I have an announcement to make at this gathering.”
The Emperor cleared his throat formally and continued. The content was simple. Beneath layers of diplomatic formality and flowery language, the conclusion was straightforward.
“…And thus we have decided to render this Betrothal null and void. That said, the Castrain Ducal House remains an eternal ally of the Imperial Family, and that friendship shall continue…”
A ripple of commotion spread through the hall.
‘Really?’
‘We did suspect it lately…’
‘So the seat beside the Young Duke is vacant now?’
‘There were rumors, but really? So then…’
Whether the Emperor continued speaking or not, the nobles whispered among themselves, their voices lowered. On any other occasion, he would have been furious at such commotion before he’d even finished. But today he merely finished his announcement, told everyone to enjoy the Imperial Palace Banquet, and that was that.
The Empress used the excuse of poor health to leave early. The moment she was gone, the Emperor took the first dance with the Imperial Consort.
Clearly disliking complications, the Emperor left as soon as the first dance ended. But the Imperial Consort approached me.
“Princess Titania.”
“It’s been a long time, Imperial Consort.”
“Yes. It truly has been ages.”
Cleo’s acting had improved considerably—she was in peak form. Her expression gazing at me was very gentle.
“Aren’t you sad?”
“About what?”
“Your Betrothal is broken. It was something decided practically the moment you were born, you know.”
The Imperial Consort placed her palm against my cheek as though consoling me. The warmth felt through her glove was icily cold. We both knew how profoundly rude it was to place a hand on the other’s made-up face.
“Aren’t you lonely? Aren’t you sad? I still remember, even now, how little Princess Titania used to call out for Raymond constantly.”
“…”
“Look there. The Castrain Family members, who refuse to attend Imperial Palace events as a rule, have come.”
Her eyes were sharp, studying me.
After the matter with the former Crown Princess Valentina dealt Cleo a severe blow, she’d noticeably quieted. She no longer displayed the blatant attitude of old, ‘I am above the Empress.’ With Brian’s behavior reformed and Cleo herself more docile, her influence had actually grown larger than before.
I seized the hand Cleo had placed on my cheek. And I squeezed.
—Contractor! Excellent! Crush it! Crush that hand!(✧˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ु⁾⁾
‘Damn it, I shouldn’t encourage her. Can’t cause trouble here!’
Under the surge of pain, Cleo’s lip trembled faintly. I released the hand that had suffered a moment of searing agony and smiled.
“I did cling to the Young Duke in my childhood. I couldn’t leave the Imperial Palace, and there was no loving adult to cherish me. If such an exceptional person was to be my match, I thought perhaps I could become exceptional too. But, Imperial Consort.”
I whispered quietly near her ear.
“Why should I cling to the Young Duke? I can crush your arm without his help.”
“…”
“Perhaps I’m even stronger than Prince Brian.”
Cleo’s face froze instantly. As though she’d never imagined such a scenario.

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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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