Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 217

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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 217

“What business did you wish to conduct with me?”
“We’re hardly strangers, so why are you treating me like this?”
Flux’s state was a mess. His repeated refusals to see a visitor weren’t empty excuses—his eyes were raw and puffy, tears still streaking his clothes.
Lisianthus, by contrast, looked far better than expected. He’d imagined the man would be ragged after half a year wandering the streets like a stray dog, but here he was.
Lisianthus was dressed impeccably, his hair neat and orderly, his face composed.
“I’m busy. I have no intention of breaking the business agreement the Castrain Family and I have concluded, and I do intend to continue cooperating. But I see no reason for personal business between you and me, Lisianthus.”
“Ah, well, I thought I was rather suited for this sort of thing.”
“What are you talking about, all of a sudden?”
Flux dabbed at his eyes with a handkerchief, his irritation evident.
Unlike his younger self, Flux had grown into a fine-looking man. Compared to Lisianthus or Raymond, there was something sharper, more sensitive about his features.
Lisianthus’s expression as he regarded Flux was subtle.
Flux had remained in the Capital for Titania’s funeral. Now that the service was over, he’d been preparing to return to his territory when this Lisianthus had suddenly forced his way past the excuse of the house’s master being indisposed—hardly the sort of visit that would improve his mood.
Lisianthus smiled at the displeased man before him with unbothered ease.
“Do you know where Her Highness is?”
“Are you mocking me right now?”
Flux shot to his feet as if hurling the chair aside. Though the young man before him looked ready to throw down a gauntlet, Lisianthus’s expression remained unmoved.
“You were crying so much at the funeral.”
“And what of it? Are you suggesting I should have been smiling and laughing at the funeral of someone I cherish?”
“No. It’s just that when it comes to Titania, Flux, your patience somehow grows rather thin.”
“What?”
Flux removed his newly fitted glasses—his nearsightedness had worsened recently—and scrubbed them with his handkerchief. It was a gesture of dismissal.
“Besides, to be honest, Titania seemed happiest after the engagement was dissolved. She made it clear she wanted nothing more to do with our family, so… well, that’s something to celebrate.”
Lisianthus’s expression turned bitter as he spoke, as if he’d bitten something foul.
“So here’s what happened—suddenly, at some masquerade ball, she got into trouble with some idiot whose head is filled with sawdust, someone she never even looked at before. And you’re not angry?”
“That makes no sense.”
“Valentina, the former empress, maintains a close relationship with a certain merchant house, doesn’t she? How did the Lessen Family end up entangled with Her Highness? What happened with their grand duke that resulted in this? I thought you’d be desperately investigating until you understood every detail—rather than accepting reality and weeping into your pillow.”
Flux was dumbfounded.
Yes, Flux had been rather foolish since Titania saved him, falling for her at first sight. She’d have to coax him a bit and he’d melt easily… but when it came to business matters, his mind would normally run sharp as a drum. Though he had to admit, there were times when that sharpness would inexplicably falter.
If Titania hadn’t asked for his help and told him everything, then blood would be boiling in his head right now, and he’d have led the charge to slaughter the Lessen Family with his own hands.
He’d have steeled himself for truth and revenge, no matter how sad, angry, frustrated, and wretched it all felt.
But he couldn’t admit that to this man. All that effort squeezing out tears, all those days of onion juice under his eyes since the funeral—it would be for nothing.
“I’m conducting my own investigation! Even if we are cooperating, surely you don’t expect me to lay bare all of my intelligence network? Or are you suggesting you’re watching me?”
“No. I know because you’re a rival.”
“What?”
Flux’s mouth fell open. What was this man saying?
Of course, Flux had also tried to talk Titania out of her plan. He’d begged her to use him as her fake betrothed instead. He’d offered to help with anything she wanted, stay out of the way. Of course, Titania had smoothly reassured him that he was too splendid and magnificent for that, that public exposure was impossible for him, and he’d accepted her gentle persuasion readily enough… but.
He couldn’t deny that if he hadn’t known, he’d still be lost at the funeral, still acting foolishly by denying reality.
So the real problem here was this: Lisianthus, who was nominally his brother’s betrothed all this time, had never made an open confession to Titania, yet he instinctively knew how to spot any potential rivals—better than anyone else.
And when everyone at the funeral was wailing and desperate, when Flux was putting on a show of heartbreak, Lisianthus had immediately identified that something was off and had picked at it until he unraveled the truth.
“A rival? Her Highness Titania has severed all ties with the Castrain Family! Why would I be your rival? Who do you think you are…?”
“Do you really need to panic? Do you really need to be flustered? Unless you already knew that she chose that trash, or unless you helped her fake her death and escape under everyone’s noses, there’s no reason for me to bother proclaiming my love for Titania now, is there?”
If Titania had seen this moment, she would have sighed and said, “Is Lisianthus really that stupid? Or does he just pretend to be stupid normally?”
Evidence. None. Or rather, with the help of Hecate’s Tavern, they could shake loose a few scraps. But right now wasn’t the time to chase evidence.
All they had was suspicion.
It was fitting for a family once branded as villains in the original story. The Castrain Family was cruel to their own family and associates, yet moved like rogues toward outsiders—they’d perfected the art.
But the real truth was.
If Titania had truly died so pathetically, so absurdly.
If the Castrain Ducal House could find no further means or method to act.
“Honestly, I figured you probably have connections in magical circles too. I thought maybe you were even trying to find a way to resurrect the dead.”
“…”
The Castrain Ducal House might truly become villains in the truest sense.
Flux’s lips trembled.
No one from a family whose life’s work was killing Magic Beasts should speak such words aloud.
Resurrecting the dead? That was work for Dark Mages. Titania, who bore the title of Light God Contractor, likely had no such means—and even if she did, she’d face nothing but condemnation for using them.
But Lisianthus’s expression as he spoke these dangerous words was strangely serene. Like a dog whose master collapsed before his eyes and was carried away to the hospital, standing watch on that same street day after day, forever.
“I will not soil Her Highness Titania with such means!”
Flux cried out, his eyes raw and red.
“If I were my old self, yes, I might have considered such methods! But she entrusted me with a responsibility. She told me to think of the lives of my citizens, the people of my city I must protect! So I will not be cowardly enough to run away through such means!”
Desperate, broken, he’d even kidnapped Her Highness Titania and spouted nonsense.
But Her Highness Titania had saved him. She was his benefactor, the light of his life, and she’d even changed the way he lived.
As for what he secretly wanted—it was the chance to have Her Highness Titania all to himself.
Even if it wasn’t possible now, later they might forge a private bond away from prying eyes. Though if they were going to the trouble of hiding from everyone’s gaze, the reason probably wasn’t something as simple as “I want to play safely somewhere.”
But he wanted to fulfill that wish by any means necessary.
So watching Flux’s eyes burn with the determination to guard the secret even at the cost of his life, Lisianthus smiled—briefly, and with terrible bitterness.
“But we can’t do the same.”
“What?”
“M-my lord! The merchant house just sent word—!”
“Count Cortez is a wise man.”
Whether or not Flux’s frantic subordinate delivered the message, Lisianthus tossed an apple from the fruit basket on the table into the air and caught it repeatedly.
Flux was seized by an ominous feeling watching this.
Just yesterday he’d been congratulating himself. He’d thought that even if the Castrain Family tried to investigate Titania’s trail, they wouldn’t succeed easily.
But now, perhaps he needed to reconsider that assessment.
“Which is why even if we went mad right now, even if our eyes rolled back and we tore through your allies’ intelligence networks and businesses looking for where you’d hidden the dead Titania—if there’s compensation worth the price, he’s the sort of man who’d stay silent for the greater good.”
“What do you take the Cortez Family for!”
“I’m not disrespecting the Cortez Family. I’m just saying.”
Lisianthus had come here today as the worst kind of scoundrel.
Usually in the Castrain Family, if one or two people got out of hand, the others would rein them in. The Duke, Raymond, Bibi, even Rasper.
But in this matter concerning Titania, there was not a single person to hold them back. Not one.
“We’re that desperate.”
So Lisianthus smiled, his teeth bared white.
It would take exactly one day before Flux’s best efforts at concealment became utterly useless.

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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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