Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 293

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Side Story 1. Good morning, sunshine (7)

“…When did you prepare all this?”
“Ever since Titania mentioned it back then, everything?”
I rubbed my eyes at the landscape spread before me.
After my bashful confession and that fervent kiss, Raymond wore a smile so genuinely, so deeply happy that I’d never quite seen before. Then he told me we should go see “those wonderful things” right now.
Right now?
At this hour?
In the middle of the night?
And I left Bibi in her room?
If Jemina found out I’d disappeared with Raymond in the dead of night, she’d be furious?
There were a thousand things I wanted to say, truly, but when I looked at that radiant face—a face that bloomed with such open, uncalculated joy—nothing came out of my mouth.
Watching a man who usually radiated cold, dangerous intensity smile with the gentle, unguarded expression of a boy—all without saying a word, just keeping my lips sealed—was far too beautiful to interrupt.
So what if Bibi gets upset? So what if Jemina gets upset? I can smooth things over. Did I really need to turn him down now and wreck that smile?
‘I think I finally understand what they mean by Incomparable Beauty. Yes, yes. I think I can grasp why an emperor might wish to tear silk or anything else to shreds, the kind of obsession that drives you to ruin beautiful things just to possess them.’
—……Contractor, you look happy. (￣□￣)
‘Y-yes, yes, happy. I’m happy. I know I’m being shallow about this.’
—No, he definitely aimed for exactly this…….•́ ‿ •̀
I swallowed hard and let Raymond pull me along.
We arrived at the southernmost tip of the Empire.
On a sparsely populated cliff ridge stood a house that looked like it had stepped out of a painting, and the moment we emerged from it, a deep azure sea horizon spread before us—a place of true fortune.
A place where you could watch the sun rise and set better than anywhere else. Nameless flowers bloomed in modest clusters, giving the whole scene a storybook quality.
The three-story house with its kitchen and courtyard was a perfectly reasonable size.
But the location—standing on a flat stretch of barren cliff where you couldn’t spot another soul—made me shake my head in wonder. Whoever built it here must have suffered terribly.
“Wow, a house even in a place like this…… exists?”
I was about to praise Raymond for somehow knowing about and securing a house in such a remote location, but he answered matter-of-factly:
“Ah, yes. I built it.”
“…I’m sorry?”
“Now that I understand Titania’s tastes a little better.”
“……You built it? A house?”
“It didn’t take terribly long. If there’s anything you’d like changed, please feel free to tell me.”
“…….”
So when you absorb divine power, do you automatically gain transcendent abilities—including architectural genius?
—Now that doesn’t make sense, Contractor……. ( ⊙△⊙) If that were true, you’d have been voluntarily rebuilding the entire Imperial Palace like some patsy by now, wouldn’t you?
‘Right, so Raymond’s Power Control ability is just extraordinarily good. Better than mine, even….’
Shocked as I was, I had to admit: I was thrilled. The house was perfect—as if it had materialized straight from my dreams.
The garden was intimate rather than sprawling, and it felt warm. The path leading to the house was lined with white stone.
Built from logs, it gave off the gentle scent of fragrant timber, and a small potted flower sat beside a modest window.
I let my eyes wander over the first and second floors. The first floor held a kitchen, living room, and small bedroom; the second floor had two bedrooms, a rest area that appeared to be a study, and a bathroom.
Oh, right. Two bedrooms. I wasn’t sure whether to feel disappointed or relieved as I finished surveying the place.
The third floor was a modest attic—not spacious or particularly quiet, but perfect for curling up under a blanket with a lamp lit on cold days, gazing out the window and reading.
“Beyond this place, I’ve prepared simple rest spaces at spots I thought would be good to visit. Though some are still incomplete. If there’s somewhere you’d like to go first, please tell me.”
The moment I heard Raymond speak in that effortless, casual tone, dread crept up my spine. Surely not?
“……Where exactly?”
“The Empire doesn’t have much in the way of deserts, and since you seemed to have the Salt Desert in mind—you were probably thinking of Orland—I couldn’t very well trespass on foreign private land, so I simply purchased it. The Oasis is state property, so acquisition was more difficult.”
My eyes went wide.
The Salt Desert was just something people casually mentioned—one of those “places you have to see once before you die, according to global travel guides.”
“The Salt Desert was just something I wanted to see casually, like a regular tourist. There’s no need to go all the way to the Oasis….”
“It’s nearly finished regardless. Cortez’s abilities aren’t poor at all.”
“…Oh, is that so?”
“It’s an opportunity to attempt trade with the typically closed-off Orland, so he came running eagerly.”
I fell silent, realizing that without my knowledge, I was apparently becoming an international merchant with Raymond’s help. Well, it’s not a bad thing, I suppose….
“Because there was so much fuss over the Oasis, I simply had Rasper help me dig a new one. After that, they seemed shocked enough that work became much easier.”
An artificial oasis in a country where deserts comprise seventy percent of the land? It was the kind of thing that would overturn the entire nation. My own world tilted. I stared at him with my mouth agape.
“Rasper knew all of this and didn’t even tell me?”
“He said a surprise gift has more meaning, so he just laughed it off.”
“…….”
“Though he did complain about the method of transportation. That winter snow-thing you rode with Titania—a sleigh? A boat? Anyway, he said it was just as terrible as that. Since I couldn’t install a warp tunnel to a place we’d never visited before, I had to resort to rather crude means, and apparently it wasn’t to his liking.”
—Ugh, how awful must it have been…. Poor Rasper…….(ⅈ▱ⅈ)
‘No, but I actually found it fun….’
—If Jemina had heard that, she’d have pecked you to pieces, Contractor.(ఠεఠ)
While I briefly wandered into thoughts of whether there might be something like a roller coaster here, Raymond calmly continued his confession—laying bare the travel plans he’d been hiding all this time: building accommodations at every destination.
“As for mountains with a fine reputation…… apparently it’s the Rocky Valley Ridge in Grove Kingdom. That’s under direct royal control, so everyone insists private sale is impossible.”
“Well, I suppose that’s how it would be….”
The moment Grove Kingdom was mentioned, I glanced sideways at Raymond. His expression remained perfectly calm. About that Marriage Proposal Discussion…… does he know? Or doesn’t he? Actually, he seems like he does know….
“However, the current king, strapped for funds due to successive internal conflicts, has issued temporary lease permits. After outbidding all other competitors, we’ve secured exclusive rights for the next fifty years. We can visit once, and if you like it, I’ll find a way to make it permanent.”
“No, there’s really no need. Just going as a regular tourist like everyone else is enough.”
Raymond looked genuinely startled at my refusal.
“Since Titania dislikes it, I won’t do things like threatening innocent people. But you’re fine with me punishing those with dirty hands, aren’t you?”
“Well, of course.”
I don’t care about innocent people being harmed by unreasonable schemes, but people with genuinely dirty hands? Let their lives crumble for all I care.
When I nodded, Raymond’s face softened into a gentle smile.
But this—all this time, he’d been doing these enormous things without telling me, without any complaint or resentment.
I’d thought he was too busy rebuilding the Empire with the Castrain Family to even catch his breath. And now, listening to him speak, it seems the Castrain Family has been quietly participating in this all along….
“Don’t worry.”
Raymond’s forehead touched mine.
In that instant, as our eyes drew dangerously close, I reflexively held my breath. Right before my face, his eyes blazed with a radiance as if he’d gathered the light of stars and moon and sun all into one gleaming point.
“I will never do anything Titania dislikes.”
“…….”
“Because I don’t want to be hated.”
Thump-thump. My heart hammered so loudly.
“If it’s something you did for me, I wouldn’t hate you or be angry.”
“I know. Once Titania decides someone is hers, you become infinitely generous. …Though I confess there are occasionally people whose hands I’d like to deal with, because of that.”
“What?”
“I’m saying I’d like you to favor me most of all.”
Raymond gently took my hand and placed it against his cheek. Then, without releasing his own hand from mine, he slowly guided my touch across his face.
My fingertips brushed smooth skin, a straight nose, eyes that curved delicately at the corners with the hint of a smile.
Then slowly they traced across his cheek again, finally settling against the softness of his lips.
The sensation of his smooth, soft lips was so vivid that my fingertips trembled as if burned. A brief, tender laugh escaped between my fingers—finding my reaction amusing.
A soft kiss pressed against my fingertips.
My ears burned crimson.
“Because I’m jealous.”
His voice was sweet as ripe fruit dripping with juice—rich, intoxicating, full of flavor.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————