Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 44

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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 44

The Empress, unwilling to retreat, spoke with desperate urgency, trying to shift the direction of the conversation.
“Ha, ha ha, if it is truly such a dangerous object, shouldn’t I be commended for discovering it? By your account, Young Duke Raymond, the situation in Rose Palace was indeed perilous.”
The Empress glanced around briefly, then cried out with sudden fervor.
“Look at all the Magic Beasts filling this underground chamber! The Imperial Palace has been attacked by these creatures! Yes, I’ll grant it—Titania may not have been cursed at all. I concede that point, Young Duke. But wasn’t it thanks to me that we found that vile object buried by those who sought to strike at the Palace?”
The Empress forced a smile.
“Look at my poor Brian in this wretched state, chased and knocked unconscious by these beasts! How could such a child possibly be involved in this, with these creatures….”
“Your Highness, Prince Brian has asked for bait to catch the Magic Beasts.”
At the timely interjection, Empress Cleo’s eyes widened. She could not bear the thought of Brian being implicated as an accomplice in the Magic Beast attack on the Imperial Palace.
“Who dares speak such sacrilege!”
James, the servant we’d brought along as cover and hunting companion to Prince Brian, trembled and fell to his knees. The timing was perfect.
“Your Majesty, forgive your foolish servant’s transgression. The truth is, when we were out hunting, my companions and I saw a wolf with a beautiful golden mane, and we…. tried to catch that wolf.”
The Empress’s eyes blazed as she stared at James. She probably hadn’t anticipated that one of Brian’s incompetent, loud-mouthed hunting companions would speak up in this way.
“Though we hit it with arrows from a distance, it was enormous and vigorous, and it disappeared toward the Imperial Palace, so we couldn’t catch it. When we mentioned this curious thing to His Highness, he said that if a beast was heading in the Palace’s direction, it must surely be his responsibility. He asked us to find bait for Magic Beasts. I, I protested, Your Majesty…!”
“A lie! You’re lying, Your Majesty! While Brian is unconscious, this is clearly an attempt to slander the boy!”
Empress Cleo railed and flailed.
An attempt to slander Brian—true. But the problem was that Brian fell for such a transparent deception with spectacular stupidity and then conveniently lost consciousness. This fool, and he’s supposed to be a serious candidate for the throne? What will become of this empire later?
No, wait—in the original work, that’s exactly what triggered the civil war and all the chaos…. While I was briefly mulling over this empire’s bleak future, the Emperor suddenly bellowed.
“So this incompetent fool was sprawled out like this, frightened and alone in front of that Magic Beast, unconscious the whole time?”
The Emperor’s gaze hardened.
“So tell me, Young Duke Castrain. Answer me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Does that object the Empress claimed was evidence attract Magic Beasts?”
“It lures even the most dangerous beasts—the very kings among Magic Beasts themselves.”
“…Then is it possible that the large golden wolf beast Brian said he wanted to catch came to the Imperial Palace drawn to that object? And the other beasts as well?”
The Empress’s face went white as paper. Raymond spoke quietly.
“I believe that is highly probable, Your Majesty. Beasts of such power are drawn to mighty forces.”
“Your Majesty, that is not true! It is not as you think! Look at me, Sire. I am your Cleo, and I love Brian as I love my own life—I would never endanger him….”
“You love Brian as you love your own life, but you don’t love me in the same way?”
“Your Majesty, no, that is not—!”
The Emperor’s words, heavy with displeasure, made Empress Cleo tremble visibly.
“Well then. Titania. Explain yourself. What manner of sword is it, that it spoke to you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. In truth, I happened to find the sword while wandering through the Imperial Palace corridors.”
The Empress, saying nothing, ground her teeth. Yes, you should never have given me that sword….
“I made inquiries—whether it came from the Palace treasury or if some knight had lost a family heirloom—but no one reported losing any sword. I didn’t dare unsheathe it. When no one claimed it, I simply left it in my chamber and forgot about it.”
This is an age steeped in magic.
All manner of things drift through the Imperial Palace. Someone might later confess its true nature to the Emperor.
I don’t know the sword’s full history now, but anyone who’s used it for more than six months would surely have suffered some side effects.
But what of it? If I frame it as me awakening “the sword’s true nature,” what can anyone do about it?
“This sword spoke to me at dawn today. It told me to wake, that a crisis was befalling the Imperial Palace!”
I made a show of wiping away tears.
“I know many have tried to grasp this sword. I’ve heard that only those skilled in handling weapons could move it with ease. But when I took hold of it, the sword was perfectly sound! I can barely use a blade at all, and yet—! So why would anyone call it a Demonic Sword? After it awakened, hearing that name filled me with doubt.”
Image making, image making…. I looked pitiful before the Emperor and appealed to him.
“I heard that the first to touch this sword was a maidservant who broke into Rose Palace to steal. Perhaps this sleeping sword grew angry when touched by someone with wicked intent? Or perhaps it sent a warning, knowing danger threatened the Palace. Now that it has fully awakened, I hear the sword’s voice no longer.”
“Oh…!”
“Perhaps it is a sword hidden within the Palace by one of our ancestors, to protect the Imperial Family itself.”
“I see. That you could hold the sword safely, Titania, may be because of Imperial blood running through your veins.”
“Great power brings great responsibility, as they say. Perhaps it was possible precisely because I am a child without the will to kill with the blade.”
Never mind that I’d just been swinging it left and right, pouring out light and pulverizing Magic Beasts.
The High Priest Illian, ever perceptive, seized the opening to support my words.
“Your Majesty, when I treated Her Highness Titania…. I sensed no strange aura connected to the sword.”
“Remarkable! The power of this blade is extraordinary! To annihilate all these beasts at once!”
The Emperor marveled.
“Hmm, you’re right. If your chamber was perfectly safe while you were there, and then suddenly problems arose…. It’s far more likely the fault of that maidservant who carelessly touched the object. A Demonic Sword? Nonsense! Look at how this sword annihilates Magic Beasts in one stroke. It would be more fitting to call it a Sacred Blade!”
Greed glimmered in the Emperor’s eyes.
‘Hey, emoticon sword.’
-Yes, Contractor? ( ‘◡’)
‘Can you suppress your rejection if someone else holds you for just a moment?’
-The target is…?
‘The Emperor.’
-Ah…. Normally, normally I couldn’t… (ꉺ0ꉺ )
‘Just for a very brief moment.’
-Hmm…. Since I’m currently in contact with , it should be possible for a moment. I’ll hold back!(=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ
…So all this time you were rejecting it, and that’s why I heard the sword talking to me like that! All this suffering is your fault! I swallowed the resentment welling up inside and managed my expression.
“I offer this sword to you, Your Majesty.”
I humbly presented the sword to the Emperor. He chuckled.
“Our Titania, you are truly a treasure. I must verify for myself whether this is indeed a blade sent down to protect the Imperial Family.”
With that, he didn’t hesitate and grasped the sword hilt firmly. The Emperor flinched slightly—it was probably heavier than he expected.
With no spark and no resonating hum, the Emperor held the sword cleanly in his hand, and everyone exclaimed in wonder. The Emperor puffed up with pride.
“Truly a magnificent blade!”
Then he swung it powerfully. He seemed to hope for a brilliant flash like the one I had produced earlier.
“…….”
“…….”
But nothing happened.
The Emperor slightly furrowed one eyebrow and tried stabbing the corpse of a rat that Raymond had cut down.
“…….”
“…….”
Again, nothing happened. No searing effect, nothing at all.
The Emperor tried not to show disappointment. Then I carefully opened my mouth.
“Pardon me, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
“Before it awoke, the sword asked me: did I wish to save the Imperial Palace from crisis?”
“Oh? And what did you answer?”
“I said of course I wished to. Then it asked whether I minded if my life span shortened somewhat as a result.”
“Oh…!”
“I said I did not mind.”
“Hmm….”
The Emperor fell silent. Then he glanced at my thin, muscular arms without a trace of definition, the sword that didn’t move at all in his hand, and the pile of Magic Beast ash on the floor. He nodded as if he understood.
“……I see. We are safe today thanks to your sacrifice!”
I’m grateful he believed it, but is that really all the reaction a father should have when his youngest daughter has shortened her life wielding the blade? I ground my teeth inwardly while smiling on the surface.

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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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