Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 56

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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 56

“You haven’t complained once the entire way here. Not even these minor priests dare greet you, and none of the nobility in this region has bothered to pay their respects?”
“Well, I’ve been wondering if there was some kind of order from the Empress.”
I smiled faintly.
“The Emperor’s moods matter right now, so she can’t openly move against me. But she might be trying to isolate me through indirect means, I suspect.”
“So you’re saying she warned the nobles in this region that they shouldn’t welcome the Imperial Princess, or she’d make them regret it?”
Lisianthus let out a hollow laugh, as if marveling at such petty scheming beyond all imagination.
“I’m beside you, though.”
Scarlet eyes suddenly held mine. A fresh gleam entered them—as if to say that no one could ignore me as long as he stood at my side. As if he would make it so.
“Damn it, really. These irritating fools. They couldn’t squeak before our House, and they strut around as if they were something. Do they want to die?”
“It’s fine! That’s just how society works!”
“That’s not something a Princess should say.”
“Once the Empress gets smashed later, all those trembling underlings will get smashed with her!”
“Oh, yes. That’s true.”
Lisianthus chuckled.
“Are you going to smash her yourself? You’re confident, aren’t you? Or… is it because I said I’d protect you? You’ve gotten cocky, is that it?”
Lisianthus grumbled while looking away, a bit flustered. I blinked, momentarily uncertain what he was saying.
Debi and Barbara, who had been listening to our conversation silently from inside the carriage, went rigid.
Debi mouthed something.
‘The Young Master must have lost his mind.’
Hmm… well… I watched Lisianthus beside me, who was twisting uncomfortably, with bewildered eyes, and spoke.
“No, it’s just that… the Empress seems prone to touching things she shouldn’t touch.”
“Oh, things she shouldn’t touch? What are those?”
What else could it be but me, Bibi?
Prince Brian has no future of note ahead of him.
All he has to rely on is the Emperor’s affection for the Empress, the Empress’s family faction, and a few noble allies. From the Temple’s side, there’s High Priest Marjid’s support—that much, I’d wager.
Adrian, the Empress’s sole son, enjoys the tacit backing of those who uphold what’s commonly called “tradition.”
The Empress herself has done little to invite criticism. And Adrian’s abilities far exceed Brian’s.
More than anything, no matter how recognized the Empress became within her House, she was born illegitimate. Her lineage was a far weaker point than the Empress’s.
If the Emperor were to abandon everything and push Brian with total force, I couldn’t say how things would turn out.
But Empress Cleo is no fool. Strictly speaking, even if she seems to be thriving now, she wouldn’t believe her position would remain unchanged ten years from now.
That’s why she went to such lengths trying to get Titania into her grasp and shake the Castrain House.
At this juncture, she would refuse to let go of me.
“She’s after me, Bibi.”
“After you?”
“Don’t you think she’s desperate to pair me with Brian?”
“What?! That, that, that half-witted fool? Where on earth would she—?!”
Lisianthus literally jumped to his feet. “Neigh! Neigh! Neigh!” The startled horse reared. Lisianthus, narrowly avoiding a ridiculous tumble from his saddle, spoke through gritted teeth. Barbara inside the carriage flinched at the sound.
“That crazy woman, truly? Seriously? Our House’s treasure? Beyond that, that idiot’s nearly our age—what audacity does she have?! Is she trying to get herself killed?!”
“If that were the case, the Duke would settle it immediately!”
Debi, who had been pretending not to listen, chimed in from inside the carriage with a bright voice. Had she given up pretending to be an ordinary maid? Barbara sighed with troubled eyes.
“No, I’m saying… she might attempt something foolish banking on that. Be careful. Once I dissolve the engagement, there’ll be nothing holding her back.”
“What?! Your Highness, are you dissolving your engagement?”
Debi gasped. Barbara beside her looked equally startled. Right—only Lisianthus, who heard this directly from me at the time, knew about it.
“Yes, well, the Young Duke knows too. We’ll need to coordinate the timing later, but we should keep this between us for now. We can’t let word reach the Emperor or the Empress’s side.”
The people in the carriage wouldn’t gossip about such things to the Emperor or Empress anyway.
Just then, the carriage began to slow.
The carriage came to a complete halt.
The sun was sinking slowly. Unlike the lush landscape of the south, boasting abundance at every turn with fruit-laden plants in abundance, the white sand you’d see at the Seaside filled the entire horizon. In the center of it all, a Temple rose up like a mountain.
How long had it stood? The broad building of sand-colored stone was simple rather than ornate. Following the guidance of Priest Cronen, I entered the Temple. Nearly everyone inside came out to greet me.
-Contractor! (´╹ᗜ╹`*)
‘Yes, that’s right. What is it.’
-I sense traces of a faint Barrier! Will you conduct the Master Ceremony?
‘Hmm… traces of a faint Barrier, you say?’
-Yes, this Temple’s Barrier was created by grafting fragments from the Northern Barrier, which is why it’s relatively faint!
At this point, the Emoticon Sword’s question about holding a Master Ceremony sounds roughly on the same level as asking if I’ve eaten. In one ear and out the other.
No, in an age where people who wield Divine Power have nearly ceased to exist, dragging all-powerful friends here to stake your life on an experience together? That makes no sense.
Come to think of it, gathering people who wield Divine Power by category to “prove” something? That Master Ceremony or Dedication Ceremony or whatever seems awfully similar.
I responded lightly to everyone’s greetings. This Temple had five priests in total. Cronen served as the High Priest, handling nearly all of the Temple’s affairs, and the other four divided up miscellaneous duties among themselves. They all smiled warmly and offered me good wishes regardless, unbothered by my nominal status as Princess.
After receiving a brief explanation that today I should rest well and the Dedication Ceremony would formally begin tomorrow, I entered my room.
Debi and Barbara were given the room next to mine. The modest room, not particularly spacious, was filled with simple furnishings. If I had been the original Titania, I would have raised hell about being disrespected and how cramped the room was. But I didn’t care how many square meters my room was—all that mattered was the bed size.
I placed the Emoticon Sword barely within reach beside the bed and immediately fell asleep.
I’d thought I slept reasonably well in the carriage, but I’d been mistaken. The moment I lay down on the plush bedding, I felt as if I could sleep so deeply that someone could carry me away and I’d never notice.
Yes, really.
So deeply that someone could carry me away.
“…….”
When I opened my eyes, I was in a strange room I’d never seen before.
What is this?
I reflexively checked outside the window. Through a gap in the heavy curtains, faint moonlight seeped through. Everything around me was dark.
It hadn’t been long since I’d lain down on the bed. But the bed I’d been lying in had changed!
It wasn’t the modest Temple bed that had been cramped even with just me. It was as spacious as a luxury hotel suite bed—wide enough for five or six people to roll around comfortably.
The bedding was also incredibly soft, fluffy, and plush. The billowing fabric draped beside the bed’s posts—what they call a canopy—was of such fine quality that Empress Cleo wouldn’t have found it odd to use the same material for her own clothing. Of course, it was so dark I could only barely touch it with my fingertips.
‘The Emoticon Sword?! Sword?! Hey, are you there?! You’re worse than a house dog! You should’ve woken me up if someone was dragging me somewhere!’
I called out to the sword at the top of my voice, but there was no response. Did Debi, who said she’d protect me, let me get dragged here without a sound? What kind of security does a Temple have anyway?
Or had the Temple given me a luxurious room while I slept, and other people moved me there afterward? I was considering all sorts of wild theories when—
A voice cut through the silence, striking my ears.
“You’re quite composed for someone waking in a strange bed.”
A young voice, yet raspy as though cinders and smoke had been inhaled, rang out from the darkness. I flinched.
Someone was sitting across from the bed where I lay. The strange voice came from that direction.
“Princess Titania. I harbor no ill will toward Your Highness. I’ve simply brought you here because there is something I must tell you.”
Cough. Cough cough. The young voice continued through repeated fits of coughing.
“You’ll be conducting the Dedication Ceremony at the Temple, correct?”
“…….”
“During the ceremony, there’s a moment when Royal Blood touches a Sacred Relic that only Royalty can handle. It seems you’ll do it around tomorrow.”
“…….”
“You must destroy that Sacred Relic.”
“What?!”
The shock made me squeak out an embarrassing sound.

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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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