Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 63

“Uh, uh, yeah. Why?”
Our Bibi is practically a genius, so she shouldn’t usually mix up names… but? Did the name “Cortez” displease her? Or was she holding a grudge because of what she heard yesterday, the way he kept me up all night?

B-Bibi, that guy might look like that, but in the original story he actually… kind of persistently pursued you and all, but… though you just treated him as a business partner and he eventually gave up on his own and remained a loyal subordinate, still?!
Well, Bibi has so many better male lead candidates anyway, so this doesn’t really matter.
And honestly, what Flux did was worse than being the worst person ever.
With his own life on the line and the insane things his father might do, all his accomplishments so far could crumble to nothing—that kind of pressure piled on top of everything.
Even accounting for temporary insanity, it was a thoroughly reckless act.
Was he joking?
Kidnapping a sleeping woman in the dead of night?
If rumors spread wrongly, there would be dark clouds over my future—considering all that, it was indefensible even in death.
“Our Bibi’s not exaggerating at all! He really is trash! Yeah! Burning trash!”
I nodded obediently.

“I got my anger out yesterday… very thoroughly.”

I blinked with tired eyes.
No, Bibi, your big sis loves you always, but you’re spouting nonsense right now….
I reviewed my actions since regaining my memories from my previous life.
Breaking things off with my fiancé the moment I regained consciousness.
Dealing with the Castrain Family.
Starting a fire at the meeting with Lisianthus when he brought an answer.
Releasing Magic Beasts into the Imperial Palace partly to retaliate against the Empress who wanted me gone….
No matter how I thought about it, this didn’t look like “the actions of a good person.”
I beat Flux nearly all night long—didn’t that count as paying for what he’d done?
I spoke in a reluctant tone.
“Well, I guess it’s what came from doing my best in my own way….”

Bibi railed like a yapping Chihuahua.
“When your own path ahead is dark, you can’t afford to worry about others….”
For instance, like the old Titania.
She was so overwhelmed by her own circumstances that she failed to grasp even the possibility that her feelings wouldn’t sit well with Raymond.
Later on, she did notice it, but….
Thinking of it this way pricked my conscience a bit.
The Count’s son too—maybe with the pressure not just of his own future but that of his family, even this entire city potentially falling apart, his mind could have come unmoored.
“Anyway, thanks to you, I survived! If the Castrain Family hadn’t helped, the Dedication Ceremony would’ve been completely ruined. I’m grateful.”

Bibi let out a long sigh.

“Mm, you be careful too.”

Only after coaxing the reproachful Bibi several times did I finally bid her farewell.
After the connection cut off, I secured the now-dark Orb carefully. Debbie handed me the clothes and towel she’d brought and said.
“Are you going to see the Cortez Count’s son?”
“I need to understand the situation.”
I emerged from the water, dried myself, dressed, and moved to where the Cortez Count was waiting. I remembered not to forget the emoticon-shaped sword at my side either.
When I opened the door I was directed to, the Cortez Count’s son, who’d been idly chatting with some Priest, broke into a grin.
“It’s an honor to meet Your Highness Titania. I’m Flux Roman Ben Cortez, the Cortez Count’s son. You may call me that, or….”
Flux smiled widely and extended his hand to me. Unable to mask a vague unease, I extended mine in return. His lips grazed the back of my hand, still cool from hastily drying it.
“You’re welcome to call me Flux.”
“The Cortez Count’s son? I… yes. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. But what brings you here?”
When Flux gestured subtly, the Priest who’d been there laughed with a “Let me fetch refreshments,” and left.
The moment the Priest vanished, the bright affect drained from his face, leaving only an expression of exhaustion.
Well, he’d been beaten with a sword nearly all night—there was no way he’d look fine. Flux, with the face of a sleep-deprived exam student who’d stayed up three nights straight, spoke.
There was a tremor in his voice—mingled anticipation, excitement, and worry.
“Not a single physician, not a single Priest, found anything wrong with my legs. My body is perfectly healthy, they said.”
“That’s really great. Wait, seriously? No soreness? No pain?! That’s actually amazing.”
“Your Highness.”
Flux fixed me with a searching gaze as I grew animated.
“Your Highness’s reputation has spread to us as well. The tales of your exploits in the Imperial Palace were quite extraordinary. Yet nowhere in those stories is there mention of the power to heal those tainted by Demonic Beast Corruption.”
Debbie’s lips tightened as she watched from behind. I shrugged.
—That’s only natural, contractor-sama, because you’re special(｡› ▿ ‹｡)~
“Right?”
The Castrain Family and the Cortez Family aren’t fools.
Even if detailed knowledge of Divine Power has faded now, families with that level of information gathering would be able to deduce something. Especially a royal family.
It’s reasonable to theorize that I use the Power of Light, and that my Healing Power derives from it.
I never explicitly said “I have this kind of healing power too,” but since I didn’t tell Debbie to keep it secret, it likely reached the Castrain Family.
And they wouldn’t go around revealing their benefactor’s secrets. Moreover, since Flux couldn’t openly admit he’d nearly undergone Demonic Beast Corruption, I healed him without hesitation.
“So you’re not now coming to me with some scheme like, ‘Isn’t the next heir to the throne someone chosen by the Divine, wielding such sacred power?’ That would be pretty ungrateful.”
“Certainly not.”
“…It’s just that Your Highness would take such a risk for me….”
Flux swallowed dryly. His eyes held a hopeful gleam.
“…I wondered if you had a reason.”
…….
“I am hardly someone you should be saving, after daring to kidnap and blackmail Your Highness.”
“True, it was quite a bold move. If rumors spread wrong, my betrothal to the Castrain Family could’ve broken, and I’d have been left to marry you by force. You were prepared for that risk too?”
“Y-yes?!”
Flux’s face flushed bright red, visibly flustered. Perhaps because he’s still younger than his original counterpart, he reacted with such extreme embarrassment to even a mild jest like that.
I waved my hand at Flux, whose ears had gone crimson and whose head drooped.

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