Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 64

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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 64

“Look, I understand. There’s no guarantee that cutting off the foot would even cure it, and she might die. But if we botch the Dedication Ceremony in the process, I have no idea what kind of hell this whole region becomes. And making it public knowledge is… well, just as you said, the Temple that manages Sacred Artifacts so carelessly that someone from the Cortez family could walk off with them if they wanted to—maybe we can fix that now.”
So that’s the problem.
The Imperial Family is rotting, and the Temple is rotting too.
Right now, the Aristocratic Faction and Commoner Faction are split, squabbling over whether to treat “only noble people who can pay the price” or whether to treat everyone equally—it makes no sense.
Because earnest, conscientious, capable people died first in the battles against Magic Beasts, the Temple’s inner positions are now held almost entirely by incompetent garbage men who excel at self-preservation and political maneuvering.
If word gets out that I—a member of the Imperial Family—healed someone the Temple couldn’t treat.
There are really only two outcomes I can predict.
Either I’m revered as a saint and become the Temple’s mascot, or I face the Temple’s persecution.
And either way, the future Crown Prince and Emperor will see fit to restrain me as well.
“I did it simply because I could. I don’t know who the real culprit is, but there are truly wicked people behind this, and I didn’t want to condemn someone who was just caught up in their schemes.”
“…….”
Flux bit his lips hard. His brown eyes flickered with a strange emotion.
“Your Highness has protected me, my family, and indeed this city.”
“Well, we haven’t even finished the Dedication Ceremony safely yet, so isn’t it a bit much to say you’ve protected the city?”
“This trouble arose because of me. I wish to help Your Highness until the very end. If there is anything you require, please tell me without hesitation.”
My eyes lit up.
“Oh, I’m not one to turn down an offer like that. Perfect timing, actually. A replacement for the fake Sacred Artifact should arrive soon. Can you help me swap it with the fake one we have now?”
“Yes. There are still a few people I placed in this Temple who remain.”
“Then.”
I gathered my thoughts carefully before speaking.
“Priest Cronen. Do you have any idea who he’s working with?”
Flux fell silent for a moment, thinking.
“…Are you suspecting High Priest Marjid, and behind him, the Empress Cleo, as the true culprits?”
“It’s murky. Just last year, her own son attended the Dedication Ceremony and barely survived. If a major incident breaks out after I’ve attended one, won’t suspicion splash onto her too? And looking at what happened in the Imperial Palace itself, they seem to have very little knowledge about things like Magic Beasts or Demonic Energy. Of course, they’d use them freely if it served their purposes, but….”
My brow furrowed as I spoke.
Dealing the Empress a defeat in the Imperial Palace was satisfying enough.
But after hearing the results of the Castrain family’s investigation, an odd unease had settled in.
The sense that my “enemy” isn’t everything—that there’s more to this.
So without realizing it, I’ve been scrambling. Trying to change something, anything.
So that the people I know can reach the promised happy ending.
“Precisely. Separate from the Empress Cleo’s political cunning, orchestrating this would require specialized knowledge and skill regarding Magic Beasts. While the Lande Marquis House is certainly an old, respected family, they lack expertise in such matters. There’s a real possibility that the true culprit is someone else entirely. Whoever it is.”
The man’s eyes blazed as he spoke of the enemy.
“…I will never forgive them.”
Since this man was famous even in the original story for being quite clever, there seemed little need to worry too much.
At the very least, he wouldn’t ally himself with the Empress. But it would be disastrous if he didn’t join Bibi until after the entire Southern Region had been turned upside down, like in the original.
“Have you given any thought to allying with the Castrain Ducal House?”
“…….”
Flux frowned as if troubled. I felt Devy’s gaze, inscrutable and watchful, fixed upon me from where she remained still.
“I find it difficult to view the Castrain Ducal House unfavorably, seeing as they helped save my life—the very Princess they now protect….”
“Difficult, you say?”
“To be honest, relations between my family and Castrain are not good. After all, they’re a house great enough that they could rule a nation with just their vassals alone. The Cortez family has no wish to subordinate itself to Castrain, and yet we cannot regard ourselves as their equals either….”
“But the enemy of my enemy is my ally, isn’t it? At the very least, a family that confronts Magic Beasts with such dedication as Castrain wouldn’t side with someone who’s done you wrong.”
“What is it that Your Highness truly wishes?”
“Hmm?”
“Even if I allied with the Castrain Ducal House and exposed these ‘enemies,’ it wouldn’t directly affect Your Highness, would it? I can follow your wishes, but…are you doing this for the sake of the Castrain family?”
“If the Castrain family falls, the Empire falls. There’s no harm in helping, right? Besides, whoever tampered with the Dedication Ceremony is basically gambling with the entire Empire’s future.”
Flux looked distinctly displeased at my words.
“…The Empire wouldn’t quite collapse if the Castrain family fell. It’s true they serve as a barrier against Magic Beasts, but….”
“The Empire isn’t exactly on friendly terms with other nations anyway. It still puts on airs about being an empire and Imperial Family, but really, there are no proper vassal states to speak of. No nation the Empire has truly allied with. While the Empire’s been slowly rotting away in peace all these years, other countries have been quietly building their strength. The only reason wars haven’t broken out is because of Magic Beasts and the Castrain Ducal House’s existence.”
At my rambling words, both Devy and Flux looked slightly dazed.
“…Have you been thinking such things all along?”
“Honestly? I think our Imperial Family is completely hopeless. Every single day. If I were the Emperor, I’d have given them everything we own and begged them to just look favorably on me. I can understand the attempt to entangle me with the Castrain family—I’m his only daughter, after all. But when that comes from a place of ‘those bastards really irritate me, let me force them to bow’—that I can’t understand.”
“You’re truly… quite different from the rumors….”
“No. The rumors are probably right.”
I smiled softly.
“An unwanted Princess without a thing to her name, foolishly pining for her fiancée and committing madness—that part’s true. Just that I died and came back to life, and started living anew.”
“I’ve heard you slept for a long time. It was an unfortunate accident, and….”
I cut off Flux’s words. I had no wish to hear hollow condolences about “how unfortunate that was” repeated over and over.
“Right. I risked my life to save Bibi. It wasn’t intentional, but thanks to that, I’ve gained capable personnel like Devy watching over me now.”
Flux gave Devy—who’d been with me last night—a peculiar look. Devy met his gaze squarely and tilted her head, speaking up.
“Say, Your Highness, doesn’t it seem like this gentleman doubts my abilities?”
“No, I trust your skills well enough. What I don’t trust is the other part. Your personality, your character…that unhinged ability to smile even in serious situations….”
Honestly, the way Devy came springing out with a cheerful “Yes!” the moment I called on the day she was kidnapped—that seemed pretty crazy. Flux’s reluctant expression as he looked at her probably stemmed from that first impression.
But Devy simply grinned and turned the arrow back on me.
“Come now! Compared to Your Highness, who suddenly started beating up the young Count in the middle of the night as a ‘treatment method,’ I’m not so bad, am I?”
“I was treating him, not viewing it the way you do—’oh, how amusing, what a naughty thing to do, I should keep a close eye on it!’ And don’t look at me like that, Flux. You were grateful for the treatment, weren’t you? You said you felt better?”
“Ah, n-no, I have no complaints whatsoever.”
“Anyway, my guard detail and the Priest Cronen—something feels off. Beyond just swapping out the fake Sacred Artifact, I suspect someone’s been tampering with the Dedication Ceremony itself.”
“…I understand the concern you’re raising. You may well be right.”
Flux, who’d been mulling something over, suddenly brightened.
“There is something I should tell you. Please lend me your ear for a moment.”
I couldn’t hide my interest and eagerly leaned in.
What followed met my expectations perfectly.

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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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