Sister-in-law of the Heroine in a Childcare Novel - Chapter 79

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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 79

Bibi let out a small snort, her pouting cheeks flushed red as apples.
“…Exactly when did you build up such a friendship with the Proprietor of Hecate’s Tavern, anyway?”

Bibi winked at him with one eye. Raymond found himself laughing despite himself.

“That’s the scariest threat of all.”

……
Raymond occasionally harbored a reasonable suspicion that their youngest sibling might actually possess deeper insight than anyone else.
She was cheerful and affectionate, clever and always smiling. Yet she saw through people more keenly than anyone. None of the family dismissed her as merely a child.
Even Rasper, famous as the Young Sage, never failed to listen carefully to Bibi’s words. Her blue eyes, clear as silver ripples flowing across running water, blinked steadily.

“…Bibi.”

……

Bibi had never forgotten, not even once, the smile on Titania’s face as she saved her life, prepared to die in the effort.
‘…That’s why I wanted to tell Mother that it’s alright for her to find peace. This is all I’m asking.’
It’s fine. Don’t worry. Even if I die in your place, there would be nothing wrong with that. So you don’t need to grieve.
‘…And now the Young Duke will be alright too. Your brother, the one you love so dearly—he’ll be fine too….’
How could she have had no regrets as she was dying like that?
How could she have had no lingering attachments?
Nothing would remain, nowhere was safe to leave behind?
Right to the end, all that remained was concern for those still living. Even toward her birth mother, who had never once reached out her hand in a lifetime, she tried to understand that at least she had watched over her.
It was the same after she came back to life.
Whenever something was given to her, her face would grow unbearably strained. And she couldn’t bear to see anyone who had been kind to her suffer loss.
As though she herself were unworthy of receiving kindness without recompense.
Yet Titania had saved Bibi without any reason at all.
Honestly, when Raymond had persistently approached Titania, Bibi had thought it wouldn’t be strange if Titania slapped his cheek.
But Titania merely maintained her distance with guarded, coldly measured words, like a stone wall built with stubborn precision. The annulment had been the same.
Yet Titania was such a kind person.
She couldn’t fully hate even those who had wounded her.

To the youngest sibling’s words, laden with so much meaning, Raymond simply nodded in silent agreement.

* * *

Though it was night, the street blazed bright as noon.
It bustled like a festival. Despite the hour, the air was warm, and most wore short sleeves and light garments.
Shops selling simple festival food, flowers, fruit, and various trinkets lined one side of the thoroughfare.
Along the well-paved street, elegant carriages gleamed as they passed without cease. Acrobats showing off their tricks for coin, street performers and wandering poets set up makeshift tents in the plaza and gave their performances.
Though most were commoners, scattered among them were those who appeared to be nobility.
Everywhere one looked, the crowd of people spoke to the grandeur of a great city.
Before I knew it, my gaze was drawn to the street’s spectacle and I found myself watching. Flux turned to look at me with something to say written on his face.
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Would you like to go out and enjoy yourself?”
“It’s everyone’s dream to play instead of work.”
“But even so….”
Flux’s gaze was pointed. Deby, too, wore a look of regret.
“Your Highness, you haven’t gone sightseeing once since arriving in this city. Are you truly certain?”
“We have too much work today. This isn’t the time to complain.”
“It’s not complaining…. Couldn’t you take a moment to enjoy yourself if time permits? Your eyes won’t leave the street.”
“No, I’m done looking.”
I am, after all, still a modern soul from the 21st century who’s watched plenty of films! I’ve gone out to enjoy myself quite a bit! Though I’ve never actually managed an overseas trip…. In any case, I’ve savored CG industries far superior to reality, so I can certainly endure this.
That’s right. It was nothing special.
It seemed the mind was influenced by the body far more than expected.
Since ‘Titania’ had grown up virtually imprisoned in the Imperial Palace, the lively spectacle of the night street was more enchanting than anticipated.
It was because the memory of my past life gleamed before me like a lamp, keeping my reason in check. If I had been the original wild-spirited Titania, I would certainly have kicked up a fuss and demanded, ‘I want that! Let me go!’
Now that I think about it, I’d rarely met a peer-aged boy worth mentioning.
Besides Raymond.
Still, it would have been nice if they’d paired her with some peer-aged boy who could be kind to Titania and teach her about the world and help her grasp reality.
Would she then not have clung to Raymond so desperately?
No, actually, anyone with eyes would recognize that Raymond exuded a presence incomparable to any peer of his age. For someone as perceptive as Titania, the likelihood of her attention wandering to another was slim.
When I straightened my posture and withdrew my gaze from outside the carriage, Flux asked as if to confirm.
“Do you believe you can manage it?”
“Isn’t it a bit late to worry now?”
“Well, with the information provided by Hecate’s Tavern and the Castrain Family’s escort, the odds of danger are certainly lower….”
Flux clicked his tongue.
“You must be careful. However vast this city is, it’s neither because my father and I have left it unguarded, nor because my family’s capabilities fall short. Just as Your Highness corrected me, those scoundrels could hardly harm you easily. But one never knows what might happen.”
“That’s why we’re disguised and going in secret like this.”
I gave a slight shrug.
We were set to infiltrate the Black Market today—as a customer of that very thief who had stolen the Emoticon Sword from the princess and had the audacity to put it up for auction at the Black Market.
Given how distinctive my appearance was, I’d carefully wound my platinum hair and fixed it beneath a dark brown wig.
Like when I’d disguised myself at a branch of Hecate’s Tavern before, I’d applied freckles and blemishes to my face appropriately, and even wore glasses to conceal my eyes.
My clothing, too, was as ordinary as could be—a baggy blouse and skirt, topped with a hooded robe that concealed my entire body.
Deby and Flux were dressed similarly. Lisianthus, who was likely following behind us, was probably dressed the same way. Since his red hair stood out just as much as mine, he’d been forced to wear a wig just like me. He’d been complaining incessantly that it was suffocating. If it had been anyone else, I would have wanted to hit him.
“In any case, please be careful to the very end.”
The carriage slowed and came to a stop.
The door opened, Flux descended first, then escorted me out. Deby followed discreetly behind me without drawing notice.
The entrance to the Black Market was through the ground floor of what appeared to be an ordinary tavern. As soon as we entered, a formally dressed attendant emerged and asked.
“Pardon me, but our establishment operates by reservation only. Might I have the name of the person who made the reservation?”
“Surely the Blue Room on the third floor is empty?”
“I’m terribly sorry. The third floor is fully occupied today.”
“What of the Red Room on the fourth floor?”
“Unfortunately, on a day like today, we receive so many visitors….”
“Then I suppose I’ll have to use the passage between.”
“I shall show you the way.”
The attendant led the way down a narrow corridor. At the corridor’s end were three doors. Flux unhesitatingly twisted the purple handle of the middle door and opened it.
Then another attendant waiting inside silently gestured us forward.
After walking through an endlessly dark and silent passage, an open space suddenly came into view—a vast stage and seating beyond it.
What decorated the walls and pillars throughout were none other than gleaming Mana Stones. Partitions and drapes hung between tables, making it difficult for guests to notice who sat beside them. An attendant guided us to one of the private seats and withdrew.
Before long, a small boy attendant wearing a mask hurried over, set a small bottle of liquor and a glass on the table, then disappeared. I casually drew the glass toward me. Beneath it lay a piece of paper folded twice.
The writing inside was simple.
‘Trap set.’

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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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