The Baby Has No Strength to Hide! - Chapter 21

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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 21
The atmosphere grew unsettled at the word “imperial decree.”
“He ordered me to patrol the Eastern Region border.”
At Calisto’s words, the faces of the Reformist Faction members hardened at once. The Rubentaine Territory, located in the north of the Taminus Empire, had been a harsh land, but the knights’ sweat and blood had barely restored it to stability. The Monstrous Beasts that once plagued it rarely appeared anymore.
The Eastern Region, by contrast, was a stronghold of Traditionalist Faction nobles, and they openly despised the Reformists who had earned their nobility through merit. This atmosphere had naturally caused Monstrous Beasts to begin appearing there.
And now, suddenly, he was being ordered to go patrol it.
“His Majesty clearly holds your Grace’s military prowess in the deepest trust!”
Whether they sensed the true sentiment or not, the Traditionalists poured out their praise without restraint. Molton, too, found the situation to his liking.
If the lord were away from his territory, there would be plenty of opportunities to cast out the child.
***
A golden lion, snarling with a sword clenched in its teeth against a black field—the Knight Order, bearing the emblem of valor even in darkness upon their chests, marched through the castle gates. The moment Calisto led the Second and Third Battalions toward the Eastern Region, a strange silence fell over Rubentaine Castle, and the very air within seemed to tear in two. The Traditionalists seized upon this vacancy like wolves scenting blood.
“Clinging to that little brat on the mere pretense of coincidence—it shows the caliber of these Reformists well enough.”
Molton strolled through the garden with a sneer. The sight of Reformist knights, led by Kirain and others, fawning over the child as if she were a saint merely because Ailien had offered them a cup of Flower Tea had become unbearable. The Traditionalists, ignorant of the awe these war-wounded men felt, saw only a deception designed to cloud their lord’s judgment.
So Molton had remained, under the pretext of guarding the Grand Duke’s castle.
“Father-in-law.”
Kesen, Molton’s son-in-law, sidled up to him.
“It seems His Grace cares for that child far more than one might expect.”
“Well, with only one son, perhaps a daughter is a novelty to him.”
“But our Felicia…”
His beloved daughter had married into the Kesen household and borne him his granddaughter Felicia, who was his pride. Molton desperately hoped that Felicia would marry Kaius and become the next Grand Duchess. The fact that Kaius and Felicia had been born in the same year seemed to him almost like destiny.
For this reason, he could not possibly overlook how this mysterious child was receiving the Grand Duke’s favor.
“Right now it’s novel, so he keeps her close. But in time, he may well grow weary of her. Tsk—the girl doesn’t even know basic courtesy, behaves like a ruffian.”
“Our Felicia would never have been so crude at that age.”
“As if there’s any comparison.”
Molton’s eyes narrowed with disapproval as he glared at Kesen, who merely shrugged and nodded.
“What were you discussing, my lords?”
Jenno carefully interjected. The moment Molton saw his face, he cleared his throat heavily. For all that they were both Traditionalists, Jenno was weak-willed and contemptible—hardly to his taste. He’d even heard that Jenno’s son harbored some affection for Felicia, which was simply preposterous.
Preposterous indeed.
“Nothing of consequence.”
“Is it about the Reformists? Or about the child?”
Yet Jenno proved to be no easy mark.
“I said it’s nothing!”
As the two men bickered, Molton’s gaze caught Ailien rushing toward them from a distance, her flying squirrel companion at her side along with a sharp-eyed maidservant.
“Oh!”
Ailien’s eyes widened upon seeing a familiar face.
“You’re here with no sense of the occasion, aren’t you?”
“Yes, it’s been ages. Have you been well?”
“Your manners are truly dreadful.”
“Your manners are just as bad, aren’t they? I greeted you first.”
Wasn’t it common courtesy to return a greeting? Ailien’s confident demeanor made Molton’s brow furrow.
“And look at you, even keeping servants now.”
At his sneering tone, Kiki’s eyes narrowed to slits as she fixed her gaze upon Molton. Her eyes, tilted sharply upward, were so keen that both Kesen and Jenno instinctively took a step back.
“Ahem. In any case, have the sense to make yourself scarce and be on your way.”
“Is this your house? Calisto said I could stay, so why are you making a fuss?”
Struck by Ailien’s innocent candor, Jenno stepped forward and rapped her on the head.
“Ow!”
Ailien, her short arms cradling her crown in shock, stared up at him blankly. The girl’s pupils wavered—the first time in her life she’d experienced such unexplained physical violence.
“Why did you hurt Lili?”
“When a child misbehaves, adults correct them—that’s how it works!”
“What’s an adult? What did Lili do wrong?”
Undeterred by Jenno’s shout, Ailien stepped closer. Caught off guard by her audacity, Jenno raised his hand again.
Then Kiki swept Ailien behind her and fixed Jenno with a stare. The glint in those young eyes carried such menace that the air itself grew cold.
“You dare look at someone like that, a mere servant?”
“I was born looking this way.”
“You insolent—!”
“Stop causing trouble and leave. Shall I call the young master?”
Jenno felt a moment’s alarm, but quickly reassured himself. No matter how much the Grand Duke doted on this child, she was only a passing stranger—a temporary guest.
“Be gone!”
Watching their retreating figures, Ailien stood in stunned silence for a long moment. Kiki, without a word, lifted the child into her arms, and Didi, perched atop her head, breathed softly on the hurt spot. With her friends’ comfort, Ailien’s lip curled into a slight pout.

It was because Calisto’s parting words before leaving the castle had surfaced in her mind.
‘Not everyone in this castle is kind. There are those who resent you. I’ve made note of them all—just tell me if they cause trouble.’
‘But couldn’t I handle it myself?’
‘You could, certainly. But there are always unforeseen circumstances.’
Ailien raised a small fist and wiped her eyes carelessly. She wanted to cry, just a little, but refused to let the tears fall.
“Don’t cry over them.”
“Mm.”
Kiki answered with quiet steadiness, as though affirming her own resolve. A soft click sounded from above her head.
That small gesture of encouragement alone lifted Ailien’s spirits considerably.
“The truth is, I never wanted to live a life like this.”
In that little cottage deep in the forest, there had been no need to tell anyone anything. There had only been quiet days spent alone with Marlin.
‘No, that’s not it.’
Suddenly, violet eyes reminiscent of lavender flickered through her mind. How was that child doing?
As a faint longing for those days crept over her, Ailien burrowed deeper into Kiki’s embrace. Whether in cat or human form, Kiki always smelled of warm sunlight.
“Shall we return to your room?”
Kiki adjusted her hold on Ailien and asked softly. Rather than answer, Ailien simply nodded and buried her face against Kiki’s shoulder.
“Squeak.”
In the spot where Ailien and Kiki had stood, a small flying squirrel remained behind. Its usual adorable presence was entirely transformed. Had anyone witnessed the scene, they would have been startled by the aura emanating from that tiny, delicate creature.
Deep in thought, Didi scurried rapidly toward the servants’ quarters—the opposite direction from Ailien’s room.

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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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