The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 116

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 116

 

Bang!!

 

Duke Valois hurled his wine glass at his wife who had returned to the mansion. The Duchess barely dodged the glass and covered her mouth with her pale, ashen face.

 

“D-dear…”

 

“You mindless woman!”

 

She ran to her husband trembling with rage and clung to him.

 

“I was deceived too. How could someone as sheltered as me recognize a determined con artist? Dubbled targeted you and used me…! Kyaah!”

 

Duke Valois’s eyes rolled back as he roughly grabbed his wife’s shoulders.

 

“What did that art dealer woman say? Did she really hand over all the loans to Dubbled? Did she?!”

 

“…”

 

When Duchess Valois couldn’t bring herself to answer and averted her gaze, the Duke roughly pushed her away and pressed his forehead.

 

Henri Dubbled, Dubbled’s second son who came in place of his younger sister, had an unusually cold demeanor for a boy.

 

“Barging in at dawn demanding we pack our things! Does the young master’s father know nothing of propriety!”

 

“Who discusses propriety with beasts? Duke, please don’t provoke us any further.”

 

“What, what did you—”

 

“I’ve grown tired of tolerating this foul stench any longer.”

 

He despised him with the exact same words, not a syllable different from the insult he had heard from Theodore Dubbled long ago.

 

Whether it was a blood-related child or a woman without a drop of shared blood, they all looked at him with the same gaze as that vulgar killer.

 

Just like that day when that trash, born from lowly origins and merely the 7th son of the Previous Duke Dubbled, had trampled the heir of House Valois underfoot.

 

“My apologies. You talked so much I thought you’d learned how to handle a sword.”

 

As he recalled the young Theodore, memories of the first moment in his life when he trembled with humiliation came flooding back.

 

The garden where nobles had gathered.

 

His own sword sprawled on the grass and Theodore Dubbled’s sword right before his eyes.

 

The murmuring voices.

 

“Theo, stop it.”

 

The delicate back that had blocked his path and the dazzlingly radiant hair.

 

The only woman William Valois could never have in his life.

 

The strong hands of the man who had embraced that woman.

 

For a moment, the face of that woman overlapped with the Child of Fate who had smiled brightly beside Theodore Dubbled.

 

Duke Valois clenched his fist tightly.

 

“Taliman!”

 

When Duke Valois shouted, a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat with both hands covered in gloves entered.

 

“Give me your orders.”

 

“Bring ‘those things’ from underground.”

 

“The ‘Descent’?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The man bowed his head deeply. Duke Valois’s eyes glowed red.

 

‘Do you think I’ll let you steal from me again this time?’

 

The dazzling glory belongs to him. Only the humiliation of failing to protect what was precious would remain in his life.

 

* * *

 

The mock battle championship prize would be awarded at the Imperial Palace banquet held four days later.

 

As soon as I returned to the mansion, I sent a reply to the invitation from the Imperial Palace.

 

And today. Our family departed for the Imperial Palace.

 

At the banquet table, the children from the two families who had advanced to the finals and their families were already seated.

 

We exchanged nods, and shortly after, the Emperor, First Prince Andre, and Empress Yvonne entered.

 

Usually, the person with the highest rank among those present would begin the greetings.

 

But today, it was my role as the mock battle champion to begin the greetings.

 

“God’s blessing upon the Sun of the Empire. May you enjoy eternal glory.”

 

I spoke while bowing politely.

 

‘How’s that? Perfect, right?’

 

I learned it from Grand Lady Camilla and the protocol officer.

 

I heard Father, my older brothers, and aunt chuckle softly, and then people followed my lead in paying respects to the Emperor.

 

“May you enjoy eternal glory.”

 

“May you enjoy eternal glory.”

 

The Emperor smiled contentedly and nodded.

 

“Welcome to the Imperial Palace. Please be seated.”

 

After taking our seats, everyone in the banquet hall began their meal. Light conversation flowed, and the atmosphere remained harmonious throughout.

 

I was a bit worried that Prince Suheil, who had been my opponent in the finals, might feel uncomfortable, but he seemed to have a good personality and appeared to have completely forgotten about his defeat in the finals.

 

Instead, he recommended pie to me, saying “This is delicious.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You should eat a lot and grow big. That way, no one will look down on you for being small in the next mock battle.”

 

…It seems he hasn’t completely forgotten about his defeat.

 

Isaac snorted and placed another type of pie on top of the pie he had offered.

 

“What? Do you think you got beaten because you looked down on my younger sister?”

 

“Beaten? This is before His Majesty. Speak more politely.”

 

“Really? Then choose. Got crushed, got wrecked, got pulverized. Which do you prefer?”

 

Edgar Suheil suddenly frowned and clicked his tongue, saying “Let’s stop talking.”

 

I heard they were rivals at the Academy, and it seems they really don’t get along.

 

I thought I should remember this as I munched on the pie Isaac had cut for me.

 

‘But what about the prize? The prize!’

 

I’m anxious because I need to quickly identify the demon from the summoning circle I saw in Duke Valois’s secret storage.

 

Originally, I planned to contact an alchemist to find out, but alchemists who know about summoning circles are extremely rare. Finding an alchemist itself was so difficult that I needed a demon’s help.

 

Empress Yvonne, who had been conversing with the other family matrons during the meal, dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin.

 

“Your Majesty, the children seem to have waited long enough, so please present the mock battle awards now.”

 

The Emperor nodded, and my eyes sparkled brightly.

 

‘It would be best to see Bune again. If not, then the 56th pillar demon. Bune said that demon is kind.’

 

When the Emperor raised his hand, attendants entered.

 

They handed envelopes to the finalists. Even the finalists received small prize money.

 

And to me, they gave a thick envelope and gems contained in a transparent case.

 

‘This is Elder Horn…’

 

It’s a slightly curved oval yellowish gem. Unlike amber or citrine, the color is somewhat murky.

 

When I looked at the Emperor, he nodded.

 

“It’s a gem from ancient records. Feel free to examine it closely.”

 

I quickly opened the case and handled the gem.

 

‘Wow…’

 

I knew as soon as I touched it. Elder Horn was indeed the demon’s pathway I had been looking for. Power swirled lightly in my hand.

 

‘It’s different from Bune’s time.’

 

The ‘sleeping mineral’ that was Bune’s pathway gave off a very gentle energy. To compare, it felt like being submerged in warm water.

 

But this has an energy similar to the fossil that was Paimon’s pathway. It’s rough.

 

‘No, it’s much rougher than Paimon’s time.’

 

Is it a powerful demon?

 

“…would like that.”

 

“…”

 

“Young Lady?”

 

“Yes?!”

 

I was so absorbed in Elder Horn that I missed what the Emperor said.

 

‘Oh my, my concentration…’

 

I used quite a bit of divine power driving away monsters during the mock battle, and dealing with Duke and Duchess Valois was exhausting in many ways, making it hard to maintain adult thinking.

 

“What are the Young Lady’s thoughts? Which side between the First Prince and Second Prince?”

 

I glanced at my family members. They all seemed displeased with either option.

 

Empress Yvonne was smiling very sweetly.

 

‘Now that Valois has become useless, she’s trying to grab onto Dubbled’s strings?’

 

I snorted inwardly.

 

Absolutely not.

 

Empress Yvonne and the First Prince are as dangerous as the shrine.

 

In my first life, Empress Yvonne was desperate to bring in the Child of Fate as a bride for the First Prince’s legitimacy.

 

Since the opinion that I was fake was prevalent, she had no interest in me and was obsessed with Mina.

 

The Imperial Consort devised all sorts of schemes to connect Mina with the First Prince. How much I suffered getting caught up in that.

 

‘In the end, the answer is already decided.’

 

“I choose Second Prince Adrian!”

 

Empress Yvonne’s face instantly hardened. She gripped her napkin tightly, then forced herself to compose her expression as she asked.

 

“Why Adrian? Haven’t you never met Adrian before?”

 

“I saw him at Godmother’s, ah, I mean at Grand Lady Camilla’s estate. The Prince gave me the honor of becoming his friend!”

 

The Emperor let out an “Oh…” in admiration and nodded his head.

 

“I see. Already with that child…”

 

From the Emperor’s perspective, this would be a good thing too.

 

Empress Yvonne’s power had grown too large, and he needed a tool to keep her in check.

 

But Adrian was in a state with no proper support base.

 

Just having me by his side with Dubbled backing me would stop Empress Yvonne’s rampage.

 

Above all, he would want to prevent an alliance between Dubbled and Empress Yvonne.

 

Aunt also nodded, seeming to think Adrian’s side was the optimal choice.

 

But Father and my brothers’ expressions weren’t good. Especially Johan’s expression.

 

He took my hand and mouthed “Why?” to me.

 

“You didn’t forget, did you?”

 

“…?”

 

“Last time with me… no, never mind.”

 

I tilted my head in confusion.

 

Isaac furrowed his brow and muttered quietly.

 

“This is strange.”

 

Henri also asked in a small voice.

 

“What is?”

 

“Something’s really pissing me off… like something precious is about to be taken away, it’s annoying.”

 

“Watch your language. We’re in front of His Majesty.”

 

“He can’t hear us.”

 

* * *

 

Father and my brothers were still in a bad mood even after the banquet ended. I held Aunt’s hand and walked while watching my family’s reactions.

 

“Should I have said the First Prince instead?”

 

“No. The Second Prince is better.”

 

“Right?”

 

But why are they in such a bad mood?

 

While thinking that, I grabbed Noak.

 

‘This isn’t the time for this. I need to hurry back and summon the demon inside this gem…’

 

And just as we were leaving the Emperor’s palace.

 

Wind whipped sharply around us.

 

“It’s spring now, what’s with this wind…!”

 

Isaac shouted.

 

Henri looked at me and asked gently, “Did any dust get in your eyes?” while Father tightly fastened my overcoat.

 

While my family was doing that, I stood frozen stiff, staring into mid-air.

 

“That thing….”

 

“Huh?”

 

“What?”

 

“What’s wrong.”

 

“Little One?”

 

“Leblaine.”

 

I looked around at my family with shaking eyes.

 

“Can’t you see that?”

 

That man floating in mid-air.

 

That man who was like a mass of mana, watching us with sharp intensity—impossible not to notice.

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

When Isaac asked, I shouted.

 

“Get away!!”

 

The Spark that arose from the man’s hand instantly condensed into a huge circle and flew toward us!

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————