The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 122

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 122

 

The Chief Chamberlain and I immediately headed to the Valois Estate.

 

In front of the mansion, Father, Henri, North, and an Imperial Palace investigator were gathered together.

 

Since I owned the Valois Mansion, the house search warrant had been delivered to Father, who was my guardian.

 

Henri seemed to have come with Father since he was the one who had seized the Valois Mansion on my behalf.

 

The investigator was holding some large parchment in his hands.

 

‘Must be the interior blueprints.’

 

When constructing or modifying buildings, you had to report to the relevant department, and what the messenger was holding were the blueprints that Valois had submitted when building the mansion.

 

“If there are any expanded spaces other than those marked on the blueprints, please inform us in advance. If discovered during the search, you cannot avoid punishment.”

 

“We were not informed of any expansions during the mansion transaction.”

 

North handed over documents with Duke Valois’s signature stating there were no expanded spaces.

 

The search began.

 

I pretended to watch the search while tagging along behind the investigators.

 

The Valois Estate was an enormous mansion with a three-story main building, four annexes, employee quarters, Imperial Knight barracks, and a massive standalone study.

 

Though it was an old mansion built over a hundred years ago, it was very well maintained, giving it a dignified charm with no damaged areas.

 

I carefully touched the stairs in the central courtyard.

 

“Goodness, Nils. Don’t run around like that or you’ll bump into something. Let me see, my baby. …What are you staring at like a little rat! Get inside right now! Disgusting girl.”

 

“S-sorry, Mother.”

 

Eight-year-old me, burning with fever and unable to even control my body.

 

When I had snuck downstairs trying to get a single pill, the Duchess was carefully examining Nils, whose forehead was slightly red.

 

I remember how my hunched shoulders felt as heavy as if they bore stones, and the hot breath I carefully exhaled, trying not to pant.

 

“No unusual findings from the central courtyard to the first floor south.”

 

“The dining room.”

 

Following the investigator into the dining room, there was an old cupboard.

 

The dining room I had snuck into late at night because I was so hungry.

 

Six-year-old me had been hastily stealing and eating dry, stale bread when I was startled by footsteps outside the door and hurriedly hid under the cupboard.

 

My throat that felt completely blocked.

 

My trembling body.

 

The memory of pounding my tight chest only after the person had left.

 

I looked around the mansion in a daze.

 

I saw phantoms.

 

Young me with roughly cut curly hair, holding a water glass while carefully walking down a corridor covered with old carpet.

 

Seven-year-old me breaking a vase and not knowing what to do, picking up glass shards with my bare hands.

 

A slightly older me curled up in a narrow corner next to a display case, trembling violently.

 

I gripped the hem of my dress tightly and lowered my head. My breathing kept getting more labored.

 

It was when my vision became blurry and hazy.

 

“…dy.”

 

“….”

 

“Young Lady.”

 

A gentle voice reached my ears.

 

When I lifted my head, I saw Lea kneeling down to meet my gaze.

 

She smiled warmly and gently rubbed my cheek with the back of her hand.

 

“Why does our little one have no energy?”

 

She said that.

 

“Let me see, our little one.”

 

She said the words that the pitiful Leblaine from my second life had desperately wanted to hear just once.

 

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

 

“…No.”

 

When I shook my head vigorously, Lea stood up while holding me and gently patted my back.

 

“If you’re hurt anywhere, don’t hide it. Even a single scratch on you makes my heart ache.”

 

“…Mm.”

 

“What a good girl.”

 

“Mm, Lea.”

 

I buried my face in her chest.

 

Lea is an amazing person. Whenever I need her most, when I’m scared and don’t know what to do, she always takes my hand.

 

Just like a mother.

 

I clasped both hands to my chest and whispered.

 

“You know, Lea.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“When you’re with me, I’m not scared at all. It’s strange.”

 

“….”

 

“When I’m by your side, I’m happy and my heart feels warm. This means I love you, right?”

 

Lea kissed my cheek and chuckled softly.

 

“I love you too, Young Lady.”

 

I hugged Lea’s neck tightly.

 

As we were facing each other and smiling, there was a loud “Ahem!” cough from nearby.

 

It was the ceremonial officer.

 

I pulled away from Lea’s embrace and she stood up, then moved a little distance away. Then the ceremonial officer whispered.

 

“The investigation is wrapping up, but we still haven’t found that place.”

 

“What idiots.”

 

I quickly ran down the corridor with quick little steps.

 

The Investigation Chief, who was looking at the interior blueprint in the study, muttered “Hmm…” while stroking his chin.

 

‘Bookshelf, bookshelf.’

 

Mister, look over there!

 

I shouted inwardly with wide eyes, but the investigator’s gaze remained fixed only on the blueprints.

 

Just then, other investigators entered the study.

 

“Nothing unusual in the employee quarters and barracks.”

 

“The third floor is the same. All we found were the Duchess’s secret ledgers.”

 

‘You fools, there’s a secret space right behind you!’

 

I felt so frustrated I wanted to pound my chest.

 

If this continues, there’s no choice.

 

I randomly pulled books from the bookshelf and threw them backward with swooshes.

 

“Oh no!”

 

When the investigator looked at me and shouted, Father, North, and Henri, who were with him, all looked at me.

 

I put on an innocent, childlike expression and cheerfully shouted.

 

“I’m going to play with blocks. I’ll stack them as high as Father!”

 

One investigator gestured to the Dubbled people as if asking them to do something about me.

 

Then North hurried over.

 

“How thoughtful of you, Young Lady, to quietly stack books instead of running around!”

 

—Doting Fool 1 said with a goofy smile as he picked up the books I had thrown and brought them to me. The investigators’ expressions soured.

 

“Your Excellency, this space is under investigation by imperial decree. Please send the child away.”

 

When one investigator spoke politely, Doting Fool 2, who had been sitting solemnly alone on the sofa, replied.

 

“My daughter wants to stack books.”

 

When Father glared, Dubbled’s Doting Fools 3, 4, 5 and others who came with him stared at the investigators with blazing eyes.

 

A mere investigator couldn’t raise his voice to Duke Dubbled, whom even the Emperor couldn’t handle.

 

Empowered by the doting fools, I enthusiastically threw books around.

 

‘There must be a button somewhere on this bookshelf to open the passage.’

 

“Young Lady.”

 

The adjutant called me as if time was running out and gestured toward his watch.

 

The investigators were preparing to leave the mansion one by one. The person in charge was also trying to get up, thinking there wasn’t much to gain.

 

I anxiously examined the bookshelf.

 

This is strange.

 

‘Why isn’t it there?’

 

The bookshelf was definitely the same as the one in Valois’s secret warehouse, but no matter how much I searched, there was no button to open the entrance.

 

‘Could it be they didn’t build a basement in the mansion? No, judging by Duke Valois’s reaction, there’s definitely a ritual site in the mansion!’

 

“Thank you for your cooperation. We’ve completed our investigation, so we’ll be heading back now.”

 

The investigators bowed their heads toward Father.

 

The adjutant whispered urgently.

 

“If it comes to this, please report the secret warehouse in the shopping district. Valois’s experiments were conducted there too.”

 

“It’s already been over ten days. Even the trace amounts of mana mixed in the air would have dispersed. The summoning circle has also been mostly erased, so it won’t be perfect evidence.”

 

Only when the ritual space and secret warehouse in Valois Mansion are combined with the demon I summoned would it become evidence that Duke Valois couldn’t escape from.

 

“But don’t we have no choice? If we miss this opportunity, we’ll never be able to corner Duke Valois. Rather, while the summoning circle hasn’t been completely erased, please report the secret warehouse.”

 

I bit my lips tightly.

 

‘What should I do?’

 

* * *

 

The investigation of the Valois Mansion was over.

 

Duke Valois laughed heartily as he raised his glass in celebration.

 

“That’s right. In the end, they couldn’t find anything. In the end…!”

 

He had no idea how worried he had been that they might discover the ‘ritual site.’

 

However, the investigation team ultimately retreated without finding anything.

 

“It’s fortunate that everything ended safely.”

 

As the gloved man smiled, Duke Valois plopped down on the sofa and swirled his wine glass.

 

“Indeed, that’s right.”

 

“Now that your worries are relieved, you should plan your next move. What will you do now?”

 

Duke Valois grinned wickedly.

 

“Theodore, that heartless and merciless bastard seems quite absorbed in his role as a father. If I destroy what’s most precious to him now, how twisted will that noble face of his become?”

 

“You mean…?”

 

Duke Valois leaned forward and raised an eyebrow.

 

“I’m thinking of killing that insolent little girl.”

 

“You mean the Child of Fate? But her guards are no ordinary matter. By what method…?”

 

“Don’t we know an easy and quick method?”

 

When Duke Valois pulled the bell cord, the butler dragged in someone with cloth covering their head.

 

“P-please spare me. Please spare me! Sister! Please…!”

 

The hooded boy pleaded tearfully, but the men present didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

 

Duke Valois, who had risen while holding his wine glass, patted the boy’s shoulder twice.

 

“Alchemy.”

 

“…The same method from 9 years ago?”

 

“Yes.”

 

It was the moment he twisted his lips into a smile.

 

BANG!!

 

The door was kicked open and Imperial Guards poured in.

 

“Surround them!”

 

Duke Valois looked around in panic.

 

“What… what business do you dare have here…!”

 

“By imperial decree, we are to arrest the criminal who threatened the Imperial Palace with dark magic!”

 

What?

 

“Nothing came out of my mansion that I owned. So why are you arresting me…!”

 

A small girl walked cheerfully through the Imperial Guards.

 

“The Child of Fate? What business do you have here…!”

 

As the Duke’s face hardened, Leblaine smiled brightly and shouted.

 

“I came to watch Mister get arrested!”

 

‘You thought I couldn’t find you, you garbage. No matter how thoroughly you hide, there are always ways.’

 

“The underground storage of Valois Mansion.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Curious how I found it?”

 

When Leblaine glanced behind her, someone cautiously entered inside.

 

Duke Valois’s eyes widened when he saw who had entered.

 

“How, how did you…!”

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