The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 134

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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 134

 

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The party was splendid.

 

It was the first party held at the mansion since Father inherited the position of Family Head, and since it was after Father’s attack, it was meant to widely demonstrate that Dubbled’s prestige remained unshaken.

 

“Remove the champagne. We can’t have those who can’t control their drinking causing a disturbance. There’s nothing more unsightly than that at a gathering where children are present.”

 

“Yes, Sir North.”

 

“Station spearmen as guards outside the mansion. Position archers on the walls, and have those bearing the wolf insignia monitor inside the party venue.”

 

“We obey your command.”

 

Thanks to North and Aunt carefully overseeing everything, I didn’t need to worry about the party’s proceedings.

 

My only responsibility was entertaining the guests.

 

‘House Hadeloro has a powerful magical army.’

 

Hadeloro’s chief mage is a highly learned person, so they might know something about water sources.

 

‘House Ragnos owns the most mines among noble families.’

 

I can’t assume water sources only exist in abandoned mines.

 

Marquis Nodelli buying up abandoned mines is probably because he’s ruling out currently operating mines from his options, since water sources would likely have been discovered in mines that are actively extracting ore.

 

“Arrange Lady Hadeloro and Lady Ragnos’s seats at my table.”

 

“Yes, Young Lady.”

 

The steward who was taking notes in his notebook glanced at me.

 

“Are you aware that the retainers mentioned Young Master Johan’s marriage in this morning’s meeting?”

 

“Johan’s marriage?”

 

For ordinary nobles, marriage discussions would happen around my age, so Johan is quite late by those standards.

 

‘But suddenly at this chaotic time when Father was attacked?’

 

I had an ominous feeling for a moment. I narrowed my brows and looked at the steward.

 

“Who is the other party?”

 

“Elizabeth Nodelli.”

 

When I jumped up abruptly, the steward quickly grabbed me.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“To Father. They want Johan to marry the daughter of the family that attacked Father? Does that make sense?”

 

“Think rationally. If he marries Elizabeth Nodelli, there’s no more risk of being attacked. We can hold the daughter that Marquis Nodelli treasures like his own life as a hostage.”

 

“The retainers don’t know that Nodelli ordered Father’s attack. So why do they say Johan should be engaged to her?”

 

“Because of Valois Territory.”

 

‘Valois’s fleet.’

 

Dubbled boasts invincible prestige in land battles, but not so much in naval warfare.

 

If we could have the Empire’s greatest fleet based on Valois’s technology, Dubbled could dominate naval battles as well.

 

Moreover, House Valois has materials gathered while producing a thousand scholars.

 

If Paimon is the ‘treasure trove of information’ from the other world, then Valois is the Empire’s ‘treasure trove of information.’

 

Valois lacked wealth and couldn’t maintain many soldiers. Their numbers were less than one-fifth of other families, but they weren’t outmatched by other houses because of the information they monopolized.

 

“Since His Excellency was attacked, Valois’s fleet and information are even more desperately needed. But, Young Lady. Do you know Dubbled’s problem?”

 

“…The fact that relations with other noble families aren’t good.”

 

“His Excellency’s faction has all been won over with money. There are no proper allied families. But the Marche Ducal House is different.”

 

In Dubbled’s case, most problems could be solved with military force and wealth, so there was no particular need to strengthen relationships with nobles.

 

During Father’s reign, relations with other families were even more distant. This was because the lady of the house, who would serve as a liaison with other families, had been absent for a long time.

 

“At next month’s State Council meeting, the administrator of Valois Territory will be decided. Seventy percent of the nobles with voting rights support Duke Marche.”

 

“So you need help from the Nodelli House, which has as good relations with other families as Marche?”

 

“Yes. Even if relations were bad before, if they become in-laws with Dubbled, they’ll have no choice but to support us for their daughter’s sake. Above all, there’s no child with bloodline as excellent as Elizabeth Nodelli.”

 

The chairman’s voice lowered.

 

“You know this too, don’t you, Young Lady. In terms of power superiority alone, you cannot beat Elizabeth Nodelli. Behind that child is the Imperial Palace. You also have good relations with the Empress Dowager and Emperor, but the saying ‘blood is thicker than water’ doesn’t exist for nothing.”

 

The chairman’s words weren’t wrong.

 

The Empress Dowager, Emperor, and I had only grown close to pursue mutual benefits.

 

If I went to war with Elizabeth, the friendship we’d worked so hard to build would come crashing down.

 

“One tear from that child would turn the Empress Dowager into a raging buffalo, and the Emperor wouldn’t stand by while someone touched even half of his bloodline.”

 

“So you want me to force Johan into an unwanted marriage?”

 

“That’s the burden that must be carried by those who have enjoyed glory at the pinnacle of power.”

 

“No, I won’t do it.”

 

“Young Lady.”

 

As I put on the coat draped over the chair, I glanced at the chairman.

 

“Running away because I might lose – I don’t do that.”

 

After carefully buttoning up my coat without missing a single button, I frowned deeply.

 

“Giving one thing to receive one thing. Dubbled’s problem is being too fair and just. People are too good!”

 

The chairman looked at me with an incredulous expression.

 

“You’re saying Dubbled is good?”

 

Zachary, who was guarding the door, also gaped. Then he rubbed his ears as if he’d heard something impossible.

 

“If we’re going to use Elizabeth, we should just use her. Right? We could discuss marriage talks only until the State Council meeting, then dump her afterward!”

 

“It’s truly surprising that you’re not of Dubbled bloodline, Young Lady.”

 

“You know, Chairman.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“From what I’ve experienced in life, if you try to live kindly, you only get stabbed in the back.”

 

—When I, a nine-year-old, said this to the chairman who had lived well over half a century, he let out a chuckle.

 

I shrugged nonchalantly. I was on my 4th life, the chairman was only on his 1st. The 4th round has its own enlightenments.

 

“I’ll let you use Johan’s name. I just don’t want to force him into marriage.”

 

Also, I wanted to get some small revenge on Elizabeth, who called me an orphan and impurity and treated me like vermin.

 

“Chairman, go and stop the retainers.”

 

“How can I do that? They all seemed to already favor the engagement with Nodelli.”

 

“Whether you grovel on the floor, throw a fit, or use intimidation. Do whatever it takes to shut down such ridiculous talk. Now, go!”

 

When I cheerfully shouted, the chairman rubbed his face wearily with a tired expression.

 

* * *

 

As the party began, clients started entering the garden.

 

“Hello, Lady Dubbled.”

 

“Thank you for coming.”

 

“What are you saying. I should be the one thanking you…”

 

Lady Hadeloro, her face flushed red, glanced at Henri who was talking with other people.

 

‘Henri must have treated her well.’

 

I thought noble houses would be reluctant to send their children out during times like these, so I put my brothers to good use, and it was an excellent choice.

 

Except for one viscount’s daughter who was suffering from a high fever due to a cold, everyone who received invitations accepted.

 

Even those who weren’t invited were desperately trying to get their hands on invitations somehow.

 

‘The problem is the young ladies Isaac went to pick up…’

 

Given Isaac’s personality, I couldn’t shake my worry that he might have said something harsh to the young ladies.

 

According to what I heard from Laura, Isaac’s followers were generally people with a screw loose. She said there were even young ladies who stalked that scary Isaac just one or two years ago.

 

‘Please just don’t yell, Isaac!’

 

Just then, the people Isaac had gone to pick up began entering.

 

“You haven’t forgotten your promise to give us some hair, have you?”

 

“Do you have any fingernails that fell off? I heard they fall off often during training. If you have any, please give them to me.”

 

“Me too! Me too!”

 

The young ladies surrounding Isaac arrived at the party venue like crabs. Isaac frowned.

 

“I got it! …I said. I got it, so please go in now! …please.”

 

He started to shout angrily, then squeezed his voice down, then started to yell again before gritting his teeth and being polite.

 

I was inwardly surprised, thinking ‘What’s gotten into him!’ Looking at those young ladies’ behavior, it wouldn’t have been strange if Isaac had exploded several times on the way here.

 

“Hello, Lady Dubbled!”

 

“I’m so happy you invited us!”

 

“You’re my benefactor!”

 

The lively young ladies giggled and grabbed my hands, shaking them vigorously.

 

Even I, who had been through all sorts of trials, was flustered by the momentum of Isaac’s followers.

 

“Ah… yes, thank you for coming.”

 

“Thank you? Of course we had to come. If it’s where our Young Master is, even a sewer! Oh, this is a gift we prepared.”

 

The young ladies handed me a large box.

 

‘Wow…’

 

The box was packed full of flower bouquets.

 

The other young ladies nearby also gave me various wreaths and flowers as gifts, so I struggled to hand them over to a servant.

 

Then even the young ladies who came with Henri said “Oh, we also…” and shyly offered luxuriously wrapped flowers.

 

‘For a first-time hosted party, you receive bouquets and wreaths as gifts, right.’

 

The servants must have been overwhelmed too and put them back down, as I looked with tired eyes at the pile of gifts that had accumulated at my feet.

 

Laura, who was attending to me nearby, muttered with an extremely excited face, puffing out breaths.

 

“Is this a tribute war of fanatics…!”

 

It was the young ladies who came with Johan who settled what Laura called the ‘tribute war.’

 

“Be careful when moving it.”

 

The servants pushed aside all the gifts with a thud! sound and set down some golden statue on the floor.

 

A tall Young Lady who appeared to be around Johan’s age smiled brightly and said.

 

“In place of a wreath.”

 

“Ah… Thank you.”

 

“Please take care of us.”

 

The mature Young Ladies looked at me and smiled gently.

 

Laura still had an excited expression as she came close to me and whispered.

 

“They’re members of the society that loves Johan! That red-haired Young Lady is Miss Alexandra Chevigne.”

 

I know.

 

‘The reason I invited Elizabeth is because of her.’

 

The youngest person to join the White Horse Knights.

 

And the eldest daughter of Count Diana Chevigne, an illegitimate child of the Former Emperor, Emperor Carlos the Great.

 

‘Unlike Elizabeth, she’s a real princess.’

 

Of course, since the Empire doesn’t recognize illegitimate children, she would never be called a princess, but Alexandra is different.

 

In the future, she will achieve countless merits as the Captain of the White Horse Knights and receive the title of Boju, one rank below princess.

 

“Let’s get along well.”

 

Alexandra extended her hand, so I quickly took her hand.

 

“I’m happy that Older Brother Johan has such a good acquaintance!”

 

When I smiled charmingly, Alexandra said “Oh my” and chuckled. The other followers of Johan also found me adorable.

 

“You’re much more lovely than the rumors say. Feel free to call me sister. We all call each other sister and younger sister among ourselves.”

 

“Sister?”

 

When I deliberately widened my eyes, Johan’s followers laughed softly.

 

“Don’t worry. We’re not people who aim for any deep relationship with Johan.”

 

“We simply admire his dignity.”

 

I applauded inwardly. They’re wonderful sisters. And they’ll become even more wonderful in the future.

 

The future Captain of the White Horse Knights, a future candidate for Magic Tower Master, the future core of the Merchant Guild.

 

My brother is handsome and worth seeing.

 

‘Thanks to him, I’ve formed connections with future People in Power without any effort!’

 

The people who came to today’s party will complement the one weakness that House Dubbled has.

 

‘Relationships with the Nobles.’

 

Wasn’t that the purpose of holding a party at this time?

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“The Party Venue is rather cramped.”

 

With a displeased snort, Elizabeth entered the Garden.

 

Looking around the Garden, her cheeks reddened as she shouted “Johan!”

 

“I, I… we couldn’t talk properly in the Carriage earlier…”

 

“Hello, Miss Nodelli.”

 

I approached her with a bright smile. Her eyes hardened for a moment as she answered curtly, “Yes…”

 

“I’m especially glad to see you today.”

 

“The Dubbled Young Lady mentioned me?”

 

“Of course! Even this morning, the retainers were talking about the Young Lady in their meeting.”

 

When retainers mentioned someone’s name in a meeting, it was usually related to marriage arrangements.

 

I deliberately didn’t mention which of the Three Young Masters the retainers had in mind for the engagement.

 

The follower groups of my three older brothers all simultaneously fixed Elizabeth with sharp gazes.

 

‘This is what I was aiming for.’

 

Elizabeth, caught in the crossfire of stares for the first time in her life, was flustered, and I smiled brightly as I offered her a handshake.

 

‘Welcome to enemy territory.’

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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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