The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 137

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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 137

 

‘Cheating bastards should be stripped naked and hung from a cliff immediately’ was my philosophy, but I decided to hold back for now.

 

I quietly backed away and escaped, covering my mouth with both fists and giggling.

 

There’s only one reason why Nodelli, who ruins every business venture they start, hasn’t gone bankrupt yet.

 

‘The Continental Premier Diamond Mine that the Former Emperor bestowed as Princess Ingrid’s wedding gift.’

 

But if Princess Ingrid divorces and takes the mine with her, they’ll have to sell off parts of their territory instead of buying abandoned mines to secure water sources.

 

‘Perfect!’

 

I clenched my fists and shook them excitedly.

 

Princess Ingrid’s pride could never endure her husband’s infidelity. Living while tolerating cheating was far too heartbreaking.

 

‘Thank you, Elizabeth. If you hadn’t constantly interfered with my affairs and made the Empress Dowager worry about me, I wouldn’t have had the chance to witness this.’

 

Gratitude, and more gratitude!

 

* * *

 

I organized my thoughts while returning to the Imperial Consort’s reception room.

 

‘How should I expose this?’

 

I need to expose it in a way that makes Princess Ingrid and the Empress Dowager as furious as possible. And soon.

 

If Marquis Nodelli secures the water source first, all my preparations will be for nothing.

 

When I returned to the reception room with a contemplative expression, several guests had just arrived.

 

“Hello, Young Lady.”

 

“Lady Dubbled, how nice to see you.”

 

These were people I’d become familiar with at various parties. I greeted them politely and headed toward Johan.

 

“Have the Imperial Consort and Princess arrived?”

 

“Over there.”

 

Having finished their brief conversation, the Imperial Consort was greeting the noble ladies inside the transparent door connected to the reception room.

 

Soon servants came in pushing trays. The garden quickly became bustling, and the Imperial Consort constantly looked after me.

 

‘The playboy must be running late from his philandering.’

 

I quickly scanned the interior while the tea was being reset. But something was strange.

 

‘Why is Elizabeth so late?’

 

Was she taking a long time to compose herself because she was unbearably angry about the Imperial Consort praising me earlier?

 

“Please sit.”

 

When the Imperial Consort spoke in a kind voice, the people who had been chatting in small groups around the garden gathered at the large round table.

 

Though much smaller in scale than regular tea parties, since the Imperial Consort was hosting, the guests were family members of powerful figures rarely seen elsewhere. These were the Imperial Consort’s close associates who rarely showed themselves even at my parties or the Grand Duchess’s parties.

 

Among them, the Imperial Consort seated me next to her.

 

“I’ve prepared tea that I’ve been saving for my precious acquaintances. I’d be delighted if it suits the child’s taste as well.”

 

When the Imperial Consort lightly raised her hand, the servants respectfully moved the teacups.

 

‘There’s no teapot.’

 

Normally, tea is brewed in a teapot and then poured into individual teacups to drink. But this time, the tea was already prepared in the teacups.

 

The noble lady smiled brightly and said.

 

“Pretty, isn’t it?”

 

I peeked into the teacup and was momentarily flustered. Unlike ordinary tea, this was made by drying whole flowers to brew. Inside the clear yellow tea water like barley wine, chrysanthemum flowers were blooming.

 

‘It looks like seaweed…’

 

To me it looked rather grotesque, but being a despicable child who valued social skills above all, I smiled brightly.

 

“There’s spring inside the teacup!”

 

People burst into laughter at my words, finding it adorable.

 

“Is this your first time drinking it? The Empress often gave it to me.”

 

Elizabeth, who had returned to the garden at some point, said boastfully. A noble lady added a light explanation to the child’s words.

 

“It’s tea that the Empress serves to distinguished guests.”

 

The Empress nodded her head.

 

“There’s no guest as distinguished as the Young Lady. I carefully prepared each teacup and tea leaf. Please taste it.”

 

It was just as I, with my hands folded on my knees, was answering “Yes.” A butterfly flew in from somewhere.

 

As it circled above the Empress’s teacup, she let out a scream. Empress Yvonne’s dislike of butterflies was famous. So much so that there wasn’t a single fragrant flower in this luxurious garden.

 

Everyone attending the party looked at the pale Empress with worried faces.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“…Yes. I caused a commotion. Lady Dubbled, don’t mind it and enjoy your tea.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

I took a sip of the tea.

 

In my head, the child in me urged me to immediately add plenty of milk and cream, but outwardly I smiled brightly. I didn’t forget to clap my hands with joy, saying it was delicious.

 

“The fragrance is so wonderful. It’s truly magnificent tea.”

 

The Empress nodded her head, looking pleased.

 

But then, that’s when it happened.

 

* * *

 

“Uh…?”

 

Leblaine, who had been blinking, grabbed her forehead and furrowed her brow.

 

“Leblaine.”

 

“Young Lady?”

 

Johan and the Empress called out as if asking what was wrong, but the child only shook her head back and forth without answering.

 

“I’m dizzy… Why…”

 

Leblaine, who had been muttering blankly, suddenly collapsed from her chair.

 

“Leblaine!”

 

Kyaak─!

 

The nobles who saw the collapsed child turned pale and screamed.

 

“It’s poison!”

 

“There’s poison in the tea…!!”

 

Johan rushed over and embraced Leblaine.

 

“Get a doctor immediately!”

 

At Johan’s voice, the attendants began rushing out frantically.

 

The garden instantly became chaos, and even the Imperial Consort turned pale, not knowing what to do.

 

The Duke Dubbled family arrived at the Imperial Palace. Even the Emperor set aside his official duties and came to find Leblaine, who was receiving treatment from the court physician.

 

The court mages and investigators turned the Imperial Consort’s garden upside down as they conducted their investigation.

 

“It is indeed poison.”

 

At the mage’s words, Empress Yvonne screamed as if having a fit.

 

“Poison, that’s impossible! How could poison be brought into the Imperial Palace! If someone had brought poison, it would have been caught during the entry inspection.”

 

“It’s not ordinary poison. It couldn’t have been detected during the Imperial Palace entry inspection. Like a curse medium, it only takes effect after being introduced into a person’s body.”

 

“Such a thing…”

 

After Leblaine’s poisoning was confirmed as fact, the Empress Palace was sealed. The guests invited to the party were confined to individual rooms, and the Imperial Consort was also confined to the palace.

 

Empress Yvonne bit her nails with an anxious expression.

 

“What on earth is going on!”

 

Seeing the Imperial Consort screaming irritably, the ladies-in-waiting bowed their heads with troubled expressions.

 

‘No guest touched Young Lady’s teacup. Everyone saw it, so we can’t fabricate someone who put in the poison.’

 

This meant the poison was added before the tea was served.

 

‘People will think I ordered the poisoning.’

 

There was even a motive. The matter of Leblaine choosing Adrian.

 

They would think she harmed Leblaine, who would become a conduit between them, fearing that Prince Adrian and Dubbled might join forces.

 

‘Even if not, I won’t be able to escape responsibility for negligent management.’

 

“And it had to happen now of all times…”

 

For such an incident to occur just when talk of a new Imperial Consort selection was emerging.

 

“Y-Your Imperial Majesty…”

 

Audrey, the lady-in-waiting who had managed the tea Leblaine drank today, approached with a pale face. The Imperial Consort’s eyes instantly became sharp.

 

Slap─!

 

With a sharp friction sound, Audrey’s head turned.

 

“What on earth did you do? What did you do that you didn’t know poison got into the tea!”

 

The head maid rushed over to restrain the Imperial Consort.

 

“Please calm down. Acting like this won’t resolve what has already happened. You must plan for the future.”

 

The elderly head maid looked at the trembling Audrey with meaningful eyes.

 

Audrey flinched.

 

‘What is that look?’

 

Unease crept up her ankles.

 

As the Imperial Consort sat down heavily after catching her breath for a moment, the head maid smiled mysteriously and gently grasped Audrey’s shoulder.

 

“Go out.”

 

“Lady Theresa…!”

 

“Don’t take this matter to heart, go out and wait. I’ll call for you separately.”

 

Audrey, who left the room as if driven out by Head Maid Theresa, leaned against the wall and trembled.

 

‘They’re going to use me as a scapegoat.’

 

Audrey, who had turned pale, headed to the individual room where Marquis Nodelli was confined.

 

“Philip!”

 

“What is it, why do you have such an expression…”

 

“What should I do? The Imperial Consort will pin this incident on me.”

 

“What… That can’t be. Weren’t you the Imperial Consort’s faithful subordinate?”

 

“Do you think Empress Yvonne is the type to consider such things?”

 

“That’s ridiculous. For what reason would you poison Dubbled’s orphaned girl?”

 

“If they fabricate it, anything can become a reason. They might say I tried to kill Lady Dubbled, who chose Prince Adrian, out of misguided loyalty. What should I do… This is all because of you!”

 

“Because of me?”

 

“If only you hadn’t dragged me away on the day I was preparing tea, no, if only you hadn’t listened to your daughter’s request…!”

 

“My daughter’s request?”

 

“Elizabeth asked me about Lady Dubbled’s cup! I prepared the tea. I absolutely never put poison or anything like that in it, so who else could it be? Your daughter!”

 

As Audrey screamed out, Marquis Nodelli stepped away from her.

 

“That can’t be. My daughter is only nine years old, what would she know to do such a cruel thing…!”

 

He stopped mid-shout.

 

“This? Wise gave it to me as a gift. He said if I have this, everyone Elizabeth dislikes will disappear.”

 

He remembered his daughter who had smiled innocently while holding a small medicine bottle before departing from the mansion.

 

“Elizabeth is… No, that’s impossible…”

 

“So your daughter comes before me after all?”

 

Audrey bit her lips tightly and glared at Marquis Nodelli with resentment.

 

“I shouldn’t have loved you. I should have forgotten when you said you’d abandon me to marry the princess. To you, I was just a trivial existence who only warmed your bed, wasn’t I?”

 

“A-Audrey!”

 

Marquis Nodelli embraced her and said.

 

“That can’t be true. The only one I love is you.”

 

“Then, what should we do…”

 

Looking at Audrey trembling pitifully, the marquis let out a thin sigh.

 

‘Elizabeth is Ingrid’s daughter. Even if it’s revealed that she administered poison, her life won’t be in mortal danger.’

 

The Empress Dowager and Ingrid wouldn’t just stand by.

 

“I’ll resolve this. Trust me.”

 

“Philip… I love you.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Marquis Nodelli’s eyes sharpened as he stroked Audrey’s back.

 

* * *

 

“Please kill me, Your Majesty!”

 

Marquis Nodelli prostrated himself before the Emperor. The Emperor sighed with an incredulous expression.

 

“So you’re saying Elizabeth put in the poison.”

 

“I will gladly accept the sin of raising my daughter wrongly.”

 

“What on earth possessed you to do such a terrible thing!”

 

Elizabeth let out a piercing scream in her panic.

 

“No! That’s not true! I never, I never did such a thing! Really!”

 

“If you search that child’s body, you’ll find she has a medicine bottle.”

 

“Marquis!!”

 

Princess Ingrid let out a scream-like shout.

 

“Are you insane? Do you even know what you’re doing to your daughter?!”

 

“It’s right to have her accept punishment sweetly even now. That way Elizabeth can become a better adult─”

 

Slap!!

 

Princess Ingrid struck Marquis Nodelli across the cheek.

 

“Ingrid!”

 

The Emperor shouted, but Ingrid’s eyes rippled darkly.

 

“What has possessed you to act like this?”

 

“Mother, Father! I really didn’t do it. It’s true that I tried to put the drug Wise gave me into that child’s cup, but I didn’t have time… Audrey came back faster than expected so I couldn’t put it in!”

 

Elizabeth burst into tears with a pale yellow face, and the Emperor commanded in a flat tone.

 

“Send Elizabeth Nodelli to the underground prison.”

 

“No! I never did such a thing! Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

 

“Elizabeth!”

 

Chaos erupted in the Imperial Palace. The Emperor, clutching the back of his neck, groaned. His headaches never seemed to end.

 

At that moment, in the Palace Infirmary.

 

The doctor stared intently at Leblaine, who lay with her eyes closed as if dead.

 

“Just what is Young Lady doing…”

 

“…”

 

“His Excellency and the Young Masters have all gone to see His Imperial Majesty, so stop pretending to be unconscious!”

 

Leblaine’s eyes snapped open. She quickly sat up, looked around, then lowered her voice.

 

“How can you say such things so loudly? What if someone hears?”

 

“Who would ever imagine that Young Lady would stage a poisoning!”

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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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