The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 139

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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 139

 

“What is the matter?”

 

“Lady Dubbled has awakened.”

 

The Imperial Consort, holding her forehead, slowly sank into her chair.

 

‘At least that’s fortunate.’

 

If the Child of Fate had failed to open her eyes in the end, the Dubbled Ducal House’s fury would have turned the Empire upside down.

 

“Instruct the Medical Facility to do their utmost for the Young Lady’s recovery. Whatever is needed, however much, provide it all, and tell the Young Lady to come see me once she recovers… Ah, but after being poisoned like this, she wouldn’t want to visit my palace. Tell her I will personally visit the Young Lady.”

 

“That is…”

 

The Imperial Consort furrowed her brow.

 

“She doesn’t want to meet me?”

 

“No, she says she wants to talk now. Secretly.”

 

“What?”

 

The Imperial Consort’s expression became strange.

 

* * *

 

The Imperial Consort arranged a very secret meeting place as I had requested. She even came to the Medical Facility in person.

 

“You’ve granted a difficult request. I won’t forget your help.”

 

“Help? This is respect and sincerity toward Your Imperial Majesty!”

 

The Imperial Physician rubbed his palms together like a fly and poured out flattering words. The Imperial Consort, as if accustomed to this, raised an eyebrow and glanced at him.

 

“I have something to discuss with the Young Lady alone.”

 

“Yes, yes. I’ll make sure no words leak out, so please speak comfortably.”

 

After the Imperial Physician left, the Imperial Consort gently sat in the chair beside my bed.

 

“My goodness. How difficult it must have been to endure poison with such a small body. I’m truly relieved you’ve awakened.”

 

Pretending to be weak as I lay sprawled on the bed, I inwardly smirked with satisfaction.

 

“Your Imperial Majesty…”

 

“Don’t worry. I won’t forgive the culprit who did this to you. But… why did the Young Lady seek me out?”

 

I fidgeted with my hands and then quietly grasped the hem of the Imperial Consort’s clothes.

 

“The physician says that Your Imperial Majesty might be in trouble now.”

 

Though she stroked my cheek with an extremely loving expression, she couldn’t hide the anxious emotion in her eyes.

 

‘She must be properly furious about how the situation has turned out.’

 

Indeed, according to what I heard from the physician, Marquis Nodelli, who left the Imperial Palace pale as a sheet, first sought out Duke Marche, which was reason enough for anxiety.

 

‘Marquis Nodelli is stupid, but he’s quick to sense these things.’

 

He had no business sense and didn’t know what was important, but when cornered, he accurately pinpointed someone who could turn the tables.

 

There are those who value what they’ve built more than their children. Among the powerful who survived the bloody power struggles of the Empire and their families, many were like that, and Duke Marche was the same.

 

Igor Marche was someone who prioritized personal glory and his family over his daughter, the Imperial Consort.

 

‘That’s probably why he made his daughter the Imperial Consort in the first place.’

 

As her child, the Imperial Consort would know her father’s temperament better than anyone.

 

Moreover, if the Imperial Consort gets involved in this incident, her prestige would be greatly damaged due to poor management, but that’s all.

 

If I help from behind, it could be recovered at any time, so it might be better to damage the Imperial Consort’s prestige rather than lose the Nodelli card.

 

‘You’re anxious, aren’t you?’

 

The Imperial Consort forced the corners of her mouth upward.

 

“I’m grateful that you’re concerned about me even in this situation. So? Is that all you have to say to me?”

 

“Audrey Noshear, Your Imperial Consort’s lady-in-waiting, and Marquis Nodelli are in love with each other.”

 

“…What?”

 

“When Your Imperial Consort went to have a conversation with Princess Ingrid, I also went to the bathroom for a moment. That’s when I saw it. The two of them were embracing like this and he said ‘Let me smell my woman’s scent.'”

 

When I spoke with wide eyes, the Imperial Consort took a sharp breath.

 

“Such… Ha!”

 

The Imperial Consort abruptly stood up and roughly swept her hair back.

 

“Filthy creatures. How dare they do such things in my palace, behind my back?”

 

I slightly got up and leaned my back against the headboard while looking up at the Imperial Consort.

 

“The physician said the poison got in because Lady-in-waiting Noshear couldn’t manage the tea properly. That’s why Your Imperial Consort is in trouble. But… the bad one is Marquis Nodelli, isn’t it?”

 

“…Right. He might have deliberately seduced Audrey to create an opportunity for his daughter. I was deceived.”

 

The Imperial Consort’s eyes rippled darkly. Thick anger filled the quiet space.

 

I slightly covered the corner of my mouth with my fingertips and smiled wickedly.

 

‘Yes, yes. Push Nodelli off the cliff instead of me.’

 

“But why are you telling me this, Young Lady?”

 

“Because Your Imperial Consort is wonderful!”

 

“…Me?”

 

I clasped both hands at my chest and nodded earnestly.

 

“Imperial Family members are born with divine blood, so they’re the most precious in the nation from birth, but Your Imperial Consort became the highest-ranking woman in this country by yourself, didn’t you? That’s very amazing and wonderful.”

 

When I didn’t forget to make my eyes sparkle, the Imperial Consort’s lips twitched briefly.

 

When the Imperial Consort came close to me and gently stroked my cheek, I quickly leaned into that hand like a cat and made a pleased expression.

 

“I like you very much, Young Lady. Truly.”

 

“I like Your Imperial Consort too.”

 

“Don’t forget that feeling. Then I will share my glory, honor, and prestige with you. …Leblaine.”

 

I was inwardly startled and looked up. The Imperial Consort has many people around her, but she doesn’t treat any of them intimately.

 

‘She didn’t even call Mina by name.’

 

She called her Child of Fate, or girl, or Young Lady of Amitie.

 

‘She’s completely taken with me.’

 

I wickedly raised the corner of my mouth inwardly.

 

A little later.

 

The Imperial Consort sent the maids out of the palace under the pretext of giving them vacation for their hard work at the party, and had soldiers burst in when Audrey and Marquis Nodelli were lying in the same bed.

 

* * *

 

I had been hospitalized at the Imperial Palace Medical Facility for a full ten days and was finally returning to the mansion.

 

“The Medical Director said he should have discouraged your discharge.”

 

Trigon, who was standing crookedly in the doorway, grumbled.

 

I shrugged my shoulders as I received documents from the doctor detailing the progress of my poisoning incident.

 

“It wasn’t like I was actually cursed anyway.”

 

“Do you have any idea how busy I was because Young Lady staged a poisoning?”

 

“Be grateful. But since the Medical Director is a doctor who wouldn’t know about curses, and all he could do was provide nursing-level care, that’s why the Chief Court Mage was assigned.”

 

I made a shameless expression that said ‘I didn’t do it. The Imperial Consort ordered it.’

 

Trigon let out a deep sigh.

 

“But why haven’t you been receiving visits from the Dubbled People all this time?”

 

“Father and my Brothers, and my Aunts are all great mages too. At first they were panicked and everything was chaotic, but once they collected themselves and looked carefully, they might realize I wasn’t really cursed.”

 

I continued speaking while skimming through the documents the doctor gave me.

 

“Oh, tell me about the curse’s progression that Father can accept. I need to act accordingly.”

 

“…I already told them they don’t need to worry.”

 

I paused while turning the pages. I immediately glared at Trigon.

 

“Why did you do something I didn’t tell you to do! I told you not to say anything! Father is quick-witted, so he’ll know what that means!”

 

“Do you know how much the Dubbled People suffered after Young Lady collapsed? The Young Masters had lost their minds, and His Excellency was like a corpse…!”

 

“It’s better than me actually dying!”

 

“…What?”

 

“Don’t you understand? If it’s revealed that I’m not the Child of Fate, I’ll be used as a sacrifice. I’m going to die anyway!”

 

“But Dubbled wouldn’t just let that happen…”

 

“Of course not! That’s exactly why I can’t tell Father my true identity! Because he would die trying to protect me!”

 

Seeing me half out of my mind and shouting, Trigon hesitated and stepped back.

 

“Dubbled will become powerful enough to push out the five ducal houses. Then…”

 

“Do you think they could instantly defeat the Imperial Palace and shrine forces? What about the Nobles? If the Imperial Palace and shrine command it, all the nobles in this country will target me under the pretext of serving the greater good!”

 

What are the chances that Father and my Brothers could protect me while avoiding all those blades and arrows?

 

How many of the Dubbled People could survive in that war?

 

Even if the world turned upside down and Father protected me, we would have to endure terrible sacrifices.

 

Among those sacrifices, the lives lost might be Zachary, or Lea, or the Three Maids.

 

‘Father or my Brothers might die too.’

 

That’s why Suwon is necessary. That’s why I need to make Dubbled into such a powerful family that even the Imperial Palace and shrine can’t touch them before my fake identity is revealed.

 

To protect myself, and to protect the family who would risk death for me.

 

When I got so excited that my eyes turned red, the doctor held me back.

 

“This place is well soundproofed, but someone might come in. Let’s go back for now.”

 

“…Since when has Father stopped requesting visits?”

 

“It’s been five days.”

 

I squeezed my eyes shut.

 

‘Father already knows that I staged the poisoning.’

 

Trigon looked at me, now pale, and couldn’t open his mouth.

 

The doctor and I brushed past him and opened the door. When we boarded the carriage waiting in front of the Medical Facility, the wheels immediately began to roll.

 

When I returned to the mansion, the interior was completely dark. The employees glanced at each other nervously before forcing smiles for me.

 

“You’ve returned. I’m glad you’ve recovered. We’ve prepared a meal for you…”

 

“Where’s Father?”

 

“Well…”

 

“Where is he?”

 

The butler looked toward Father’s office with a troubled expression.

 

I moved with trembling steps. Voices could be heard leaking from the office.

 

When I knocked on the door softly and said quietly, “It’s me,” the door slid open smoothly.

 

Father, who was sitting in his chair, looked at me expressionlessly.

 

* * *

 

Cigarette smoke like a sigh puffed out from Trigon’s lips. His brow furrowed slightly as he was writing up the general course of the curse.

 

“In such a situation, how did the Young Lady look so cheerful? She was laughing so brightly that I felt reassured…”

 

The captain who was with him in Hope Trading Company’s office glanced back at him.

 

“She was doing it so we would feel reassured.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“The Young Lady tosses and turns every dawn. She always has nightmares, so she can’t sleep properly. But if the Young Lady shows her anxiety, how do you think those of us beneath her would feel?”

 

“…”

 

“She’s someone who has died three times and lived four times. We couldn’t even imagine her life.”

 

“But from a family’s perspective…”

 

The captain sighed and put down the documents he was holding.

 

“The Young Lady drank the Imperial Consort’s tea. Knowing it might contain poison.”

 

“…”

 

“That means she’s that desperate, and it means she has nowhere to retreat.”

 

“…”

 

“I can only pray that nothing happens in Dubbled Territory today. You couldn’t even imagine what family means to the Young Lady, who lived as an orphan through all four of her lives.”

 

Trigon’s shoulders dropped weakly.

 

“Ah, but there’s something that’s been bothering me.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“They say Nodelli cursed Duke Marche in the underground prison. Why would that be? Not her daughter who put in the poison, not the Imperial Consort who exposed the affair, but Duke Marche…?”

 

The captain’s eyes narrowed.

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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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