The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 144
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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 144
* * *
After learning that Seto had received the spirit’s blessing, I immediately went to find the owner of the mine where the stones were excavated.
“Baron Eston? Hmm… I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere.”
“Aren’t you confusing him with the Estera family? Eston is a provincial noble. He’s someone so ignorant of imperial affairs that he dared to come directly to Dubbled and demand extra money with foolish words. He’s not someone worthy of Young Lady’s attention.”
Sometimes there are people who are brave because they don’t know better, and Baron Eston seemed to be exactly that type.
I nodded while taking a bite of peach.
‘So he’s a newborn pup whose liver has come out of his belly.’
“Even if we give that newborn pup as much as he wants, we need to get our hands on the Spirit Mine as soon as possible.”
“Just send word and he’ll fly to the Imperial Capital immediately, so don’t worry.”
It was Grandfather who met Baron Eston directly. I thought Grandfather, who had an accurate eye for people, would easily finish the job.
Until we received Baron Eston’s arrogant letter.
A few days later, when I saw Baron Eston’s letter addressed to Grandfather, I let out a hollow laugh.
[Agreeing to trade at that price was a spring day’s affair. Much time has already passed. Show me compensation for the time wasted.]
Seria, who checked the letter contents with me, frowned.
“Did someone make contact with him? Showing such a confident attitude means he knows the value of his mine, doesn’t it?”
“It would be difficult to make contact from Nodeli. They don’t have money to spare right now. And Marche wouldn’t have stepped forward directly either. Duke Marche is such a cunning old man. He would never do anything that could be traced back to him. Most importantly, there’s no way they could know about the blessing we discovered by chance.”
“Then his liver really must have come out of his belly.”
The one trying to buy the mine wasn’t me as the master of Hope Trading Company, but Lady Dubbled.
While Grandfather would handle the transaction directly, no one would be unaware that Duke Dubbled was behind it.
‘Are you trying to use this opportunity to connect with Dubbled and elevate your family’s status?’
Winning in a transaction with Dubbled would certainly become a tremendous tale of valor.
I glanced slyly at Grandfather.
His expression was as leisurely as always, but having been practically attached to him for five years, I knew.
‘Baron Eston is dead…’
Grandfather rose to his feet.
“It seems Dubbled has been infinitely lenient all this time. Seeing even flying ants crawling up.”
“…”
“Please leave it to me. I’ll take swift action so that our reputation isn’t further damaged before Young Lady.”
“Mm-hmm…”
I offered a silent prayer inwardly.
Grandfather may be a competent and amusing old man in front of me, but I mustn’t forget his true nature.
That man was Duke Dubbled’s greatest political enemy.
As a vassal of a great noble, as Dubbled’s second-in-command with strong ties to the shrine and great nobles, he was the strongest member of the Dubbled Council of Elders that even the previous Duke Dubbled couldn’t handle.
With just the name Jean-Marc Nouanok, even elderly great nobles would step back—he was the command tower protecting Dubbled’s frontlines.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
I shouted at the Chairman who was about to leave through the door.
“Just don’t kill him…!”
The Chairman nodded slightly and closed the door. Bang! The sound of the door closing was ominous.
* * *
A few days later.
Baron Eston, heavily drunk since sunset, returned to his mansion leaning on an acquaintance, hiccupping constantly.
“Now a bright future will shine upon this Omar Eston! You hear?”
“Oh my, what’s the point of saying anything. You’re magnificent. Please walk properly.”
“Everyone gets scared in front of the Dubbled name, but actually there’s nothing that frightening about it! It’s all about deals, bluffing. Who can better control the situation, you know? It’s a battle of wits, understand?”
“Yes, yes.”
Baron Eston was an arrogant man. It was his lifelong regret that despite having abilities comparable to great nobles, he was pushed aside by them simply because his family was slightly declining.
“This time my name will spread throughout the entire Empire. Everyone will know just how outstanding this Omar Eston is…!”
Baron Eston, who had entered the central courtyard of his mansion while beating his chest, frowned.
“The family head has come home, so why isn’t there a single person around! These bastards…!!”
Just as he was about to shout angrily.
“M-Master.”
A maid approached with quick steps.
“A guest has arrived.”
“Someone who visits a mansion without its master isn’t a guest but an unwelcome intruder! What bastard dares to be so rude to me—”
“It’s the Chairman of the Dubbled Council of Elders.”
Baron Eston’s eyes widened at the maid’s words.
‘Jean-Marc Nouanok?’
It felt like his drunkenness vanished instantly. The Baron’s acquaintance groaned “Ho…” and nodded.
“As expected of you, sir. How did you manage to make even that arrogant old man come personally?”
“Hmph, no matter how high and mighty he acts, he’s just a vassal of a great noble house. Where is that old man!”
That’s when it happened.
“No need to look. I’ve come personally.”
Along with a low voice, something collapsed at their feet with a thud.
A blood-soaked soldier from the Eston house had fallen at their feet, writhing like a worm.
“Wh-what… What is the meaning of this!”
The Chairman lightly wiped the blood on his fingertips with a handkerchief.
“He was truly arrogant, just like his master. Since he dared to block my path with spears and swords, I gave him a proper belly wound as intended.”
“Th-this…! I’ll report this to the Imperial Palace! Breaking into a mansion and harming soldiers—are you in your right mind?”
The Chairman’s lips twisted into a smirk.
“What a foolish fellow. How could one remain sane while facing those who hide blades in every glance, every tip of their tongue, every joint of their fingers?”
“What, what?”
The captain slowly moved his body and approached Baron Eston.
“I was destined to live without my right mind from birth. I left things like morals, righteousness, and trust in my mother’s womb.”
“Don’t, don’t come closer! I’ll report to the Imperial Palace immediately…!”
“Hey. Let me ask you something.”
The captain, who had approached Baron Eston closely, asked.
“What would happen first – the Imperial Palace soldiers capturing me, or me slitting your throat?”
“…!”
“By the time people arrive from the Imperial Palace, I’ll have already cleaned up everything here and left. What could you possibly report when you’re dead?”
“But, but… even if you’re Dubbled’s vassal, murdering a noble is…!”
“Let me ask one more thing.”
The captain placed his hand on his shoulder with a thud and asked.
“How many people do you think I’ve killed for Dubbled so far?”
“Will you really oppose Dubbled? They say Dubbled is a place where the most evil people in the world gather. If there’s a hell in the human world, it would be there. What does status matter? Is there anything more precious than life?”
Words he had heard from someone came to mind. Baron Eston, who had turned pale, swallowed dry saliva.
“Adding one more body to the pile of corpses isn’t that difficult for me.”
“I, I… what I said was, well…”
Baron Eston, who had turned blue with fear, slowly collapsed to the ground.
“Please spare me…”
“Bring the mine documents.”
Baron Eston waved his trembling arms toward the maid.
The maid hurriedly ran and brought the mine sale contract. The baron immediately stamped his seal without thinking twice.
When he handed over the documents with trembling hands, the captain stepped on his hand.
“Ugh…”
“Remember this. The only reason you’re alive today is because my kind lord commanded me to spare your life.”
“Yes, yes… Your grace is as vast as the heavens.”
“You’ll have to repay this life debt someday.”
The baron hung his head low.
* * *
The captain returned with the mine documents in his hand. He had his usual half-dazed grandfather-like expression. It was a familiar look I’d seen often.
“…How did you resolve it?”
“We resolved it well through dialogue.”
“That’s suspicious…”
I narrowed my eyes and stared at the captain, then said “Well, whatever” and took the documents.
“Prepare Seto. I’ll be going to the mine as well.”
“Will His Excellency permit it?”
“He said to take either Henri or Isaac with me. Johan seems to be busy.”
“Because you will become the successor to the great enterprise.”
At those words, I thought of Johan who had become the Crown Prince.
‘Wonderful, wonderful.’
Johan is quite benevolent and also exceptionally capable, making him perfect Crown Prince material.
Henri and Isaac would also become excellent princes.
‘Let’s raise them well so they become excellent.’
I made that resolution and nodded my head.
“Then the chairman should organize the documents. I need to return to the mansion.”
“Yes.”
I left the trading company with Seria and the chairman seeing me off.
As I was heading to where the carriage was waiting, someone called out to me from afar.
“Sis…! No, Young Lady!”
“Seto?”
I smiled brightly seeing that child who had come running hurriedly.
“Why are you running like that? You’ll fall. Oh my, your clothes are all dirty.”
I had given him clean clothes in the morning, but they were already grimy. I brushed off the dust from his sleeves.
“Th-this is a gift… A-a flower that resembles Young Lady… Over there, I picked it from the mountain…!”
“You picked it from the mountain because it’s a flower that resembles me?”
“Yes…”
Seto shyly hunched his shoulders.
‘Cute, so cute!’
Why are little children so adorable?
I giggled and carefully placed the tattered wildflower on my handkerchief.
“Thank you. I’ll keep it safe.”
Seto’s face turned bright red again as he fidgeted.
That’s when it happened.
“Hey!”
What’s this now?
At the familiar voice, I immediately frowned and turned my head.
“Hayton.”
“Why haven’t you been responding to my messages?”
“I gave you living expenses.”
“It’s not about money… What’s that dirty thing?”
Hayton frowned and glared at the flower Seto had given me.
“Watch your language. It’s not dirty, it’s a flower. I received it as a gift.”
“Hmph, calling that kind of wild grass a gift.”
Come to think of it, Hayton was also holding some large flower bouquet.
But then.
“Sister!”
“Leblaine.”
I looked around in confusion.
“Lionel? Adrian… no, Your Highness, why are you here?”
Lionel, his face flushed red, ran toward me.
“I heard you were at the shopping district…”
He seemed to have been running, gasping for breath with heavy pants.
“Are you allowed to come outside now?”
“Yeah! I’m a Grand Duke’s son now!”
It seemed the procedures had finally been completed. I smiled and patted Lionel’s shoulder.
“Good, you worked hard. But Your Highness, why did you come here?”
“…”
“Hm?”
“Because I wanted to see you.”
“…What?”
Just as I was asking, I suddenly felt sharp gazes piercing from all directions.
‘Wait, why are these guys suddenly all gathered here ready for battle!’
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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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