The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 145
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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 145
Unless these guys had received some divine revelation at the exact same time, it was nearly impossible for them to coincidentally gather here today, at this very moment.
I frowned and asked.
“What’s this about? Why did you all suddenly come here?”
Hayton Valois cleared his throat with a cough, and Adrian fell silent as if choosing his words carefully. So it was Lionel who spoke first.
“Because today is the day to give flowers.”
“Flowers? …Oh.”
Only then did I nod my head.
‘Right. Today was that day.’
There’s a day when you give flowers as gifts to someone you’re grateful to or someone you like.
It meant wanting to become more special to that person tomorrow.
‘Since it’s given with intention, it’s basically a bribe.’
Come to think of it, Adrian, Hayton, and Lionel were each holding a flower bouquet.
Suddenly, I felt an ominous feeling. As I pondered this, I flinched and stepped back.
“Don’t tell me you guys are going to give those to me…”
When I narrowed my eyes, the expressions of all three changed.
Hayton cleared his throat and turned his head away, Lionel’s face turned red, and Adrian was looking at me with a steady gaze.
“…You have something to ask of me!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
I let out a big sigh and crossed my arms.
“I don’t know what it is, but you startled me!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“I don’t treat things like flowers as bribes. If you want something, you need to bring something of equivalent value. Feelings? You can’t see those things.”
After giving them advice that would benefit their future, I nodded and sighed.
“I was terrified thinking you guys might actually like me. That would make it hard to see you comfortably. If it were some other Young Lady instead of me, she would have misunderstood, right?”
When I laughed awkwardly, Lionel’s eyebrows drooped.
“If we like Sister, you won’t see us anymore?”
“Of course! Lionel is the Grand Duke’s only son, Adrian is a Prince, and Hayton, I just don’t like you.”
“Why do you just not like me!”
“You hid explosives in the mock battle. You tried to kill me while pretending it was an accident, didn’t you?”
“…”
Hayton subtly avoided my gaze. While doing so, he muttered, “That was because of Father’s orders… I won’t do it anymore even if he tells me to…”
The three of them became strangely silent. I grew anxious again and took a few steps back.
“Don’t tell me you really intend to…!”
Kyaaah! As I screamed in terror, all three spoke at once.
“Are you crazy? Why would I do that to you!”
“N-no, Young Lady…”
“I stopped by the shopping district and heard you were here.”
I nodded with a pleased expression.
“Yes, thank you. But I won’t accept the flowers. It might cause unnecessary rumors. Be careful next time, you foolish little boys. Hahahaha.”
“…”
“Mm.”
“…”
Having sorted out the situation, I waved my hand cheerfully saying “Goodbye!” and returned to the carriage.
* * *
Watching Leblaine walk away with a relieved and cheerful expression, the four boys including Seto each wore different expressions.
“Who’s calling who foolish little boys…”
Clicking his tongue, Hayton glanced sideways at Adrian.
“Your Highness must feel quite bitter. While I have no choice given my circumstances, her being so terrified of Your Highness who has much better conditions might mean she has no intention of considering Your Highness in the future.”
“It’s less bitter than someone who doesn’t even meet the basic conditions.”
“How long do you think I’ll remain in this state? Don’t be so certain about the future. I’ll make my comeback someday.”
Adrian, who had been watching until Leblaine completely disappeared, turned his head.
Glancing at Lionel and Seto who were still dejected, he lowered his voice and whispered.
“Let’s see how far you can climb by saving the living expenses Leblaine gives you.”
“The living expenses are payment for our deal…!”
Hayton, who had been shouting, suddenly shut his mouth.
‘How does he know about that?’
Leblaine couldn’t have told him.
Hayton suspected that the Hope Trading Company that provided his living expenses was a business secretly operated by Dubbled.
That cunning Leblaine wouldn’t have hinted at Dubbled’s secrets to the Prince.
There were many names people used to refer to Adrian.
The pitiful unwanted Prince.
An unprotected stray cat.
A Luerg abandoned by God.
Due to the interference of Empress Yvonne and the Marche Ducal House, Adrian didn’t even have a proper tutor.
Whenever gossips mentioned Adrian, it was always accompanied by sneers about whether he could even read.
“…Your Highness is different from the rumors.”
“…”
“But you’re not wise. What would you do if I ran to the Empress Palace and confessed everything?”
“Try it.”
Adrian slowly looked over Hayton’s face as it hardened.
“It would be nice if there were someone who believed you, young master. That way you wouldn’t have to hear people say you’re just a pitiful boy consumed by delusions of grandeur after his father’s death.”
“…!”
“I pray that you’ll be safe in Theodore Dubbled’s hands after confessing Dubbled’s underground business. Though I’m not sure if you’ll safely make it past the Imperial Palace before that.”
Walking with an upright posture, he firmly grasped Hayton’s shoulder.
“Please don’t cross the line, young master. I don’t want to do anything that would make Leblaine feel even the slightest bit sorry.”
Adrian whispered gently and turned his back.
Hayton let out a hollow laugh as he watched Adrian’s retreating figure while holding his shoulder that throbbed as if it might break.
As expected, the foolish little one was Leblaine.
‘Stupid Leblaine. Do you even know what kind of monster’s heart you’ve ignited?’
Just then, Lionel, who had been gloomily fidgeting with the flower bouquet, muttered.
“The flower bouquet… Maybe she didn’t accept it because it wasn’t pretty enough?”
Hayton frowned as he looked at Lionel.
“What did you say?”
“Maybe pink would have been better after all! Even now, I could go back and get a pink flower bouquet…!”
“….”
Hayton shook his head at Lionel, who was saying such foolish things at a time like this, and left his seat.
* * *
A few days later. Having finished preparations for the trip to Eston Mine, I opened the carriage door together with Henri and Isaac.
Henri and Isaac looked anxious even until just before departure.
“Little one, do you really have to go? Just the two of us would be enough.”
“That’s right, Leblaine. You don’t really have to go…”
I heard that same thing about twenty times yesterday. I jumped into the carriage first and looked back at my brothers.
“Is there anyone here besides me who has touched a water source?”
Besides me, who has intact memories of my previous life, they don’t even know what a water source looks like or what kind of energy it gives off, yet they confidently say they’ll bring it back.
“But it’s dangerous. The fact that a child blessed by spirits appeared means that the legendary nymphs from stories might actually exist.”
“Leblaine, nymphs aren’t small, cute little human-like beings from fairy tales. They’re more like monsters. Fierce, terrible, and cunning.”
“That’s great!”
When I clapped my hands and smiled brightly, Isaac frowned.
“Why?”
“If they were good and lovely beings who talk about great causes and justice, we’d have to win their hearts to find the water source, right? But if they’re vicious beings, then we can make deals with them.”
“That’s… true?”
“Besides, in the worst case scenario, we’d have to steal it, but how could we attack something cute? Only if they look fierce would we feel like fighting them.”
What a relief!
When I nodded my head, Isaac brightened up with an “Ah.”
“That’s really true. Little one, you’re smart~!”
“Right?”
The guard looked at us with an incredulous expression.
“Who would think Young Lady isn’t part of House Dubbled….”
Father and Johan, who had come out to see us off, chuckled, and Henri also patted my head as if he couldn’t help it.
As my brothers took their seats across from me, Father draped a robe over my shoulders and said.
“Don’t forget the conditions for going to the mine.”
I recalled the conditions I had memorized after being warned so many times.
“What did I tell you?”
I glanced at the people outside the carriage and hesitated. The conditions were too embarrassing to recite here.
“The conditions are.”
But it seemed like he wouldn’t let me go unless I recited them, so I squeezed my eyes shut and shouted loudly.
“One, fists are faster than words! If someone won’t listen to reason, punch them! Because Father is anxiously waiting for his beloved Leblaine at home!”
“And?”
“Two, if it looks like I’ll lose, run away immediately! Don’t care whether others live or die. My survival comes first! Because Father is desperately waiting for his cute Leblaine at home!”
“The last one?”
“Three, pride is useless in the face of death! In emergencies, beg for mercy! Because Father is waiting day and night for his pretty Leblaine at home!”
“Good.”
Father and Johan nodded, while Henri and Isaac chuckled.
Father patted my head and said.
“The mine trip shouldn’t take long. It becomes dangerous if Marshu catches wind of it.”
That was also why Father couldn’t come with us directly, and why we couldn’t use long-distance teleportation circles.
Henri, Isaac, and I were leaving under the pretense of an outing. Most people would probably think Father was helping me avoid being sent to the Prince’s guard.
‘We absolutely can’t let Marshu notice.’
If we lose the water source, Dubbled won’t be able to defeat Marshu for the next six years.
Though the situation would change after the Holy Demon War, if Dubbled’s independence was the goal, we needed to reach the pinnacle of the nation as quickly as possible.
“I’ll be back.”
As I hugged Father’s neck in farewell, he lightly patted my back and said.
“…Yes.”
The carriage door closed, and we left the Imperial Capital.
I closed my eyes and gripped the amethyst I was certain was the Devil’s Passage, pocket and all.
‘Please help me when things get dangerous.’
Though my brothers who were aura users and several elite members of the Wolves, plus Zachary, were with me, it was still a dangerous situation.
Because I had no idea how powerful the forgotten spirit might be.
‘Alright, let’s do this.’
Until then, I had no idea what this mine trip would give me, and what it would take away.
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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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