The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 157
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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 157
“It wasn’t too difficult coming here, was it? Oh, seeing you today, I can tell you’ve grown quite a bit. While it’s endearing to see a child who seemed so young grow up, it’s also somewhat bittersweet.”
Since when did you care about me like that?
I hid my incredulous thoughts and grabbed my skirt hem. After lightly bending my knees, I answered in a cheerful voice.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Is there something the Young Lady is grateful to me for?”
“They say that thanks to Your Majesty, the father of all people, ruling the Empire with benevolence, children can grow up in peace. So we should always be grateful to Your Majesty.”
‘This is the social maneuvering of someone on their fourth life, you fool.’
When I fully displayed my flattery skills that had been certified by my Beggar Gang companions in my previous life, the Emperor burst into hearty laughter.
“Young Lady truly brings me joy.”
“It’s an honor.”
“Good, good. When you return, take an Imperial Palace carriage. It will be more comfortable than Dubbled’s carriage.”
I didn’t decline and shouted “Wow!” while offering my thanks.
When a superior offers something, it’s better to accept it and show joy rather than decline.
As expected, the Emperor laughed heartily with a pleased expression.
“Have a pleasant time at the Imperial Palace. Give my regards to the Late Empress.”
“Yes. I will.”
The Emperor nodded with a benevolent face and walked past me.
Then Laura, who had come with me to attend to my needs, whispered with a delighted face.
“Even His Majesty doesn’t know what to do because Young Lady is so adorable.”
Of course I would be adorable.
Since I’ve manifested God’s Crest and truly become the Child of Fate, there are many places where I can be useful.
And I’m going to exploit this too.
I glanced around my surroundings. The Palace Servants following the Emperor were busily rolling their eyes.
‘Yes, you gossips. Go spread rumors that the Emperor absolutely adores me.’
To me, the Emperor was a cunning old yellow geezer, but to others, he was the sun of the Empire.
Just the story that the Emperor adored me would make my status rise endlessly.
‘Good, good.’
I hummed a tune as I headed to the Empress Dowager’s Palace.
“Glory to the Empire. I greet the mother of the Empire.”
When I spoke while spreading my skirt hem wide, the Empress Dowager quickly took my hand.
“There’s no need for excessive formalities between us. Come, baby. Sit here. What kind of tea would you like? Assam? Darjeeling? I’ve already prepared the chocolate scones you said you liked.”
‘God’s Crest really is amazing.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Until recently, the Empress Dowager found me disagreeable.
It was because Grand Lady Camilla, who was at odds with the Empress Dowager, had become my godmother, I had an uncomfortable relationship with her granddaughter Elizabeth, and I had influenced Princess Ingrid’s divorce as well.
But as soon as rumors spread that God’s Crest had manifested, she changed her attitude as easily as flipping her palm.
“I heard you collapsed. How difficult it must have been for you.”
The Empress Dowager spoke with a voice full of concern while gently stroking the back of my hand.
“Thank you for your concern. But I’m fine now.”
“Yes, yes. My baby is so strong. But the reason you fainted…?”
The Empress Dowager asked in a subtle tone while glancing at my feet. She seemed desperate to see God’s Crest.
I answered cunningly, pretending to know nothing.
“According to the doctors, it was from the shock of manifesting God’s Crest.”
“God’s Crest! Oh, could you perhaps show it to me?”
I nodded and carefully took off my shoes. Counting one, two, three in my mind to prepare myself, I channeled divine power along the tattoo Trigon had drawn for me.
The Empress Dowager looked at the crest that appeared on my foot with trembling eyes, then covered her mouth.
“Good heavens…”
‘It looks exactly like the real God’s Crest, doesn’t it?’
Since she was close to the Pope and the Emperor’s Late Empress, I thought there was a high chance she would know God’s Crest, and it seemed my prediction was correct.
“I knew it would be like this. Baby, I have never doubted you. I have always believed you were the Daughter of God who would bring great fortune to the Empire. Ah, how moving!”
The Empress Dowager tried to calm her excitement, covering her mouth with both hands and fanning her flushed face.
After being at a loss for a while, she finally spoke again only after draining an entire cup of cold water.
“Well… baby.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I don’t always stay only in the palace. Since I always have the same daily routine, it’s incredibly boring. So I have quite a few people who tell me various stories.”
‘What story is she trying to tell with such a long preamble?’
As I blinked my eyes, the Empress Dowager asked with a strange downward glance.
“I hear you’re quite close with Camilla’s grandson?”
“Godmother’s grandson… oh, Lionel?”
The Empress Dowager, who had been frowning at the word godmother, barely composed her expression and nodded.
“Yes. That child seems to follow you quite well. Even to the point of offering flowers on young lovers’ anniversaries?”
‘Ah, so she was worried that the Grand Duchess’s grandson and I might get together.’
Any Imperial Family member who takes the Child of Fate who manifested God’s Crest as a wife would gain more sacred legitimacy than anyone else.
She seemed worried that I might get together with Lionel and become a political rival to her son or grandson.
“No. I just happened to become friends with the Grand Duchess Consort, so Lionel just follows me like a sister.”
“I knew it would be like that!”
The Empress Dowager nodded with a pleased face. Then, realizing her true feelings were too exposed, she laughed awkwardly.
“I was just curious about the Young Lady’s well-being, but the conversation went off track. Have you been well?”
I nodded, pretending not to know her dark intentions.
“Of course. I’ve been well.”
“I haven’t heard news of you going out recently. What have you been doing?”
“I read books and draw pictures.”
“The weather is nice, don’t you go flower viewing?”
“I do flower viewing in the greenhouse. Since I like violets, the gardeners keep violets blooming all year round.”
“How wonderful. The Imperial Palace greenhouse also has violets. Would you like to see them?”
“I’m delighted, but would that be alright?”
“Of course.”
I arrived at the greenhouse under the Empress Dowager’s guidance. But as soon as we arrived, the Empress Dowager’s attendant came running to us with a troubled expression.
“There’s been a commotion at the Imperial Palace.”
“A commotion. Who dares.”
“Empress Yvonne has…”
“What about?”
The attendant glanced at me and whispered to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager sighed and looked at me.
“Something has come up. Look around for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”
“Don’t worry about me, please take care of your business comfortably.”
“How sweet of you.”
The Empress Dowager chuckled softly and patted my head. Then she left the greenhouse, her expression hardened as if it was quite an urgent matter.
‘What could it be?’
I decided to have my guard investigate the matter and entered the greenhouse.
‘It’s really been a long time since I’ve seen the Imperial Greenhouse.’
Since I last saw it in my second life, it truly had been a long time.
As the garden of the most noble people in the Empire, it was an incredibly beautiful place.
Well-trimmed garden trees, an artificial waterfall with clear water flowing gently, a colorful landscape created by all kinds of flowers, and butterflies gathered following the sweet floral scent.
There wasn’t a single flaw to be found anywhere.
‘Even though it’s so pretty, somehow it looks desolate.’
I was walking while thinking such thoughts.
“Can’t you hear me?! You worthless bastard!”
A subtly hoarse shout, as if from someone who had just passed through puberty, could be heard. I was startled and turned my head toward the direction of the voice.
Dark blue curly hair could be glimpsed over a fence made of rose vines.
A boy who dared to shout in the Imperial Family’s greenhouse, and with the same hair color as Empress Yvonne – there was only one.
‘Prince Andre.’
Famous for his terrible personality, and someone who had thoroughly tormented me in my first life, making me frown just at the sight of his collar.
I shook my head and turned to leave.
‘It’s better not to encounter Prince Andre if possible.’
I was thinking that and trying to escape when.
“You still don’t know your place, Adrian.”
Adrian?
I was startled and turned my head.
And when I looked below the vine fence, I could see familiar blonde hair here and there.
“While I’m being nice, tell Father. That all your wins in sword training were tricks.”
“The one who used tricks would be you. Bribing the judge and even tampering with my sword.”
“This bastard…!”
An excited Andre grabbed the collar of the sitting Adrian and pulled him up.
The two were born in the same year, and although Andre, who received overprotection from Empress Yvonne, should have much better nutrition, Adrian was much taller.
“Stop talking nonsense and do as you’re told! What are you relying on to run your mouth? Do you think that commoner orphan girl becoming your guard gives you the backing of Duke Dubbled? Get a grip. Did you forget Mother’s words? Those who don’t know their place have short lives.”
“Cancel that.”
Adrian’s voice dropped to a chillingly low tone. It was extremely intimidating. Enough to make Andre flinch.
Andre’s face reddened, seemingly embarrassed that he had flinched at Adrian.
“Cancel what? Am I wrong? Those who don’t know their place should die…!”
“She’s not a commoner orphan girl. She’s Leblaine.”
“…What?”
Andre let out a scoffing laugh as if he found it absurd.
“I’m right though. Even if she’s called the Child of Fate or whatever, she’s still of lowly blood. Just a girl born as a commoner tool for the Imperial Family and nobles to use and discard—”
Thwack!!
With a dull friction sound, Andre tumbled to the floor.
Adrian looked down at Andre coldly, while Andre stared up at Adrian in stunned disbelief.
“You, you…”
Adrian had lived without even daring to breathe since he was very young. After the Empress died and Empress Yvonne took control of the Inner Palace, he instinctively knew he shouldn’t act rashly.
But…
“H-how dare you hit me?”
Red blood dripped drop by drop from the sniffling Andre’s nose. Andre unconsciously wiped his nose, then looked like he might faint upon seeing his own nosebleed.
I felt like screaming.
‘Hey, you fool! You endured so well, how could you explode over something like that!’
That was the moment.
“Young Lady, you were here… Good heavens.”
“Andre!!”
Empress Yvonne entered along with the Empress Dowager. Behind them was even the Emperor with an incredulous expression.
Only after people entered did Adrian realize I had been there, and his eyes widened.
“Second Prince, what on earth is this…!”
“M-Mother…”
When Andre put on a pitiful crying face, I burst into tears.
“Waaaahhhhh…!”
First, let me save Adrian.
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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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