The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 158

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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 158

The startled Empress Dowager approached me.

“What happened?”

“Waaahhh…!”

Even Empress Yvonne, who had been checking on Andre as he sat down with blood streaming from his nose, stopped and looked at me.

Andre, instantly excluded from everyone’s attention, frowned and grabbed the sleeve of Empress Yvonne’s dress.

It wasn’t behavior befitting a fourteen-year-old boy.

‘Well, he acts like this even as an adult.’

Andre was the most famous mama’s boy in the Empire.

“M-Mother, that brat did something to me—”

Just as Andre was about to tattle on Adrian to the Imperial Consort,

“Waaahhh, Father…!”

I played my trump card by calling for Father and crying dramatically, causing everyone to exchange bewildered glances.

The Emperor spoke up.

“Young Lady.”

“Yes, Your Majesty…”

“Answer me. What happened?”

“A-Adrian… *hic*, *hic*! Prince Adrian… *sob sob*… isn’t bad…!”

With my finishing move of hiccupping, the Emperor and Imperial Consort’s expressions became strange.

“Stop crying and speak calmly. If you suddenly say Adrian isn’t bad, how can I understand the full situation?”

“I’m the bad one. Because I’m a lowly commoner… born as a commoner so that nobles can easily use and discard me…!”

As I said this while looking at Prince Andre, he panicked and jumped up.

“Th-That’s not it, Your Majesty!”

I shook my head internally.

‘Isn’t he an idiot?’

Getting so flustered there was like confessing that he was the trash who said those things about commoners.

As expected, the Emperor, Imperial Consort, and Empress Dowager looked at Andre in great shock, and I decided to drive the final nail.

“Prince Andre called me a lowly commoner, so Prince Adrian got angry.”

“Grr…!”

Andre’s face turned red and blue with rage. He had nothing to say, but seemed furious that I had cornered him with no way out. However, I continued speaking nonchalantly.

“Prince Adrian politely asked him to correct his words, but Prince Andre said that commoners are tools for nobles…”

The Emperor, who had been looking at me, flinched and turned his gaze to Andre.

Of course he would.

‘Commoners are tools for nobles.’

Even if it came from a noble’s mouth, such words would make the people’s hearts boil with anger. But didn’t it come from Andre, a member of the Imperial Family and the prince closest to the throne?

If rumors spread that he said such things during these already turbulent times, the people would rise up in revolt everywhere.

I opened my eyes wide, pretending to know nothing.

“The saying that commoners are tools of the nobility must be a very bad thing to say. Prince Adrian kept enduring and enduring even when Prince Andre said bad things, but seeing him get angry like this shows it. Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

“Young Lady!”

Empress Yvonne panicked and let go of her son, rushing toward me.

“Surely Young Lady must have misheard. Commoners are tools of the nobility? Andre couldn’t have said such a thing.”

“That’s…”

“Right?”

The Imperial Consort looked very desperate.

And rightfully so. The Emperor’s expression was twisted like a demon’s.

The Imperial Consort and Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor with anxious faces, while Andre turned pale, not knowing what to do.

When all eyes were focused on the Emperor, I quietly tugged at Adrian’s collar.

I mouthed words to him as he looked at me.

‘Say you’re sorry.’

“…”

‘Quickly!’

When I frowned and gave him a look, Adrian opened his mouth.

“I apologize for causing a disturbance.”

“If you hadn’t caused a disturbance, I would have been in more trouble.”

“…”

As Adrian silently bowed his head, Andre spoke in a thoroughly resentful voice.

“Your, Your Majesty, in any case, Adrian is the one who swung his hand in the Imperial Palace. You cannot let this slide. You must establish discipline—”

“First Prince!”

The Imperial Consort cut off Andre’s words as if screaming.

‘Good heavens… I thought he was stupid, but to be this much of a fool.’

It was such a lack of awareness that it made me want to click my tongue.

It must have been quite something for even the Empress Dowager, who would be second to none in lacking awareness, to sense that things were going wrong somehow.

The Emperor’s lips twisted.

“I should give great rewards to the First Prince’s tutors.”

“…?”

“They’ve instilled tremendous confidence in him.”

“Pardon?”

“Arrogance that feels no shame about wrong beliefs, bloated negligence that gives no thought to the Empire’s future.”

“Your Majesty, what are you saying…”

“The audacity to dare give orders to the Empire’s sun!!”

A thunderous roar burst from the Emperor’s mouth. Only then did Andre realize that things had gone terribly wrong, and the Imperial Consort quickly grabbed her son’s neck and made him bow his head.

“Hurry and apologize to Imperial Father for your wrongdoing!”

The Emperor looked at the pale Imperial Consort with sunken eyes.

“That’s enough. With Andre’s shallow thinking, he won’t even be able to recognize his own fault. What would I do with a heartless apology?”

“Such…! Your Majesty!”

“Mother and son are truly remarkable. How admirable they are.”

The Imperial Consort’s expression turned cold. She bit her lips tightly.

‘Oh, looks like a full-blown marital fight is about to begin.’

At that moment, the Emperor commanded Adrian while keeping his gaze fixed on the Imperial Consort.

“Adrian, return to your palace. On your way, escort the Young Lady to her carriage.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty.”

‘I need to hear what they’re fighting about. That way I can figure out whether I should side with the Emperor for political gain, or side with the Imperial Consort for material benefits…!’

It was quite disappointing, but Adrian gently pulled me away, so I had no choice but to leave the greenhouse.

As soon as we left the greenhouse, Adrian looked at me. I also glared at him with narrowed eyes.

“What would you have done if you got a nosebleed there? If you’re going to hit someone, you should do it where it won’t show! No, actually, in your situation, you should avoid throwing punches altogether… altogether… you idiot.”

I frowned with drooping eyebrows.

This kid really is an idiot.

Adrian approached me as I was sharply scolding him, and carefully wiped around my eyes with his sleeve.

“I was fake crying.”

“Don’t cry, even if it’s fake.”

“…”

“I don’t know what to do when you cry.”

Adrian’s voice became very low. His beautiful golden hair, which seemed to melt into the breeze, swayed pitifully.

I quietly watched Adrian as he very carefully wiped my tears, as if handling glass that might shatter at any moment.

His hands are full of wounds.

“What are these wounds? Who’s hitting you?”

“I increased my training intensity because of today’s sparring.”

A thought suddenly occurred to me.

Who is Adrian receiving lessons from right now?

‘Originally, when I was four years old, Adrian’s maternal grandfather would stage a rebellion and that child would be driven out of the palace.’

While wandering the continent, he would coincidentally meet The Man who was the Holy Knight Commander of the Papal Court, and become his disciple.

‘Through that connection, he would become a Cardinal.’

This was something that always happened the same way through my third life.

But not in this life. His maternal grandfather didn’t stage a rebellion, and instead was pretending Adrian didn’t exist, ignoring him completely.

‘There’s only one case where the future changes. When I intervene.’

In the end, my journey to Dubbled must have become the butterfly’s wingbeat that brought a storm to Adrian.

That’s why I always felt sorry for this child.

For Adrian, living as a wanderer would be much more comfortable than living in the Imperial Palace.

Having endured the mountain hell that was Duke Amitie’s House and Duke Valois Family myself, I could be certain of this.

When I became dejected, Adrian smiled faintly.

“I won today.”

“…”

Despite being a man of few words, he was doing his best because my mood didn’t look good.

Knowing this child’s heart, I couldn’t help but smile as if I had no choice.

“It seemed like it. Well done. Did you beat them up good?”

“Three times on the shins, once in the solar plexus, seven times on the head.”

“You hit all the most painful spots. Well done.”

When I stood on my tiptoes to pat his head, he naturally bent down for me.

“Are you eating your meals properly?”

“Yeah.”

“What did I tell you to do if someone bothers you?”

“I guess your life isn’t precious to you. How can you be so sure about the future? If you’re unlucky, it won’t end with just one arm or leg.”

Adrian remembered the words I had taught him without missing a single syllable. I nodded with a pleased expression.

“Good job, good job.”

I patted his shoulder. Then I caught a glimpse of the carriage rental station behind him.

‘I should get going now.’

I needed to leave now if I wanted to stop by Hope Trading Company.

“I have to go now. Take care of yourself. I’ll come again next time.”

Just as I was waving my hand vigorously and about to leave, Adrian grabbed my sleeve.

“…?”

“….”

“What is it?”

“…Never mind. Be careful on your way.”

“Mm-hmm….”

Adrian turned his back first, so I tilted my head and stared at his shadow before starting to walk toward the carriage rental station.

‘The atmosphere felt a bit strange.’

What was that about?

Is he sick somewhere?

It didn’t seem like it though.

I crossed my arms and pondered, letting out a hmm.

‘I’m not sure. Oh, but I have things to approve at the trading company today, and I need to buy thick fabric before autumn comes. What date is it today….’

As I was counting the days in my head, I suddenly stopped in my tracks. Then I quickly turned around and ran back to Adrian.

September 1st.

Today is Adrian’s birthday.

“Hey, you idiot!”

When I ran up and smacked his back, Adrian’s eyes widened as he turned to look at me.

“If it’s your birthday, you should tell me it’s your birthday.”

“…How did you know?”

Well, Adrian becomes the Crown Prince in the future. On the Crown Prince’s birthday, the Imperial Palace holds a grand party and everyone finds out.

But I couldn’t say that, so I deflected awkwardly.

“Can you leave the Imperial Palace?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s go out.”

“Where to?”

“The shopping district. To eat cake.”

When I grinned mischievously, Adrian’s face brightened.

* * *

At that moment, in Dubbled Territory.

The Three Dubbled Brothers had gathered in the Duke’s office, each busy with their respective tasks. Henri, who had casually checked the clock, spoke up.

“It’s almost time for Leblaine to arrive.”

The Duke answered while removing the glasses he occasionally wore when reviewing documents.

“She said she’d stop by the shopping district first.”

“The trading company?”

“Yes.”

Isaac, who had been resting his chin on his hand, spoke.

“Should we go pick her up?”

“Well… that’s not a bad suggestion.”

As Henri smiled and stood up, Johan also rose to follow the second son and youngest.

“What will you do, Father?”

Theodore Dubbled picked up the overcoat draped over his chair and was the first to leave the room.

It was the beginning of the Second Dubbled Doting War.

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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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