The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 165

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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 165

With my eyes swollen from crying, I entered the Trading Company Office holding Tree’s hand, and the chairman, Seria, and Trigon immediately stood up.

“Young Lady, your appearance…!”

Seria approached in shock upon seeing my dress that was completely dirty from the fierce battle.

“I fought.”

“Pardon?”

“I won.”

“Pardon?!”

I proudly lifted my chin up high.

Max is big and an object of fear for the nearby Beggar Gang, but when you really look at him, he’s not that scary.

Having frequently gotten beaten by Max in my past life, I knew his attack patterns inside and out.

‘Now I won’t get hit anymore.’

When I lived as part of the Beggar Gang, I was hungry every day so Adult Thinking didn’t work well and I got beaten up, but now my head works perfectly fine.

Having received Hell Training from Isaac through Mock Battles, my Evasion Technique is also exceptional.

I wildly rubbed my nose that was throbbing from getting hit wrong and turned to look at Tree.

“What do you want to eat?”

Tree looked around at the Adults with a dejected face.

“N-no…”

But even as she said that, her stomach made a growling sound.

‘She must be scared of the Adults.’

Come to think of it, my close associates had very fierce expressions. Even I, who had been through all sorts of hardships, used to flinch just from receiving their gazes before I got used to them.

Seria, disguised as an Old Man, smiled kindly while looking at Tree.

“What kind of juice would the Little Lady like? Orange juice? We also have Milk and Chocolate.”

“I-I…”

Tree mumbled for a long time, so I grabbed her hand and shook it.

“Drink Chocolate. Chocolate. If you add Milk and drink it warm, it’s really delicious.”

It’s so good that even if two people die while three are eating, you’d just accept it.

“Then Chocolate…”

Seria nodded affectionately, and I moved a little away from Tree to whisper to Seria.

“Bring some Medicine for body aches too. And I’ll give you an address, so send food that Children like. Things like Cookies, pies, Pudding, and Meat.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Then I sat on the Sofa with Tree. Seria quickly brought snacks and chocolate Milk.

Tree’s face brightened up completely as she carefully drank the Milk.

“It’s delicious!”

Right? I also cried tears when I first ate it.

Tree devoured the food like a crab hiding its eyes and even sucked on the chocolate that got on her hands.

Only then did Seria open her mouth.

“Nice to meet you, Triloni. I am Seche, Deputy Leader of Hope Trading Company.”

“Uh, how do you know my name… And, and I’m not someone you should speak formally to…”

“We should show proper respect. You are the niece of someone precious.”

“Niece?”

When I gestured to Zacharie who was standing in the small passage connected to the office, he lifted the tapestry. The person who walked out from within was Cecilia.

Cecilia’s eyes were already reddened before she even saw Tree. She approached Tree and carefully reached out her hand.

“Hello, Triloni.”

“Uh…”

Tree looked around with a confused face. Her eyes rolled around frantically as if trying to confirm if this was real.

When I nodded, Tree gulped and slowly opened her mouth.

“A-are you my aunt?”

“…Yes.”

“B-but they said Mother and Aunt didn’t get along well… The Director said that’s why I was abandoned, definitely, uh, definitely…”

Cecilia embraced the skinny Tree while sobbing. Tree, who was holding onto Cecilia’s collar not knowing what to do, made an increasingly distorted face as her shoulder became wet.

Tree, with her face completely scrunched up, cried loudly.

“A-are you my aunt? Really, really my aunt?”

“I’m sorry for finding you so late…”

Good.

This is really good.

Cecilia was a good person who would cherish Tree.

* * *

Tree’s face looked completely drained from how much she had cried. She would be even more exhausted from drinking chocolate and taking cold medicine together.

“Now let’s live together with Aunt. I’ll help you so you can eat what you want to eat, do what you want to do, and sleep when you want to sleep.”

“B-but the children in the gang…”

“I’ll help the children live comfortably. We’ve already decided to find them a house to live together and provide food support.”

“Then… but I don’t have to leave right away, do I?”

“It would be better to go as soon as possible.”

“I want to say goodbye first… And there’s a child I’m close with like a sister, so if I just leave without saying anything…”

“Of course. Go say your goodbyes.”

When Cecilia smiled gently, Tree was overjoyed as if she could jump.

“Then can I go now?”

“Alone? That’s dangerous.”

“I grew up here. I know every nook and cranny. It’s not dangerous at all.”

After thinking for a moment, Cecilia nodded as if she had no choice.

Tree tried to rush out without giving anyone a chance to stop her. Seria, who had become skilled at taking care of siblings from growing up at House of Hope, expertly caught her. Then she put a good quality children’s overcoat on her.

“If someone with a cold goes around dressed so lightly, your aunt will be upset.”

Cecilia bowed her head saying “Thank you,” and Tree also laughed cheerfully while greeting them before quickly leaving the Trading Company Office.

Through the window, Tree could be seen running around excitedly in a small figure. Cecilia, who had been watching for a while, gripped her skirt hem tightly.

“When Young Lady first proposed it, I honestly wasn’t confident. Imperial Consort, you see. I thought it was a realm I could never dare to dream of.”

“….”

“But I have to do it. Seeing with my own eyes that my niece grew up in such terrible conditions fills me with dread.”

Charity work is overseen by the Empress Palace. Welfare funds are always delivered, but not once have they ever been properly delivered to unfortunate children.

To the Imperial Consort, it was political funding to put her son on the throne.

Everyone knew, but since everyone remained silent, the welfare funds were considered open bribes.

“I will become Imperial Consort. I want to become one.”

Determination flickered in Cecilia’s eyes as she looked at me.

When I smiled brightly, Seria placed something on the table. It was a Life Binding Tool.

“Let’s make a proper deal.”

“…A deal? Can there be deals in a righteous cause? The beginning of cooperation is trust, Young Lady.”

“If people could trust each other unconditionally, contracts wouldn’t exist in the first place.”

Cecilia’s lips curved softly.

“You really are perfectly suited for Dubbled.”

“First, we will put all our efforts into helping Lady Cecilia become Imperial Consort. And we will respect Lady Cecilia’s wishes in all matters. However, only as long as it doesn’t harm Dubbled.”

“Good.”

“Second, once Lady Cecilia enters the Empress Palace, I can make three requests of you. Whatever they may be, even if they go against Lady Cecilia’s wishes, you must fulfill my requests.”

“That’s a rather dangerous condition.”

“The outcome won’t harm Your Imperial Consort. Absolutely not. I swear it.”

“I suppose there’s no room for negotiation on the second condition. Very well.”

“Third, Your Imperial Consort must not harm Prince Adrian under any circumstances.”

Cecilia’s eyes narrowed.

“Prince Adrian?”

“I hope Lady Cecilia will become the perfect protector for the new sun of the Empire.”

The new sun of the Empire. Cecilia let out a small laugh at the words referring to the next throne.

“So that was the reason you wanted to make me Imperial Consort.”

To be precise, it was one of the preparatory works for Dubbled’s independence, but I skillfully concealed my true intentions and nodded.

“The Empire’s future would be brighter than having an emperor come from Empress Yvonne’s palace. I accept.”

“Lastly, you cannot leak anything about me to the outside.”

“I swear it.”

“What conditions does Lady Cecilia want?”

“I have only one.”

“One?”

“Be friends with me.”

“…What?”

“I like you, Young Lady.”

I widened my eyes in surprise and then nodded.

“Alright!”

When I placed my hand on the Life Binding Tool first, Cecilia placed her hand over the back of mine.

The oath was made in the presence of Mage Trigon. For a moment, it felt like my lungs were being squeezed tight. Then light became chains that wrapped around Cecilia’s and my body before disappearing. Only then could I breathe properly.

Cecilia furrowed her brow and pressed her chest firmly.

“Even though it’s the second time, I still can’t get used to it.”

Second time with the Life Binding Tool?

I looked at Cecilia as if asking what she meant, and Trigon furrowed his brow and asked.

“This is a sacred relic possessed only by the Imperial Family, Dubbled, and the Temple. Does Dubbled perhaps force the use of Life Binding Tools?”

“This isn’t Dubbled’s sacred relic.”

“Pardon?”

“Lisette had it. Lea probably took it after her death and returned to Dubbled with it.”

“What do you mean…?”

“While being pursued on the mountain, Lea, myself, and Lea’s sister Reina swore on this Life Binding Tool. We vowed to protect Little One with our lives.”

That’s impossible.

I stiffened and stared at Cecilia.

“That can’t be. When Lisette passed away, only Lea and Reina were her escorts, so why would Cecilia…?”

“What are you saying? The ones who protected Lisette’s side on the mountain were… were… who was it?”

Cecilia held her forehead.

“Lea and Reina.”

I shook the shoulders of Cecilia, who was muttering blankly.

“Lea and Reina were by her side, so how could Cecilia have used the Life Binding Tool!”

“That’s… the battlefield, the mountain… Little One… Ugh!”

Cecilia suffered in pain while gripping her forehead. Blue veins rose from her neck, shaped like tree branches with lush leaves hanging from them.

“Cecilia!”

Seria quickly supported her. I looked at the aide.

“What’s going on? What does this mean!”

“I don’t know. According to Lea’s report, the escort unit was completely wiped out at the Imperial Palace. Sir Cecilia Olga fell behind at the mountain entrance, and only Lea and Reina went up the mountain with Lisette.”

“Then are you saying Lea lied? That’s impossible. And why is Cecilia like this? It’s as if…!”

I stopped shouting and looked at Cecilia writhing in pain.

“As if… she’s under alchemy…”

At my words, the aide asked.

“Is there such alchemy?”

We all looked at Trigon, the mage.

Trigon stammered in confusion.

“There is such magic, but…”

“There is?”

“Trigon… I mean, not me but the real Trigon. If it’s the magic that guy experimented with risking his life…”

“What exactly is that magic!”

When I shouted, Trigon swallowed dryly and answered.

“Memory manipulation.”

“That’s impossible…”

“B-but the possibility isn’t that high either… The price is the caster’s life, and the only one who can cast it is that guy—”

Trigon, who had been speaking frantically, suddenly shut his mouth with a start.

Though his words didn’t continue, everyone present had the same intuition.

The single Holy Knight who was deployed to the battle ten years ago. He was the Real Trigon.

There’s something we don’t know about Lisette’s death.

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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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