The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 201

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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 201

Blasio’s expression hardened.

“Is that true?”

“Yes!”

When I answered loudly, he quickly tucked the cloth into his arms and said.

“I shall take my leave now.”

He looked around and added.

“Taking the original text of a Divine Oracle outside is forbidden. Neither I who took it out, nor the Young Lady who saw it, would be safe. So…”

Blasio seemed to be planning to take my interpretation and pass it off as his own work.

He looked at me with subtle eyes, and I widened my eyes and put my index finger to my lips.

“Shh! I know.”

“You are indeed wise.”

What do you mean. This is all for my benefit.

It would be best if Mina didn’t come at all, but just in case, if by any chance she did come, it would be revealed that the interpretation of the Divine Oracle was wrong.

If Blasio takes that interpretation, it will all be that bastard’s fault. Even if that guy later says ‘L-Leblaine deceived me!’, it will be announced to the world as Blasio’s interpretation, so who would believe him?

“Then Young Lady, please go inside.”

“Yes. Farewell!”

I watched Blasio’s back as he hurried toward the shrine and covered my mouth with both fists to hide my grin.

‘He’s such a greedy bastard, perfect to use.’

Yes, you greedy fool. Go and completely mess up God Neriad’s arrangement or whatever!

* * *

Adrian headed to the border region as planned, and I proceeded with my work with a much more relaxed mind.

The first thing I did was attach Cecilia to the Empress Dowager.

“…So you gave all the property your parents left to your sister? That must have been disappointing.”

At the Empress Dowager’s words, Cecilia glanced at me. When I nodded, she answered.

“What my late parents left behind was just one old house and a few patches of farmland attached to it. It wasn’t even an amount worth regretting, and since my sister practically raised me in place of our parents who died when I was young, it rightfully wasn’t my share.”

“I like that you’re not greedy.”

The Emperor’s heart was with Cecilia. Moreover, the Empress Dowager, who had completely fallen for me due to the Grand Lady incident, was also kind to Cecilia.

Since both the Emperor and Empress Dowager had their eyes on Cecilia, the selection was naturally…

“This is ridiculous! How did a half-noble make it to the final candidates!”

“Even Lady Amboise, who the Empress Dowager supposedly favored, didn’t make it to the final candidates.”

“Cecilia Olga has been frequently visiting the Empress Dowager’s Palace lately… Even so, a half-noble as a final candidate. As Imperial Consort! It’s an ill omen. Surely an ill omen has befallen the Empire.”

Cecilia proudly made it onto the list of the final two candidates.

The Emperor, knowing that all this credit belonged to me, was beside himself with affection for me.

“How does Dubbled’s daughter make me so happy? Come, come. Come here.”

I held the cookies the Emperor had given me and smiled awkwardly.

‘The Emperor hates the Empress Dowager so much, but his actions are quite similar to hers.’

I sat next to the Emperor and crunched on the cookies, while the Emperor poked my puffy cheeks and chuckled heartily. Cecilia watched us and let out a small laugh.

She glanced at the Emperor and said.

“By the way, Your Majesty. You overexerted yourself quite a bit yesterday, how is your health? I hope I didn’t torment you too much.”

“Wh-what are you saying in front of a child…!”

The Emperor turned bright red and coughed frantically.

‘Cecilia tormented the Emperor? Why?’

When I looked around with a puzzled expression, the attendants made mischievous faces.

Looking at Cecilia, she just smiled sweetly without saying anything, and looking at the Emperor, he coughed – ahem, ehem, uhm! – and stood up from his seat.

“I shall return now, so you family members should spend time together pleasantly.”

And with that, he fled as if escaping.

When I tilted my head in confusion, Cecilia smiled and extended her hand.

“Shall we go?”

“Huh? Oh, yes.”

I took Cecilia’s hand and walked across the sunny Imperial Palace Garden.

Cecilia had made it to the final two and her lodging had changed. It came with dedicated palace servants and was located near the Freesia Garden, which Cecilia loved as the most beautiful of the Imperial Palace gardens.

“The flowers are in full bloom even in winter. These resilient flowers that don’t wither are beautiful.”

Cecilia spoke in quite a sentimental tone, so I answered matter-of-factly.

“They have mana stones floating around. To be precise, they’re not flowers that don’t wither, but artificial flowers.”

“Miss, it seems your logic is more developed than your emotions…”

She said glumly.

‘That’s how it should be.’

I prefer numbers over letters, and reality over people’s true feelings.

So even now, I was putting flower viewing aside and racking my brain about the future.

Cecilia looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Do you have some concern?”

“The selection. Cecilia needs to become the Imperial Consort…”

“Don’t you trust me?”

Cecilia asked me with a bright smile.

“I trust you. I trust Cecilia, but others might not… Empress Yvonne will definitely interfere in the final selection.”

The Empress Dowager oversees the final test, but Empress Yvonne’s influence will definitely come into play.

Cecilia, whose affection with the Emperor grows stronger by the day, is nothing but a thorn in Empress Yvonne’s side.

If Cecilia were to suddenly have a child, it would create a rival for Andre, Empress Yvonne’s son.

Moreover, Cecilia has Dubbled’s support, so she has powerful backing.

So from Empress Yvonne’s perspective, this would definitely be unwelcome.

‘We need to properly take the final test, but how can I keep Empress Yvonne in check? Ah, I could get the Empress Dowager’s help…!’

I was thinking up to that point when I shook my head.

‘Anyway, the Empress Dowager is Duke Marche’s cousin, so she’s part of the Marche Ducal House. No matter how much she wants to keep Empress Yvonne in check, she wouldn’t help me while abandoning her own family.’

I grumbled.

“If there are no obstacles, our Cecilia could claim the position of Imperial Consort no matter what.”

“I’m happy.”

“Really. Cecilia has Dubbled’s support, she’s smart, and as a former knight she doesn’t fall short in martial arts either. Plus, having served Dubbled for so long, she knows noble etiquette well too. Compared to that, her opponent is somewhat lacking. That’s probably why Empress Yvonne pressured the Empress Dowager to include her as a candidate.”

She’s from a humble family that’s easy to push around, and she’s a timid person who can’t even speak properly, making her perfect for Empress Yvonne’s taste.

“Really, if only there were no obstacles…! Obstacles?”

A light bulb flashed in my head.

A light bulb went off in my head.

When I widened my eyes, Cecilia called out “Young Lady?” to me.

When I opened my eyes wide, Cecilia called out to me, “Miss?”

I left Cecilia behind and ran off quickly.

The place I arrived at was the Grand Princess’s Palace.

I ran away as fast as I could, leaving Cecilia behind.

“What brings Young Lady here…?”

When I held hands with him and giggled in front of the Grand Princess’s attendant, the attendant rolled their eyes around in apparent bewilderment.

“It’s not possible without scheduling an appointment.”

How strict. I was pondering if there was any excuse I could make when I felt the bulge in my pouch and shouted “Ah!”

“I would like to meet the young lady.”

“Pardon?”

This is really tight. I was worrying about whether I had any excuse when I felt around the bulge in my pocket and exclaimed “Ah!”

This medicine is something I slyly took from Taylor’s bag in case I might develop a Haro Flower allergy.

“That is…”

“Huh?”

“Please wait a moment.”

This medicine is something I slyly took from Taylor’s bag in case I develop an allergy to haro flowers.

“Permission to enter the palace has been granted.”

“Yes!”

The servant, who had been rambling on, nodded helplessly upon seeing the medicine.

Unlike the Empress Dowager’s Palace, it was modest. There wasn’t a single torch holder or decoration that was luxurious, but it was well-maintained, clean, and had an antique feeling.

The attendant who had entered the inner palace returned shortly after.

“I greet the Grand Lady.”

“Dubbled’s daughter running errands to my palace. Does your father know about this?”

“Yes!”

“…”

Unlike the Empress Dowager’s palace, it was modest. There wasn’t a single luxurious perch or ornament, but it was well-maintained, clean, and had an elegant, old-fashioned charm.

‘Wow, the pressure is no joke.’

When I fidgeted with my hands, the Grand Lady asked.

“I greet you, my lady.”

I pondered for a moment. How should I say this? How can I win this person’s heart? Should I propose a deal? Should I offer a bribe?

“No. The medicine was just an excuse because I wanted to see you, my lady.”

I immediately prostrated myself before the Grand Lady.

The eldest daughter looked at me silently.

‘Wow, the pressure is no joke.’

When I fidgeted with my hands, the lady asked.

“So why did Dublead’s daughter even make excuses?”

I hesitated for a moment. How should I put this? How could I win this person over? Should I propose a deal? Should I offer a bribe?

As I pondered, I suddenly remembered the maid who had been with Mina in my first life.

I immediately prostrated myself before the great lady.

“I won’t resort to empty schemes. I appeal to you because I believe in the Grand Lady’s integrity, honesty, and noble ideals. Please help me.”

The Grand Lady from my first life had been smiling confidently by Mina’s side.

It was an expression that only those who had confidence in their own lives could make.

I know another person who could make such an expression.

‘Duke Amitie.’

He who prioritized justice above all else was confident that his choices were never wrong. That’s why he was always dignified and full of grace.

If the Grand Lady is someone like Duke Amitie, then schemes won’t work on her.

“The daughter of Dubbled asks for my help… For what reason.”

“Cecilia Olga is an excellent person. She has never been tainted by desires like the Dubbled people. I’m certain of it. She will make a good empress.”

“And so?”

“Please help ensure that the final examination can be conducted fairly.”

“Why don’t you ask the Empress Dowager instead. She would give you anything you asked for.”

“Although the Empress Dowager keeps Empress Yvonne in check, ultimately they both have the same goal. Because they’re both from Marshu.”

The Grand Lady, who had been sitting in her chair, stood up with her staff.

“What would you do if I had the same goal as them?”

I looked up at the Grand Lady.

“…Even if your goal is the same, your methods would be different. That’s the kind of person you are, Grand Lady. You would never walk a selfish path.”

“A child who hasn’t even lived ten years speaks as if she knows me inside and out, when I’ve lived well over fifty years.”

The Grand Lady’s gaze sharpened.

“What are you? Your eyes are definitely not those of a nine-year-old.”

“If you help me, I will restore your glory, Grand Lady.”

“Glory…”

I clenched my fists tightly and spoke.

“People gossip that when you had to withdraw from the battlefield due to illness, you were running away. I will give you the opportunity to resolve that disgrace.”

“…!”

The Grand Lady’s gaze wavered slightly.

‘Got it.’

I know people like the Grand Lady well. Duke Amitie was exactly that type of person.

Instead of being greedy for material things, they value honor like their lives.

“Grand Lady, soon a war with Westria across the sea will break out.”

It always happened in my previous life.

“There will be a naval battle. I will help you take the lead and end the war.”

“…How could this old body defeat the young generals of Westria?”

I lightly grasped the Etoile in my pouch.

‘Cheolsu.’

[Yes?]

‘Continue that story you were telling yesterday. About that Admiral… whatever general. The thing about turtle ships!’

[Ah, you mean Admiral Yi Sun-sin? The turtle ships? Well, let me tell you just how incredible this Admiral Yi Sun-sin was…!]

After listening to Cheolsu’s chattering story, I looked directly at the Grand Lady.

“Grand Lady, you still have twelve ships.”

“….”

The Grand Lady didn’t avoid my gaze, but seeing her eyes trembling with excitement, I was certain.

‘She took the bait.’

It’s good that she took the bait, but…

Did he really win a naval battle with just twelve ships? Could there really be such an incredible admiral?

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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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