The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 204
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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 204
“Isaac!”
A red-haired boy approached us. It was Victor, the only son of Count Tenedomor.
Isaac frowned and clicked his tongue with a tsk.
“They all swarmed here like flies because there’s something to gain.”
Several of the boys behind Victor frowned. Victor laughed quite refreshingly, saying “Haha,” and spoke.
“Well. What we’ll gain has probably been decided by our parents, and we’re just errand boys. Just like you.”
Having said that, Victor politely bowed toward me.
“It’s my first time meeting you, Lady Dubbled. I’m Victor of Tenedomor. We all attend the same academy as your two ill-tempered elder brothers.”
Victor ignored Isaac, who had sat on the sofa first, and Isaac patted the seat next to him while speaking to me.
“Nothing worth remembering. He’s just an unpleasant guy who pretends to be cheerful while having the sharpest tongue. Sit down, little one.”
Henri also walked to the sofa without paying attention to them.
But I couldn’t act nonchalant.
‘Well, these are the heirs of families that will control the empire in the future.’
The current power structure of the empire is as follows.
【State Religion Neriad】
【Imperial Family of the Empire】
【4 Ducal Houses】
Originally it would have been 5 ducal houses including House Valois, but they were exterminated, making it 4 ducal houses.
And starting from when I turn 15, this triangle will change greatly as the 4 ducal houses are pushed out and 【Duke Dubbled’s House】 alone will occupy an entire axis of the triangle.
So will the other nobles decline as they are?
No.
The stagnant power holders will decline and emerging families will seize power.
These are the centers of that emerging power.
In other words, they were those who would become the focal points of the nobility in the future.
‘Meaning they’re the people in power our family will have to deal with to become independent.’
I bowed silently to Victor Tenedomor, then headed to the sofa where my brothers were.
And I tugged on Henri’s sleeve and whispered.
“Why did the shrine even send the youngest cardinal candidate?”
“You mean Clovis? That guy is also entering the academy this year. He came to the academy student exchange meeting too.”
“The shrine sent Clovis to the academy? The shrine has its own educational institution.”
“Well. I don’t know, but they must have something they’re aiming for.”
I glanced at Clovis, who was standing awkwardly in a corner of the reception room.
He was a quiet and timid person. Although Adrian would eventually become the youngest cardinal, in terms of ability alone, he was more outstanding than anyone else in the shrine.
The shrine wouldn’t send someone like Clovis to the outside world…
As I was tilting my head in confusion, I suddenly gasped at a thought that came to mind.
‘They’re preparing for after the new Child of Fate arrives.’
Since they’re not certain I’m the real Child of Fate, they’re preparing for after Mina comes.
Currently, I’ve established myself deep within the Empire.
I have Grand Lady Camilla as my mentor, the Empress Dowager cherishes me, and Dubbled’s influence grows stronger each day.
In this situation, they’re worried that when Mina comes, she might be overshadowed by me, so they’re preparing to send her to the Academy, which is the center of future power.
If Clovis establishes himself at the Academy first, it’ll be easier for her to blend in.
‘How despicable.’
But the shrine’s thinking wasn’t wrong. The Academy is the focal point of future power. A field of golden connections.
Mina is such a bright and lovable child that everyone will surely love her just as they did before.
Then even if Dubbled pushes out the four ducal houses later, a new path through noble gatherings will open for Mina.
I whispered to Henri and Isaac.
“Listen. How can I make them my allies? If I can’t make them allies, I at least don’t want them to become enemies.”
“What?”
“What are you talking about?”
Henri and Isaac looked at me with bewildered expressions.
Isaac seemed puzzled the whole time, but Henri, who was quicker to catch on, soon understood my intentions and said.
“They must be important keys to the future.”
“Right.”
“Leblaine, you know this. Things like sincerity, friendship, and bonds are completely useless. What matters in the end is ‘how much help that person can be to me.'”
“….”
“Show them that you’re someone they’d want to have. Make them worry about your abilities so they won’t easily take someone new’s hand.”
“Is there a way?”
“The timing is perfect. Edgar Suheil is the center of our class exchange meeting. Being helpful to Marquis Schuheil will be the perfect advertising method to prove your abilities. Because.”
Henri glanced around, grabbed the back of my head, and whispered.
“If that happens, in the worst moments when their lives are in danger, they’ll all think of you. Then they won’t be able to easily take the new Child of Fate’s hand.”
“…You’re saying to threaten them with their lives? That if they take Mina’s hand, you won’t help them when they’re dying.”
Henri smiled brightly.
“How clever.”
“Henri, really….”
Isaac also looked at Henri with a disgusted expression. Just as he whispered “Little brother is really a bad bastard,” I suddenly shouted.
“So smart~!”
Henri and Isaac stared at me with wide eyes, so I smiled brightly.
This was Dubbled’s way, and this method worked at any moment.
Sincerity? Justice? Good?
The kind Leblaine who believed in such things became a sacrifice and died miserably in her first life.
And I will never die like that again.
Just then, Edgar Suheil entered the reception room with a haggard face.
I raised both hands high and hurried over to him.
“How great must your grief be.”
“…That doesn’t seem like something Lady Dubbled should say.”
It was an expression that said, “You falsely accused my father.”
I shamelessly drooped my eyebrows and said.
“If it’s alright with you, may I examine Grandfather? Actually, I have a very special ability.”
“A special ability? Do you have healing power?”
I smiled brightly. Edgar Suheil, who misunderstood my silence, took a deep breath and spoke to the servant outside the door.
“Escort the Young Lady to Grandfather’s sickbed!”
In truth, I had no damn healing power, but I followed behind him with a cheerful expression.
I had no healing power, but I did have one slave who was an uncle famous for his medical skills.
* * *
When I said everyone needed to leave so I could concentrate for the healing, all the Schuheil family members made uncomfortable expressions.
However, the Marchioness, who wanted to grasp at any straw, took the lead in driving them out.
Edgar Suheil bit his lips as he was pushed out by his mother.
“Schuheil never forgets an enemy. Never.”
It was a threat that he wouldn’t stand still if I did anything to his father.
Even after that, the Marchioness gripped my hands tightly and bowed her head several times.
“Please share your Divine Blessing. Please… please.”
I told the sobbing woman to be at ease and firmly closed the door.
Then I used the Long-Distance Teleportation Circle to summon Taylor from the mansion.
He must have been eating, as he fell down still holding a fork and frowned while pressing his temples.
“Little One, what exactly do you take me for?”
“Please examine Marquis Schuheil. He’s hovering between life and death.”
“You…”
“Ah, hurry up~!”
When I stomped my foot and urged him on, he let out an incredulous laugh.
“Was Dubbled Territory’s prison comfortable? If you get locked up again, it won’t be more comfortable than before.”
When I asked, he clicked his tongue and got up.
Taylor thoroughly examined Marquis Schuheil.
After even lifting the blanket to examine the problematic right leg, he said.
“The secondary infection in his leg is serious. There’s no way without amputation.”
“They said he received a blessing from a priest. Purification, I mean. Can there still be a secondary infection even so?”
“Purification my ass. If purification had been done, his condition wouldn’t be like this. The shrine wanted this guy to die as soon as possible.”
“If we amputate, can he survive?”
“If purification is possible during surgery. But will the shrine that let it get to this state properly perform purification during surgery?”
It meant that whether amputated or not, he couldn’t survive without the shrine’s help.
“…What if there was Meria Grass?”
“He could live. Even without amputating his leg. Why, are you going to tell me where Meria Grass can be found?”
Taylor raised the corner of his mouth with a smirk.
I let out a deep sigh.
Now the problem is deciding whether the contract with the demon takes priority, or saving Marquis Schuheil comes first.
‘A book containing information about demons? Or connections with future power centers?’
I groaned and agonized over the decision.
Just then, an owl appeared before my eyes.
[If you make a foolish decision, you will be caught in a storm that cannot be resolved by human power.]
Storas’s eyes darkened with anger, and sharp energy rippled from his entire body.
The overwhelming pressure crushed my lungs tight.
When my complexion turned deathly pale, Taylor frowned and asked.
“Hey. Little One!”
Only then did I release the breath I had been holding.
‘His resentment toward Maria seems deeper than I thought.’
I looked at Storas while pretending to speak to Taylor.
“If I make the decision you want, can you promise to help me?”
Taylor, understanding that I was asking if he could save Marquis Schuheil if I told him the location of Meria Grass, nodded.
“Yes.”
Storas also nodded heavily.
“Then let’s make a ‘contract’. An inescapable contract that stakes our souls.”
[I promise on my name. If I can erase Maria’s traces from the Human Realm, I will pay any price whatsoever.]
Taylor also nodded.
“If you give me the Meria Grass, I will fulfill whatever you desire. I promise.”
Then both backs of my hands glowed red as two different Contract Seals appeared.
One was Storas’s Summoning Seal, and the other appeared to be Taylor’s Activation Seal.
And I made my decision about which of their contracts to fulfill.
“I will give the Meria Grass to…”
Both their gazes focused on my lips.
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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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