The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 215

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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 215

The hall erupted in great commotion.

Count Arabel gaped his mouth open and shut while looking at North, then blinked his eyes repeatedly and looked around, completely flustered and not knowing what to do.

“That’s ridiculous. If we reported every piece of gossip from the social circles to the Imperial Palace, the palace would have been paralyzed long ago!”

Several people in the hall nodded at Count Arabel’s words.

Since they were all involved in social circles, they too must have uttered a word or two of gossip. Words of support began flowing from those who felt guilty.

“Dubbled’s response is excessive.”

“Isn’t it common for people to gossip where they gather? To report a child who’s only fourteen over mere rumors.”

People murmured that it was a petty act.

‘But we have justification that absolutely cannot let this matter slide easily.’

When I signaled North with my eyes, he responded to Count Arabel.

“A relative of a selection participant spread malicious rumors linking another participant with Princess Dubbled. This must be covert operations to manipulate the selection.”

He was referring to the rumor that I might be the illegitimate child of Cecilia and Father.

The term “covert operations” wasn’t entirely wrong.

The reason Count Arabel dared to condone his daughter stirring up the social circles by spreading false rumors about Dubbled was because of the selection.

While Blake was the one who spread the rumors and cornered me, Count Arabel was the one who let things escalate through his negligence, so he too cannot escape responsibility.

Count Arabel tried to make urgent excuses saying “That’s…!” but I quickly interrupted him.

“I was interrogated by Cardinal Reginald because of the false rumors spread by Lady Arabel. They said they would manage and supervise my safety at the shrine, and if I didn’t comply, they would hold me responsible for damaging the shrine’s credibility.”

This meant that if these false rumors weren’t resolved, the damage to me would be enormous.

In other words, I had to react somewhat excessively to resolve the rumors.

‘This gives justification for the report. And—’

I signaled North once more with my eyes, and he looked at the girl among Blake’s group who had been criticizing me.

“His Excellency said he would respond to those involved with the rumors at the same level.”

“However, we will show leniency to those who provide information about the rumors.”

“We don’t think those who were born and raised in the Imperial Capital and experienced the social circles couldn’t have predicted that the situation would escalate this much.”

“We have no intention of forgiving those who wagged their tongues for momentary fun and personal desires despite fully anticipating the situation would spread.”

“Never.”

At the words North and I exchanged back and forth, the face of the girl who had been criticizing me from the front turned deathly pale.

“Prince Ecuador, Princess Philia, Prince Luciterial.”

I remember all of you.

“Let’s meet again next time.”

When I flashed a bright smile, the faces of those who had been excitedly criticizing me just moments ago turned ashen.

The expressions of Count Arabel and Blake were beyond description.

“Let’s go.”

When I turned around sharply, North snorted menacingly and answered “Yes!”

* * *

A procession of apologies continued at the mansion, with parents accompanying their children.

“My child is young and was swayed by false rumors. Please forgive us…”

“This is all Lady Arabel’s fault. Otherwise, how could my good son have suspected the Young Lady?”

“I have nothing to say even with ten mouths. But please consider that my son is only thirteen years old. Please don’t report us…!”

“Protests are pouring in from the Senate and the family council. At this rate, I won’t be able to keep my position. Young Lady, please show mercy.”

The adults pleaded desperately before me, and the children watching their parents looked ready to burst into tears at any moment. Some cried bitterly, saying it was all Blake’s fault.

Father never said he would forgive them.

They begged all day in front of Father’s office before returning home looking like defeated soldiers.

And Blake and her father…

“Your Excellency, Your Excellency! Please listen to my story. Just a little, even just a few words would be fine. Ah, Your Excellency—!”

As soon as Count Arabel was allowed entry to the mansion, he fell to his knees and clung to Father’s trouser leg.

Father went ahead and reported Blake and her father to the Imperial Palace. Not only that, but he also suspended all business dealings with Arabel.

“You know how much I invested in this trade deal. How can you suddenly refuse to grant departure permission? At this rate, I’ll end up on the streets. Blake, why don’t you apologize to the Princess—!”

He roughly dragged his daughter before me.

Blake, pale with shame, bit her lips several times.

“Blake!”

Blake whipped her head around and forced out words.

“…I’m sorry.”

“You brat! Why won’t you bow your head!”

“I said I was sorry! I’m sorry! How much more do I have to beg to satisfy you?! This is really too much! I also suffered because of the Young Lady. I was abandoned by my Godmother and received warnings not to enter the social circle…!”

Slap!

Blake’s face turned to the side.

Count Arabel, who had struck Blake’s cheek with his pot lid-sized hand, gritted his teeth and said,

“You made this mess and still haven’t come to your senses?!”

“How, how could Father… How could you do this to me!”

“Look at the damage our family suffered because of you!”

Watching the Arabel father and daughter start fighting, Isaac and Henri burst into hollow laughter.

“What a show they’re putting on.”

“Isaac.”

When Johan scolded him in a low voice, Henri said “He’s not wrong though,” and glanced at Blake, who had turned deathly pale.

Blake, flushed red with shame, ran out of the mansion.

Count Arabel didn’t even try to stop his daughter and clung to Father, spouting honeyed words.

I followed Blake.

Near the garden, Blake was crouched down crying without making a sound.

“Hey.”

“…”

“Hey, Lady Arabel.”

Then Blake slowly turned her head.

“What. Are you here to mock me more?”

“Yeah.”

“What?! But why are you speaking informally…!”

“Can’t I?”

“You can’t! I’m much older than the Young Lady. Speaking informally to an elder without permission is rude…!”

I plopped down next to Blake and said.

“Then give me permission.”

“…Why should I?”

“Because that’s how I’ll forgive you.”

Blake’s eyes widened, so I grinned wickedly.

“I’m Leblaine. Nice to meet you.”

Giving a first greeting to someone you already knew meant you wanted to start the relationship over.

“…What are you scheming?”

“Don’t like it? Fine then.”

As I started to get up, Blake quickly grabbed my wrist.

“…I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”

I chuckled and sat back down.

“You’re the type who loses out big because of your pride, aren’t you? Strong against the weak, weak against the strong.”

“Everyone’s like that.”

“You’re especially like that though.”

“Are you really trying to mock me?!”

“That’s what I said.”

Blake glared at me sharply, but didn’t say anything more and pressed her lips tightly shut.

The girl who had been fidgeting with her skirt hem glanced at me.

“Don’t you hate me?”

“I do hate you.”

“Then why are you forgiving me?”

“I never said I’d forgive you. You’re my subordinate from now on.”

I’m a rotten kid without an ounce of mercy. There’s no way someone like me would casually forgive Blake, who spread malicious rumors to crush and trample me.

“You have work to do.”

“…What?”

“I don’t think the nobles believed your words and spread false rumors about me. Would they do such a thing knowing full well what would happen if Dubbled stepped forward? Even your father is tied to my father through business, so no matter how much he wanted your sister to become the Imperial Consort, he wouldn’t have just overlooked you taking the lead.”

“…”

“You’re the instigator of the rumors, but there’s someone else who stirred up the nobles, right?”

Blake flinched and twisted her skirt hem.

‘I thought so.’

Blake had been far too hostile toward me from the beginning. From our very first meeting, she had been sharp with me as if she was determined to corner me.

At first I thought it was because I had become an easy target after failing to heal Marquis Schuheil, but when I thought about it carefully, someone came to mind.

“Empress Yvonne.”

“…!!”

“The Empress ordered you to do it, didn’t she? If you wanted to make your sister the Imperial Consort, then target me. Right?”

“….”

“House Dubbled would use covert operations, and House Marche and Empress Yvonne would block them. That’s why they could fearlessly bite and cling to me. When they formally protested to the Imperial Palace, didn’t the Imperial Consort change her tune?”

“How did Young Lady know that….”

Blake, who had been muttering absentmindedly, hastily covered her mouth.

‘I thought so.’

When I crossed my arms, Blake quickly clung to me.

“Don’t protest to the Imperial Consort. Don’t say I told you. Otherwise, my sister…!”

Blake was a very arrogant person. She was strong against the weak and weak against the strong, easily raising her hand against those she deemed inferior—definitely not someone you could call a good person.

But she was famously devoted to her sister above all else.

“Tell me what the Imperial Consort threatened you with. Then I won’t touch you sisters.”

“….”

“I may be a young child, but I keep my word.”

Blake, who had been hesitating, glanced at me.

“Yvonne Palace said they would make my sister Imperial Consort no matter what. The problem would come after that…. They’re considering whether to crush my sister who dared to stand on the same level as her, or show mercy. But if I helped Yvonne Palace, the possibility of my sister’s safety would increase.”

So that’s why they attached Cecilia behind my malicious rumors.

To ensure that Cecilia, who was in a sweet relationship with the Emperor, could never become Imperial Consort.

‘How despicable.’

I stood up from my seat and brushed the dust off my skirt with light taps as I spoke.

“Get up.”

“…Yes?”

“I won’t forgive you. You may have your reasons, but you tried to throw me, who had nothing to do with this, into a pit because of your sister, didn’t you?”

“…I don’t expect forgiveness or anything like that!”

She shouted sharply, making me smile brightly.

“But I can help clean up the situation. This time, take my hand. There’s something you need to do for me.”

“What exactly is that?”

I bent down and brought my face close to Blake’s.

“Let’s go get revenge on the Imperial Consort.”

“How?”

When I whispered something in her ear, Blake’s eyes widened.

“That’s impossible! If we do something like that…!”

“It’s possible. Trust me.”

I was planning to start proper preparations for independence from now on.

For that, I needed to quietly deal with the Temple, House Marche, and Empress Yvonne, who would become obstacles.

‘First, let me take some land from Empress Yvonne, who started this trouble.’

Dubbled Territory is quite vast, but it’s slightly insufficient to establish a kingdom.

I smiled wickedly.

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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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