The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 275

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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 275

The next morning.

North, with a pale face, rushed into Father’s office.

“Your Excellency!”

“What’s the matter?”

“A message from Cardinal Blasio. All cardinals of the Papal Court have signed jointly and begun protesting in front of the Imperial Palace.”

Father and I looked at each other simultaneously. I frowned and asked North.

“What’s the reason?”

North pulled out a parchment from his chest.

[The ominous energy that began flowing from Dubbled Territory two months ago has spread to various regions, making the Empire turbulent. We humbly request that His Majesty permit purification to restore order to the chaotic Empire.]

What appeared to be a copy of the Papal Court’s joint petition bore the signatures of all cardinals along with the Pope’s seal.

The parchment crumpled in my hands. Isaac, who was in the office with us, frowned.

“How dare some bastard incite such…!”

“It must be The Second.”

That was Henri’s answer. He looked at the spire outside the window with a cold gaze.

“Instead of The Second confessing with his own mouth that he’s been living by using Mother’s corpse, he reported us to the shrine for knowing about it.”

“We’re Dubbled. The Empire’s first family! Ask any passerby and they’ll say there can be no family above Dubbled. How does this kind of thing make sense?”

“The power of the state religion is what makes even this kind of thing possible.”

Although the influence of Neriad had weakened compared to my previous life, nobles still bowed their heads before the Pope. Even the Emperor couldn’t replace the Pope privately, and the Papal Court held the authority to judge apostle trials that could even result in death sentences.

That was the dignity of the state religion.

Johan, who had been tapping the sofa armrest with his fingertips, looked at Father.

“It seems the Papal Court is cornered. To pull off something this big, they must be taking considerable damage too.”

The power of religion comes from public sentiment. In other words, religion that loses public sentiment loses power.

That’s why Neriad couldn’t harm Dubbled without justification. We had never given them any justification until now, and there wouldn’t be many who believed in the ‘evil energy’ justification they claimed.

“They’re prepared to sacrifice their backbone to push out Dubbled…”

A bitter laugh escaped Johan’s lips, and then Henri spoke.

“But if they succeed, it will become Neriad’s world.”

Johan nodded and looked at Father.

“We can’t let them get permission for purification. If they enter Dubbled, there’s no telling what they might do.”

“Johan.”

“Yes, Father.”

“You summon the nobles of the Central Tower. I’ll head to the Imperial Palace.”

“I want to go too!”

When I spoke, my family members flinched. Isaac said “No, no” while waving his hands.

“It’s dangerous. What if someone recognizes you?”

“Mina already reported me. So now the shrine knows I’ve become younger too. Since we’re already exposed, I can move around comfortably now.”

“But─”

Just as Isaac was frowning, Father spoke.

“Alright.”

“Father!”

“Whether she likes it or not, Leblaine is at the center of all these incidents, so this child also needs to know the process.”

I ran toward the door with a brightened face, and my brothers sighed.

“Little One, don’t leave your guards behind. You can’t even summon your familiar right now.”

“But I can still use Divine Power.”

“So you’re going to leave them behind?”

“No, no. I absolutely won’t separate from them.”

I giggled and followed behind Father as he left the room. Then I glanced at my brothers and tugged on Father’s sleeve.

“Father, I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

When I whispered something in his ear, Father’s expression hardened.

“Leblaine, that’s─”

“Please trust me. Have I ever suggested a method that would harm Dubbled?”

“I’m worried about you. I’m worried about my daughter.”

“Then all the more reason.”

Father looked into my determined eyes and sighed. He knelt down to meet my gaze and said.

“Yes, you’re always right.”

“….”

“I trust my daughter.”

I hugged Father’s neck.

‘I will never lose. I won’t let anything be taken away.’

Never.

* * *

In front of the Imperial Palace.

The Cardinals stood with one hand on their chest and the other behind their back, silently gazing at the closed gates of the Imperial Palace. Even though they weren’t pleading or making a commotion, people were packed densely around them.

“What on earth is happening that Cardinals are camping out in front of the Imperial Palace?”

“They say evil energy is spreading from Dubbled Territory.”

“But why are they standing there the whole time instead of going to see the Emperor?”

“It seems the Emperor won’t meet with them. Dubbled isn’t just any ordinary family. He’s probably hiding with his tail between his legs, afraid the country might split in two if he gives permission.”

The spectators were actually noisier than the protesters themselves.

‘They’re probably camping out in front of the Imperial Palace aiming for exactly this.’

This wasn’t unprecedented. It was a protest custom of the shrine that had continued since the First Emperor’s time.

Mina was among them. She was nervously rubbing her fingertips with an anxious expression, when Cardinal Reginald standing beside her spoke in a kind voice.

“Please announce to the Imperial Palace the divine decree that God has bestowed.”

“….”

“Young Lady.”

“G-God descended in a dream and shed tears. When I asked the reason, He said that e-evil had come to the human world, and commanded His servant. The servant must protect the innocent creatures and… protect and…”

Mina’s voice gradually grew weaker.

Her pale expression, trembling shoulders, and eyes shaking with confusion – everything proved that the shrine had instructed her to lie.

A scoff burst from Isaac’s lips.

“Nonsense!”

In an instant, people’s gazes turned to Isaac and our family.

I watched the situation from a distance, separated from my family.

Isaac pushed through the crowd and approached the group of cardinals.

“How will you prove that you saw God?”

“How rude, Young Master—!!”

Reginald let out a thunderous shout. The cardinals also pressed Isaac with sharp glares.

“It is not strange at all for the Child of Fate, whom God sent to the human world, to hear God’s words.”

Then Henri spoke up.

“That would be true if she were the real Child of Fate.”

“Please watch your words. Lady Mina is guaranteed by the shrine…”

“Is the Second the only Child of Fate guaranteed by the shrine!”

“…”

“Leblaine is also a Child of Fate guaranteed by the shrine. That child who manifested God’s mark, which the Second lacks, is protecting Dubbled Territory. Does it make sense for evil energy to flow from that place?”

Reginald pulled up the corners of his mouth in a smile.

“We were curious about that very thing. Why does evil energy flow in Dubbled Territory, which is protected by the Child of Fate, and why did God command another child to protect the people?”

“…”

“If there is nothing to hide, His Excellency should open Dubbled’s doors and allow investigation of the First Young Lady and the territory. Then everything will be clearly revealed.”

“The shrine raises questions and the shrine investigates…? How can we trust the transparency of such results?”

“Are you doubting the shrine? Young Master, the shrine has been protecting the Empire since its founding…!”

Henri and Reginald clashed sharply, and I sent a signal to Father.

“I will permit the investigation of Dubbled.”

My brothers’ expressions hardened at Father’s words.

“Father!”

“A wise decision, Your Excellency.”

Just as Reginald’s lips curved into a grin, Father added one more thing.

“If it is proven that the Second is worthy of receiving God’s revelation.”

“What do you…”

“If you intend to investigate Dubbled’s territory and my daughter, then the Second must also undergo verification by an external agency. If she is truly the Child of Fate and God truly warned of Dubbled’s danger through her, we will not avoid investigation.”

“…!”

‘If there’s an investigation, Mina is equally at risk.’

That child’s body was reconstructed from Mother’s body through alchemy. Alchemy always leaves traces somehow.

The onlookers began to murmur.

“The Duke’s words are not wrong.”

“Right, if they want to investigate the First and Dubbled, then the Second who made the claim should also be investigated.”

“If what the shrine says is true, there’s no reason to avoid the investigation.”

The cardinals’ expressions darkened. It was when Reginald was gaping with a pale face.

“Your Excellency.”

Someone appeared in front of the Imperial Palace.

‘…!!’

“Found you.”

“You’ve been running away like a little rat all this time. Dirty girl, you dared to roll the body that received revelation in the mud, so even That Person won’t be able to save you.”

“Crazy… This crazy girl…!”

A face distorted with traces of severe burns, a well-built body as if trained, and… the tattoo on the back of his hand and the rash around it.

‘Benedict─!’

“I am Cardinal Benedict, newly appointed, Your Excellency.”

Benedict.

The family members’ expressions froze as they mulled over the name. A murderously dark rage appeared on Father’s face.

“How dare you, how dare you appear before me.”

“How dare!”

Benedict, who shouted angrily, continued with a vile expression.

“How dare I report. The shrine will comply with the investigation of the Second Child. However, if that happens, the First Child must also be investigated at the same time, in the same place.”

“….”

“If there’s nothing to worry about, Lady Leblaine would also comply with the investigation, wouldn’t she?”

He thinks that since I’ve become younger, I won’t be able to step forward.

It was truly a troublesome situation.

‘─is what you thought I’d say.’

I raised the corner of my mouth with a smirk.

At that moment, the palace gates opened and Cecilia came out accompanied by Trigon.

“His Majesty has made a decision. The Imperial Palace will handle that verification.”

I had been cultivating favor with the Imperial Palace all this time for this moment. I made an Imperial Consort and placed the Chief Court Mage under my command.

My people will be in charge of the investigation.

‘Now, and….’

“Your Excellency, Max has confessed who instigated the alchemy in the mock battle!”

When North, who had ridden up right on time, shouted, Reginald’s expression froze.

In other words, the tables had turned.

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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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