The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 45

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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 45

Baron Roman secretly summoned his retainers before he could even compose himself.

“The Duke has been thoroughly bewitched by that girl. How else could he treat us like this when we’ve been with Dubbled since the beginning, unless he’s gone mad!”

“Hmm…”

“We must bring down Theodore Dubbled and eliminate that girl who has bewitched the Family Head.”

However, the retainers’ reaction to Roman’s words was not particularly enthusiastic.

“Is there really a need for that?”

“What did you say?”

“I think it’s rather a good thing. Now there’s someone who can keep the ducal house on a leash.”

“Even so, she’s a fake! A commoner!”

“Well, I heard that was just a false rumor.”

The retainer who said this smiled slyly as he looked around at the others.

“Didn’t we witness the miracle that Young Lady performed in the Audience Chamber?”

“It was an amazing power.”

“She even received verification that her Divine Power had definitely increased. I heard the Papal Court was very pleased as well.”

“Actually, increasing Divine Power is an extremely rare case.”

“So there are rumors that the first verification was wrong. Honestly, I already expected things would turn out this way. She clearly had a noble bearing from the start.”

The retainers who had absolutely refused to serve Leblaine as the Main Family’s Young Lady completely changed their tune and showered her with all kinds of praise.

“How sick with envy must those from other families be, the ones who looked down on us when a fake Child of Fate became Dubbled’s Young Lady.”

“It’s not particularly because she’s real, but among all the great noble young ladies, there’s none as lovely as her.”

“Even children can distinguish between malice and goodwill, can’t they? Seeing how she protects us despite what we did, she must surely be an angel descended from heaven.”

Those who had fallen head over heels for their life’s savior chattered away with mushy expressions.

“These people…! Come to your senses. That girl is not the Child of Fate but a demon who has bewitched the ducal house!”

Then another retainer shouted “Hey!!” and slammed the table.

“Your words go too far!”

“Didn’t Duke Roman also have his life saved thanks to Young Lady! I had no idea you were such an ungrateful beast!”

“I don’t want to share a table with you, so get out!”

The retainers banded together and drove Baron Roman away.

* * *

After dinner, the Duke summoned me to his office.

I kept glancing at the Duke who stood before me with his eyes narrowed.

“Leblaine.”

“Yes.”

“Why don’t you give me a flower ring?”

“Huh?”

When I looked at him as if asking what he was talking about, he glared and pointed at Henri and Isaac who were grinning wickedly.

They had been going around all morning showing off with their hands spread wide saying “The flower language is love” and “Leblaine’s love,” and it seems it finally reached the Duke’s ears.

I pointed at the Duke’s index finger.

“You have a ring on your finger.”

When I pointed at the Dubbled seal ring on his index finger, he quickly pulled off the ring and threw it to North.

“Now there isn’t one.”

Is it really okay to just throw it around like that…?

Thinking of how Duke Valois had treated his seal ring with such reverence, this was an amazing sight.

‘It’s too late to bring violets.’

While wondering what to do, I spotted yellow tulips stuck in a flower vase.

I brought them over and struggled to make a flower ring.

The tulip stems were too thick to tie around a finger, so I changed it to a bracelet instead.

“Here.”

After completing the flower bracelet and properly putting the seal ring back on North’s hand, I let out a sigh of relief.

The Duke stared intently at the flower bracelet I had made.

‘Does he not like it now that I’ve made it?’

Well, a small violet flower ring would be one thing, but such a large tulip bracelet might feel a bit burdensome.

The Duke looked around at the young masters. Then he smoothly raised his arm.

“Mine is bigger.”

I felt like screaming.

Stop it!

“It’s probably twice the size of yours.”

Please stop.

“Isn’t mine prettier?”

Stop that mouth of yours!

Why is it that the Duke is the one speaking, but the embarrassment is all mine?

I looked around frantically at Henri, Isaac, and the other people.

Lea and the maids were biting their handkerchiefs in envy, and Isaac was furious.

“But I was the first one to receive one.”

When the child spoke with emotion, the corner of the Duke’s mouth curved up. With an expression that said ‘excuses of the defeated,’ Isaac was so frustrated he didn’t know what to do.

At least Henri was quiet, which was fortunate.

‘As expected, Henri is still within the normal range.’

Just as I was nodding my head thinking it was fortunate, Henri looked at the Duke with a bright smile.

“I heard the flower language of yellow tulips is unrequited love.”

“…What did you say?”

“The flower language of purple violets is love.”

As Henri’s eyes curved sweetly, the Duke’s expression hardened.

Then Isaac looked back and forth between his purple violet flower ring and the Duke’s yellow tulip flower bracelet and smirked.

“Aha, unrequited love.”

─he said.

The world was going crazy.

After the Duke sent the Young Masters away with cold eyes, I worked hard to soothe him.

“Lebu, I don’t know flower language. Really.”

“….”

“Tomorrow I’ll make flower rings with violets. For you. Two of them!”

Only after I promised to put them on both his hands did the Duke’s expression soften.

I sat on the Duke’s lap and let out a sigh.

This is strange.

Why do I keep feeling like I’m raising a child?

While I was thinking that, the Duke offered me a glass of orange juice.

“Drink.”

His voice was gentle.

While I drank the juice, the Duke smoothed back my sweat-dampened hair.

“Are you in pain? You’re breaking out in cold sweat.”

“No.”

That was because I was using power to maintain Bune.

When Bune first appeared, I thought I’d turn back into a baby immediately, but having Etoile around my neck made it bearable.

“Your Excellency!”

Just then, Viscount Dubois hurriedly entered the room.

“What is it?”

“There’s been a problem with the Spinel Mine owned by Selbon Trading Company.”

“A problem?”

“A volcano erupted and the mine was buried in lava.”

Viscount Dubois frowned as he continued.

“Of all times… If we can’t receive spinel supplies now, right before the war with Kruger Kingdom, we have no chance of winning.”

Kruger was a nation famous for its powerful Mage Corps.

Since the mages provided cover for Kruger’s knights from the rear, our side absolutely had to use spinel (a mineral that could contain Divine Power) to establish defensive lines.

‘So this incident happened this year.’

But Dubbled was also preparing for battle against Kruger?

It should have been House Amitie that entered this battle.

‘Could it be that Dubbled gave up on the battle because they couldn’t obtain spinel?’

Selbon Trading Company’s mine was never restored in the end.

That’s why spinel prices skyrocketed after this.

If it was just expensive, Dubbled’s financial power could have somehow acquired it, but the problem was they wouldn’t be able to secure enough quantity to supply spinel to all the knights.

‘Besides Selbon Trading Company, the Temple supplies the most spinel.’

It seems the Temple gave spinel to House Amitie to keep Dubbled in check.

The Duke immediately summoned his retainers.

* * *

After several hours of the retainers exchanging opinions, there was only one answer.

Getting help from the Temple, which supplied the most spinel aside from Selbon Trading Company.

Dubbled’s leadership, led by Viscount Dubois, contacted the Central Temple.

I looked at the retainers waiting for the conversation with the Temple from atop the Duke’s lap.

A familiar voice came from the communication magic tool connected by the mages. It was Adolf, who had a particularly poor relationship with Dubbled.

[While Dubbled’s situation is unfortunate, we’re also having difficulties with spinel supply not being smooth.]

Though his expression appeared troubled on the surface, he couldn’t hide the mockery in his eyes.

Viscount Dubois spoke while struggling to suppress his rising anger.

“His Imperial Majesty has personally issued a war participation order to Dubbled. If we participate without spinel, all our soldiers will die.”

[If you truly desire it that much, it’s not as if there’s no method.]

“What is it?”

Viscount Dubois’s face brightened.

[If His Excellency personally pleads to the Pope, how could that merciful one refuse such a request?]

“What did you say?”

The retainers stiffened.

That was essentially telling the Duke to come personally and kneel before the Pope to beg.

I secretly glared at Adolf, who was only smiling elegantly.

‘Adolf is as consistently detestable as ever.’

Unlike other families, he viewed Dubbled, who didn’t fear the Temple, as a thorn in his side.

The Temple deliberately sending him to negotiate was likely to suppress Dubbled’s spirit.

‘How petty.’

When they had no intention of giving spinel anyway.

The Duke slowly tapped the table with a tap, tap.

“North.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“Take Leblaine away. The conversation that follows will be somewhat rough for a child to hear.”

Though his voice was even, the intimidating presence was enough to make one gulp nervously.

I quickly left the room before sparks could fly.

“I can go alone. North, you should help Daddy.”

North crouched down with a moved expression, saying “So kind, so caring, so benevolent…” as he was touched.

I sent North back to the conference room and walked alone down the corridor to return to my room.

‘Something’s strange.’

[What’s wrong, Little One?]

‘I feel like I’m forgetting something.’

I felt like I had heard something related to spinel…

I was groaning and pondering as I turned the corner.

Thud!

I bumped into someone.

I plopped down and rubbed my forehead as I looked up.

“Are you alright?”

When I saw the person I had bumped into, my eyes widened.

Despite being an old man, he had broad shoulders and a completely straight back, with wrinkled but refined features.

He was the kind of grandfather who probably had hordes of admirers in his youth.

‘It’s the Senate Chairman.’

I flinched and hunched my shoulders, and the Chairman spoke.

“You seem startled.”

“…”

“Come, let me help you up.”

He lifted me up easily and stared at me intently.

His gaze was sharp yet persistent, as if he could see right through to my very core.

Since he was a powerful figure who wasn’t favorable toward me, I felt extremely tense.

I drooped my eyebrows and fidgeted while watching his expression.

“You’re as lovely as I’ve heard.”

“Thank you?”

When I spoke, thinking I should greet him, the Chairman’s eyebrow twitched upward.

“Duke Nuanok!”

A familiar voice called from the distance.

It was Baron Roman, the Elder who had tried to drive me out by mobilizing his retainers.

He paused when he saw me and frowned.

“What are you doing here? What kind of rat-like mischief are you trying to pull on the Chairman now…!”

“Enough.”

At the Chairman’s words, Roman clicked his tongue.

“Let’s go. The retainers are gathering about the spinel matter.”

As Roman cleared the way and spoke, the Chairman glanced at me and started walking.

Baron Roman followed him while grumbling.

“Child of Fate who will bring hope, my foot. Ever since that child came here, all sorts of misfortunes have been striking.”

“If you wag your tongue so carelessly in the Imperial Palace, you might find it ripped out by the roots.”

I watched the two men’s retreating figures and murmured quietly, “Ah.”

‘I remembered.’

Where I heard about the spinel!

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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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