The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 69

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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 69

But there’s no possibility of that. Lisette died in childbirth in January. I was born on February 29th.

Even though I know it’s impossible, when I see Lady Javelin’s expression or watch Father looking at Baby Bird’s shoes, I can’t help but wish for it.

“You know, if I were Baby Bird, I would feel very sad when looking at Lady Javelin.”

“….”

“Because knowing that someone you love is sad because of you is truly heartbreaking.”

At my careful words, Lady Javelin chuckled softly.

“Be careful going back.”

Then she gently ruffled my hair, and I smiled brightly because it made me so happy.

The next day, Father, my Brothers, and I left the Imperial Capital with farewells from everyone at the mansion.

* * *

Two weeks after returning to the Territory.

“Good morning, Young Lady.”

“Did you have sweet dreams?”

I received greetings from the Employees and headed to the Dressing Room with the Maids.

I woke up too early, so I’m drowsy. As I rubbed my sleepy eyes, Dahlia, Linda, and Yuni exclaimed “So cute─!” and held up their Recording Stones.

Their hobby had now gone beyond finding me cute to becoming continental-level doting parents, capturing and sharing videos of me.

After spending a few weeks in the Imperial Capital, the Recording Stones felt awkward and embarrassing, but after exactly two weeks, I got used to them like before.

But….

‘Huh?’

I was startled to see Employees crowded around the Dressing Room, the door, and Outside the Window.

“There are more Recording Stones than usual today.”

When I tugged on Lea’s sleeve and said this, the three Maids giggled and answered.

“Well, today is a monumental day.”

“That’s right, it’s a special day.”

“Young Lady’s first tea party!”

That’s right, today is the first day I’m meeting the children of the Territory.

Father kept his promise and arranged a tea party for me.

Until now, I had only met Duke Dubbled’s family and high-ranking Retainers at the Imperial Palace, but now I would be meeting people from throughout this Territory.

Lea sat me in a Chair and asked while brushing my Hair.

“Aren’t you excited?”

“…I am a little excited.”

This was the first time I was hosting a tea party in my name since my first life, so honestly, I was a little excited too.

When I blushed, I could hear the Recording Stones whirring around me.

“So cute!”

“You look lovely today too!”

I shook my head from side to side.

I was wearing Melbaine’s dress purchased from the Imperial Capital, along with ribbons, shoes, and other accessories that Seria had put all her effort into selecting and sent to the wardrobe department.

“You look very beautiful today.”

“I know!”

Wearing the red dress with the family crest, I looked pretty good even to myself, so I placed my hands on my hips and lifted my chin proudly.

The employees chuckled softly.

After finishing preparations and inspecting the party, it was around lunchtime.

It was now time for the tea party to begin.

When I stepped out into the garden, it was bustling with people unlike usual.

Cute little ladies wearing large bonnets and adorable little gentlemen in spacious formal wear were walking around the catering course, chatting quietly among themselves.

“I heard there was sad news at that house yesterday. My deepest condolences.”

“Yes, I rolled over and crushed Sir Rotten, the stag beetle, while sleeping… Sir Rotten was truly a brave stag beetle.”

“Oh my…”

The children were imitating adult socializing and acting dignified.

‘So cute─!’

Since this was my first time making friends my own age, my heart was pounding.

As I entered with an excited heart, the employees guarding the party venue all bowed at once.

Then the children also stood up one by one and paid their respects to me.

“We greet the precious child of Dubbled.”

“We greet the precious child of Dubbled.”

I accepted their greetings by bowing my head about 10 degrees.

North, who had taught me etiquette, subtly gave me a thumbs up from a corner of the party venue.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Leblaine Lisette Dubbled.”

After introducing myself, I raised my eyebrow once to signal them to sit down.

‘How was that?’

When I looked at North, he gave me a foolishly proud smile and double thumbs up.

I giggled inwardly.

I practiced raising my eyebrow so much because it was difficult.

The table where I sat was the one in the very center.

It was a seat for children of high-ranking vassals or external guests.

‘There are no guests… Where did they go?’

I tilted my head in confusion, but the other children quickly struck up conversations with me, and I became absorbed in talking.

“Thank you for the invitation. Viscount Misenk is my father.”

“Viscount Neshul is my grandmother.”

“I’m the youngest from Baron Cruolla’s house.”

The children introduced themselves to me one after another.

“What are your names?”

At my words, the young ladies and young lords asked “Huh?” in confusion.

‘Huh… so cute.’

After constantly seeing intimidating adults at the Imperial Palace, I felt happy to see such small and adorable children.

The oldest child among those at the table, the son of Viscount Misenk, spoke up.

“I’m Killian Misenk. I’m twelve years old.”

‘Oh, he’s the same age as Isaac.’

When I smiled brightly out of fondness, Killian’s face turned red as he was introducing himself.

“I’m, I’m the eldest son of House Misenk…”

His voice suddenly became timid.

He must have been shy with all the children’s attention focused on him.

Unlike Isaac who had come down from the mountain yesterday after defeating a monster wolf, I found him very endearing.

As I was smiling, the children who had been looking back and forth between me and Killian with sulky expressions quickly spoke up.

“I’m Sophie Neshul!”

“My name is Max Cruolla!”

Children from other tables also eagerly joined in to introduce themselves.

It wasn’t exactly proper behavior.

The parents who had been secretly watching from outside the garden to see if their children were behaving well were flustered, exclaiming “Oh my, child!” and looking bewildered.

But I didn’t mind this level of mischief at all.

‘It’s milder than I expected too.’

I had worried about what to do if some really young child came and got so nervous they wet themselves.

“Ah, so you’re Viscount Neshul’s granddaughter. I heard about you from the Viscount last time. He said you play piano very well?”

I made sure to pay attention to each and every child.

The expressions of the children at the party venue were bright.

But then.

“Hey! I’m asking you!”

A loud shout came from the direction of the entrance.

It was a tall and slender boy, but I could only see the back of his head.

“Ah… it’s that person again…”

The children shrank their shoulders with dejected voices.

“Why?”

When I asked, Killian answered with drooping eyebrows.

“He’s a guest from outside… A child from a Great Noble House.”

“Earlier when Young Lady wasn’t here, he was shouting loudly…”

“He said Dubbled children are all rude idiots. That’s too much…”

I looked around at the dejected children and stood up.

Then I headed toward the commotion. The children came rushing after me.

The girl who was being bullied by the boy was on the verge of bursting into tears.

The girl was adorable like a doll, with jet-black hair like ebony and beautiful green eyes.

“I, I didn’t mean that, I was just surprised when you suddenly touched my face…”

Touched?

The girl appeared to be at least fourteen years old, and the boy looked about fifteen.

They were old enough to know that it’s common sense not to touch a lady carelessly.

“When a direct descendant of a great noble asks a mere child from a vassal house for their name, you should answer ‘Thank you.’ How dare you!”

I stepped between the two and hid the girl behind my back.

“What are you again…!”

That kid was Billy Penac.

“When the second son of House Penac asks a beggar for their name, you should say ‘Thank you.’ How dare you!”

He was the pervert who had stroked my waist in my past life.

And I had encountered him in my second life as well.

He was a close friend of Duke Valois’s eldest son.

House Penac was a prestigious family, and his elder brother was a high-ranking priest, so even the status-conscious Prince of Valois often associated with him.

That bastard who would scan my body with lustful eyes every time he came to Valois Estate.

Eventually, around the age of seventeen, he had assaulted some viscount’s only daughter and was caught by the Royal Guards, but was released using the excuse of being drunk and his father’s influence.

“…Young Lady?”

Seeing the seal ring on my finger, he cleared his throat with a cough.

“I am Billy Penac. I attended in place of Young Master Delerd. I caused a disturbance.”

“Yes. You caused a disturbance at my first party.”

“That’s… yes, well… I apologize.”

“I think you’re apologizing to the wrong person.”

“Pardon?”

I took the sobbing girl’s hand and looked at the children in the party venue as I spoke.

“You should apologize to my guests who have been made uncomfortable.”

“I just need to apologize to the Young Lady, why should I apologize to mere vassal houses…!”

“As you said, they are children from Dubbled’s vassal houses. They are our children that I must protect.”

What are you doing to our children?

The children looked at me with sparkling eyes.

Billy frowned with wounded pride.

“I cannot! How can you give me such humiliation! You’re not even a real Dubbled person anyway…”

“What did you say?”

“It’s true, isn’t it? You were adopted.”

At his words meaning ‘You were an orphan,’ the employees at the party venue stiffened.

The expressions of the parents secretly watching from the garden also turned cold.

The girl holding my hand also flinched and tightened her grip.

“Really now.”

When I muttered quietly, Billy thought I was deflated by his words and became triumphant.

I quietly removed the glove I was wearing and tossed it in front of him.

Seeing the white glove, which signified a duel challenge, Billy swallowed a hollow laugh.

“You must read a lot of novels. A girl being able to beat a man only happens in novels.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t lose face unnecessarily through arrogance.”

Billy grinned as if he was doing me a favor.

“I’ll worry about my own reputation, so follow me out.”

“Good grief. This is ridiculous.”

“Before I file an official complaint with the Penac family.”

“…!”

Billy’s face turned pale.

He had come to Dubbled without receiving a formal invitation, and if he caused a disturbance and received an official complaint, even his accomplished father would find it difficult to handle.

“…You won’t duel if I do this?”

“That’s right.”

I said while shrugging my shoulders.

When I stepped aside from the door and said “Let’s go,” Billy clicked his tongue and stepped out first.

It was absurd for a gentleman to compete with a lady, but since I had even mentioned filing an official complaint, he seemed to think he had a solid excuse.

Besides, he probably wanted to thoroughly beat up some orphan girl who got lucky and was adopted into Dubbled.

I moved to a spot a little away from the tea party area and faced Billy.

He took the wooden sword his servant brought and smirked.

“Young Lady started this, right?”

“Come at me.”

Billy chuckled and kicked off the ground. The distance between us quickly closed.

However, he couldn’t reach me.

When the distance between us was less than 3 meters, he was blocked by a barrier.

And instantly, fire balls surrounded him.

“W-wait… wait!”

When he screamed, the fire balls transformed into the shape of a lion with a “Grrrrowl!!” and swallowed him up.

“Aaaahhh─!”

Billy collapsed and covered his head with both arms.

His pants became wet.

I smiled brightly and said.

“Did a little girl scare you?”

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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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