The Baby Raising A Devil - Chapter 91

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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 91

It was my aunt who came to the grand reception room after Grand Lady Camilla and resolved the situation.

She seated the Empress Dowager and Grand Lady Camilla side by side, then took a seat next to me and looked at them expressionlessly.

“Since we received no prior notice, our hospitality is lacking.”

She was expressing displeasure at the two people who had come without the host’s permission.

Grand Lady Camilla swallowed a sigh.

“Such excessive modesty. This level of hospitality is quite splendid.”

The tea set brought out from Dubbled was somewhat inadequate for entertaining the Empire’s Empress Dowager and the Former Emperor’s consort. The tea leaves were also of ordinary quality.

Yet calling it splendid hospitality was acknowledging that they had committed a breach of etiquette and expressing their regret.

And the Empress Dowager said,

“It’s fortunate that the hospitality isn’t lacking.”

She still employed that innocently maddening way of speaking that turned people upside down.

My aunt’s eyebrow twitched upward.

“I apologize. Then would you please return for today so we can properly receive Your Majesty after making preparations?”

At this polite but clear dismissal, the Empress Dowager’s eyes twisted with displeasure.

“Your arrogance is excessive. Have I not come personally to meet the child?”

“May I ask the reason?”

“I heard that Dubbled is looking for a godmother for the child.”

“That is correct.”

“I received help before, and I have always held the child dear. The Child of Fate who will save the Empire should have a godmother befitting that role. So I intend to become the child’s godmother.”

I almost dropped my jaw.

‘What is this grandmother saying right now?’

My aunt swallowed a hollow laugh.

“It is imperial law that the current Empress, Imperial Consorts, and Empress Dowager cannot engage in social activities.”

“That’s a dead letter law. Don’t you know that successive empresses and consorts have extended their influence into high society through their noble lady proxies? I dislike such hypocrisy. Whether I step forward or my proxies step forward, it amounts to the same thing.”

Grand Lady Camilla looked at the Empress Dowager with an astounded expression. I felt a deep sense of kinship in my heart.

The Grand Lady frowned and said,

“What are you saying right now? It’s the difference between a child taking a test with parental help versus the parent taking the test directly. How is that the same thing?”

It was a perfect analogy.

The most dangerous aspect of Imperial Consorts, Empresses, and Empress Dowagers stepping forward into high society was that it would provide justification for them to privately collude with nobles.

‘That’s what the Emperor would find most dangerous.’

If he heard this, he would clutch the back of his neck and collapse.

Above all, under the pretext of not setting a precedent, I would become someone completely erased from high society.

Would Father stay quiet then?

What the Empress Dowager just said, if taken to its logical conclusion, would result in ‘Dubbled and the Imperial Family having a major fight.’

“How is that the same thing? Aren’t you afraid that if I step into high society, your role of supervising high society, what little there was, would disappear?”

The Empress Dowager seemed to want to catch the Grand Lady off guard, but instead revealed her own intentions.

‘She wanted to steal Grand Lady Camilla’s role in managing High Society, which the Emperor had subtly empowered her with.’

The Emperor held Grand Lady Camilla in special regard.

From his perspective, Grand Lady Camilla was the reason he couldn’t decisively strike against Grand Duke Rocar, who was like a thorn in his eye.

Even during the Former Emperor’s lifetime, the Empress Dowager had repeatedly caused trouble, and the angry Former Emperor had entrusted the Emperor’s education to the Grand Lady.

‘Perhaps the Emperor was able to grow up rationally entirely thanks to Grand Lady Camilla.’

Though the Grand Lady had a fiery temperament, she was rational and affectionate, raising the Emperor without discrimination as if he were her own son.

The Grand Lady frowned as she looked at the Empress Dowager.

“Please stop this. Just how long do you intend to keep trying to push me out at every turn?”

“When did I ever care about you!”

“I never said you cared.”

“Isn’t that what you meant?”

I watched the fight between the most esteemed Noble Ladies in the country with bleary eyes.

And then I played my final card to end this fight.

“Oh! Aunt, it’s time for Father to arrive.”

I had sold out my father, whom even the Imperial Family feared.

The Empress Dowager and Grand Lady both shut their mouths tight.

Especially the Empress Dowager, who had been firmly marked by Father for assigning someone to watch me when I was four, wanted to avoid him due to her past suffering from Dubbled’s elaborate Covert Operations.

“I should return for today. Seeing such an unpleasant scene makes my stomach churn.”

And then she left.

But the Grand Lady remained until the end. And she asked my aunt for a private audience with me.

“There’s something I absolutely must discuss. I would be grateful if you could arrange for me to speak with the Child.”

When someone of the Grand Lady’s stature revealed her intentions so openly and made such an earnest request, my aunt glanced at me.

“I’m fine with it!”

“…Very well.”

After hearing my answer, my aunt left without complaint.

The Grand Lady moistened her dry lips with Tea and finally opened her mouth.

“You went to the Bakery three days ago.”

As expected, the words I anticipated came out.

I tried to make a childlike expression. I opened my eyes wide and nodded.

“How do you know that?”

“My Head Maid saw you.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“There was a Child with you then?”

“Yes! Lionel.”

The Grand Lady gripped the Teacup handle tightly.

“Is it true that the Child lived in Thrush Forest?”

“That’s right. He lived there from birth and moved here last year.”

“…That Child’s mother. You must have met his mother too?”

“I met his sister, not his Mother. She knows lots of interesting stories and is such a sincere person that I really, really like her. And she’s a kind person who worries so much about the people she loves.”

“Hasn’t she seen her mother?”

“Lionel lives with his sister. He doesn’t seem to live with his mother. But Lionel calls his sister ‘mother’ very occasionally… I think he misses his mother…”

When I deliberately made a sad expression while speaking, Grand Lady bit her lip.

‘I’ve given you all the hints, Grand Lady.’

Grand Lady Camilla calmed her quickened breathing and then looked at me with clear eyes.

“Where is that child?”

“At Count Bartu’s Estate. Count Bartu’s Young Lady is that child’s sister.”

Clang!!

It was the sound made when Grand Lady forcefully set down her teacup on the glass coaster.

The noise must have leaked outside the door because the startled Head Maid rushed in urgently.

“Grand Lady, are you alright?”

“She was a noble…”

At the muttered words, the Head Maid gasped and covered her mouth in shock.

I quickly supported Grand Lady Camilla, who looked like she might collapse at any moment.

“Grand Lady, are you okay?”

“That persistent headache is coming again. How long does it plan to torment me?”

It must mean that the incident when Grand Duke lost his sight still has lingering effects.

‘She’s contemplating.’

Whether to tell her son or not.

Grand Lady, who is a leader in High Society, couldn’t possibly be unaware of the rumors about Count Bartu’s Estate.

She’s wondering whether it would be alright to let such a person’s daughter meet her son.

“Um…”

I drooped my eyebrows and looked at Grand Lady. She turned her pale face toward me.

“I read a book long ago. Thrush Forest is always dark, surrounded by trees, but around sunset, there comes a moment when the scenery becomes gentle. Wandering in darkness isn’t always a bad thing. It said you’ll come to know the preciousness of the dusky scenery at twilight.”

“…!”

It was understandable that she’d be surprised. This was from a book that Grand Lady had secretly written, hoping it would become a source of hope when her son, Grand Duke Rocar, lost his sight.

‘There was such a time, wasn’t there?’

A time when she simply hoped her son wouldn’t lose hope.

Grand Duke regained his sight, reclaimed the life he was about to give up, and even gained a daughter-in-law and grandchild.

‘Even if there are problems with the daughter-in-law, could anything worse happen than those times?’

—That’s what it means.

“So headaches aren’t necessarily all bad. They make you try to get healthy!”

Though I added this in a childlike manner, Grand Lady’s gaze wouldn’t leave me.

“Young Lady… you always say exactly what I need to hear.”

‘So please don’t forget me.’

I smiled brightly.

A few days later, Seria’s person who was sent to Count Bartu’s Estate brought news. A luxurious carriage they’d never seen before had entered the mansion.

Grand Duke had found Leticia.

* * *

Laura held the coat and cloak, pondering for a long time.

“Today’s weather is quite chilly so a coat would be good, but Young Lady in a cloak is so, so cute…! Mmm, what should I do?”

“I like the coat!”

The cloak is long so it would be inconvenient when walking.

Today was my first day going to a social party in the Imperial Capital. I absolutely must not fall.

Laura answered “Yes.” and helped me put on the coat.

After finishing preparations and looking in the mirror, there was a cute and elegant Little Lady.

‘As expected of Sharon’s clothes.’

From the coat to the dress, ribbon, and shoes, everything was incredibly pretty.

I became a Young Lady who reeked of ‘money’ as Aunt had said and left the room.

Aunt, who had been waiting, extended her arm.

“Aunt, you look amazing…”

A blue long coat similar to mine with black pants, moderately vintage and well-maintained long boots with a distinguished air, hair tied back with pomade.

There wasn’t a single aspect that wasn’t stylish.

“Today is your first social party, so I put effort into it. Shall I escort you?”

“They said an escort from the White Horse Brigade captain is extraordinary! They said only Her Majesty the Empress, Imperial Consorts, and Princesses receive it!”

When I spoke while covering my mouth, Aunt smiled brightly and added, “I am a former White Horse Brigade captain though.”

‘Still, you are Lady Javelin Ariège.’

The only person she had escorted was the late Empress Elsa.

I gently took her arm and left the mansion.

The party venue we arrived at was luxurious. It was a party hosted by a Count’s house, but it was properly formal like an Imperial Palace banquet.

“Lady Javelin Cecil Ariège and Lady Leblaine Lisette Dubbled have arrived!”

As The Man announced, the doors opened and I entered the party venue with Aunt.

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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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