The Oracle of the Villainous Baby - Chapter 102

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 102
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“Bunny, Shalone.”
“Huh?”
“Yes?”
Bunny, who had been munching on a marshmallow generously dusted with chocolate that melted into a sticky sweetness on the tongue, asked back with chocolate smeared around her mouth.
Shalone glanced to the side, let out a deep sigh, and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Bunny’s mouth clean.
“I told you that eating carefully and delicately is what’s proper and elegant. For someone of your standing as a young lady….”
Despite her kind expression, her rough touch caused Bunny’s pale lips to flush slightly red.
Bunny tucked in her protruding lips like a duck and nodded her head.
“Okay.”
After responding to Shalone, Bunny broke into a bright smile, abandoned her fork, and popped a marshmallow directly into her mouth with her hand. This time, she didn’t get any on her mouth.
“That doesn’t mean eat with your hands!! Are you really doing this on purpose?! Could we get a damp cloth, please?”
Shalone reflexively cried out, turned her head to request a damp cloth from the Maid, then turned back only to pause when she saw Bunny grinning mischievously.
Those twitching lips were somehow a little irritating.
“Now, you clean it yourself!”
After speaking curtly, Shalone thrust the damp cloth toward Bunny and turned her head away sharply. Her ears were flushed red.
‘Ho-Moong complains but loves Bunny so much, always petting her whenever they meet… just like Kalbad.’
As Bunny stared intently at Shalone’s profile while fumbling with the damp cloth, Kiriel quietly took it from her and wiped her hands clean.
“Bunny, eat with your fork, not your hands,”
“Okay.”
At Kiriel’s words, Bunny picked up the fork she had set down and stabbed the “pizza”—which had dominated the Dormitory Mansion for the past month and was gradually spreading not just through the Annex Building but into High Society—and brought it to her plate.
It was the moment when pizza joined the fork already smeared with marshmallow and chocolate.
Kiriel’s brow furrowed slightly as he observed it for a moment before speaking.
“An invitation came from the Imperial Palace. Would you like to go?”
“An Imperial Palace invitation?”
“Yes. It’s the Crown Prince’s birthday, apparently. Since you haven’t made your debut yet and you’re both still young, there’s no absolute need to attend, but….”
“De-but…?”
Here it was again.
Human words that Bunny didn’t understand.
Bunny, with her arms crossed, tilted her head.
Debut. De-but… De, expensive tan… tan-tan-ee tree. Tan-tan-ee tree? What is an expensive tan-tan-ee tree?
“It’s not ‘de-but-tang,’ it’s ‘debut.’ It refers to children making their first entrance into High Society. The average age is usually around fourteen. Some do it as early as twelve, and others don’t do it until they’re well past eighteen.”
Shalone was ten years old, and Bunny was eight, so there was indeed still plenty of time. Therefore, it didn’t matter if they didn’t attend.
“High Society….”
Bunny blinked her eyes, gave up on understanding, and shoved the pizza she had stabbed with her fork into her mouth, tearing into it eagerly.
“Am I allowed to attend?”
“Of course. Naturally. You’re a child of the Yudia Family, after all.”
At Kiriel’s gentle voice, Shalone’s eyes widened.
Suddenly, a conversation she had shared with the Witch long ago came to mind.
“Your adoptive father, Kiriel Yudia—what kind of man is he? Well, he’s a lonely and unfortunate man. His mother, who bore him, was cursed by the Demon Clan when he was young, so he was born with black hair and crimson eyes—a tragic genius.”
“Your mother passed away?”
“Yes, she did. And so, despite being human, he seems to have had his emotions stripped away like a Demon Clan member. He’s cold, dry, and indifferent to everything. Living in seclusion without any contact with the outside world, he yearns for his dead brother—the man who gave you his blood, your father—again and again. A man who is dead while still alive.”
“…I see. What a pitiful person.”
“Yes, so if you can make him a living person again, that would be enough. Teach him what love is, teach him how to love, and heal him through your existence.”
“Can I do that? I… wasn’t born like other children. In a way, I’m just something that was created.”
“That’s why it would be best to hide the fact that you’re a created being at first. Until everyone comes to love you. Once they learn you’re a manufactured doll, they’ll all recoil from you.”
“…!”
“Yes… perhaps even more than that Demon Clan child.”
“…But.”
“That’s right. If that happens, you’ll die… so you’d better do well. Though I say this, don’t worry. You can do it. You are the protagonist of this world.”
The Witch’s description of Kiriel Yudia was of a dry, indifferent man like a colorless doll who knew nothing of warm emotions.
But the man I saw was different. At first glance he seemed indifferent and dry, but he was warm, affectionate, and gentle. Every word he spoke was filled with consideration.
‘And the debutante ball is different from what the Witch told me too.’
I had heard that the debutante ball was held around age twelve, about two years after I entered the Dormitory Mansion.
‘Did that child really change all of this?’
If what the Witch saw was truly the future, then did that child change that future?
‘How?’
Looking at it this way, she seemed like a child who grew up happily without a single serious thought.
Or could it be that Bunny can also see the future?
‘No, that can’t be.’
There was no way a child who seemed to have about ten screws loose could manage such deep thinking.
It must have all been pure coincidence. If I told the Witch, she would help me with it somehow.
‘Anyway, the debutante ball is a bit early, but it’s not bad.’
Long ago, the Witch had said that if the debutante ball happened, things would be much more in Shalone’s favor.
She said that as a result, Bunny would become increasingly isolated.
If things are difficult from within, it wouldn’t be bad to build allies from without first.
‘…Good. I’ll have to reveal what she is—a Demon Clan member—through my own efforts.’
That’s how I’ll expel her from the Yudia Family.
Of course, it was clear that I had to protect my image well throughout this process.
Shalone—virtuous, righteous, and kind.
And Bunny, unable to control her own nature, revealing her appearance as a Demon Clan member and her true nature as one.
I had to maintain this dynamic firmly.
‘Yes, without using that strange liquid….’
If I could drive her out through my own strength, that would clearly be the best method.
If someone saw me throw the bottle, my image could be damaged.
‘Yes, I’m simply not using it to protect my image.’
Absolutely not for her sake!
And receiving help from some unknown entity to expose and drive out this child’s identity would be terribly humiliating.
As she thought this, Shalone opened her mouth.
“If it’s alright, I’d like to participate.”
“Very well, I’ll let them know.”
At Shalone’s response, even Bunny, who had seemed utterly disinterested until now, brightened visibly.
Wherever Ho-Moong went, Bunny had to go too. Because….
‘Bunny, earn more points with Ho-Moong and make him all lovesick and mushy, then become the protagonist alongside Ho-Moong.’
In truth, Ho-Moong seemed already somewhat smitten with Bunny, but not quite lovesick and mushy enough, so a bit more effort was necessary.
“Is Roel’s birthday coming up?”
Besides, if it was Roel’s birthday, I had to go.
Because Roel sent me mountains of chocolate and all manner of gifts on my birthday every single year.
‘Bunny’s storage room grew by three more rooms.’
I simply couldn’t manage all the presents Roel gave me.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Bunny wants to go too!”
Bunny swallowed her food with a gulp, licked her lower lip, and quickly rose from her chair as she spoke.
“Don’t get up from your chair while eating. Sit down. Tell them both of you will participate.”
“Yes!”
At Kiriel’s words, Bunny answered and sat back down obediently.
“If you two are going, Allen and Kalbad will likely say they’re going as well.”
“Father, are you going too?”
Kiriel chuckled softly and gently stroked Bunny’s head once.
“Of course I must go if my children are going.”
He murmured quietly, then turned his gaze to take in Shalone before opening his mouth.
“Please look after Bunny for me. Of course, you’re probably not quite used to having a mischievous little sister appear so suddenly.”
“…!”
Shalone’s eyes widened considerably.
“…Yes, of course.”
Shalone clenched her fists tightly, bit her lower lip hard, and barely managed to answer.
For some reason, it felt as though her throat had suddenly constricted.
“Huh? What’s a mischievous little sister?”
“Someone who’s like a troublemaker.”
Though the scenery before her eyes and the temperature in the room were both warm and cozy, strangely… Shalone felt a chill creeping in.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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