The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 32

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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 32
A few days later, a guest arrived at the Leblanc Mansion.
Confined to the estate following the Hunting Grounds incident, Nix and I sat perched upon the broad windowsill, observing the world beyond.
“We have a visitor!”
“Ah, so we do.”
A week had passed since my confinement began.
We writhed in the grip of profound tedium.
Perhaps because I’d recently indulged in activities that set my dopamine ablaze, being trapped within these four walls felt suffocatingly dull—my very skin itched with restlessness.
Yet after Blake had extracted the full truth of the Hunting Grounds incident from me, I resolved to keep a low profile for now.
‘Nix. Explain to me why you and Vivian were at the Hunting Grounds.’
‘My sincerest apologies.’
‘Is that all you can say? I wonder if you’re truly performing your duties as Vivian’s lady’s maid properly.’
‘I am performing them properly!’
‘You stay quiet. You cause trouble every single day. I know perfectly well that the servants gossiping about seeing ghosts—that was all your doing.’
‘That’s absurd. How could we possibly be ghosts? Look at us—we’re adorable and lovable.’
‘That’s true.’
‘See?’
‘….’
Perhaps the problem was that Blake caught me exchanging glances with Nix and stifling my laughter while he was clearly exasperated.
‘Nix. What on earth were you thinking?’
‘Well, you see….’
‘They were insulting you! How could I just stand by and watch?’
‘So you recklessly unleashed magic?’
‘That’s exactly what this power is for!’
‘Enough. Both of you are confined to the estate.’
I’d certainly endured my share of suffering—mauled by the Hunting Dog, drenched in saliva, and subjected to olfactory assault from soiled trousers—but the outcome was satisfying nonetheless.
Blake might remain oblivious, but those servants would think twice before wagging their tongues again.
…Of course, I conveniently chose to forget the part where Blake wielded his sword while clutching his teddy bear, issuing warnings.
I decided not to dwell on that particular detail.
I’d once made some silly remark about how it might be nice if I could carry around a teddy bear like Blake does….
But I knew perfectly well that wasn’t a good idea.
Looking at it that way, he really does lack common sense.
In the Human World, where hierarchy was absolute, the heir to the Leblanc Duchy—already burdened with numerous enemies—seemed utterly unconcerned about the ripples that would spread if he walked about carrying an adorable teddy bear like me.
Blake, with his cold and terrifying expression, casually carrying around the precious, cute little me.
Yes. I’d stop thinking here.
I shook my head vigorously in protest.
In the meantime, the carriage that had raced past the entrance and through the Garden had come to a halt before the Mansion’s front steps.
“I wonder who’s arrived? The carriage color seems rather unusual.”
“I agree.”
“Could it be a woman?”
“Oh! A woman!”
My eyes snapped open. There weren’t many women who would visit the Leblanc Mansion.
Actually, it wasn’t that there weren’t many—there was only one.
“Lea Everett.”
“How did you know that? Is it magic? Clairvoyance?”
Nix tilted her head curiously and bombarded me with questions.
“No. The carriage outside has a crest painted on it.”
“Oh.”
Ever since I’d shown Nix a taste of magic a few times, her eyes sparkled at everything I did.
Magic seemed to fascinate her immensely.
“If it’s Lea Everett, I hope she stays calm today. If she moves around carelessly, I think the commander will really scold her.”
“You know about the heroine too, Nix?”
“…Heroine?”
Nix seemed confused about what a heroine was, but she nodded anyway.
“I know about Lea Everett. I’ve heard she has a special relationship with the commander.”
On behalf of Nix, who couldn’t quite bring herself to say it was Blake’s unrequited love, I clarified.
“Blake’s unrequited love.”
“Ah, you know? You’re really clever.”
“It’s obvious at a glance! Nix, listen. When it comes to romance, I don’t want to lose to anyone.”
“Why?”
“Because I have pride. If someone asked me, ‘Are you good at magic? Are you good at romance?’ I could answer without hesitation.”
“What would you say?”
“Romance!”
“You’re a romantic bear.”
Nix clenched her fists tightly and her eyes gleamed.
Gazing into those adorable dark eyes, I subtly revealed what I’d been wanting to bring up.
“So here’s the thing.”
I gripped the window frame firmly and leaned my head out the window.
Lea was stepping down from the carriage.
“Yes, yes.”
Anxious from the incident where I’d fallen from a tree before, Nix hurried over beside me and grabbed my feet as she answered.
“Don’t you wonder if Blake can win over Lea Everett’s heart? I’m a little worried too.”
“A little.”
“Want to go? We’ll sneak a peek, and while Blake is distracted, we’ll head to the Magic Shop.”
“…Oh!”
Only then did Nix let out a short exclamation as she remembered our forgotten original purpose.
“But will it be okay?”
Despite her worried tone, Nix was already pulling out her socks and putting them on.
“I want to go too, but the commander seems upset about the incident at the Hunting Grounds last time.”
“Yeah. He definitely seems angry.”
With that, she naturally set me down on the floor and placed a straw hat she’d worn in childhood snugly over my head.
“If I’m discovered this time… I can’t even imagine it. I’m so terrified.”
“Are you really scared?”
Nix, who had finished preparing for our outing, exhaled sharply.
“Of course!”
No, you don’t look frightened at all.
When I first saw you, you were a shy little thing—when did you become so attached to me?
Watching Nix, who seemed anything but afraid and positively thrilled instead, I felt a twinge of responsibility.
At least there was one consolation: Nix was a companion Blake Leblanc had chosen for me.
Blake must have anticipated a situation like this anyway.
Nestled in Nix’s arms—my designated sanctuary now—I cleanly swept away the creeping guilt.
Then I tapped the straw hat that sat snugly over my head, slightly obscuring my vision.
“I rather like this hat.”
“Would you like to have it? I’d be happy to give it to you.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Of course. It suits Vivian far better than it ever suited me now. And it’s perfect for a disguise too.”
While the hat was somewhat conspicuous as a disguise, I decided not to point it out.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept it.”
Nix wasn’t oblivious either. She simply found me adorable in the straw hat.
“Perfect. Now that you’re disguised, shall we go?”
“Let’s move out! Oh, wait—there’s one thing I need to do first. Nix, do you have any paper?”
“Yes!”
Gripping a pencil in my round hand, I scribbled out a hasty message and clutched the paper carefully to my chest.
“Done. Let’s go now.”
Cradled in Nix’s arms as she nimbly leaped through the window and landed on the adjacent windowsill railing, I reflected.
The Human World is truly fascinating.
***
“What is going on here?”
The moment Blake Leblanc threw open the Reception Room door, he cut straight to the point.
Lea Everett, who had been sitting at the table sipping tea, laughed at his characteristically blunt question.
“I’ve only been here for less than five minutes?”
“Just tell me what you want. It’s not as if we had an appointment.”
“Do I really need an appointment to visit? Friends can drop by to see each other’s faces. And if it’s a friend I rarely see because of constant warfare, wouldn’t that make it even more reason to visit?”
Her words grew longer. Blake Leblanc’s eyes narrowed.
“Sit down.”
At her gesture telling him to come here instead of standing there, he reluctantly settled into the chair across from her.
Sunlight streamed softly through the expansive glass window that overlooked the outside.
Having slept well the night before, even the sunlight I would normally have avoided didn’t seem so bad.
Steam rose gently from the warmed tea. Blake Leblanc leaned back comfortably against the chair.
Lea Everett observed him for a moment before speaking again.
“The tea here really is delicious.”
“Tell that to Ronald.”
“I already told Ronald the butler. I even complimented the Female Servant who brewed it.”
“If you like the tea that much, I’ll have some sent to the Everett County Estate. Finish it before you go.”
Lea Everett’s red lips curved into a smile as she watched Blake Leblanc, who looked ready to stand up again at any moment.
The situation was simply too amusing. She took a brief breath before bringing up the shocking story she had heard a few days ago.
“Blake Leblanc.”
At the sound of his full name, Blake Leblanc’s violet eyes turned toward Lea Everett.
“That bear doll you had at my birthday gala. You said it was yours, right?”
“Yes.”
“Do you like that doll so much?”
What kind of question was that?
Blake Leblanc’s brow furrowed slightly.
Watching his friend suddenly appear and ask such an abrupt question, he chose silence.
In truth, he could have guessed.
It seemed rumors had spread from the commotion at the Hunting Grounds not long ago.
Receiving no answer, Lea Everett set down her teacup on the table with a sharp clink.
But Blake Leblanc found he could no longer concentrate.
‘…What?’
Outside the window, fluffy bear doll legs were swaying.
Was this a hallucination?
He blinked urgently, and when that didn’t work, he rubbed his eyes vigorously—and just like that, the legs vanished.
It seemed he had simply misread the situation.
“Everyone’s in an uproar. There are rumors going around that the Leblanc heir has gone mad.”
But this time too, he couldn’t concentrate.
A round ear popped out from the corner of the window frame with a soft sound.
Now it moved a bit further, and a pair of green eyes and a black nose came into view.

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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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