The Teddy Bear Sends the Insomniac Villain to Dreamland - Chapter 42

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

Chapter 42
A gift had arrived.
Nix and I sat gathered before the unopened box, carefully examining its surface.
“What could it be?”
“It does look like a gift, doesn’t it?”
“It does, but… from whom?”
That was precisely my question as well.
After staring at the well-wrapped box for quite some time, Nix struck her palm with her fist and declared.
“It looks exactly like something Commander Blake would send.”
“This? From Blake?”
I shook my head as I poked the box.
There was no way.
The boy who wouldn’t even open the door moments ago—why would he send a gift?
At my rather firm refusal, Nix tilted her head in confusion.
“But if it’s not the Commander, then who else would send a gift… Oh!”
Her eyes widened in realization as she exclaimed with vigor.
“The Crown Prince!”
“Huh?”
I was about to say that was even less likely, but Nix spoke faster.
“The Crown Prince showed interest in Vivian, didn’t he? And since you were in fairy form, it’s no wonder he fell for you!”
“So he sent this? To me?”
That made absolutely no sense.
Edwin didn’t even know my name, nor where I lived.
Most importantly, he had no idea that I normally took the form of a bear doll.
There was no way he would send such a gift.
“Besides, the Crown Prince doesn’t know I’m a magical bear doll.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Watching Nix smack her lips in disappointment, I thought I really should recommend she read a few more romance novels.
Max, are you listening?
Now I finally understand your feelings!
“Why don’t we just open it?”
Nix urged me to open the box.
“Once we do, we’ll be able to tell for certain who sent it.”
“All right.”
Just from the sight of the wrapping paper decorated with pink hearts, I could tell it wasn’t from Blake.
With subtle anticipation stirring within me, I untied the ribbon.
As the box opened smoothly, inside was…
“Oh! A ribbon embedded with Arcanum…”
“A ribbon?”
Inside lay a red ribbon adorned with the Arcanum I had so desperately wanted.
“What?!”
“Something this expensive!”
I was so delighted that I found myself dancing without thinking.
While I was swaying to the rhythm, Nix asked again.
“But who sent the Arcanum as a gift?”
“That’s true.”
It was a sharp question.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t told anyone except Nix that I was going to buy an Arcanum.
I hadn’t even mentioned it to Blake yet.
“Did you tell anyone, Nix?”
“No. I didn’t say anything either.”
“This is really strange….”
“It is. But just to be safe, it might be better not to touch it…”
Before Nix could even finish speaking, she stared intently at me clutching the ribbon.
“…Could it be dangerous?”
“No… You’ve already touched it and you’re fine, so it should be okay.”
She was trying to reassure me, but beneath her words lay that subtle look of seeing someone foolish—and it made me think of Max again.
“Your expression just now looked like Max.”
“What is Max?”
“A dragon.”
“Wow! That’s a compliment!”
No, it’s not a compliment.
You reminded me of that incredibly fussy, nagging old-fashioned dragon.
While I was laughing awkwardly, feeling oddly self-conscious, Nix suddenly exclaimed as she peered into the box.
“Oh wait! There’s a card inside the box!”
A small card was pressed flat against the inside wall of the box.
When I took the card Nix handed me and unfolded it, I saw elegant handwriting.
To Vivian.
This gentleman sent it to you.
I hope you find it useful.
-The Mustachioed Butler-
The moment I read it, I realized that “this gentleman” was Blake.
Anyone who didn’t know would be a fool.
Only the meticulous care of the mustachioed butler could explain such adorable packaging and doorstep delivery.
It was Ronald, who worked solely for Blake.
I had my doubts, but Blake really had prepared this gift for me?
My heart tingled. It felt similar to the sensation when magical power surged within me.
Strength returned to my shoulders, which had been drooping.
While I watched Nix trying to deduce who “this gentleman” was, I dashed toward the mirror.
I still looked like a small, unremarkable doll.
But as I fluttered my short arms busily tying the ribbon, the result was undeniable.
“It’s beautiful.”
A far more adorable magical bear stood before me. I admired my now-familiar form, fingers tracing the ribbon thoughtfully.
“You’re a funny one.”
Not opening the door, not showing that pretty face, yet somehow acquiring a gift—when exactly did you buy it?
The moment I tied the ribbon, Nix clapped from beside me, calling it cute, so I spun around once for her.
With her lavishing praise—calling me the cutest magical bear in the world—my shoulders practically touched the sky with confidence.
After charging up my confidence, I stood decisively before the door.
If someone extends a hand in reconciliation, accepting it is only natural.
“I’m going out!”
“Where are you going?”
“To Blake Leblanc!”
***
“I’ve successfully delivered the gift.”
….
Blake Leblanc nodded curtly in acknowledgment and returned his focus to the documents before him.
It was a report requesting an investigation into the movements of a Demon Beast that had appeared in the Capital.
What was everyone doing?
Troublesome tasks kept piling up, and my mood was already sour when I sensed Ronald standing beyond the desk without leaving.
I tried not to react and simply ignore him, but his gaze seemed to grow increasingly penetrating.
“…What. Why are you standing there like that.”
“Young Master.”
At the soft call, my brow furrowed. I removed the silver spectacles I’d been wearing and set them on the desk before Ronald finally continued.
“Do you truly intend to continue not speaking with Miss Vivian?”
“Did Vivian tell you to say something to me?”
“No, sir. That’s not it.”
The denial only soured my mood further. If that’s not it, why bring it up at all?
I ran a hand carelessly through my neatly arranged hair.
Silver strands caught the sunlight streaming through the wide-open window, gleaming brilliantly.
Watching that beautiful sight, Ronald felt anew how much the Young Master had changed.
Normally, he would have sealed the windows shut with blackout curtains, making it impossible to tell day from night.
Yet here was the Young Master, working bathed in such light.
It was all thanks to Vivian. Ever since that small bear arrived, the Young Master had transformed considerably.
Though he himself seemed unaware of it.
“Regardless, I witnessed Miss Vivian waiting before your door. She’s been lingering outside these past few days—were you not aware?”
Unaware.
All day long, the soft, anxious patter of her fluffy footsteps coming and going had made concentration impossible.
Since I couldn’t say that, I chose silence.
“Of course, the rumors about you and Miss Vivian have stirred quite the commotion, but gossip fades quickly, and I don’t believe the fault lies entirely with Miss Vivian.”
“Has even the butler been won over by Vivian?”
“Rather than that, I wanted to tell you how pitiful it was to see Vivian sitting crouched in front of the door.”
“That means you’ve let it go.”
From Nix to Ronald, she had won them all over.
Truly, this bear doll possessed an exceptional gift for charm.
Even Nix seemed to follow Vivian more than herself now.
Ronald asked without tiring, as if genuinely concerned.
“You’ve prepared a gift, so why won’t you meet her?”
“My head’s too cluttered.”
Ronald could roughly guess the reason.
He fidgeted with the newspaper in his hand and let out a small sigh.
Looking at today’s article, it was enough to be unsettling. He himself had nearly fainted reading the piece published in Letters.
“Is it because of the article in the newspaper?”
“Why would it be?”
“An article came out titled ‘Commander Blake Leblanc’s Suspicious Hobby.’ Haven’t you read it?”
“I read it.”
The response was utterly indifferent. At such a dismissive answer, Ronald’s eyes widened.
“So it wasn’t because of the newspaper.”
“I don’t care what people gossip about. That’s not what matters.”
If I were going to worry about such things, I should have crumbled long ago.
What bothered me more was the hurt. I was angry that she disappeared without a word and caused trouble, but more than that, it irritated me that she hid from me that she was searching for Arcanum.
And there was another thing that nagged at me.
My eyes slowly moved toward the sentence written in the report.
…Some witnesses observed that Demon Beasts disappeared through magic at the scene.
The magical power was of the highest grade, and the source is unknown…
The fact that Vivian had used magic to dispose of the Demon Beasts.
Since the report stated that magic of the highest grade had manifested and there were no few witnesses, the Magic Tower would certainly be able to trace this magic.
No matter how urgent the situation was.
With Nix there, she could have at least saved herself. Why did she step in?
“This is infuriating.”
Even while singing about wanting to replenish her magical power and return to the Demon Realm quickly, she didn’t hesitate to help humans in danger.
She must have consumed a great deal of magical power with that spell, yet she doesn’t boast about it.
I wondered if she simply didn’t speak this time because I told her not to be bothersome, and my thoughts spiraled—
But thinking of Vivian made it impossible for me to focus on work. I found myself strange.
Looking at things now, I feared it would only trouble me more, so I wanted to avoid meeting Vivian.
Of course, even this was troubling.
“If there’s another reason, I will wait in silence.”
The perceptive Ronald took a step back.
If it wasn’t that she disliked Vivian, or that the rumors bothered her.
‘A change in your heart has occurred.’
If that were the case, then I should wait.
Before Ronald left, Blake offered a brief word of gratitude.
“Thank you for delivering the gift.”
Ronald’s eyes widened slightly at those words, but he quickly composed himself and didn’t let it show.
Ronald excused himself and stepped out of the Study Room, letting out a soft chuckle.
“Well, you do see unexpected things when you live long enough.”
To think I’d receive words of thanks from the young master.
No, actually—the fact that he wrapped a gift for someone with his own hands in the first place was remarkable enough.
One positive change kept flowing into another.
As Ronald emerged into the corridor, something caught his eye.
A bear plush toy scurried hurriedly down the empty hallway, pressing itself against the walls as it moved, trying to remain unseen.
The determined resolve in its movements to stay hidden made him burst into hearty laughter.
“Oh, hello there! Mustached butler!”
Upon spotting Ronald, Vivian waved her paw secretively.
She mouthed that she was on her way to see Blake, and proudly tapped the ribbon around her neck.
“I’m going to thank him!”
I hoped this wave of change would continue, transforming the desolate Mansion into something warm.
That was my earnest wish.

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