The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 10

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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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He couldn’t have been more than eleven years old.
Far too young to be working as a servant.
“You should have handled this properly!”
“I apologize, Mother.”
A boy with chestnut hair and green eyes—bearing a striking resemblance to the Marchioness—answered in a flat, emotionless voice.
His voice was thin and reedy, as though he hadn’t yet reached puberty.
My eyes widened further.
I’d assumed he was a servant given his shabby appearance, but he was her son?
“Timothy, you need to have this resolved before Regina and Leopold arrive. You wouldn’t want to disappoint them, would you?”
“B-but….”
The boy stammered, his face pale with terror.
I swallowed hard.
If I had to guess, Regina and Leopold were the Marchioness’s other two children.
‘Could he be illegitimate?’
Yet Timothy bore such a striking resemblance to the Marchioness that seemed unlikely.
“If all the rooms are already occupied, there’s truly nothing I can do….”
“Then you’ll bear the consequences.”
“Mother, there are other hotels nearby…”
The Marchioness cut the boy off harshly.
“Are you making excuses when you can’t even handle the one task you’ve been given?”
“…I apologize.”
Timothy hung his head low.
“Please forgive me, Mother….”
“Forgiveness?”
The Marchioness spoke sharply.
“Find a way—any way—to secure those rooms right now! Show me you’re worth something.”
The Hotel Manager was now stammering nervously, cold sweat pouring down his face.
“My sincerest apologies, Madam. We would like to help, but there truly is no way…. I beg your understanding.”
The Marchioness tilted her head back with disdain.
“I have no interest in speaking with you further. Discuss this with my son instead.”
With that, she turned and left the Hotel.
She claimed the carriage was more comfortable, but I understood the truth.
It was another means of tormenting Timothy.
“….”
Timothy, his face drained of all color, pleaded with the Hotel Manager.
“Is there… is there any way? I’ll do anything. Any work at all….”
“…There’s no way. I’m sorry.”
The Manager’s expression was one of deep sympathy for Timothy.
“I… I might die this time. Last time, my leg was broken. Please, any method at all….”
I don’t know why I stood up. Perhaps it was because of my title as Vice Director of the Child Protection Bureau.
A position shapes a person, no matter how hollow it may seem.
Or perhaps….
It could be that my conscience simply wouldn’t allow me to turn away from this young boy.
Just as I couldn’t turn away from Princess Melissa.
I approached them.
“I’ll yield my room to you. Though I’m uncertain whether it will meet the Marchioness’s standards.”
The Hotel Manager exhaled in relief.
“It’s certainly a fine guest room that the Marchioness would be pleased with.”
I was bewildered.
Surely, it wasn’t of that caliber…?
The Hotel Manager answered quickly.
“We always provide the finest guest rooms to members of the Imperial Bureaucracy.”
Ah, so that was it.
Even if it was a position meant for demotion, the title of “Vice Director” carried an intimidating weight.
“Th-thank you, official.”
Timothy bowed respectfully.
“Mother will be delighted.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“What the Marchioness thinks is none of my concern. It’s you I’m interested in.”
“Y-yes…?”
“How long will you be staying here?”
“…About a week, I believe.”
“Is that so? Then be my companion for that time.”
I wanted nothing more than to separate the child from his parents immediately, but I couldn’t act rashly.
The Child Protection Bureau was, after all, an organization in name only.
Even as Vice Director, there was no way to forcibly separate abused children from their parents.
I might manage it through the Imperial authority if they were commoners or lower nobility, but the opponent was House of Dever.
They could make my life as difficult as they wished if they so chose.
So, all I could do was….
‘Give him respite from the abusive environment, even if only for a moment.’
Timothy stammered, his face flustered.
“Me, as your companion….”
“Yes. Your mother will agree as well, won’t she? She told you to obtain a room by any means necessary.”
“Y-yes….”
Timothy looked down at the floor.
The Hotel Manager fidgeted nervously, glancing at me.
“Still, he is the young master of House of Dever. Shouldn’t we inform the Marchioness first?”
It wasn’t wrong.
The situation was somewhat absurd—having to ask the permission of a parent who abused her own son.
“Then tell your mother this: I’ll provide you with a room on the condition that you become my companion for the next week.”
Timothy rushed straight to the carriage.
Moments later, the Marchioness entered the lobby with her chin held rigidly high.
“Your name?”
“Tessa Harrington, madam.”
“…Hmm, Imperial Bureaucracy. Then you possess at least enough sense not to commit foolish acts….”
The Marchioness seemed to be weighing Timothy’s value against the worth of a guest room for a week’s stay.
“Not bad. However, you must return him before dinner.”
“Of course, madam.”
I answered as respectfully as I could manage.
“Thank you for lending me your precious son as a companion.”
My skin crawled.
The moment I uttered the words “precious son,” an intense sneer bloomed across the Marchioness’s face.
* * *
Though I had barely secured this precious opportunity, conversation with Timothy proved far from easy.
The next day at lunch, he had clamped his lips shut like an oyster after only the briefest of greetings at our designated restaurant.
“….”
“….”
As the awkwardness deepened, I decided to order food first.
“Choose whatever you like. I’ll order anything you want.”
At those words, Timothy’s eyes sparkled ever so slightly.
…And so ten minutes passed.
‘He really can’t decide.’
Rather than rush Timothy, I observed the boy carefully.
The youth possessed delicate features and a docile appearance.
But what captured my attention was not Timothy’s looks.
‘…He’s bruised.’
Faint bruises marked his wrists and cheeks, and even his eyelids bore subtle discoloration upon closer inspection.
Few people would dare raise a hand against the young heir of a prosperous House of Dever.
‘Could it only be the Marchioness? Or….’
Timothy suddenly opened his mouth.
“Um, soup… potato soup would probably be fine.”
“Oh, really?”
I took the menu from Timothy’s hands.
“Soup alone won’t do. You need to pick a main course and dessert too.”
“Uh….”
Timothy hesitated.
“If you don’t speak up, I’ll order everything.”
“No, please!”
Timothy cried out in alarm.
In the end, I had to handle the entire order myself—two main courses and two desserts.
…Timothy had refused, so I had to insist it was all my responsibility.
I deliberately placed my hand on my stomach and let out a sigh.
“I’m so full… I think I’ll have leftovers. Will you eat half for me?”
“Yes.”
Surprisingly, Timothy accepted the steak I offered without hesitation.
‘That’s strange.’
I narrowed my eyes.
The way Timothy accepted food from someone else seemed far too natural.
‘…Is that too much of a leap?’
The thought that he normally ate only what the House of Dever family left behind continued to weigh on my heart.
Timothy devoured the food in an instant, and he didn’t refuse the crème brûlée I pushed aside, claiming I was full.
“Th-thank you.”
Timothy wiped his mouth and offered his gratitude.
“Was it delicious?”
“Yes. It was truly delicious.”
I posed a light question to Timothy, whose voice was finally beginning to show some vitality.
“Timothy, how old are you? I still didn’t even know that.”
“I’m thirteen.”
Something felt off.
Timothy’s frame was far too small for a thirteen-year-old boy.
‘I would have thought he was at most twelve.’
“When’s your birthday?”
“It was just recently.”
“Perfect timing. I was wanting to go to the Souvenir District anyway. I’ll buy you whatever you want as a birthday gift.”
Timothy panicked and waved his hands.
“N-no, I don’t need it! I’ve already received so much….”
But no matter how much he refused, he was only thirteen years old.
Against someone like me, hardened by years in the Imperial Palace, he had no choice but to surrender quickly.
And so we went to the Souvenir District.
It was certainly meant to be a precious opportunity to grow closer to Timothy, but….
“Hello, Tessa. Fancy meeting you here.”
“…?”
I glared at Cain Inkaris, half shocked and half exasperated.
“Didn’t you say your location couldn’t be revealed?”
To my entirely reasonable question, Cain answered brazenly.
“I’m in disguise, so it’s fine.”
“….”
Could a single brown wig really be called a ‘disguise’?
Meanwhile, Timothy, utterly terrified, began to stammer.
“W-w-who….”
“Just someone I know.”
I answered curtly.
“It’s none of your concern.”
“Tessa!”
What did I care if my Academy classmate wore an exaggerated expression of hurt?

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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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