The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 20

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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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I understood her position well enough.
From Princess Melissa’s perspective, she’d finally found someone she could trust in this strange new world, only to have me vanish without warning.
I wondered if Achilles had even bothered to explain the real reason for my absence to her.
Surely she didn’t think I’d abandoned her.
If I could have followed my heart, I would have rushed straight to the Cardicha Territory Townhouse and embraced her.
‘…What else could I do?’
So what if it was early morning.
Princess Melissa would be delighted to see me whenever I arrived.
And given that Achilles Cardicha had even personally urged me to visit, he clearly didn’t object.
After a quick wash and change of clothes, I arrived unannounced at the Grand Duke’s family Townhouse.
‘…?’
Early morning or not, servants should have been bustling about attending to their master’s needs at this hour.
Yet I found myself bewildered by the eerie silence of the mansion—not a soul in sight.
‘What’s going on?’
Could it be that they maintained this as their official residence while conducting their actual lives elsewhere?
Even so, there should have been at least a few guards posted, but this place was practically advertising itself as abandoned.
“We’ve been expecting you, Vice Director Harrington.”
…I hadn’t lost my mind.
A butler wearing a monocle and sporting an impressively groomed beard had suddenly appeared behind me.
“I am Damon, in service to His Grace the Grand Duke. Please, come inside.”
“Wait a moment.”
Enter a mansion devoid of any human presence? Just like that?
Who would trust such a thing?
“I’ve come to see the Princess. Is she in the mansion?”
The butler released a heavy sigh.
“If you truly object to being offered tea, I can explain matters here instead.”
Oh dear.
He’d been attempting to extend proper hospitality by offering refreshment, only to be met with suspicion—he had every right to be displeased.
I quickly apologized, but Damon paid no attention and continued speaking.
“The Princess departed hastily for Athos with His Grace the Grand Duke.”
Athos?
My heart sank.
Wasn’t that the mountainous region forming the southern border of the Cardicha Territory?
‘Could he already be attempting treason…?’
According to the setting of “Black Five Calamities,” this shouldn’t have been the time for any proper action, but there was no guarantee events would unfold exactly as I’d read them.
The fact that a ten-year-old child had possessed Princess Melissa’s body rather than an adult changed everything.
‘What should I do? Should I chase after them?’
As my mind spun in circles,
the butler produced a small box and a letter from his pocket.
“The barrier at Athos collapsed due to magical beasts, forcing them to depart urgently. While there’s no need for apologies, the Princess specifically asked me to convey her deepest regrets to you.”
A sigh of relief escaped me unbidden.
So it wasn’t treason—it was a subjugation of magical beasts.
In ‘Black Five Murders’, Achilles had regularly led troops to subjugate magical beasts as well.
After all, the character was written to care meticulously for his domain’s people, even while plotting rebellion.
I quickly opened the letter to read it.
[Sister, when are you coming?
I’m so bored.
I wanted to sneak over and find you, but I held back.]
In the carefully pressed letters, I could feel Princess Melissa’s heart laid bare.
[Sister, you have to go to the mountains without even seeing me.
It doesn’t matter if I throw a tantrum and refuse.
I absolutely have to go with you!]
This section was written with such frustration that the paper was riddled with holes and ink stains.
[I cried so much that my brother gave me something like this.
It’s like a one-time-use mobile phone!
I’m going to use it when I really, really miss you.
You absolutely have to answer.]
Inside the box was a small hand mirror.
It looked quite ordinary at first glance, but when I held it, I felt a peculiar vibration.
‘I will.’
I murmured a response that would never reach the child.
‘Whenever, wherever I am… I’ll always answer your call.’
* * *
I arrived at work with a heavier heart, thinking I hadn’t truly helped either Princess Melissa or Timothy Dever.
To the warehouse filled with biting cold.
But unlike a week ago, I had no intention of spending my time stamping trivial documents.
‘Director McGuffin won’t arrive for about two more hours…’
The official start time was now, but Director McGuffin was always late.
I couldn’t fault him for it—what difference did it make whether he came late or early when there was nothing to do anyway?
But today was different.
‘I’ll finish preparing the report before he arrives.’
I prepared parchment and a pen, took a deep breath, and began writing a report on Timothy Dever, the young lady of House of Dever, following the official document format.
[…Therefore, the Child Protection Bureau hereby recommends the revocation of parental rights of the Marquis couple over the young lady of House of Dever.]
“What are you doing there, Vice Director?”
Oh no.
It seemed the Director had arrived while I was absorbed in writing.
I handed him the completed parchment and began my report.
“Director, I encountered the Marquis couple of House of Dever and their children at my vacation destination. Remarkably, Timothy Dever, known as the youngest child of House of Dever, is…”
Director McGuffin’s face crumpled as if he’d bitten into a sour lemon, and without even properly reading the parchment, he threw it entirely into the fireplace.
Director McGuffin’s face scrunched up as if he’d just bitten into a sour lemon, and without even properly reading the parchment, he threw it whole into the fireplace.
I immediately reached for the parchment, but he blocked my path, forcing me to step back.
Watching the parchment burn in uneven patches, I felt my stomach twist.
“I’ve already heard all of this. Marquis Dever came to inform me himself.”
“….”
I had to admit it.
I had underestimated Marquis Dever.
The Marquis truly did have connections with Director McGuffin, and the moment the situation settled, he’d sent someone to deliver the news to the Director.
And with high probability, the Director would side with Marquis Dever.
“I’ve been waiting for when you’d finally cause a major incident. You’re faster than I expected.”
Director McGuffin’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“I was merely doing my duty.”
“That’s precisely what makes it an incident, Vice Director.”
The Director sighed and continued.
“But I won’t blame you.”
I looked up at him in surprise.
He wouldn’t blame me…?
“I’ve watched that child for a long time too, so I understand well enough why you acted as you did.”
“Wait a moment.”
A sharp note escaped my voice unbidden.
“You knew about Timothy Dever?”
“Knew, and how.”
Director McGuffin hesitated briefly, then spoke as though seized by some momentous resolve.
“Marquis Dever and I were quite close in our youth. So when Timothy Dever was born and the enraged Marquis tried to throw the child and kill her, it was I who stopped him.”
“….”
“You must be disappointed.”
The Director continued slowly.
“That even after becoming Director of the Child Protection Bureau, I did nothing for that child.”
I said nothing.
In truth, the Director’s words were right.
Even now, in this very moment, I resented him.
“I understand. I feel like nothing but a cowardly fool myself….”
“Why did you do nothing?”
I barely managed to open my mouth.
“You could have done something for Timothy Dever. You could have at least revealed the truth to the Imperial Court… that she is a girl, that she didn’t need to be dragged to the border.”
Because you remained silent in your cowardice, Timothy Dever died.
Because I acted, because I caused this ‘major incident,’ Timothy Dever could live.
I barely managed to swallow those words.
The Director answered in a tone devoid of emotion.
“What would have changed if I had?”
He was no longer looking at me, but at some point in the empty air.
“Marquis Dever is the cruelest person I know. If I hadn’t stopped him, I wouldn’t be standing here now.”
Director McGuffin’s words were far from over.
“And the reason I’m telling you this, Vice Director, is to prepare yourself mentally. Even you won’t be able to withstand Marquis Dever’s wrath.”
To be honest, I felt a chill run down my spine.
If even the unflappable Director McGuffin spoke with such gravity, who wouldn’t feel afraid?
‘So that’s why Cain warned me.’
But that evening.
The situation shifted once more.
Director McGuffin’s lips twitched as he received a new letter.
“It seems my concerns were unfounded. The way Marquis Dever is cursing the young Commander-in-Chief suggests you have another formidable backer I wasn’t aware of.”
While I questioned whether Cain could truly be called my backer, it seemed safe to assume that Marquis Dever posed no immediate threat to me.
“Marquis Dever dismissed the rumors about Grand Duke Cardicha, but I’ll tell you this much—he’s definitely watching you too.”
“…Thank you.”
Director McGuffin continued to grumble that it remained a troublesome situation, but I didn’t miss the words he’d casually let slip.
“It’s turned out well for that child.”

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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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