The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 30

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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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Words tumbled out of my mouth like rapid gunfire, my bewilderment getting the better of me.
“Rumors about the commotion at the Beiretz Ducal Family have spread? Do people really have that much free time these days?”
Cain Inkaris, who had regained his composure somewhere along the way, crossed his arms and regarded me with what he clearly thought was a stern expression.
“Of course. What better gossip could there be? But you don’t seem curious about how I’ve been doing.”
“You’ve been fine, I’m sure.”
I answered without hesitation.
Cain Inkaris was the type who could be abandoned alone in a desert, tame wild camels, and return in triumph—so who should worry about whom?
Though I couldn’t say I wasn’t curious about anything at all.
“What brings you to the Imperial Palace? You always said you hated coming here.”
“That’s ancient history.”
Cain Inkaris tossed out his answer and, with perfect naturalness, settled into McGuffin’s chair, leaning his body toward me.
‘The smell of gunpowder….’
Even someone who didn’t know him at all could tell he was a soldier who practically lived in the armory.
“I came to introduce Timothy. And to see your face.”
“Introduce?”
“Yes. I need to show the old men that I finally have a successor.”
I felt relieved.
Though he hadn’t stated it explicitly, Cain Inkaris clearly held Timothy in high regard.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to visit the Imperial Palace, which he so despised, just to solidify Timothy’s position.
“So you’ll be staying in the Capital for a while?”
“Why? Are you excited?”
“Of course.”
Cain Inkaris blinked his eyes several times in rapid succession.
His answer, which seemed to have sprung out reflexively, carried a noticeably higher pitch.
“What did you just say?”
“I said I’m excited.”
I repeated myself, carefully and distinctly.
“Because Timothy will be nearby.”
“Ah, that kind of excitement….”
What exactly had he been hoping for?
As the conversation seemed to be stretching on, I checked the time.
Already ten o’clock.
The Archives opened at ten.
“Shall we have dinner together this evening? I’m swamped right now.”
Cain Inkaris answered immediately.
“If you’re busy, I should help.”
“….”
I almost reflexively shot back a retort telling him to talk sense, but then I reconsidered.
‘There’s no reason it wouldn’t work, is there?’
I was the only one handling the actual work. One person volunteering willingly to help.
“I-I’ll help too!”
No, both of them.
I looked between the two of them alternately.
“It won’t be fun.”
“Do you help with work to make it entertaining?”
Cain Inkaris grumbled.
“You really do say the strangest things.”
“…Searching for materials in a dusty Archives. Cain, you’ve always hated anything to do with letters.”
“When exactly are you bringing that up…?”
Cain Inkaris frowned deeply.
“Anyway, what if you, being so frail, stumble about while moving heavy books and collapse?”
This was ridiculous.
Cain Inkaris was treating me entirely like a delicate, sickly noblewoman.
‘He must be worried.’
With him saying this much, it felt awkward not to take him along.
Come to think of it, when the Finance Ministry was busy, they would press officials from other departments who came on different business into helping with work.
Of course, I’m saying I’d seen others do this, not myself.
“Fine, let’s go.”
The moment I agreed readily, Cain Inkaris’s eyes narrowed.
“You… seem quite exhausted. Just rest here. The two of us will go and return.”
…I must look tired indeed.
But if I only sent the two of them, how would they find anything?
“No, I have to go. What kind of trouble will you two cause?”
I quickly added a word toward Timothy, who was looking at me with startled eyes.
“Not you—because of Cain. That one is quite the troublemaker…”
“Hey, who are you to say that!”
Cain Inkaris immediately began protesting.
“You got into an argument with eleven senior students retaking classes after failing? The way you refuted them one by one during class became absolute legend. A freshman who hadn’t even been here for ten days!”
I didn’t back down at all.
“That’s rich coming from someone who received a new sword as a gift and got so excited they split half a Training Grounds pillar in two?”
“Tessa, we’re in front of my successor!”
“Then who told you to start first?”
As I bickered childishly with Cain Inkaris, it truly felt like I’d returned to my school days.
‘Not bad…’
How long had it been since I felt this way?
I could let my guard down in front of Cain Inkaris.
Not my rival, not a superior I needed to impress, and even though contact might cease without warning starting tomorrow, there was no risk of him harming me—that kind of relationship.
“Well, if it isn’t Commander-in-Chief Cain Inkaris!”
Huh?
A middle-aged man I’d seen in passing a few times but whose exact name I couldn’t recall waved broadly toward Cain Inkaris.
“Yes… I hope you’ve been well.”
And there was Cain Inkaris, offering a perfunctory bow of his head.
“Same as always. Your father’s been complaining that he never hears from his son properly—at least pay your respects to him.”
“Count Monte has been taking good care of my father, so there’s no need for me to needlessly upset him.”
It came back to me then.
‘Count Monte.’
The retired Former Commander-in-Chief Inkaris—Cain Inkaris’s father—was his closest friend, and I’d seen him a few times during my Academy days.
Of course, he seemed to have no recollection of me whatsoever.
“And who is this child?”
His gaze shifted to Timothy.
“Is this your new servant? Isn’t she rather young?”
“Ah, she’s my successor.”
Cain Inkaris spoke with remarkable ease.
As naturally as if he were commenting on the weather.
Count Monte’s eyes widened as if they might burst from his head.
I was certainly not the only one who heard him murmur, “Successor…?”
Regardless, Cain Inkaris gave Timothy a light tap on the back.
“Timothy, greet him. This is Count Monte.”
“Timothy?”
Count Monte spoke in a tone of disbelief.
“Timothy Dever?”
“…!”
The child’s body trembled sharply.
I wanted nothing more than to take the child and leave immediately, but I couldn’t do that now that Cain Inkaris had confidently introduced her as his successor.
Instead, I positioned myself slightly in front of Timothy and gently squeezed her small hand in mine.
My heart ached at the feel of her palm, slick with cold sweat.
Cain Inkaris showed no sign of leaving the room, even though the situation called for him to protect Timothy.
“You seem to know Timothy.”
“Know her? Children line up wanting to become your successor, and you choose Timothy Dever of all people? That Timothy Dever?”
“Yes.”
Cain Inkaris answered leisurely.
“That Timothy Dever.”
“Hmph, choosing such a child… Do her parents know? No, of course they don’t. You’ve done all this without telling your father a word?”
“Why would I need to tell him when you’ll inform him yourself?”
Cain Inkaris let out a soft laugh, speaking lightly.
“You’ve been singing the praises of your fourteen-year-old youngest to your parents constantly—how exceptionally talented and gifted she is.”
With the corners of his mouth tilted upward, Cain Inkaris looked down at the Count, his eyes still curved in a smile, yet filled with a cold mockery.
“But it is my decision whom I keep at my side, Count Monte.”

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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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