The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 31

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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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“Cain.”
Count Monte’s voice trembled visibly now.
“What are you saying? I was thinking of you, truly…!”
Cain Inkaris responded with unflappable composure.
“If you were planning to run straight to your parents and tattle, I’m afraid you’re too late. I came here to introduce Timothy to His Majesty the Emperor, after all.”
Cain spoke of visiting the Emperor without so much as requesting an appointment, as naturally as one might mention taking a stroll.
Only a select few could request an audience with the Emperor freely, without his explicit command.
Count Monte did not belong to that circle.
He had seen the Emperor a handful of times through the goodwill of the Commander-in-Chief,
which made Cain’s final strike all the more devastating.
“If you have objections, I suggest you voice them directly to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Cain…”
Count Monte let out a hollow laugh.
“A child with nothing but nonsense rattling around in that head.”
I didn’t hear what Cain replied.
Or rather, I had no time to listen.
I was already leaving the room with Timothy in tow.
‘I can’t leave this as is.’
Just before departing, I caught Cain’s eye with a subtle glance—a mere twitch of my lips conveyed everything I needed to say.
‘Handle it yourself.’
Something to that effect.
And for Cain Inkaris, that was tantamount to placing complete trust in me.
At least, we had earned that much faith in each other.
Only after we had completely left the room did Timothy finally speak.
“Th-thank you…”
“There’s nothing to thank me for.”
I answered honestly.
“I wanted to escape that situation just as badly.”
“…”
Timothy remained silent for a long while.
We walked quietly through the Corridor.
“Timothy, do you know why I didn’t say anything back there? If it were up to my nature, I would have beaten that Count to a pulp.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought you were more important.”
I spoke with conviction.
“So don’t pay any mind to what people like that say. We’ll encounter many more like him, but…”
“I’m scared.”
It was the first moment the child had been truly honest.
“Really, all of this feels like a dream…… I’m afraid I’ll lose it. Afraid everyone will be disappointed in me.”
My throat tightened, and I found myself unable to speak.
How much she must have struggled and suffered all this time.
‘I should have looked after her better.’
I had made excuses about being busy with work, about not wanting to burden her, and never properly tried to learn about Timothy’s circumstances.
If I had truly wanted to, I could have easily checked on her through Cain Inkaris.
Suddenly, Timothy opened her mouth.
“Am I… doing well enough? No matter what I do, it never feels like enough.”
There was so much I wanted to say.
But Timothy wouldn’t be swayed by shallow comfort.
If that was the case, then all I could offer her was honesty.
“I wouldn’t know.”
I spoke slowly.
“But I do know this: only Cain Inkaris can answer that for you. And Cain Inkaris always speaks truthfully. He won’t say anything false out of consideration for you.”
“…To Cain Inkaris.”
Timothy’s expression grew heavy.
I bent my knees slightly to meet the child’s eyes.
“But do you know this, Timothy?”
I smiled.
“It’s okay if you’re not perfect.”
I meant it sincerely.
Why did she have to be perfect?
I simply wanted Timothy to live a normal life as a girl, free from abuse.
A normal childhood where she could harbor childish dreams befitting her age, throw tantrums when things got hard, try her best, and be lazy sometimes.
Though she had somehow become entangled with Cain Inkaris and become his successor…
‘It doesn’t matter if she can’t do it. It’s a hereditary position anyway.’
If it truly didn’t suit her, she could always quit later.
She already possessed considerable talent.
There was no need for her to suffer wearing clothes that didn’t fit.
Finally, when Timothy lifted her head, her face bore a resolute expression.
“I’m sorry, Tessa. I won’t be able to help with the work.”
“Timothy?”
I asked in confusion.
“Did I… hurt your feelings somehow?”
“No. You said it’s okay if I’m not perfect. Even so, I want to become someone who does her best. Because that’s how I can repay you and Cain Inkaris for believing in me.”
And with that, she gave me an extremely polite bow before leaving.
As I tried to chase after her, Cain Inkaris, who had appeared at some point, stopped me.
“Leave her be.”
“…What if she gets lost!”
“Lost? She’s incredibly smart. She memorized all seven blueprints of the Imperial Palace in a single day and figured out several hidden routes.”
“…”
Truly, she is the protagonist.
With my worries about Timothy eased, I turned my attention back to Cain Inkaris.
His golden eyes held a peculiar glimmer as he gazed at me.
“And you, Count Monte?”
“I’d turn tail and run the moment I caught sight of Timothy’s hair.”
Pfft.
A laugh escaped me unbidden.
No wonder I’d left that place without a care in the world.
We arrived at the Archives in no time.
The scent of aged parchment and paper, layers upon layers of dust, mingled with the aroma of freshly dried ink.
Though I’d frequented this place for years, my heart still quickened each time I crossed its threshold.
‘The welfare-related documents should be… over here.’
Records concerning orphanages, poorhouses, and almshouses—institutions no one paid much attention to—lay jumbled together.
“Separate out everything related to orphanages and stack it over there.”
“All of it?”
“Yes. Anything remotely connected will do. Don’t miss a single document.”
Cain Inkaris worked through the task I’d assigned him without complaint.
As he extracted each document, I swiftly scanned them, setting aside only those I needed.
‘This is proving helpful.’
Far more helpful than I’d anticipated, in fact.
Cain Inkaris suddenly spoke up.
“This reminds me of the old days.”
“It does, doesn’t it.”
At first, no one had wanted to partner with me on assignments.
It was Cain Inkaris who’d stepped in each time.
Of course, once my exceptional grades became apparent, everyone clamored to be my partner.
Still, I’d drag the reluctant Cain Inkaris to the Library regardless.
There, I’d make him work, whether he liked it or not.
I couldn’t stand freeloaders.
‘…It was quite enjoyable, actually.’
At the time, the pressure to excel had blinded me to it, but working alongside someone who treated me without prejudice—someone like Cain Inkaris—had brought me genuine joy.
‘…How has Cain Inkaris been all this time?’
Since graduating from the Academy, I’d only heard distant rumors about him. I’d never once sought him out myself.
‘He must have struggled in his own way.’
I paused mid-reading and looked at Cain Inkaris.
He was hunched over the documents, his brow deeply furrowed as he rifled through them.
Beads of perspiration dotted his forehead—a testament to his concentration.
Cain Inkaris had always struggled with written text. Three years of absence wouldn’t have changed that.
“How have you been lately? Nothing too difficult?”
Cain Inkaris’s hands suddenly stilled.
He remained silent for a moment, then slowly lifted his head to meet my gaze.
“Huh…?”
An indecipherable gleam flickered across golden eyes.
“So you’ve finally become curious about my affairs?”
And then came words equally cryptic.
“All this time you ignored my letters, living in the bliss of your own accomplishments.”
Wait, what?
What letters was he talking about?

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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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