The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 38

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

The police?
“…Duke Montina, are you in your right mind? I’d rather not lose my limbs. My actual limbs, that is.”
Failed.
A detective agency?
“We’ll do anything for money, but if the target is Duke Montina, you’d need to raid the imperial treasury. There’s such a thing as hazard pay, you see.”
Another failure.
Duke Montina’s notorious reputation was far more formidable than I’d anticipated.
She’d never actually killed anyone, but apparently she’d severed the limbs of those who stood in her way more than a dozen times over.
“Kyuu?”
“Having fun?”
I tilted my head and smiled at Cici, who was assembling a puzzle.
‘Quite the clever one, isn’t she.’
Watching her easily complete a 500-piece puzzle and draw intricate pictures with such precision, it was clear Cici had no intellectual deficiencies whatsoever.
Which meant her inability to speak properly stemmed from emotional trauma….
‘Once she’s recognized as a noble daughter, she can receive proper treatment.’
And have her curse lifted.
And incidentally, Duke Montina’s madness would be cured as well.
I would have stepped in myself if I could, but even as Vice Director, there were limits to an Imperial Bureaucracy salary.
Not to mention the Child Protection Bureau’s budget, which was even smaller than that.
‘Ha, so paying me more than entry-level officials meant I was supposed to use my own money….’
In any case, the immediate priority was finding Duke Montina, but no one knew where she currently was.
And even if they did, what if the Duke left for another region to search for her daughter while we were on our way?
After three days of deliberating various approaches without making progress, Fabian Beiretz came to find me.
I hadn’t expected the Mage Tower Master himself to seek me out, so my surprise must have shown plainly on my face.
Since I’d sent a letter asking him to visit, my reaction was rather telling.
“You sent me a letter asking me to find you, so I came…but is my visit really so surprising?”
…There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
And seeing those gentle eyes narrow slightly, I couldn’t quite tell if there was genuine feeling behind it or not.
“I thought you must be very busy since you didn’t reply.”
“I was busy. That’s why I couldn’t reply.”
Fabian admitted it readily.
“But this concerns you, Vice Director, so I had to come in person.”
I let out a quiet laugh internally.
So he meant he’d look after me for Estella’s sake.
“Cici, will you come out?”
I called to Cici, who hid among the clutter whenever a stranger arrived.
“You don’t need to be scared. He’s a good person.”
“Am I a good person?”
Fabian asked, seeming genuinely puzzled.
“Well…at least you won’t hurt Cici, right?”
“That’s true.”
Fabian Beiretz nodded in agreement.
Cici carefully grasped the edge of the desk and leaned forward.
Upon seeing Fabian Beiretz, Cici showed no reaction whatsoever—neither curiosity, caution, nor hostility. It was complete and utter indifference.
“Hmm….”
Fabian Beiretz fell into contemplation.
“This is not the product of any magic I’m familiar with. The child doesn’t emit ordinary magical energy.”
“Could it be that the spell has already fully manifested? Or perhaps a curse…?”
“Either way, this is not an artificial result brought about by a mage.”
I swallowed a sigh.
I had harbored a faint hope that Fabian Beiretz, at least, might offer some clue toward a solution.
But of course, matters rarely unfold so simply.
“By the way, this child has heterochromia.”
I blinked.
Even Macguffin had failed to notice the child’s mismatched eyes.
“Is there a connection to House of Monstina?”
“I suspect there is. However, Duke Montina is currently missing, and the Duke’s close associates refuse to meet with the child.”
I gazed at Fabian Beiretz with desperate hope.
“Could you locate Duke Montina for me?”
“…That would be rather difficult. Location-tracking magic must be cast on the target beforehand, and it requires constant maintenance…”
“That sounds like quite labor-intensive magic.”
“Yes.”
Fabian Beiretz tapped his temple repeatedly with his fingers.
“I always feel as though those people are constantly with me.”
Those people?
‘So he’s still actively tracking several individuals.’
In any case, since locating Duke Montina through magic proved difficult, there was no way Fabian Beiretz could assist me further.
Perhaps he sensed my thoughts.
“Alternatively, you could destroy the Montina Duchy. Then the Duke would surely return.”
“…You’re joking, aren’t you?”
“Does it sound like a joke to you?”
Fabian Beiretz still wore that smiling expression.
“I’m speaking in earnest.”
There’s no way he could be serious.
I shook my head firmly.
“Please stop saying such absurd things… How is Estella doing? I’d like to visit her, but I simply haven’t had the time.”
“She’s been hoping to see you quite often, Vice Director.”
Fabian Beiretz spoke with sincerity.
“I think she would be delighted if you came by.”
My face stiffened involuntarily.
It was a matter of regret.
“I’d like to, but given the current situation… it would be difficult to bring Cici to an unfamiliar place.”
Cici in particular had endured far too many unfortunate experiences with children her own age.
I had no intention of arranging a meeting that would burden either Estella or Cici.
“For now, meeting Duke Montina by any means necessary is the priority. Is there truly no way?”
Fabian Beiretz’s clear eyes gazed into empty space.
I’ll think of something!
I’m the Mage Tower Master, after all!
And then.
“…Yes, I believe attacking the Montina Duchy would be the best approach.”
“No, not that!”
We continued discussing various possibilities afterward, but the conclusion remained the same—there was no clear solution.
Fabian Beiretz let his shoulders droop as he spoke.
“Duke Montina is a person of considerable pride. I can think of no method other than touching that pride.”
I answered somewhat sharply.
“Regardless, attacking the Duchy is out of the question.”
The heir to the Beiretz Ducal Family attacking the Montina Duchy?!
That would be enough to spark a civil war.
“Then I’m afraid I have no solution.”
Fabian Beiretz shrugged.
“My apologies. I’ve been of no help whatsoever.”
I furrowed my brow.
A way to touch her pride…
What pride does she still possess now?
Having cast aside her title, her power, her responsibilities—everything—in pursuit of her daughter alone, what pride could possibly remain for her…?
‘Wait.’
I lifted my head sharply.
Fabian Beiretz was gazing intently at Cici.
I couldn’t discern the full meaning behind that gaze, but one thing was certain.
He, too, wished to help Cici.
“Could you lend me the power of the Beiretz Ducal Family?”
Fabian Beiretz’s eyes gleamed for a moment.
“I don’t involve myself in family matters. That’s something you’d need to discuss directly with my parents.”
“I’m asking if you could arrange an introduction. Because…”
I smiled gently.
“I think the Duke and Duchess would be delighted to hear this.”
A brief breath.
“That it’s time to make a fool of Montina.”
The mountain doesn’t know where it is?
Then I’ll simply make the mountain come to me.
By touching that lofty pride of hers.

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