The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 40

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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 quietly walked out of the room.
I felt uncomfortable witnessing such an intimate moment between mother and child.
How much time had passed?
When the clock struck 1 a.m., the Grand Duke emerged, cradling Cici—or rather, Cecilia Montina—tenderly in his arms.
“….”
Upon spotting me, the Grand Duke opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.
I offered him a gentle smile.
“No apologies necessary. I’m actually grateful you followed my expectations so perfectly.”
Of course, the fact that he’d reduced the door to powder was unexpected.
“…Truly, thank you.”
The Grand Duke bowed his head to me.
“I don’t know how I could ever repay such a kindness for the rest of my life.”
In truth, there was no need for repayment.
Cici’s eyes, sparkling with joy, were already rewarding me.
However, the damage the Grand Duke had inflicted upon the Imperial Palace was a separate matter entirely.
I pointed to the gaping doorway.
“Would you mind installing a new door? It’s rather difficult to work without one.”
The expression that crossed Duke Montina’s face in that moment was one I wished I could have photographed.
Watching Cici giggle again, it seemed the child shared my sense of humor.
* * *
“Tell me, Vice Director. What kind of disaster did you cause that my hard-earned office is being reduced to rubble?”
“Well….”
I trailed off vaguely.
“I’m not entirely sure myself.”
We both stared blankly at the office.
Or more precisely, at what used to be the office.
Beyond the door that Duke Montina had pulverized yesterday, the wallpaper, windows—everything was being torn out in what appeared to be a major renovation.
There were at least twenty workers visible, all moving about so frantically that it seemed impossible to get a word in.
Director McGarvin let out a sigh, his eyes filled with resignation.
“Well, working out of the restroom isn’t so bad. Though the one we used before was the men’s restroom, so it might be difficult for you.”
That was information I really didn’t want to know.
Fortunately, a man who appeared to be the foreman of the workers approached and informed us of the situation.
“Are you Director McGarvin and Vice Director Harrington?”
“…Yes, we are. What is all this?”
Director McGarvin’s voice had turned cold and rigid.
“Ah, don’t worry! We’ve organized everything that looked important into those boxes over there. The less important items have been moved to the adjacent room, so just let us know what you need and we’ll dispose of the rest.”
“…Then where are we supposed to work? Haven’t you heard anything about that?”
The man burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha ha! Don’t worry about it. Believe it or not, we’re all skilled workers, so if you go grab lunch, the renovation will be completely finished by the time you return. If there’s any urgent business you need to handle….”
“The renovation will be completely finished?”
Director McGarvin’s voice trembled. He shook his head in disbelief, asking the question.
“So you’re saying you’ll properly renovate this office…?”
“Yes!”
A cheerful voice came back in response.
“Duke Montina has ordered that we use only the finest materials and provide the utmost care. We must live up to those expectations!”
“Duke Montina…”
Only then did Director McGarvin seem to grasp the truth, and he fixed me with a steady gaze.
It didn’t take long for a knowing smile to bloom across his bewildered face.
“Your plan succeeded, didn’t it?”
“It did.”
I broke into a broad smile.
“What would you like for lunch? My treat.”
* * *
As it turned out, Director McGarvin ended up buying lunch.
He called it a reward for achieving such tangible results.
I pretended not to hear his embarrassingly grandiose phrase about it being “the most glorious day in the history of the Child Protection Bureau.”
After gorging myself on lobster, I returned to find the office positively gleaming.
‘They even cleaned everything!’
I marveled as I surveyed the office.
‘Ah, now this is what an office should look like…’
I no longer envied the Finance Ministry Office in the slightest.
At first glance, the furniture crafted from premium mahogany and ebony, the meticulously organized documents and books, and the plush carpet laid across the floor—everything spoke of luxury.
If I could, I would have wanted to live here.
And the door—what about the door?
‘They really installed something magnificent.’
It bore no resemblance whatsoever to the shabby door it had replaced.
The massive door, carved with ornate patterns, gleamed in a deep crimson hue.
“That’s rosewood.”
Director McGarvin murmured.
“The wood alone would cost enough to buy a small house.”
Isn’t this… a bit excessive?
I opened my mouth to address Director McGarvin.
“Director, won’t this cause problems later? Even though I found the Duke’s daughter, I’m not sure we should accept such an extravagant reward…”
“Excessive?”
I was startled.
My eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
When had the door opened, and when had Duke Montina entered?
The Duke paid no attention to Director McGarvin whatsoever, fixing his gaze solely upon me.
“Surely you don’t dislike it? If you prefer a more modest aesthetic, tell me. I’ll have it changed at once.”
“N-No, that’s not it!”
I stumbled over my words.
I had to prevent her from undergoing another major surgery at all costs.
“I’m truly… overwhelmed by your generosity.”
“Overwhelmed?”
Duke Montina raised one eyebrow.
“You saved two lives. Mine and my child’s.”
Duke Montina lowered her head.
‘…!’
I had never heard of this prideful Duke bowing to anyone.
She was even famous for keeping her head held high even before the Emperor.
Yet here she was, bowing to a mere Imperial Bureaucrat.
“Say hello, Cici. You haven’t forgotten Vice Director Harrington already, have you?”
My mouth fell open.
The Duke’s simple gesture was enough to sweep every other thought from my mind in an instant.
So this small child with pink hair clinging to the Duke’s skirts was…
“Hello.”
Cici spoke the words carefully, imperfectly but unmistakably clear.
“I missed you.”
I blinked rapidly several times. Yes, that was definitely something in my eye. Absolutely not tears threatening to spill over.
“I missed you too.”
My voice wavered as I answered, and the child broke into a bright smile.
Before I knew it, I was on my knees, pulling her into an embrace.
Struggling to swallow the sobs that kept escaping.
A moment later, once I had finally composed myself, I couldn’t help but ask.
“How did you cure the young lady’s illness in just one day?”
“Ah, that. It turns out it’s one of the long-standing secrets of our family line. It skipped several generations before manifesting, so I didn’t recognize it at first either, but…”
Duke Montina gazed at the child with eyes that held the most tender affection in the world.
“Our Cici will become the greatest shapeshifter in the Empire.”
With those words, a massive wave of memories crashed over me.
I… had seen these words somewhere before.
‘…It’s clear now.’
In that moment of realization, a title flashed brilliantly before my eyes.
That’s right.
Cici was also a protagonist of a child-rearing story.

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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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