The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 43

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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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Hans Noark, backed into a corner, had no room left for pretense.
“Y-you conducted a background investigation on someone…! The Child Protection Bureau doesn’t have investigative authority, does it? I’ll inform my uncle about this…!”
“Go ahead.”
I replied with indifference.
“Though I doubt Baron Pecho would take your side even after seeing this evidence.”
“…”
Hans Noark fell silent, his expression suggesting he’d been struck a decisive blow.
That was right.
He wasn’t even a true relative—merely a friend’s fifth cousin.
Having been caught embezzling consistently by the Imperial Bureaucracy, there was no reason for the Baron to exert himself helping him.
“I could even send a letter myself to confirm the matter.”
I’d only meant to scratch the surface.
Instead, I’d scratched far deeper than intended.
“What would anyone believe from a woman with no pedigree? My great-grandmother was a viscount’s daughter, and my grandfather was a knight! You’re different from a woman who doesn’t even know where your parents came from…”
Clink.
Director McGarvin set down his teacup.
“Then they’ll believe it if I send it under my name.”
Hans Noark’s head snapped around.
“…!”
Only then did he see it.
‘Child Protection Bureau Director Samuel McGarvin’.
His glossy complexion drained to a sickly white once more.
“A viscount’s daughter for a great-grandmother and a knight for a grandfather… How amusing.”
Director McGarvin’s voice carried a hint of genuine amusement.
“Surely not… the McGarvin Count’s…?”
“Ah, that’s my older brother—the direct heir.”
Director McGarvin shook his head with a slight smile.
“I’m merely his younger cousin. But Baron Pecho knows me well. I do wish that gentleman would repay the money he borrowed from me.”
“…”
Hans Noark, having lost every card, let his hands drop limply like a puppet with severed strings, then fled without another word.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, growing fainter with each step.
“Coward.”
I hurled the insult after him.
For all the diverse people in the world, shamelessness of his caliber was rare indeed.
“The Vice Director is quite naive.”
Director McGarvin clicked his tongue.
“People like that are dangerous. When they lose everything, they might deliberately try to harm the Vice Director.”
“Surely not.”
I laughed lightly.
“Did you see how he fled with his tail between his legs just now? What trouble could he possibly cause?”
* * *
After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
Hans Noark shut down the Orphanage completely, and the children were transferred to other reputable facilities.
Facilities run by trustworthy directors whom I had personally verified.
‘I’m grateful Noark didn’t entertain that absurd notion of borrowing Baron Pecho’s influence.’
Of course, even if he had, Baron Pecho wouldn’t have been able to actually harm me.
‘Still, it would have made things tedious… It’s better to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.’
To work safely in the Imperial Palace for any length of time, I needed to avoid standing out more than I already did.
Especially as a member of a department as unpopular as the Child Protection Bureau.
‘I asked Duke Montina to silence the workers as well—I hope that went smoothly.’
Well, if it didn’t, there was nothing I could do about it.
I casually checked the mail that had arrived today.
‘Timothy…?’
A familiar name written in neat, precise handwriting immediately caught my eye.
After our last meeting, I’d thought I’d see Cain and Timothy more frequently, but unfortunately they couldn’t stay in the Capital for long.
They had to leave for the south where the Naval Command was located after merely paying their respects to the old folks.
‘I regretted not being able to say a proper goodbye, but here he is sending me a letter.’
[Hello, Tessa.
How have you been?
I hesitated for a long time about whether to write, worried it might be bothersome… but you once told me I could write anytime.
If you’re busy, you don’t need to reply.]
Timothy continued describing his current circumstances.
Training was difficult and there was still a long way to go, but he was pleased that his skills seemed to be improving steadily, he’d received praise from his instructors, and both his height and weight continued to increase.
And then.
[Cain asked me to send you his regards.
And he specifically asked me to add that you shouldn’t overwork yourself.]
I slowly wrote my reply.
I was glad he was adapting well, his letter wasn’t bothersome at all and my work wasn’t nearly as busy, so he should write anytime, nothing particularly noteworthy had happened in the Child Protection Bureau recently…
And then, just for a moment.
My hand holding the pen hesitated above the paper.
[Don’t worry—I’m not overworking myself.]
Those words weren’t meant for Timothy.
After finishing my reply, I turned my head and informed the Director.
“I received a letter from Timothy. He’s doing well.”
The Director didn’t respond much, but a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
Watching him hum and pour black tea, it was clear Timothy’s news had put him in quite a good mood.
That sight suddenly made me curious.
‘How did Director McGarvin end up here?’
Even without a title and being from a cadet branch, being a member of an earl’s family was a status that should have led to success.
‘Should I ask him once… No, I can’t do that.’
I’m not so oblivious that I can’t read the situation.
A collateral noble with such excellent social connections that he maintained relations with Marquis Dever wouldn’t have been buried as a perpetual director of the Child Protection Bureau without some rather unpleasant circumstances behind it.
‘There’s no benefit in poking at someone’s wounds.’
I redirected my attention back to the documents related to Hans Noark.
‘Perhaps I should shake things loose thoroughly enough that the Finance Ministry feels compelled to act.’
If I didn’t take proper measures this time, it would constitute negligence—so I would send a report of that caliber.
* * *
‘This is unforgivable…!’
Hans Noark.
Until recently, he had been the director of an orphanage where donations flowed in steadily, but now he was nothing—merely “Mr. Noark.”
Though his bloodline carried some noble heritage, he was a collateral branch of a collateral branch, having lost his title long ago.
He was essentially no different from a commoner.
Since he had never succeeded at any legitimate business venture, he survived by receiving blind donations and contributions through welfare projects.
On the side, he also accepted dirty money under the guise of donations and laundered it clean by returning it under the pretense of purchasing supplies.
‘And she destroyed it all?!’
Not content with that, she had even mobilized the Finance Ministry to expose all his corruption.
It was fortunate that a low-ranking official from the Finance Ministry, whom he had managed to recruit through his connections, had given him advance warning.
Otherwise, not only would his primary source of income have disappeared, but he would have lost all his remaining assets as well.
And the official had provided one more useful piece of information.
‘Tessa Harrington was originally in the Finance Ministry but was demoted after falling out of favor?’
Hans Noark’s mouth twisted into a sneer.
If she had made that many enemies, it would be nothing for her to fall completely once a single incident came to light.
‘She moves so carefully… I need to find a weakness.’
His connections had failed to uncover even that much.
Then there was nothing for it but to investigate on foot.
‘They said she has no family or lovers, but who knows.’
Everyone has someone precious to them.
Surely Tessa Harrington, that woman, also had someone she cherished but couldn’t speak of openly in front of others.
Noark, unwilling to spend money hiring someone to tail her, decided to conduct the surveillance himself.
Fortunately, the Child Protection Bureau was located on the outskirts of the Imperial Palace where no one paid attention, making infiltration easy.
Moreover, there were several back exits in the vicinity, so even if he were discovered, he could simply claim he had gotten lost.
But then.
‘…When exactly does this woman leave work?’
9 p.m. An hour that was already quite late.
Yet light was still seeping through the small window of the Child Protection Bureau office.
10 p.m.
The same.
11 p.m….
There was no sign of her leaving.
By the time dawn began to break.
Hans Noark, who had been dozing fitfully, finally snapped awake.
Of course, Tessa Harrington had already left work by then.
“XXXX this XXX!”
Hans Noark cursed loudly without thinking.
And then.
“Captain, did you just hear that?”
“Let’s check it out.”
At that very moment, he was spotted by Imperial Guard members on patrol.

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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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