The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 62

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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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‘What kind of content is this?’
In a healing childcare story, the older brother—the protagonist—dies at the hands of his younger sister. It was the kind of plot no sane author would conceive.
‘That’s why it was hidden. Only careful readers would notice.’
My mouth had gone completely dry.
Fabian Beiretz seemed to interpret my shock as a reaction to his confession alone, and he extended his hand toward me with an unbothered expression.
“Shall we go?”
“….”
I grasped his hand as though entranced.
It was a beautiful hand—long fingers carved as if from marble.
The moment his warmth transferred to me, so impossibly gentle for a monster, my body lifted skyward.
‘I’m flying through the air…!’
Fabian Beiretz had been right. He could disregard even the five fundamental principles of Zendal with ease.
My vision spun briefly before he reached the very apex of the Clock Tower and stepped inside.
“Big brother!”
Cedric rushed toward Fabian Beiretz with a cheer.
Estella followed behind him, hesitant and uncertain.
“You did all of this, didn’t you?”
“Of course.”
Fabian Beiretz laughed softly. In that laughter alone, I detected none of the artifice he typically wielded like armor.
“Want to see more?”
“Yes!”
Fabian Beiretz did not hesitate. The moment his gaze turned toward the window, the entire Capital began to shimmer brilliantly in opalescent hues, as though bathed in prismatic light.
A verdant aurora—impossible in this region—graced the sky.
Both Cedric and Estella gazed at the spectacle as though bewitched.
From between the boy’s lips, which hung open in wonder, a faint sincerity spilled forth.
“I… I want to use magic like that too….”
Ah.
I finally understood.
The source of the boy’s pain, still so young, was ultimately Fabian Beiretz.
An existence he could never catch, no matter how hard he tried.
Yet an older brother he could only admire eternally.
A goal that made him feel his own limitations all the more keenly with each effort….
But now, Cedric was no longer alone.
Estella was there, gripping her brother’s hand tightly, nodding in agreement.
“I… I also want to use magic like Fabian Beiretz.”
“…How provincial, calling him Fabian Beiretz.”
Cedric answered curtly.
“To me, he’s my big brother, so you should call him big brother too.”
“B-but… that’s…”
Estella looked at Fabian Beiretz with a flustered expression.
“I-I think it’s presumptuous of me…”
“It’s not presumptuous at all.”
Fabian Beiretz smiled gently.
“I’d actually prefer it if Estella called me brother. In my heart, she’s already my little sister.”
“…Really? Is that okay?”
“I’d like her to call me that.”
Fabian Beiretz answered with conviction.
“You’re truly part of our family.”
Tch.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Aside from being a monster, this man’s cunning was far from ordinary.
No matter how inadequate Duke and Duchess Beiretz were as parents, Estella had already become a member of the Duke’s family through her bonds with her older brothers.
In such circumstances, separating Estella from the Duke’s Mansion, even temporarily, or merely suggesting the possibility would be harmful to the child.
“You’re quite skilled.”
I whispered to Fabian Beiretz while the children were entranced by the magic once more.
“Mages are usually dull in such matters, preoccupied only with their research…”
“You bureaucrats speak as though you’re so different.”
Fabian Beiretz chuckled.
“There’s not a single mage in the Mage Tower who doesn’t know about the Finance Ministry official who was demoted for being competent at her job but utterly inflexible, oblivious to her own interests…”
Ugh.
That was a rather cutting remark.
Besides, when he took Estella away, he pretended to know nothing about my reputation!
‘It was strange that the Mage Tower Master hadn’t even heard the reports…”
I smiled bitterly.
“Did the Mage Tower throw a festival the day I was demoted?”
“You guessed exactly right. My successor turned out to be someone who constantly demands bribes from the Mage Tower, so the festive atmosphere died down quickly.”
Fabian Beiretz looked at me with an unwavering gaze.
It was a look that conveyed only sincerity—no evasion, no pretense.
“I don’t know how you feel, Vice Director, but I don’t dislike you. Quite the opposite, actually. What I said about my parents changing because of you was sincere.”
“…But that wasn’t enough, was it?”
“My parents have already lived their lives. How could they change in an instant?”
Fabian Beiretz continued seriously.
“But I’m confident I can be a good brother to Estella. Cedric feels the same way. We’ve already accepted each other…”
I cut him off.
“But you can’t be her guardian. You won’t be in a position to visit your sisters frequently either. You might be able to put on a spectacular show like today once in a while, but that’s all.”
Fabian Beiretz smiled bitterly.
“Truth be told, today was pushing it a bit. When I return, there will probably be a protest letter waiting from the Imperial Court.”
As expected.
The dazzling effects weren’t limited to the Clock Tower Square where the tourists gathered—they scattered across the entire Capital, so I had indeed made the spectacle too grand.
“You’re right, Vice Director. I don’t have many days where I can spend leisurely time with my sisters like today. But I’m always watching over them with the eyes of my heart…”
“Then why didn’t you bring Cedric down from the tree immediately?”
My brother was suffering so much, so terrified.
Why hadn’t he appeared right away?
It was a sharp observation, and Fabian Beiretz faltered for a moment.
“That’s… because there were urgent circumstances.”
My eyes narrowed involuntarily.
Urgent circumstances, he said.
‘It doesn’t sound like a lie.’
But what on earth could have been so pressing that the Mage Tower Master—who could reach the Duke’s Residence in an instant if he wished—would abandon my brother for so long?
‘Even if I pressed him, he wouldn’t tell me.’
I exhaled a sigh.
“Then I should head down now. I have to go to work tomorrow, after all.”
The sun was already setting. There was absolutely no way I was staying for dinner with this monster—not a chance!
In the carriage on the way back, the children fell into a peaceful sleep, blissfully unaware of the world around them.
Cedric and Estella, nestled against each other beneath a blanket, were so adorable I could have pinched their cheeks.
I made a fresh vow to myself.
I would do my utmost to ensure these children could grow up without a single worry.
‘…Fabian Beiretz said the Duke and Duchess Beiretz wouldn’t change, but I disagree.’
Until now, they had never shown Cedric any genuine attention whatsoever.
So regardless of their motivation, if they could be made to pay attention to the child in any way at all…
They would surely change.
And to ease these children’s worries, first of all.
“I’ll proceed with Estella’s formal adoption process.”
Fabian Beiretz looked at me with surprised eyes.
“That’s unexpected. Vice Director, you didn’t trust me at all.”
“It’s not about whether I trust you or not… it’s because I believe that’s what’s best for Estella.”
I leaned toward Fabian Beiretz, lowering my voice so the children wouldn’t hear.
As our bodies drew close, a sweet fragrance washed over me.
“So I hope the Mage Tower Master will cooperate with me.”
“…Anything.”
Fabian Beiretz spoke with absolute certainty.
“I’ll cooperate with you on anything.”
I found myself thinking.
Perhaps…
Perhaps this monstrous Mage Tower Master longed for his parents’ transformation more than anyone else.

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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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