The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 63

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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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The Imperial Palace had been insufferably bustling since morning.
That was merely my personal impression, though. Objectively speaking, the situation was thus:
Golden flags fluttering from every rooftop, red carpets laid so thickly across the stone floors that the pavement was scarcely visible, Imperial Palace staff rushing about in every direction…
And bureaucrats like us, who hadn’t even clocked in for work, dragged into a welcoming procession from the crack of dawn.
Director McGarvin grumbled.
“Come now, couldn’t you spare someone like me who’s practically ready for retirement?”
It was a futile protest. They’d even conscripted people whose spines were permanently bent—there was no way they’d excuse McGarvin.
For reference, even the Finance Minister himself had made an appearance.
Why?
Because the protagonist of this welcoming procession was someone whose rank easily eclipsed anyone outside the imperial bloodline.
In other words, we were waiting for the triumphal entry celebrating the return of Grand Duke Cardicha to begin.
How much time had passed?
A deep boom of the war drum sounded, and the triumphal procession commenced.
The weighty vibration traveled through the ground and up to my toes, while fanfare erupted with ear-splitting intensity, shaking the heavens themselves.
The Northern Army cavalry that had accompanied Achilles Cardicha to Athos Fortress led the triumphal procession, and dozens of banners emblazoned with the House of Cardicha’s crest fluttered in unison as the wind caught them.
“I heard the situation was dire. Apparently they were vastly outnumbered.”
“I thought a triumphal procession for merely subjugating monsters was excessive… but it turns out it was the Centaurs’ stronghold, wasn’t it? They say they’ve completely eradicated the monsters from the vicinity of Athos Fortress on this occasion.”
“Grand Duke Cardicha truly is incomparable. I don’t particularly favor the man, but there’s no one else to send to such places. He fights as though his life is worthless, and besides, who in this entire nation would begrudge him that life? Haha!”
A tall silhouette sitting rigidly atop a magnificent steed in the center of the procession caught my eye.
Even from a distance, his composed bearing resembled a moving marble sculpture.
Grand Duke Cardicha remained unchanged, as always.
And beside him…
Princess Melissa?
I doubted my own eyes.
Princess Melissa, sitting in a somewhat awkward posture atop a white horse beside Achilles, appeared half-dazed.
What on earth was she thinking?
While Princess Melissa certainly had saved Athos Fortress, was it truly beneficial for the child to participate in a triumphal procession?
And she didn’t even seem to know how to ride properly yet…
As expected.
I caught the murmurs of other bureaucrats.
“She can’t ride a horse at that age?”
“They say she’s slow-witted, and it seems to be true.”
“Well, the Grand Duke must have his worries.”
I clenched my fists. There was nothing I could do here and now.
Please, let Princess Melissa not have heard that…
Fortunately, the conversation soon shifted to another topic.
“Will you be attending the banquet?”
“Of course. Why would I pass up free drinks?”
“Haha, your love of freebies might get you into serious trouble one day.”
Yes, there would certainly be a celebratory banquet to follow.
‘Princess Melissa will definitely attend.’
She participated in the triumphal procession, so she’d be even more likely to come to the banquet.
Originally, I’d planned to avoid tedious affairs like banquets altogether, but….
‘Seeing her like that, I can’t just pretend I didn’t notice.’
I swallowed a sigh.
It seemed my workday would run late today as well.
* * *
‘I barely made it in.’
I’d almost been turned away from the Banquet Hall simply because I wore bureaucratic robes instead of formal evening dress.
I’d practically bullied the attendant into letting me through by insisting I needed to report work matters to Director McGarvin inside.
Of course, McGarvin had long since gone home, but the attendant didn’t need to know that.
I glanced around the hall.
The space overflowed with lavish decorations and people dressed in equally extravagant finery—it was dizzying to behold.
It seemed that as long as one matched the dress code, absolutely anyone could gain entry.
‘Where is Princess Melissa?’
After circling the Banquet Hall once, my eyes fell upon a child pressed against the wall, clearly trying to distance herself from everyone else—visibly withdrawn and trembling.
Her shoulders hunched small, her hands fidgeting nervously.
Every inch of her screamed fear.
In normal circumstances, the adults around her would naturally feel pity and offer reassurance—but the problem was that this was the Imperial Palace’s Banquet Hall, filled with nobility.
…To these nobles, Princess Melissa’s appearance was nothing but an opportunity to tear her down further.
“That little girl actually accomplished something? Does that even make sense?”
“The Grand Duke really went to such lengths just to save face for his younger sister.”
Ah.
I grasped the situation roughly.
While I’d been arguing with the attendant and running late, Achilles Cardicha must have publicly revealed Princess Melissa’s accomplishments.
The problem was that no one believed him.
‘It would have been better not to mention it at all.’
Princess Melissa found being the focus of others’ attention extremely burdensome, whether positive or negative.
And yet he’d created an environment where all eyes fell upon her.
Naturally, Princess Melissa could only show her distress before the other nobles, which would only cast doubt on whether Achilles Cardicha’s publicly announced accomplishments were genuine.
“Look at her trembling like that. She probably did nothing but hide at Athos Fortress.”
“The Grand Duke is truly pitiful. That’s not a sister—that’s a tumor, a tumor.”
…A sense of déjà vu washed over me.
Yes, it had been like this on the day I first met Princess Melissa.
Nothing had changed from then until now, yet Achilles Cardicha had thrown his younger sister into the jaws of these beasts.
‘Where on earth did the Grand Duke go?’
I glanced around, but Achilles was nowhere to be seen.
For someone who always overprotected his sister, his absence was remarkable.
Several knights from House of Cardicha stood near Princess Melissa, but they all wore expressions of helplessness and dared not take action.
The nobles whispered amongst themselves, but none dared address Princess Melissa directly.
Naturally, Princess Melissa’s expression grew darker by the moment, and soon the child turned her back entirely to the crowd, heading toward a more secluded corner.
In that instant, I couldn’t spare a single thought for caution or avoiding attention.
I pushed through the throng and hurried toward Princess Melissa.
“…!”
Having overheard something from those around her, Princess Melissa’s face turned ashen as she bolted from the Banquet Hall.
People gasped and chattered in surprise, but I heard none of it.
“Official business. Make way!”
After repeating this several times, I finally managed to escape.
By the time I left the Banquet Hall following the child, Princess Melissa had already vanished.
The knights of House of Cardicha were in disarray, dashing about frantically, clearly having no idea where Princess Melissa had gone.
It was only natural—they were unfamiliar with the Imperial Palace’s layout.
But this place was like my own courtyard.
‘Princess Melissa doesn’t know this place well. She’ll follow the Corridor connected to the Banquet Hall. So the places she might go are….’
The Royal Garden.
Fortunately, I found Princess Melissa quickly.
The child stood beneath the shadowed Wild Rose Bush, staring only at her feet.
As I drew near, recognizing my familiar presence, Princess Melissa spoke without lifting her head.
“Sister…?”
“Yes, Princess Melissa. It’s me.”
I hurried toward her.
I wanted to embrace the trembling child, but Princess Melissa stepped back and refused.
“Why can’t I ever do anything?”
Her voice poured out thick with tears.
“I only ever cry, and without my brother I’m nothing… Everyone must think I’m pathetic.”
“Princess Melissa….”
Princess Melissa finally lifted her head.
Her nose, eyes, and cheeks were all flushed red, and it was painfully clear she was barely holding back her tears.
“Sister, can’t I live with you?”

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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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