The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 66

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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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Naturally, there was nothing remotely romantic about the situation.
It was more like….
‘Is he seriously treating me like a garbage bag that needs to be disposed of in this pristine Imperial Palace corridor!?’
I was being handled so roughly that such thoughts crossed my mind.
“P-please put me down!”
What kind of way was this to treat a person—like luggage!?
“Stay still. If you fall, you’ll hurt yourself worse.”
There was no way he could hear me over my thrashing.
If I ran into someone I knew like this, my social reputation would be ruined!
So I continued to struggle.
“Ow, ah!”
…My ankle twisted again, and another cry of pain escaped my lips.
Grand Duke Cardicha let out an exasperated sigh.
“I said stay still.”
My mind raced quickly. The Imperial Medical Center was at least a thirty-minute walk from here.
I couldn’t possibly endure another thirty minutes in this state.
“Your Highness, aren’t you concerned about the Princess?”
The implication was clear: put me down immediately and go attend to Princess Melissa instead.
“Of course I’m concerned. Is that really a question?”
“Then please put me down, and you should go look after the Princess….”
Achilles cut off my words sharply.
“The Vice Director seems just as scatterbrained as my sister, so I cannot in good conscience leave her behind.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
I was utterly flabbergasted.
Was he seriously comparing me to Princess Melissa? Princess Melissa and… me?
“Besides, I’m heading to see Princess Melissa anyway.”
The Imperial Medical Center was not where we were going!?
I drove my fist directly into Grand Duke Cardicha’s back.
It was absolutely not some cute, playful tantrum with light taps.
It was a full-force blow delivered with every ounce of strength I possessed.
Yet the Grand Duke didn’t even flinch.
“Have you been starving yourself lately? Your punch is pathetically weak.”
“….”
He even mocked me outright.
All the way to the Banquet Hall, I kept my face covered, terrified that someone might recognize me.
But I couldn’t bear to enter the Banquet Hall in this state.
“Your Highness, please… please put me down. What will become of my reputation?”
I pleaded desperately, but the Grand Duke paid me no mind whatsoever.
“Your Highness, if you enter like this, people might misunderstand our relationship. Surely you don’t want rumors spreading that you’re taking the Vice Director of the Child Protection Bureau as a mistress?”
“….”
Fortunately, it worked.
I should have done this sooner!
I leaned against the wall, swaying unsteadily.
“Here.”
The Grand Duke then offered me his arm.
‘….’
Taking that arm would be less inflaming the rumors than detonating them entirely, wouldn’t it?
I shook my head and carefully sat down on a nearby folding chair instead. I was waiting for the Grand Duke to enter first.
Through the open doorway, I caught sight of Princess Melissa surrounded by a crowd of people.
Yet the Grand Duke did not step inside either—he merely gazed at Princess Melissa intently.
‘Why?’
He could have taken her out of there immediately.
The answer became clear thanks to voices carrying all the way out into the corridor.
“So that’s why I was the only one who didn’t get sick! My palate is so particular that when the water tasted strange, I drank only intravenous fluids instead of water.”
Princess Melissa’s voice, brimming with excitement.
“My goodness, Your Highness has quite the refined taste! When might you grace our family’s tea party? I’m almost embarrassed to say it, but we recently hired a pastry chef who rivals any in the Empire.”
The warm and cordial voice of a noblewoman.
“I’m not very familiar with tea parties…. I’m worried I might do something wrong.”
“Your Highness’s mere attendance would be an honor! What could possibly go wrong? My daughters are young as well, and they would surely make wonderful companions for you.”
“Countess Banas, how cunning of you! I was planning to invite Her Highness first!”
Even another cheerful voice joined in.
“Oh, I’ll talk it over with my brother….”
I blinked.
Several noblewomen had gathered around Princess Melissa, listening intently to the child’s words.
It was a complete reversal of the usual scene—no one keeping their distance, no sharp whispers behind her back.
‘Why… why is this happening?’
Though somewhat bewildered, I couldn’t deny that this was a welcome development.
‘She looks so different from before.’
Princess Melissa no longer appeared withdrawn.
Rather, she seemed confident and uninhibited.
While hardly the picture of a perfect princess, as simply ‘Melissa’ she was more than adequate.
The fact that she could converse naturally with noblewomen and, when uncertain, bring up Achilles without hesitation—that was tremendous progress indeed.
When Princess Melissa looked flustered and sought him out, Achilles stepped forward promptly.
“Brother!”
Princess Melissa’s face lit up as though a lamp had been switched on.
“Apologies for the delay.”
“It’s okay, but… can I really go to the tea party?”
Achilles’s sharp gaze swept across Countess Banas’s somewhat flustered expression.
‘Countess Banas… I haven’t heard anything particularly bad about her. I’ve heard she gets along with everyone and has an easygoing temperament, and that certainly seems to be the case.’
If Achilles intended to help Princess Melissa adapt to high society, accepting Countess Banas’s assistance would be a rather sound choice.
“Fine. But I’ll go with you.”
“Your Highness, your presence would be such an honor!”
Countess Banas hastily bowed, then raised her fan to cover her mouth.
Likely to conceal the grin that threatened to split her face wide open.
Around us, people had begun clamoring for invitations to Countess Banas’s tea party.
“Madam, might I also attend the tea party?”
“Please, if you would extend an invitation to me as well….”
The news that “Grand Duke Cardicha and his sister will attend Countess Banas’s tea party” spread like wildfire, transforming the Banquet Hall into a scene of people lining up desperately for invitations.
‘This is my chance.’
I thought, ‘I need to slip away now…!’ and carefully began to move.
“Vice Director, where are you going?”
“Sister, you’re injured!”
…These damned siblings had caught me.
* * *
The Imperial Physician summoned to the Banquet Hall initially wore an irritated expression, but the moment he examined my ankle, his face turned grave.
“The ligaments are quite stretched, just as Your Highness said. You’ve been walking in this condition?”
“It doesn’t hurt much….”
“This could become serious. I’ll apply a splint immediately, but you must refrain from moving as much as possible for the next few days. A splint isn’t a cure-all.”
I grimaced.
“That will be difficult. I have mountains of work to do.”
“How much work could the Child Protection Bureau possibly have?”
“How many children are there in the Empire? That many.”
The Doctor seemed to think I was joking.
“Well, in any case, you must rest for at least four days. Try not to leave your house if possible. And don’t use the stairs.”
…My house is two stories.
“Then I’ll just have to sleep and eat at the Office.”
“Pardon?”
“I have a desk there, and a sofa too. I’ve left toiletries there since I often work through the night.”
“No, didn’t you hear me properly? You need to rest for several days!”
All this fuss over a sprained ankle.
Then.
Princess Melissa interjected.
“Sister, come live with us. Okay?”
“…?”
While I was caught off guard, Princess Melissa’s amethyst eyes sparkled as she gripped my hand firmly.
“Our house has plenty of rooms, and the Doctor is always there. And I’ll always be by your side! Um, since you’re busy, I won’t get in the way… No, I’ll help you with your work!”

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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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