The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 67

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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’m grateful for your kind offer, but I must decline.”
It was a polite refusal, but unfortunately, young Princess Melissa seemed unable to comprehend it.
“Big brother, sister said she’s leaving!”
“I think you’ve got it backwards, Princess Melissa.”
Achilles shook his head.
“When I say I’m grateful for your offer, it means I’m refusing.”
“…Really?”
Princess Melissa’s face fell.
“Why?”
“I cannot impose on you and Grand Duke Cardicha….”
“You’re not imposing!”
I found myself growing increasingly flustered.
“Can’t you at least stay until my foot is completely healed?”
“I truly appreciate your kindness. However, others might misunderstand, and….”
“You made fried rice for me before. Let me make something for you this time!”
My heart ached at her desperate tone, but all I could say was ‘I can’t.’ How could I explain the real reason?
‘I don’t want to stay in a villain’s house!’
No matter how genuinely Achilles Cardicha cares for Princess Melissa, to me he remains nothing but a morally bankrupt villain.
I have no desire to stay in that household and find myself caught in another unexpected crisis, just like the day I first met Princess Melissa.
“I’m sorry, Princess Melissa. I need to focus on my work right now. Of course, I’d love to spend time with you…but I’m afraid I won’t be able to accomplish anything if I do.”
“U-um….”
Princess Melissa murmured in a much deflated voice, and the small, fern-like hand that had been gripping mine gradually loosened. My heart ached watching that tiny hand slip away so limply.
“So, what will you do?”
…After sending my sister away, now the older brother stepped forward.
“You’re not actually planning to stay and sleep at the office like you mentioned earlier, are you?”
I paused to consider.
If my body were fine, perhaps, but with a sprained ankle, staying and sleeping at the office seemed rather unreasonable.
“There’s no helping it. I’ll have to work from home for a few days. I’ll just stop by the office to gather the documents I need to work on immediately.”
“Y-you won’t sleep at the office, right?”
Princess Melissa’s voice brightened just slightly.
‘I’ve caused her worry.’
I quickly nodded.
“Of course not. I was just speaking carelessly before.”
Now I tried to carefully walk toward the office, but Grand Duke Cardicha’s powerful hands suddenly scooped me up.
The Imperial Physician’s gasp echoed loudly through the corridor.
I thought to myself.
This is a disaster….
Then I raised both hands and buried my face in them.
That was the only response I could manage throughout the entire journey to the Child Protection Bureau Office.
After what felt like an eternity had passed.
“I’ll see you home.”
Despite my silent thought of ‘Now that I have the documents, we’re done—let’s part ways,’ Grand Duke Cardicha seemed firmly resolved to watch me enter my residence.
“That won’t be necessary. I can simply call for a carriage and make my own way. It’s late, so both of you should return.”
“Princess Melissa should go back. But I need to see the Vice Director safely inside her home.”
The way he stood with his arms crossed suggested he would not yield easily.
Upon hearing this, Princess Melissa protested loudly.
“I want to see Sister off too!”
“No.”
Grand Duke Cardicha spoke with unmistakable firmness.
“You’re going back to rest.”
Though, now that I thought about it, Princess Melissa had seemed oddly drowsy for some time now.
“Hmph….”
Princess Melissa pouted her lips. It was the reaction of a child who knew all too well that once Grand Duke Cardicha made a decision, nothing could sway him.
And I was in the same position.
“Very well, Your Highness. As you wish.”
One of the Grand Duke’s eyebrows twitched upward.
“Your tone has become rather disrespectful.”
“You’re mistaken.”
* * *
After parting with Princess Melissa, who called out “Sister, I’ll write to you!” while waving her hand, I found myself in an awkward private audience with Grand Duke Cardicha.
Inside a swaying, cramped carriage, no less.
Of course, it was an exceptionally large and luxurious carriage for its kind, but there were limits to how much space a horse-drawn vehicle could provide.
The silence that descended did not last long.
Grand Duke Cardicha suddenly spoke.
“Do you dislike me that much?”
“…Pardon?”
What was he suddenly saying?
“It’s not that you dislike Princess Melissa and refuse my help. You must dislike me.”
A direct hit.
Of course, I could never admit to that.
“Not at all! As a bureaucrat, I was merely being cautious about appearing too close to the Grand Duke’s family, as it could invite gossip.”
“Is that so?”
Grand Duke Cardicha’s piercing gaze grew even sharper.
“The Vice Director truly lacks talent for deception.”
“….”
“You’re just like my younger sister.”
…Why did he keep comparing me to Princess Melissa?
I responded with an awkward smile.
“Regardless, Your Highness is still quite young, and I am considerably older….”
“That’s strange.”
Grand Duke Cardicha didn’t hear my words.
“They don’t resemble each other at all… but somehow they keep looking alike to me.”
Just admit you can’t stop thinking about Princess Melissa, you fool of a sister.
I quickly changed the subject.
“Could you tell me about what happened at Athos? I’m curious.”
I truly was curious.
Princess Melissa couldn’t write the details in her letters, and there hadn’t been time to ask separately.
Grand Duke Cardicha’s expression darkened.
“…That.”
I waited calmly for him to continue.
It was certainly not a pleasant memory. According to Princess Melissa, many people had fallen ill.
“It was an expedition that was doomed from the start. And with the plague spreading on top of that… we were walking into death, all of us.”
“….”
My breath caught at how dark the situation truly was.
Things had been far worse than I’d imagined.
No wonder the Imperial Court had held such a grand triumph ceremony.
“There were more monsters than expected, it seems.”
Grand Duke Cardicha shook his head.
“That wasn’t the problem. There was barely any proper reconnaissance, and our forces consisted only of our family’s private soldiers from the main estate. It was a trap, pure and simple.”
He gave a bitter smile.
“Too many died and were wounded. This triumph ceremony is a consolation for them. Normally, they can’t even leave the Northern Territory.”
Ah.
Of course.
Since private armies were forbidden in the Empire, even the knights of the Grand Duchy—an autonomous territory—couldn’t leave the Northern Territory without the Emperor’s command.
I had taken the presence of the Grand Duke’s knights for granted, but thinking about it again, they could only set foot in the Capital because of the blood they had shed.
And more than anything else.
‘…A trap, pure and simple.’
On the surface, it seemed laughable.
Who would dare drive the Grand Duke into such a trap?
It was reasonable to dismiss it as the paranoia of a schemer.
But then.
A clear voice echoed in my mind.
【I’m the one who sent the Grand Duke to Athos.】
Cain.
【What if that sinister bastard does something to our Timothy, huh?】

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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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