The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 81

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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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Four days later.
I arrived at my usual time, and Director McGarvin, who was already there, greeted me.
“Vice Director, how are you feeling?”
“Honestly, not great, but I can manage.”
“Why don’t you rest a bit longer?”
“I had to come in because of the Mage Tower restructuring.”
What Fabian Beiretz wanted was to position me as a key talent in the new Mage Tower.
In other words, a recruitment offer.
However, I had promised to help him as the Vice Director of the Child Protection Bureau.
He seemed quite disappointed by my answer, but he didn’t push further and backed off.
Phew, thank goodness.
Truth be told, his drooping eyes had made me feel terribly guilty.
But I had no intention of abandoning this secure Imperial Bureaucracy position.
Besides, would mages even listen to a former bureaucrat who couldn’t cast a single spell?
Well, if Fabian really wanted it, I suppose I could manage something.
I heard that all the mages who had been prominent at the Mage Tower vanished in an instant.
Probably they fled in terror from Fabian’s wrath.
Everyone was saying the Mage Tower Master had gone mad for wanting to dismantle a perfectly functioning tower, but from my perspective, knowing the truth, the real madmen were elsewhere.
‘Stop overthinking and just work.’
The Mage Tower matter was already settled.
Support for victims like Mia and Ariel had been entrusted to the Beiretz Ducal Family.
From what I heard, they were providing both physical treatment and psychological counseling.
For children with no homes to return to, I had arranged good facilities for them.
Yes.
I found myself in a situation where I had to work frantically without a moment’s rest upon my return.
Fortunately, the orphanage investigation was mostly complete.
Now I just needed to organize the data, but doing it all by hand was incredibly time-consuming and labor-intensive.
‘I wish I had someone to help…’
I opened my mouth to Director McGarvin.
“Would it be difficult to request additional staff?”
“…Did my ears deceive me? Did you just say additional staff?”
Director McGarvin put his hand to his ear.
“Don’t mock me.”
I spoke firmly.
“I’d like at least two more people. Unlike before, we’re actually conducting proper work now, so we need support staff. If I request it from above…”
“You’ll be rejected outright.”
Director McGarvin cut me off.
“Don’t overreach. Just do what you can manage.”
I swallowed a sigh.
Really, who would want to come to a department known as a dumping ground for demotions?
Even if he wanted to come, there was a high probability he wouldn’t be a decent person.
Unless he possessed some overwhelming sense of mission regarding child protection.
In the end, I was organizing various data myself, piece by piece….
The door burst open.
‘I’m swamped, and who is this.’
If someone from the Ministry of Finance came to cause trouble again, I figured Director McGarvin would chase them out, so I focused on my work.
Then I heard Director McGarvin’s voice, hollow and drained.
“M-Marquis Dever?”
This time, it was my turn to doubt my ears.
I lifted my head, and Marquis Dever stared at me with that sinister face of his.
My head spun instinctively.
What was this man doing here?
“It’s been a while, McGarvin.”
He continued staring at me as he spoke.
“I hear you’ve landed quite a prestigious position. Did the Commander-in-Chief arrange all of this for you?”
Director McGarvin didn’t answer the question.
“Tell me what business brings you here, Dever. Both I and the Vice Director are busy people.”
“What business, you ask.”
The Marquis brought his cane down with a sharp crack.
“I’ve come to reclaim my child.”
…Had this man lost his mind?
I straightened my spine and glared at Marquis Dever.
“Your Grace, I was under the impression that your sons are all well situated at the Marquis Family estate.”
“Are you jesting, Vice Director? I’m talking about Timothy. You bewitched and took her away.”
Director McGarvin quickly interjected.
“Dever, Timothy is currently under Commander-in-Chief Inkaris’s command, isn’t she? If you want to retrieve Timothy, you’d be better off seeking out the Commander-in-Chief.”
“Ah, the Commander-in-Chief.”
Marquis Dever’s lips twisted upward in a grotesque smile.
“I hear he’s in the Northern Territory now. But I need to find and take my son back immediately.”
Seeing Marquis Dever continue his talk of “son” even in this situation, blood rushed to my head.
He spoke of a son, but what he really needed was a substitute—someone to fulfill military service in place of his beloved real son, and if necessary, even forfeit their life.
“Timothy is female. Even if you were to take her away, she cannot substitute for Leopold’s military service.”
Dever let out a derisive snort.
“That’s nonsense. She can volunteer.”
…Could I punch him just once?
Just one good hit.
“Are you seeking to formally change Timothy’s guardian?”
“…What?”
“Your Grace, regarding what abuse you and the Marquise inflicted upon Timothy—there are many witnesses, myself included. Under the Child Protection Bureau’s authority, separation and adoption are viable options. Is this truly the scale at which you wish to conduct this matter?”
“That’s absurd!”
Marquis Dever’s voice exploded in fury.
“What authority does a department like this have to do such a thing?”
I rose from my seat and approached the cabinet.
‘Thank goodness I prepared this in advance, just in case.’
Deep within the cabinet, wedged between other documents, lay a thick manila folder.
When I first began organizing these records, I had genuinely hoped I would never need to use it.
‘Yet here we are.’
As I turned with the folder in hand, Marquis Dever’s eyes narrowed to slits.
Thud.
At the heavy sound of the folder settling onto the desk, Marquis Dever leaned back slightly.
“Your Excellency, are you familiar with Imperial Law, Article 493, Section 5?”
Marquis Dever let out a derisive snort.
“Do I look idle enough to memorize the entire Imperial legal code?”
You look far too incompetent to memorize anything of substance.
I said nothing and opened the first page of the folder.
On that first page lay the statute I had carefully transcribed and neatly affixed myself.
[The Child Protection Bureau may immediately separate any child experiencing abuse from their household and may exercise direct authority to place said child in adoption with a new family deemed most beneficial to the child’s welfare.]
“It is a rarely invoked provision, Your Excellency. For some time, no one even considered using it.”
I continued speaking with measured calm.
“However, it has never been repealed and remains fully in effect. There is already one precedent of its application this year.”
A faint smile played at the corners of my mouth.
Estella.
I had saved that small child thanks to this very provision. And I would save Timothy as well.
Marquis Dever’s face crumpled with fury.
“Therefore, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from questioning what authority this department possesses. The authority is clear, and it has been exercised before.”
I turned to the next page.
『Mandatory Separation Order Request Report for Timothy Dever』
Prepared by: Vice Director Tessa Harrington, Child Protection Bureau
“So I ask you once more.”
I straightened my posture.
“Do you truly wish to escalate this matter, Marquis Dever?”
The back of Marquis Dever’s hand, gripping his cane, turned a ghastly white.
“…How insolent.”

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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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