The Villainess in the Childcare Story Doesn’t Hide Her Personality - Chapter 82

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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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It was a small voice, but distinctly audible. Of course it was meant to be heard.
I responded without blinking an eye.
“Please leave.”
“….”
Beiretz stared at the file folder sitting on my desk for a long moment.
His gaze slowly lifted from the desk and finally turned toward me.
And then.
The Duke’s lips curled upward slowly.
“…Yes. That’s very much like you, Harrington.”
His tone was remarkably different from before—peaceful, almost serene.
“…?”
“Fine. Let’s end this proposal to part on good terms.”
Beiretz tapped his cane sharply against the office floor.
Tap.
“Until next time.”
The Duke left the office as smoothly as he had entered.
Neither McGuffin nor I spoke until the door closed behind him.
“…What was that?”
McGuffin exhaled a long, heavy sigh.
“This has become troublesome.”
“You always say that.”
“No, this time it truly is troublesome. It seems the Commander-in-Chief has learned that things have fallen apart between you two.”
“….”
It wasn’t particularly surprising.
It had never been a secret, after all.
“Besides, even if things were fine between us, the Commander is currently active in the Northern Territory.”
The reports that reached me daily spoke of Cain Inkaris slaying this creature, destroying that one…clearing out entire regions….
It seemed almost as though he were making a display of his prowess to someone.
“Still, I don’t think he’ll lay a hand on Timothy. Beiretz would also prefer to avoid a confrontation with the Commander-in-Chief’s family. The problem is you.”
“As long as he doesn’t try to forcibly take Timothy away, it doesn’t concern me.”
I answered cheerfully to that extent.
“If he visits like this, I can turn him away a hundred times over.”
* * *
The residence of Grand Duke Cardicha, not long after his return from the Northern Territory, was quiet.
The Grand Duke’s household consisted of merely two people, and the servants were few in number as well.
With little to do, the atmosphere was exceedingly peaceful.
Yet now, as Grand Duke Cardicha received a report from an Information Agent, the study was filled with palpable tension.
“…Thus, it is said that Duke Montina, in an act of gratitude, completely renovated the Child Protection Bureau Office despite bureaucratic opposition. It is reported to have cost a considerable sum.”
“Duke Montina?”
Achilles Cardicha’s sculpted brow furrowed.
I had been receiving real-time reports on Tessa Harrington, so I already knew she had discovered the heir Duke Montina had been searching for so desperately.
What I hadn’t anticipated was that Duke Montina would take immediate action, even renovating his office.
The Information Agent’s report didn’t end there.
“The abused child currently staying at the Beiretz Duchy Mansion is also in the process of being adopted into the Ducal Family, sir.”
The Information Agent continued without pause.
“So the Duke and Duchess would naturally feel grateful to her. Given the Beiretz Ducal Family’s traditions, we can expect reciprocal favors to follow.”
My eyes narrowed.
‘…Can this really be called coincidence?’
My brother liked her so much that I didn’t particularly want to take action, but the more I heard, the more she became someone to watch carefully.
“Furthermore, several trainees reported seeing her at the Mage Tower just before its closure. It’s certain that she influenced the Mage Tower Master’s decision to shut it down.”
Connected not only to myself, who rules the autonomous Northern Territory, but also to both Grand Dukes who hold the Empire’s real power, and even the Mage Tower Master?
Even a three-year-old child would point out that something was suspicious.
‘But to say she orchestrated all of this… she’s far too ordinary a woman.’
If everything about her had been perfect, I would have simply marked her for elimination without hesitation.
The problem was that Tessa Harrington had far too many flaws.
A commoner orphan with no backing whatsoever.
Though she graduated from the Academy with exceptional grades, she didn’t pursue academia but became a civil servant instead, and despite her remarkable abilities, she had walked nothing but a thorny path.
During her time at the Ministry of Finance, the only talk about her was criticism.
Of course, there were also comments that she “did her work well,” but civil service wasn’t something one could survive on mere competence alone.
Especially the Ministry of Finance—a position that significantly influenced both the Imperial Court and noble society, requiring one to persuade both sides, build connections, and manage finances.
…In other words, it meant one had to carefully read the room and support high-ranking nobles, all while not offending the Imperial Court.
In that regard, Tessa Harrington, with her stubborn righteousness, would have been an eyesore to everyone.
I let out a derisive snort.
‘If she were a schemer capable of orchestrating all this, she would have advanced in the Ministry of Finance long ago.’
Considering how powerlessly she had been driven out of the Ministry of Finance, the likelihood of Tessa Harrington being a cunning person was extremely low.
But what if her demotion to the Child Protection Bureau had been part of her calculation all along?
‘…She does seem to have a certain charm that captivates children.’
Princess Melissa, who had never gotten along with anyone, had grown quite fond of Tessa.
Moreover, after spending a day alone with her, Melissa had opened her heart to me.
‘Whoever it is, as long as Melissa is happy… but this woman has something unsettling about her, so I should watch her more carefully.’
What particularly bothered me was that the letters exchanged between them had become infrequent recently.
Because of that, Melissa seemed more dispirited than usual, which weighed on my mind even more.
So that evening, the moment I encountered Melissa, I immediately asked about Tessa.
“By the way, I was wondering if you’ve been in good contact with Vice Director Harrington lately.”
Realizing my question seemed rather abrupt, I added an explanation.
“Of course, I don’t have any other interest in Vice Director Harrington. I’m just curious since you like her so much.”
Fortunately, Melissa didn’t seem to notice my somewhat awkward demeanor at all.
The moment she heard “Vice Director Harrington,” her lips pouted and her eyes grew misty, so she seemed to have no attention to spare for anything else.
“But… she won’t write back to me. I’ve sent twenty letters!”
My eyes narrowed.
Surely this woman didn’t seduce my precious little sister into writing to her, ignore the letters, and then go silent…?
Twenty messages!
Aside from the various suspicious aspects, I found it deeply offensive.
“Don’t worry. I’m certain to receive a reply next time.”
“Really?”
Princess Melissa asked, sniffling.
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll write again.”
A maid who had been standing nearby brought over stationery and a pen.
Princess Melissa carefully wrote out the letter, one character at a time.
[To Sister Tessa.
Why won’t you come visit?
You won’t even reply to my letters.
There are so many things we can only talk about in person.
I’m lonely and bored.
I hate you.
I miss 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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