Chapter 2

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: I'll Raise the Villain Properly - Chapter 2

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2

In From Illegitimate Child to Family Head, Lucella fails to raise Lucian properly.

She ends up running away because she has no confidence in raising the utterly wild Lucian. All to escape the grueling childcare and reclaim her own life.

As a result, Lucian turns out selfish and a total troublemaker.

If the Bellomon Duke had properly fulfilled his role as a father, things might have been different, but he was always away on business. The days he returned home numbered at most four times a year.

Because of that, he had no idea that the protagonist, Edwin, was being bullied by Lucian.

The fact that the one and only person on his side in the world had abandoned him made Lucian even more twisted.

'Now that I think about it, it's ridiculous. Do they think kids just grow up on their own after you pop them out?'

Fine, let's say Lucian turned out that way because he was born from a woman the duke didn't love.

But at the very least, shouldn't Edwin have been properly cared for? After all, he was the child of the duke's lover.

Edwin had even lived in an orphanage until the duke came for him.

'This isn't neglect—it's abuse.'

I ground my teeth thinking of the duke's empty room, which would be vacant again today.

But right now, what mattered to me wasn't the duke's lack of paternal love.

'In the original story, Lucella runs away when Lucian is seven.'

But I would never run away. No matter how much of a troublemaker Lucian was, no matter if he tormented me with his mean pranks.

'Protect my child.'

Lucian was the child of my beloved sister.

When I thought of the love my sister had given me, I could endure even if Lucian grabbed me by the hair.

'But I can't raise Lucian into a kid who actually grabs people by the hair.'

I would never leave Lucian's side, but it would be better for childcare if his temperament softened a bit.

'Plus, if Lucian's personality mellows, he won't end up harboring grudges against the protagonist.'

And it wasn't just the protagonist. Lucian's violent nature causes friction with many people.

In other words, if Lucian grows up right, he won't make enemies, and he won't end up killed by the duke protagonist.

So first, I needed to fix his mischievous, outcast-like temperament.

"...Ptooey."

...First things first, I had to teach him that putting salt in his aunt's tea was wrong.

"Auntie, you're such an idiot! How do you not notice salt in your tea?"

Lucian doubled over laughing, as if watching me drink the salted tea was the funniest thing ever.

'I was too busy figuring out how to save your life to notice, you little punk!'

I desperately wanted to say it, but...

"Lucian, sit down."

I called him in a low, steady voice.

"Thunder-calling tiger! Kuooo!"

But Lucian pretended not to hear, playing only with his tiger toy.

"Lucian Bellomon."

"...Tch."

When I called him with his full name, he reluctantly sat down. At least he had some sense of timing—should I call that progress?

"Putting salt in auntie's tea? That's not okay."

"But you were spacing out and not watching me."

"Then call out to me. Or tug on my clothes, even."

Lucian pouted his lips.

"That's no fun."

"You can't torment others just for your own fun."

I knelt down to meet Lucian's eyes. They were yellow, just like mine and my sister's.

"Even yesterday. Because of your flour prank, I fell and hurt my head. It could've been really bad."

"Ah, that was hilarious!"

"Laughing when someone's hurt is a really bad thing to do."

"..."

"I was sad. I was in so much pain, but Lucian was laughing at me."

Until now, I'd just vaguely scolded Lucian. Partly because he thought getting scolded was natural when he did wrong, but...

'Because there's no one else in this mansion who can scold Lucian.'

The lower-status servants and retainers couldn't casually scold Lucian Bellomon, the duke's son. There was an enormous wall of status between them.

It would've been great if the Bellomon Duke stepped up to raise him, but sadly, the father who should discipline the child was never home.

In the end, I was the only one who could scold him. So I'd taken on that role every time he messed up.

But yesterday, I realized something from the book's contents.

Lucian wasn't the type to listen to scolding.

It only provoked his childish defiance.

'Then I need to change my approach.'

Instead of just scolding, I had to explain why such behavior was wrong.

So he wouldn't develop pointless defiance. So he'd understand why he shouldn't torment others.

"...You were sad?"

"Yes. I was hurting so much, but Lucian was happy seeing me in pain."

Maybe my new method was working, because Lucian glanced at my face. Normally, when scolded, he'd snort and pretend not to hear.

"How would you feel if auntie laughed while you were upset?"

"I'd be annoyed."

"Right? If you understand that feeling, you shouldn't play pranks that trouble others from now on."

"But I like fun things..."

Of course, it wouldn't be easy. He was innately mischievous and had lived like this his whole life—he couldn't change overnight.

Still, if I worked hard at it, he would change.

"Just try to hold back a little. The world isn't just for Lucian alone. If you like fun things, auntie will buy you more toys from now on."

"...Okay."

I was deeply moved seeing six-year-old Lucian nod obediently for the first time in his life.

I thought that if he kept this up, he would never become the villain.

But peace didn't last even three days.

"Gaaah!"

The sudden scream sent me and the servants rushing toward the source.

It was in the middle of the hallway. Standing there frozen, hand over his face, was Chernin Viscount, a retainer of the Bellomon Ducal Family.

"Viscount Chernin? What are you doing here?"

Had he seen a bug or something? I scanned the surroundings as I asked.

"I heard a scream just now, was it..."

Chernin Viscount lowered his hand from his face. Seeing his revealed expression, I couldn't continue speaking.

"Wh-what happened to your... beard?"

His beard, which had reached his chest, was now shortened—and not evenly, but ragged like a mouse had gnawed it.

"What do you think?"

Bam!

Chernin Viscount punched the wall with his clenched fist.

"I dozed off while reviewing documents in the meeting room. When I opened my eyes, the young master was beside me."

"..."

"Holding scissors in his hand, no less."

I didn't need to see it to know. This was Lucian's doing.

"I'm truly sorry, Viscount."

I knew how much he cherished his beard.

"I have no face to show."

Knowing that made it even harder to lift my head.

"Spare the apologies! That won't make my beard grow back."

"..."

"Just make sure the young master doesn't do this again—give him a stern warning!"

"Yes. I'll scold him properly."

"I know he won't listen to scolding, though."

For the heir to the ducal family, it was incredibly rude, but I couldn't retort.

His point was utterly justified.

'I thought he was finally getting it!'

I bowed to the viscount several times before heading straight to Lucian's room.

"Lucian!"

I flung the door open, spotting Lucian's back as he sat on the floor.

"Whaaat?"

Lucian's head turned toward me.

'Oh, dear...'

Seeing his innocent face, I momentarily lost my words.

The beard that should have been on the viscount's chin was plastered squarely on Lucian's.

Snapping out of it, I glared fiercely.

"It's only been days since auntie told you, and you're causing trouble again!"

I put my hands on my hips and yelled at him.

But Lucian's face remained bright and innocent.

"I want a beard too, but mine won't grow. So I cut some off! To stick it on my face like this!"

Lucian stroked the beard like Chernin Viscount and cleared his throat with an "Ahem." Needless to say, there was no dignity to it.

"Auntie told you last time. You must never play pranks that hurt others' feelings."

"Does cutting my beard hurt Chernin Viscount's feelings?"

"Of course. He treasures his beard so much. How would you feel if someone stole your most prized possession?"

He seemed to empathize with the example, his eyes sharpening.

"No way! Mine are mine alone. No one else can have them!"

Greed and possessiveness. The biggest reason Lucian ends up clashing with protagonist Edwin.

Lucian had always been greedy about his things. How furious would he be when Edwin, the rolling stone, snatched the father's attention that even he had never received?

And now, even the path to becoming duke was at risk—naturally, he'd lose his mind.

"See? You'd feel bad if someone took yours. So why touch others' things carelessly? And a beard isn't even an object."

"Because it's boring!"

Lucian declared confidently, chin held high.

"Auntie said you'd buy me lots of toys."

"Too many toys are no fun anymore."

"Then let's sword fight, me and you."

"Auntie's too slow. I don't wanna fight a turtle."

"..."

"Everything here's boring. So boooring!"

After stomping his feet briefly, Lucian flopped onto the floor.

"Why won't you let me have fun!"

"Cutting someone's beard isn't fun. It's a very bad thing."

"I hate auntie!"

I hate you too, Lucian. You have no idea about my efforts to raise you right, just throwing tantrums.

But I couldn't say that to the child.

"Hate me all you want. Go apologize to Chernin Viscount. Promise you won't do it again."

"No! I won't apologize! I'll keep doing it!"

"Lucian!"

I shouted sharply, but he ignored me. Still sprawled on the floor, he started rolling around.

"You said you were on my side! That you'd love me even if the sky split in two! Why aren't you taking my side? Why do you always scold me?"

"I scold you because I love you. So you won't grow up a bad child."

"If you love me, you shouldn't scold! You should adore me no matter what I do!"

"I can't do that."

"I hate auntie! I hate you the most in the world!"