Chapter 24

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: I'll Raise the Villain Properly - Chapter 24

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It was just recently that I'd put off his invitation to grab tea together when I had some time, using the excuse that I still hadn't recovered.

'It's burdensome, but I can't avoid it forever.'

Now that the director and staff had been fired, I was the adult who knew the most about Amelia. As her guardian, he probably wanted to ask me how she'd been doing.

'He might want to say a proper thank you, too.'

I'd already heard plenty of thanks from him, but it might not have felt like enough to him.

Besides, he was someone who would be leaving soon. It would be better for both of us to have a full conversation before he went, without any lingering regrets.

"Alright, then. Shall we go see them?"

I stepped out of my room to head to Amelia and Claude.

I ran into Jillian on the way, about halfway down the hallway. He was coming from the opposite direction.

"......"

Not exactly someone I was thrilled to see, so my expression soured a bit.

Jillian mainly used the second floor of the residence, so it was rare for him to come up to the third floor where my room was.

'What’s he doing all the way up here?'

This was awkward for both of us.

Still, I couldn't just ignore him rudely, so I gave a light nod. That would be my greeting, and then I'd pass by.

"Are you feeling alright?"

It was Jillian's voice that stopped me.

"...Me?"

I pointed to my chest with my index finger.

Gilbert Jillian was addressing me first?

"Is there anyone else here besides you, my lady?"

"True, but... this is the first time you've ever started a conversation with me."

"Ah."

Realizing it a bit late, Jillian rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"I heard you were out cold for a full three days."

"Yeah. Guess I overdid it without realizing."

"You should move around more normally."

"......"

Was he picking a fight right now? Coming all the way up to the third floor just to do it?

A vein was about to pop on my forehead as I looked at him, unflinching while needling someone else's nerves.

"Do you know him?"

"Pardon?"

"I asked if you have any connection with the Agris Marquis."

Jillian threw a question my way, his intentions unclear.

"Not exactly a connection..."

What was the best way to answer this?

We didn't have enough of a tie for me to call it a friendship, but I couldn't just spill everything about Amelia either.

"I just... happened to get to know him."

"Happened to?"

"Yes. But why do you ask?"

He looked ready to question me more, so I beat him to the punch.

"Well..."

He trailed off as if it were a tough question, then opened his mouth again.

"Your demeanor felt unfamiliar."

"My demeanor?"

"Yes. Throwing yourself into work without even taking care of your own body to save someone else... that's no easy feat."

He had a point. It's not something you do without real courage—rushing in to save someone you're not even related to by blood.

And I'd even grabbed a shovel and gone out there myself. Something no ordinary noble lady would dream of.

"I couldn't help but wonder if you might have feelings for the marquis. If you like him, it would make perfect sense."

"Like him? No way!"

I jumped up like a fish flopping on dry land.

"You know Amelia was at the orphanage I sponsor, right?"

"Yes."

"The marquis came to the ducal territory after seeing the letter I sent. There was a landslide on the way. I just felt responsible—like it might have happened because of me—so my body moved on its own."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Really."

I stared him down with utterly honest eyes. Jillian met my gaze, then nodded as if he'd gotten it.

"I didn't know the circumstances."

"Glad you do now."

Good. It was all going to come out anyway once Amelia returned to her family.

'When I need to stay on Amelia's good side, I can't exactly become her uncle's lover, right?'

From what I'd seen, all these kids were pretty jealous types. Even Lucian had thrown a fit the first time I came back from the orphanage, accusing me of abandoning him.

And sweet little Edwin had gotten jealous the moment Lucian started liking Amelia.

'He's finally got his uncle back. If his only family member gets a lover, he might get heartbroken.'

Besides, wasn't I just a guest in the ducal house? A fake noble freeloading off them—for me to become his uncle's girlfriend? Amelia wouldn't take kindly to that.

'...Come to think of it, I'm not even Claude's real girlfriend.'

It was ridiculous, me panicking over nothing when the rice cake giver wasn't even thinking about it.

'No. This is Amelia we're talking about. The one who holds Lucian's future in her hands!'

So I absolutely couldn't do anything to upset her, even a little.

With that resolve burning, I met Jillian's gaze, which had been fixed on me intently.

"You haven't gone yet?"

"I forgot to mention the most important thing."

"The most important...?"

I'd thought he'd come to grill me about my relationship with Claude. Did he have more to say?

The moment I tilted my head, Jillian spoke up.

"The duke will be returning soon."

The moment I wrapped up my talk with Jillian, I headed straight to Lucian's room.

"Lucian!"

"Auntie, how can you be running around already? You'll collapse again!"

"That's not important right now. Hurry up and get dressed."

I flung open the door to the dressing room connected to his room.

"Why? Where are we going?"

"The orphanage."

"The orphanage?"

Lucian rose sluggishly from his seat, looking puzzled.

"Why there?"

"Edwin and your friends are there. We should go see them."

The Bellomon Duke wasn't due back in the territory for a while. But Claude Agris's visit to the ducal house had changed that.

As an honored guest staying at the residence, the duke would surely make an appearance out of courtesy. Claude Agris's standing in the empire was that impressive.

I was briefly shocked at the news that the duke—who'd been stuck in the capital for months—was returning. But then I came up with a great way to let Edwin meet him naturally.

Bring Edwin to the house under the pretext of being Lucian's friend. To avoid suspicion with just him, I'd bring a few other kids along too.

They were commoners, which might be an issue, but it would help Lucian's social development. And if I said they were close to Amelia, even the duke couldn't refuse.

Then, as the duke came and went from the residence like usual, he'd finally run into him. Edwin, who not only resembled him strikingly but had also inherited his old lover's vivid red eyes.

After that, things would go smoothly. In the original story, the duke recognized Edwin as his son at first sight.

So all I had to do was put Edwin in front of him at the right moment.

Plus, I was worried about Edwin being left alone since I'd brought Amelia here.

"So get up and get dressed already. If you don't want me helping, I'll call the nanny."

"Mmmph."

I was dying of impatience here. Oblivious to that, Lucian just shook his head and flopped back onto the sofa.

"What are you doing? Get up."

"Do we have to go?"

"Oh, come on."

I planted my hands on my hips.

"You used to throw a fit every day about going."

"That was when Amelia was there."

Lucian pointed at where he was lying.

"But Amelia's here now?"

"You..."

I stared at him in disbelief, my face a mask of absurdity.

"So... you've only been tagging along to the orphanage this whole time because of Amelia?"

Meaning now that she was home, he had no reason to go out?

"Not exactly... Of course, I was worried about you too!"

He glanced at me nervously as he spoke, but it was too late.

They say love is blind, and here this little squirt was already!

"Lucian, does that mean all that talk about wanting to play with your friends was a lie? Sharing chocolate cookies with Edwin, playing peek-a-boo with Cherry."

"That's not..."

Lucian scratched his cheek awkwardly.

If it were the old him, he'd have shouted, 'Of course it was a lie, you dummy!' But seeing him so flustered meant not everything had been a fib.

It was a relief that he'd developed some sense of friendship and trust...

"Still, I like being alone with Amelia more than playing with friends."

"...Sigh."

This wouldn't do at all.