Chapter 67

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 67

Chapter Title: My Daughter is the Cutest in the World

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The noblewomen stared at the Child of Destiny with astonished faces. The Empress Dowager, who had been on the verge of death, had brightened up immensely after starting a conversation with the child.

At the child's suggestion to bathe without salt and change into soft clothes, the Empress Dowager had promptly followed suit.

She had a gentle impression, but even the Emperor couldn't break her stubbornness. It was shocking to see her obeying the child like a doll.

The child even carefully applied cream to the Empress Dowager's body after she changed clothes.

"What do you usually apply?"

"The priests gave me some oil."

"What about your meals?"

"They said stamina is key to shaking off illness, so I've been eating mostly meat."

"That's strange..."

The child tilted her head and blinked.

"Strange?"

"The priests seem a bit off..."

"Off how?"

"The temple sees so many patients. Those with unusual illnesses would desperately seek treatment. How could the priests not know about atopic dermatitis, which even I know about?"

"That's..."

"They said thick oils and meat are bad for atopic dermatitis. They make skin conditions worse."

The Empress Dowager's eyes twisted viciously.

'The child's right.'

She had followed the temple's instructions to the letter, yet her condition had steadily worsened. She had clung to them like a lifeline.

If the child knew, the temple certainly did too.

Yet they hadn't provided proper treatment all this time because they wanted to keep using her.

'Those wretched fools!'

How much had she done for the temple? She had helped them even as she grew distant from the Emperor.

"You're the only one who thinks of me."

As the Empress Dowager spoke forlornly, Leblain smiled brightly.

"Not true!"

She then scurried over to the noblewomen and said,

"The ladies have all been so worried about Your Majesty. Earlier, everyone looked pale with concern."

"Is that so?"

The noblewomen's faces brightened at Leblain's deft flattery.

"Of course, Your Majesty. They were all heartbroken but hid it, united in their worry."

"I won't forget the ladies' sentiments. It seems my life hasn't been in vain."

Until now, the Empress Dowager had only kept close to noblewomen friendly with the temple, leaving no chance to get friendly. But seeing their moved gazes, things seemed likely to change going forward.

The noblewomen looked at Leblain, who had created this situation, with eyes full of goodwill.

'Good, I've won over the matriarchs of high society.'

They had no idea of her cunning intentions.

"Following the child's advice made it less itchy than usual. What reward should I give such a clever child?"

As the Empress Dowager chuckled and asked, Leblain fidgeted with her hands.

"I'm fine. As long as Your Majesty isn't suffering, I'm happy."

"What a praiseworthy child. But at times like this, saying what you want makes me happier. Tell me. What would you like? Toys? Jewels?"

"I'm okay... Um, then I'd like a book!"

"A book?"

"I heard Your Majesty has many precious ancient texts. You're so wise because you always keep books close."

Her fourth-life survival skills kicked in, and the Empress Dowager delightedly sat Leblain on her knee.

"Yes, I have a splendid library. Choose whichever you like. I'll give you anything the child wants."

"Wow!"

The Empress Dowager smiled gently at the delighted child.

"But what was the child's name again?"

Even though she had named her herself, this was the first time she asked for Leblain's name—something she had never remembered in three regressions.

This was the moment the Empire's Empress Dowager fell into Leblain's grasp.

I left the imperial palace with Javeline, clutching the book from the Empress Dowager in my hand.

Seeing my excitement, Javeline asked,

"There are a few ancient language books stored in the territory, aren't there?"

Her expression said, Is that so great?

"But these are different from the ones in the territory!"

This was an original scripture, no less!

'I never dreamed this would become mine.'

I hadn't specifically aimed for this.

It was true I wanted a gift she cherished as proof of gaining the Empress Dowager's favor.

But suggesting a book was because noblewomen found it the most admirable request from a child.

'She let me pick an original scripture myself—she's completely turned her back on the temple.'

I inwardly cheered.

I had severed her ties with the temple and acquired a treasure money couldn't buy.

A perfect conclusion.

'As long as I hold this, the temple won't dare touch me easily.'

Of course, with Duke Duvered as my protector too.

"Other children would have asked for toys. Then again, you said you can read ancient languages."

"Yes."

"But don't let it slip anywhere that you can read ancient languages. It'll bring trouble."

I nodded promptly.

It satisfied me that my ability to read ancient languages was a secret shared only with Duvered and his high vassals.

By the time we returned to the mansion, my brothers were there.

"It's true you took the little one to the palace?!"

As Ishak sharply interrogated, Javeline flicked his forehead.

"Don't ask if you know."

"The temple rats are swarming the palace right now—what if you take the kid there!"

"I sensed countless Duvered knights the moment we left the mansion. I thought war had broken out."

"They can't enter the palace."

"With the temple in chaos over their incident, they won't target the child now. I'm not a fool."

She pulled a necklace from inside her clothes.

It was a necklace made of wooden pieces engraved with the imperial crest, strung on a thin cord.

'Huh, that's Duke Amities' item.'

I secretly called it the wish token. It allowed one request to the Emperor. An extremely rare privilege granted once every other generation or so.

In my previous life, it had definitely been Duke Amities'.

'Ah, I see.'

In this life, Duvered reclaimed Kruger Kingdom. That marked the end of the continental war.

He had done what was originally Duke Amities' duty, so he received the necklace instead.

Dad was in the territory, so Javeline, managing the capital mansion, must have kept it as it was necessary for her.

'Yes, with that, she could ask the Emperor to pull the priests off.'

The Emperor, locked in a power struggle with the temple, would have gladly complied.

Henri said,

"Still, Aunt, we should be cautious about Leblain going out."

"The child is so pitiful."

As Ishak shouted, "Why, is our little one pitiful!", Javeline removed her coat and said,

"Excessive overprotection is imprisonment. How long will you keep taking away what she needs to know, see, and learn? For life?"

Henri and Ishak's faces hardened.

"The child I saw today wasn't so helpless she needs caging for protection."

With that, Javeline left, leaving the two speechless.

Evening.

As I rolled around pondering how to use the scripture, Dad visited.

Wondering what it was, I looked up to see him holding up a plate.

"Snack?"

"The maids wouldn't give it, saying it'd rot your teeth."

"I'm a knight now!"

"Whatever."

He winked and pointed to the plate, so I jumped out of bed.

At the small round table by my bed, I ate the cake Dad brought.

Dad, resting his chin and watching me quietly, spoke.

"Javeline made your brothers argue?"

"She just talked to them."

"But it ended with them fighting."

I bit my fork and recalled Henri and Ishak from dinner.

[Aunt's words are nonsense. She practically imprisoned Mom too. She gave her a room without windows!]

[She realized after Mom died that it wasn't right.]

They had bickered a bit, then apparently had a huge fight.

"Do you want to meet people?"

"No!"

"Leblain."

"...A little."

I had loyal people to act on my behalf, but some things required going out.

And I wanted to experience other things.

This life differed from previous ones. What was painful before was joyful now.

In the past, I hated baths. House Amities was frugal; even in winter, warm water was scarce, and the Duke bathed in cold.

They gave me warm water, but it was insufficient, making baths torture.

Now, I loved them. Overflowing warm water scented with fine fragrances, chatting with maids—it was one of my favorite routines.

In my second life, I hated going out. Duke Ballua would scold me harshly if I tripped in public, tarnishing his reputation.

He nitpicked every action, making me prefer staying in.

But now, I eagerly awaited occasional trips to the territory's shopping district.

A large hand descended on my head.

"When we go to the territory, we'll hold a tea party."

"Tea party? I can meet kids my age!?"

My eyes widened, and a faint smile tugged at Dad's lips.

"Do what you want. Worrying about protecting you is our job."

I pondered seriously.

'Is our Dad the coolest in the world?'

He overprotected out of worry but always let me decide what I wanted.

Moved, I leapt into his arms and kissed his cheek. His eyes widened.

I'd never kissed him before, so he was shocked, touching his cheek.

"I like Dad the best!"

"..."

"Yeah. The best."

As I nuzzled his chest, a dazed "Me too" came from above my head.

The next day.

Duke Duvered attended a state council meeting, reserved for only a handful of the empire's top powerhouses among the nobles.

After discussing several agenda items in the stern atmosphere, a break arrived.

Sighs of relief mixed with trivial chatter among the nobles.

Marquis Montbel, who had been sitting rigidly, fidgeted restlessly. Most ministers knew why this man, who rarely attended meetings, had arrived an hour early today.

His daughter, Ines Montbel, had become attendant to Empress Yvonne.

She was the youngest among the exceptional young ladies selected for the empress's attendants.

A young minister brought it up nostalgically.

"Lady Montbel became Her Majesty's attendant this time, right?"

Marquis Montbel smirked, lifting the corner of his mouth.

He had been waiting for someone to mention it.

"She must have caught Her Majesty's eye as cute at the recent party."

Marquis Montbel held one of the empire's richest territories.

As heir to a long-standing prestigious house, he held voting rights in the central council and was a renowned power broker.

The nobles chuckled and agreed.

"Lady Montbel deserves it. My wife's party said she was the cutest. So many noblewomen want to help with her education."

"It's made things quite bothersome."

"Bothersome? It's something to be proud of. The world's cutest daughter, isn't she?"

"Does the Duke think so too?"

It was then.

Duke Duvered, who hadn't joined the chatter, clenched his fist.

He stared at the nobles.

His icy blue eyes, seasoned by battle, flashed, making the nobles flinch and fall silent.

Was he displeased with a passed agenda?

Should the tax have been raised to 10% instead of 7%?

Or did he dislike incorporating the captive foreign mages into the palace? Should they have executed them per his temper?!

All nobles knew Duke Duvered's ruthlessness and ferocity.

During the civil war outbreak, he had beheaded an assassin who breached the palace in one stroke, walking with the dripping, bloodied head still vivid in memory.

Whatever the reason, he was clearly offended.

Even the Emperor in the head seat awkwardly called, "Duke."

Theodor Duvered eyed the frozen nobles, fist clenched.

"My daughter is the cutest in the world."

...Pardon?

The meeting hall froze, and the startled Marquis Montbel swallowed dryly.