The Baby Who Raised the Devil

Choosing a Gift (6)

My eyes were swollen, so when I entered the office holding Tri's hand, the chairman of Seria and Trigon were shocked.

"Miss, you look ......!"

Seria approached me in surprise after seeing my clothes dirty due to the fierce battle.

"I fought."

"What?"

"I won."

"What?!"

I chuckled and lifted my chin triumphantly.

Due to his large size, Max becomes the object of fear for the beggars nearby, but in fact he is not too scary.

Because of being hit so often by Max in his previous life, I knew the pattern of his attacks.

"Wait, that's not it."

When I lived as a beggar, I was hungry every day, so I was always beaten for my poor performance. But now that I think about it, I became this perfect due to Isaac's training for virtual battles. I looked back at Tri while rubbing my tingling nose.

“What do you eat?”

Tri looked at the adult with a timid face.

“T, no....”.

' He must be afraid of adults.'

Come to think of it, the adults around me do look scary. I used to flinch when I saw them until I slowly got used to them.

Seria, who was disguised as an old man, smiled kindly and looked at Tri.

“What drink do you want? Orange juice? There is also milk or chocolate.”

"I, I ......"

Tri muttered for a long time because of nervousness. I grabbed his arm to convince him.

“How about chocolate? It's delicious."

It is a universally preferred taste. I'm sure Tri will like it.

"Then the chocolate ......"

Seria nodded kindly, then, I whispered to Seria a little away from Tri.

“Bring me some painkillers. Also, I'll give you the address, send the kids their favorite food. Pastry, pie, pudding, meat, etc.”

“Ya, Miss.”

Then I sat on the couch with Tri. Seria quickly brought her a kettle and chocolate milk. Tri's face brightened as he drank the milk carefully.

"Lzat!"

Doesn't it? I also shed tears after drinking it after a long time.

Tri quickly drank it all up and licked the chocolate from his fingers. Then, Seria opened her mouth,

“Nice to meet you, Triloni. My name is Sese, the manager of the mercenary guild hope.”

"H, how do you know my name ... an, and why are you so polite ......."

"I have to be polite, because you are the nephew of an important person."

"Nephew of someone important?"

When I gave a signal to Zachary, who was standing in a small alley towards the office, he lifted the rug. Cecilia walked out.

Cecilia's eyes were red before she even saw Tri. He approached Tri and reached out cautiously.

"Hello, Triloni."

“Eh..

Tri looked around with a confused expression. He looked around as if he was trying to make sure.

As I nodded, Tri opened his mouth.

"A, are you my aunt?"

"……Yes.Yes."

“M, my mom says she doesn't get along with aunt. That's why I was abandoned, obviously....”.

Cecilia cried and hugged the skinny Tri. Shortly after, Tri cried and made Cecilia's shoulder wet.

“M, auntie? Are you sure?"

"I'm sorry I found you so late ......"

Goody.

That was very nice.

Cecilia is a good person to save Tri.

***

Because of how much Tri cried, he was exhausted. But she was more relaxed as she drank chocolate milk and took painkillers.

“Let's stay with your aunt from now on. You can eat whatever you want, sleep whenever you want, and do whatever you want.”

“Ta, but other children.....”.

“I will help them live comfortably. We decided to get a house for them to stay together and provide food.”

“Then....but we don't have to go now, right?”

“Better go as fast as possible.”

“I want to say goodbye and then leave....and there is a girl who hangs out with me like a sister, and if I leave without saying a word..

"Of course, you can say goodbye."

As Cecilia smiled gently, Tri was happy.

"So can I go now?"

"alone? That's dangerous."

“I grew up here. I know every inch of it. It is not dangerous at all.”

Cecilia, who had been suffering for a while, nodded as if she could not help it.

Tri hurriedly ran over, but Seria stopped him and put on a coat on him before that.

"If someone who has a cold doesn't wear this, your aunt will be worried."

Cecilia lowered her head, saying, “Thank you.” as Tri smiled and left immediately.

Tri who was running around outside looked very small. Cecilia, who had been watching him for a while, grabbed the tip of her skirt.

“When you first suggested it, I wasn't confident. I never dreamed of becoming an empress.”

“…….”

“But I will do it. Very bad feeling seeing my nephew grow up in a very bad environment.”

Charitable works were often organized by the Imperial Palace. Welfare funds are always provided, but never given to underprivileged children.

For the empress, it was political funds to crown her son.

The welfare fund is considered a bribe, everyone knows it, but they are silent.

“I'll be empress. I want to."

I grinned and Seria put something on the table. It was a contract.

“Let's get a good deal.”

“... deal? Can a cause have a deal? The beginning of the cooperation was already trust.”

“If we can trust people, the contract will not exist from the beginning.”

Cecilia's mouth curved gently and replied,

“You are a suitable pair for Dubbled.”

“First, we will make every effort to make Cecilia as empress. And I respect Cecilia's desire in every way. As long as it does not harm Dubbled.”

"Good."

“Secondly, when Cecilia enters the palace, I can ask you three things. Whatever it is, even if it goes against Cecilia's wishes, you must comply with my request.”

"That's a very dangerous condition."

"I swear I won't hurt you."

“It seems like there is no room for negotiation on the second requirement. Alright."

"Third, you mustn't hurt Prince Adrian in any way"

Cecilia's eyes narrowed.

"Prince Adrian?"

"I want you to be a protector to the one who will soon become emperor."

Cecilia laughed when she heard me.

"That's why you want me to be empress."

One of the preparations for Dubbled independence, to be exact, I deftly hid my deepest thoughts and nodded.

“The future of the empire will only be brighter without the family of Empress Yvonne. I'll take it.”

"Last, keep this deal a secret."

"I swear."

“What terms do you want, Cecilia?”

“Only one.”

"One?"

“Be friendly to me.”

"……Huh?"

"I like you, little lady."

I nodded as I widened my eyes in surprise.

"Good!"

I put my hand on the contract first, and Cecilia put her hand on the back of my hand.

The promise was made under the presence of the witch Trigon. For a moment, my lungs were tight. And the light became a chain, wrapped around Cecilia and me, and disappeared. After that, I can breathe well. Cecilia narrowed her forehead and pressed her chest firmly.

"It's the second time, but I'm still not used to it."

This is the second time?

I looked at Cecilia confusedly as Trigon asked,

“This is a sacred relic owned only by the Imperial Family, Dubbled, and the temple. Do you have a contract with Dubbled previously ”

"It's not Dubbled's."

"Huh?"

“Lisette has it. Lea probably took it after her death and gave it to Dubbled.”

"What's……."

“When we were chased in the mountains, Lea, me, and Lea's older sister, Reina, used a magic contract as an oath to protect Lisette's child.”

Not likely.

I stiffened and looked at Cecilia.

“It can't be true. Lea and Reina were the only bodyguards when Lisette died, so why was Cecilia.

Cecilia held his forehead.

"It's Lea and Reina."

I shook Cecilia's shoulder, and muttered blankly.

“Lea and Reina stay by his side, how can..!”.

“It... battlefield, mountain... child... Ugh!”.

Cecilia was in pain holding her forehead. Blue blood vessels became visible on his neck and body.

“Cecilia!”

Seria helped him quickly.

I looked towards the chairman.

"What's going on!"

"I don't know. According to Lea's report, the guards were exterminated in the castle. Dame Cecilia Olga was left behind at the beginning of the mountain, only Lea and Reina were climbing the mountain with Lissete.”

"So Lea lied? That can't be true. What happened to Cecilia? It's like…!"

As I shouted, I looked towards Cecilia, who was struggling to endure the pain.

"It's like ... like someone under the influence of magic ..."

The chief asked again,

"Is it because of some magic spell?"

We're all looking into witches, Trigon.

Trigon daydreamed in surprise.

"There's magic like that ......"

"What?"

“Trigon. It was a magic that he risked his life to experiment with ……. ”

"What kind of spell is that!"

When I shouted, Trigon gulped and replied,

"This is memory manipulation."

"No way……."

“B, but the possibility of this is not too high.The cost is the life of a witch, and Trigon is the only one who can throw-”.

Trigon, who spoke in haste, was silent.

He did not continue, but everyone here had a premonition.

Only one holy knight was put into battle ten years ago. He really is Trigon.

There's something we don't know about Lisette's death.