The Baby Fairy Is A Villain [EN]: Chapter 4

The Serpent’s Castle.

It was a nickname for the Basilisk Count’s castle, located in the eastern Basilisk territory.

The Serpent’s Castle was as mysterious as the Basilisk Count’s family itself.

This was because it was situated in the Black Forest.

The Black Forest, where even daylight struggled to penetrate, was notorious for strange occurrences.

Unpleasant rumors abounded, naturally keeping people away from its vicinity.

Except for merchants and laborers delivering goods, outsiders rarely visited the castle.

Upon finally seeing the Serpent’s Castle, Cheshire summed up her feelings in a single word:

‘Wow, it’s seriously creepy.’

It exuded an atmosphere where any villain would feel right at home.

Just seeing the castle made the Count seem like a bad guy.

The interior was much the same.

Stepping inside, Cheshire gasped in surprise.

The castle’s towering ceilings felt oppressive.

The furniture and decorations, all in cool, dark colors, seemed to choke the air.

‘I don’t know why anyone would live in a place like this.’

It was hardly suitable as a residence.

Even a few days here would probably sour anyone’s personality.

And Cheshire’s prediction was proving accurate.

One week into her stay at the Serpent’s Castle,

Cheshire’s personality was deteriorating in real-time.

“Come to Daddy, Cheshire.”

A gentle voice floated over, tickling her ears.

Cheshire waddled diligently on her short legs.

Being short-legged, it took her quite a while to cover even a short distance.

Kieren, lounging on a chaise lounge, chuckled softly at the sight.

Dressed in a tiny baby dragon dress of refreshing lemon-colored fabric, adorned with lavish lace and frills, and a green ribbon, Cheshire looked like an adorable baby angel.

However, she was completely out of place in the castle’s dreary atmosphere.

Waiting patiently, Kieren snapped his fingers as Cheshire reached the chaise lounge.

A shadow rose from beneath his feet, lifting Cheshire up.

“Oof.”

Kieren lightly scooped Cheshire, floating in the air, into his arms.

Having been held a few times already, his embrace was starting to feel somewhat familiar.

As she wriggled to find a more comfortable position, Kieren smiled faintly.

He kissed Cheshire’s forehead and teased with a grin,

“Shall we sleep together again tonight, Daddy’s girl?”

Oh, this is driving me crazy.

Cheshire inwardly seethed, but outwardly smiled brightly.

“Yesss.”

Even after a week, she hadn’t managed to delve into the Basilisk Count’s secrets, nor had she even explored the castle properly.

This was all thanks to Kieren, who stuck by her side all day long, watching her like a hawk.

From waking up in the morning to going to bed at night.

He never seemed to leave her side.

Cheshire, desperate to quickly investigate the Count’s family and quit playing the baby role as soon as possible, was going insane.

Whenever she had a chance to slip away, she would quickly explore the castle, but the time was too short to find anything substantial.

Once, she tried to sneak around the castle while Kieren was asleep.

She had been lying quietly next to him, then stealthily opened her eyes and tried to slip away, when…

“Hmm, Cheshire….”

A languid voice, heavy with sleep, immediately followed.

Even in the darkness, vivid red eyes gleamed between his loosely closed eyelids.

He smiled faintly, scooped Cheshire up, placed her on his stomach, and patted her.

“Why are you awake? It’s still early…. Let’s go back to sleep.”

Then, he even sang a clumsy lullaby.

Utterly trapped, Cheshire had no choice but to fall asleep again.

What was even more infuriating was that she fell sound asleep while listening to Kieren’s ridiculous lullaby.

‘Ughhh!’

Her body may have become younger, but her mind was becoming childish too.

It was maddening.

‘Is this bastard doing this on purpose?’

Otherwise, there was no way he could be this obstructive.

Especially since he seemed to subtly enjoy it whenever Cheshire fumed inwardly, making her even more suspicious.

Even now, Kieren looked like he was having the time of his life.

He chuckled and stroked Cheshire’s cheek.

“Shall we go to work now?”

Then, with Cheshire perched on his arm like a loaf of bread, he headed to his office.

Cheshire rolled her eyes.

‘He’s just going to the office in his robe.’

His chest was clearly visible through the loosely opened robe, and he walked through the hallway without a care.

But only Cheshire seemed embarrassed; the servants didn’t seem to mind at all.

This seemed to be a common occurrence.

“Alright, Cheshire. Play here. Daddy will be working.”

Arriving at his office, Kieren sat Cheshire on a corner of the wide desk.

There, piled up, were adorable dolls, toys, and fairy tale books that didn’t suit the desolate Serpent’s Castle.

All of them were things Kieren had personally bought for Cheshire.

Cheshire pretended to play with the toys, glancing at him.

‘What on earth is he?’

Thanks to being with him constantly these days, she knew the Basilisk Count’s daily routine inside and out.

He led a leisurely life, hardly befitting a Count.

First, he woke up late, only after the sun was high in the sky.

Then, he would spend some time ruffling Cheshire’s hair as she rolled around next to him, before having a late breakfast and lunch together.

After the meal, he would lounge on the chaise lounge in his indoor clothes, reading books, letters, or simple documents.

Each time, Cheshire would peek at what he was reading, but it was all truly useless.

Childish romance novels that young ladies and gentlemen would enjoy.

Invitations to banquets, earnestly requesting his presence.

Reports on newly discovered plants in the Black Forest, and so on.

Cheshire couldn’t find even a shadow of the Basilisk Count’s grand scheme or crime that she was looking for.

The documents he looked at in his office were also just administrative matters for managing the territory.

‘But there must be something.’

Kieren was a black magician.

Moreover, a top-tier one who could manipulate minds.

Black magicians used forbidden powers that went against the will of God and were executed immediately upon being discovered.

The Inquisitors’ eyes were sharp.

There was no way they hadn’t scrutinized a noble like the Basilisk Count.

Yet, Kieren had managed to hide his powers well until now.

This alone was suspicious enough.

‘Besides, it’s incredibly suspicious that he suddenly sought to adopt a baby after being holed up for years, not knowing whether he was dead or alive.’

At first, she had speculated that he had brought a baby as a sacrifice for black magic, but….

Kieren seemed engrossed in playing daddy.

‘He really wants to make me his daughter.’

She couldn’t understand why.

She was pulling on the ear of a hapless teddy bear, piecing her thoughts together one by one, when.

Kieren, who had been writing with a quill, suddenly stopped.

“…….”

At the same time, Cheshire also perked up her head.

Kieren got up and carried Cheshire to the window.

He flung the window wide open.

A cool breeze poured in, and the noise that had been blocked by the glass flooded in.

The always quiet Serpent’s Castle was bustling.

The sounds of horses neighing, people shouting, and laughing were clamorous.

A knight order, dressed in black uniforms and light armor, was riding into the castle.

Servants rushed out to greet the knights.

Unusually, the ones leading the knights were young boys.

The three boys at the front were distinctive enough to catch the eye even from a distance.

In particular, one boy stood out even more because he was wearing a wide-brimmed women’s hat.

The oldest-looking boy said something with a blank face.

Then, another boy next to him chuckled and nudged his arm.

The boy with the mischievous smile tilted his chin and pointed his finger.

The tip of his straight finger pointed to the window where Kieren and Cheshire were standing.

The boys turned their heads in unison.

The gazes of the three were directed precisely at Cheshire.

“……!”

The moment she met their red eyes.

Cheshire’s heart skipped a beat.

It felt as if she had been shot in the heart with an arrow.

Kieren said with a playful voice.

“Your brothers have come, Cheshire.”

The Basilisk family’s three brothers had returned.