The Baby Fairy Is A Villain [EN]: Chapter 104

“So, Theo is going to duel?”

At the languid question, Theo bit his lip.

He answered with difficulty.

“…Yes. I am to duel with a Holy Knight of the 28th Order.”

Isuel and Karha, who were playfully tugging at Hata’s ears on either side of Kieren, chimed in with a word each.

“It’ll be a fight between a bear and a human.”

“Then the bear will win, right?”

Kieren gestured to the twins, who seemed ready to tease the bear until it cried.

The two boys rolled their eyes as if they hadn’t said a thing.

Utilizing Hylon’s power to the fullest, the Basilian County received a detached residence in the Holy Empire, something usually reserved for royalty.

The two-story detached residence was so luxurious that it could easily be mistaken for a country villa.

Seemingly pleased with the assigned accommodation, Kieren sprawled on the spacious drawing-room sofa like a cat basking in the sun.

And in front of Kieren, who was leaning back against the sofa, Theo was bowing his head deeply.

“I’m sorry. Because of me……”

Theo’s head lowered even further.

Theo, who had been keeping his eyes on the floor since earlier, reproached himself in a gloomy voice.

“It’s all my fault.”

That was true.

Theo was going to duel with Benji, a Holy Knight.

The problem was that Theo was officially affiliated with the ‘Basilian County’.

The Basilian family had to take responsibility for any problems he caused.

The Basilian family had been dragged into this because Theo had encountered an old nemesis.

If Theo were to lose the duel.

‘That would also be Basilian’s defeat.’

In this situation, it was no wonder Theo couldn’t lift his head.

Frankly, he was in a position where he should be kneeling and begging for forgiveness.

Kieren leisurely stroked Cheshire in his arms.

Long fingers rummaged through the curly blonde hair.

“Well… what can we do since it’s already happened?”

Kieren smiled brightly.

“Now that it’s come to this, you’ll have to win no matter what, Theo.”

At that, Theo raised his head abruptly.

“……”

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.

He couldn’t readily answer.

Undisguised fear swirled in Theo’s eyes.

He wasn’t confident in himself.

Even though others thought Theo would naturally win.

And even though Theo also knew he was more skilled than Benji.

Theo couldn’t confidently answer Kieren.

As the hesitation and silence grew longer, Kieren showed signs of boredom.

“If you’re not confident, tell me now? We can send a proxy.”

Belzeon, who had been listening silently, frowned.

He didn’t like the idea of the Basilian family sending a proxy.

Belzeon didn’t seem to want to get deeply involved with Theo.

His reasons for keeping his distance were understandable.

‘Marquis Nemea sent Theo to monitor Basilian.’

That’s why Kieren had sent Theo away earlier, only for this to happen.

Belzeon glared at Kieren with a very expressive look.

Kieren ignored his elder brother’s intense gaze and smiled.

Cheshire, frustrated with Theo acting like a hopeless bear, finally stepped in to say something.

“Theo wins.”

It was a confident prediction of victory, as if she had seen the future.

“Cheshire will cheer for awesome Theo.”

The most surprised by Cheshire’s declaration was, of course, Theo.

He looked at Cheshire with disbelieving eyes.

As if no one had ever said such a thing to him before.

His eyes rippled finely.

He tightened his lips.

He took a deep breath as if trying to hold back the surging emotions, and then proudly straightened his shoulders, which had been shrinking since earlier.

Theo, having regained his composure, declared solemnly.

“I will win.”

He clenched his teeth and spat out.

“So that I won’t be ashamed of Cheshire… I will definitely bring victory so as not to tarnish the honor of Basilian.”

Cheshire applauded the evolved bear.

Theo smiled brightly at the sight of her clapping her little hands enthusiastically.

It was a sincere, joyful smile.

***

“We’ve been dragged into an unnecessary matter.”

Belzeon muttered in a low voice.

“It’s really pointless.”

He was still dissatisfied with what had happened yesterday.

He subtly looked at Cheshire, hoping she would agree with him, but Cheshire blinked, pretending not to notice.

Belzeon frowned slightly but diligently moved his feet.

He was taking Cheshire to the hall where the participants of the Minor Saint Prayer Meeting were gathering.

It was a gathering for the children to greet each other and listen to a brief introduction before the official prayer meeting began.

Of course, Hildegard had said that only those who wished to attend needed to.

However, since they didn’t know which actions would be evaluated from now on, no participant would skip the gathering.

To prevent congestion, each child could only bring one guardian.

The most suitable person to act as Cheshire’s guardian from the Basilian family had been decided.

It was Belzeon.

“He’s the most decent one in our family, at least.”

Kieren said so and decided on Belzeon as the guardian, and the twins didn’t object either.

In these matters, the twins were quite good at understanding their own limitations.

Thus, Belzeon, dressed in his most sincere attire, went to the hall with Cheshire.

In front of the hall, Holy Knights were checking identities.

“Participant in the Minor Saint Prayer Meeting.”

Belzeon revealed their identities to them on behalf of Cheshire.

“Cheshire of the Basilian County, Palen Empire.”

“…!”

The Holy Knights, who had been checking identities with somewhat bored faces until then, were startled.

They suddenly began to examine Cheshire with great interest.

It was thanks to Hylon making Cheshire a popular figure in the Holy Empire yesterday.

“Thank you for attending the Minor Saint Prayer Meeting.”

The Holy Knights, who greeted them politely, opened the door with utmost courtesy.

Cheshire waved her hand at them as a greeting.

They left the grinning knights behind and entered the hall.

The spacious hall was crowded with numerous children.

There were a total of 99 children.

Hildegard considered incomplete numbers sacred.

The meaning was that the remaining one would be filled by God.

Thus, this Minor Saint Prayer Meeting gathered ninety-nine children from across the continent.

‘Ugh…….’

Cheshire looked around the hall with a disgusted expression.

The thought of mingling in here and diligently playing the role of a kid already made her feel overwhelmed.

“…Hmm.”

Belzeon also had a slightly disgusted look on his face.

Watching the children actively interacting here and there, Belzeon first put Cheshire down on the ground.

Cheshire couldn’t bring herself to go anywhere, so she just clung to Belzeon’s pants and rolled her eyes.

At that moment, her eyes met a pair of golden eyes.

The child with the intense golden eyes was a small girl, about 5 years old.

The girl had lavender hair and healthy-looking brown skin.

However, her face wasn’t unfamiliar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.

Cheshire tilted her head at the extremely familiar feeling.

Then she suddenly realized.

‘…Wait, this face.’

Cheshire recalled the man she had personally set up with a luxurious *hwan-yeok* [a type of elaborate trap or scheme] and reported to Hylon, throwing him into the Inquisition.

Crown Prince Itar Skaya of Skaya.

He had entered the Palen Empire with his younger sibling who was attending the Minor Saint Prayer Meeting.

If so, the child in front of her who resembled Itar was…….

Princess Aran Skaya of Skaya.

Cheshire, realizing the girl’s identity, quickly turned her gaze away.

But it was already too late.

She felt the sound of light footsteps approaching.

“You there. Look at me.”

At the clear voice, Cheshire had no choice but to look at the girl.

The golden eyes captured Cheshire.

The girl carefully examined her sparkling golden hair and pink eyes, and finally said as if she had realized something.

“So it’s you. The baby who sent my brother to the Inquisition.”

“Cheshire doesn’t know anything.”

Cheshire, in a crisis, denied it as much as she could.

Suddenly, the girl grabbed Cheshire’s hand.

Then she smiled brightly and said.

“Thank you.”

…Huh?