The Baby Fairy Is A Villain [EN]: Chapter 73

She worried that Kieren’s obsession might prevent Chesha from even touching a drop of mana. This was absolutely not an overblown concern.

Kieren had been excessively, even ridiculously, devoted to the late Countess. He acted all relaxed and easygoing in front of his wife, but behind her back, he’d been a whirlwind of red-eyed fury, brandishing his sword.

‘Having inherited the blood of such a man, the three brothers couldn’t be much different,’ she thought.

She could clearly envision a future where the Basilien men would band together, coiling around their youngest like snakes, making a fuss.

‘At least Karha seems to have the most indifferent personality among them.’ Unlike her father, who used black magic in the temple, the eldest who ran away from home with his younger sibling, and the third who suddenly decided to learn magic, something he’d never done before.

The second seemed to have no reaction yet.

‘I hope he stays that way.’ She only hoped that Karha, at least, would keep a grip on his sanity while the rest of the Basilians lost their minds.

Then, a flash of blue light sparked in her mind.

‘…Ah.’ There was one more person besides the Basilians that she was concerned about: the Inquisitor of the Holy Empire.

‘He must have approached to investigate Kieren… but for some reason, he was very kind to Chesha,’ she mused. She felt like she was dreaming when she heard that he had diligently taken care of Chesha in his private residence for a week.

An Inquisitor who commits insane slaughter in the name of God taking care of a baby. There couldn’t be a more bizarre contradiction.

In any case, one thing was clear.

‘My goddaughter seems to be popular with the mentally unstable.’ Including Serea, none of them are normal, she thought.

She was pondering how to fend off the other lunatics and safely raise Chesha into a great mage when a small commotion arose in the banquet hall.

The murmur that started near the entrance gradually spread inward. Those who had been laughing and chatting stopped talking. Those who were eating put down their utensils, and those who were sipping wine took their lips off their glasses.

As if someone had grabbed them, everyone gradually shifted their gaze and looked in the same direction. The banquet hall, which had been quiet for a moment, was filled only with the soft music of the musicians.

Serea wore a wide smile.

‘They’ve arrived!’ The people she had been eagerly waiting for had finally appeared. She barely suppressed the urge to burst into a loud guffaw and said with a polite smile, “The Count of Basilien has arrived. I’ll go and greet him for a moment.”

It was an unconventional act for a Duchess to personally greet a Count. However, the nobles who had been talking to Serea couldn’t even show a surprised reaction. They were all staring blankly at the Basilien family.

Serea, overwhelmed with pride, approached the Basilien family with a light step. Kieren, holding Chesha in his arms, was seen greeting those who approached.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he greeted them with a bewitching smile that could captivate anyone and a voice like a siren. “I am Kieren Basilien.”

A noblewoman, struck by Kieren’s eye-smile, covered her mouth with her hand, her face flushed red.

“And this is my daughter,” he gently whispered, lightly grasping the child’s hand with his black-gloved hand. “Chesha, you should say hello, shouldn’t you?”

“Hello. I’m Chesha Basilien,” Chesha, who had been held like a doll, moved her lips and spoke like a baby angel.

The young boy next to the noblewoman opened his mouth and stared blankly at Chesha. It wasn’t just them. While introducing the three Basilien brothers one by one, here and there, sounds of gasps and intakes of breath could be heard. It was an extremely instinctive reaction, forgetting even their dignity.

Watching the scene, Serea was convinced that the Basilien family would take the place of the main attraction of today’s party.

***

She already knew that there would be an enthusiastic response, but the reality was far more intense than she had imagined. Admiring the splendidly decorated banquet hall was only for a moment. As soon as they entered the banquet hall, everyone, without exaggeration, stared at the Basilians.

Kieren was used to people’s attention and focus, so he didn’t care until then. But from then on, he became very tired as everyone rushed in madly to say a word. In particular, nobles with children who were not yet engaged rushed in with sparkling eyes.

Not only Belzeon, the eldest son who would inherit the Basilien County in the future, but also Karha and Ishuel were swarmed like bees. Kieren was beyond words. Even though he was separated from his wife, had three sons, and even adopted a child, now having four children, he was buried in the advances pouring in from all directions.

Many people openly flirted with Kieren in front of him, even though he was clearly holding a baby, but Kieren politely refused their advances.

The Basilien men, while suffering from the flood of people, were busy exchanging glances and hand signals with each other.

“Hey, over there.”

“Yeah.”

“Karha.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Brother?”

“Confirmed.”

They threw short words as if carrying out a secret mission and sometimes revealed fierce eyes… It was to execute the young boys who were interested in Chesha. They were just being cute, but they were busy nipping it in the bud.

The one who rescued the Basilians, who were buried in the crowd, was Duchess Ivroyel. She clapped her hands loudly. Then the musicians played the music loudly once and stopped.

In the silence, the Duchess laughed heartily and shouted, “Thank you all! So many distinguished guests have come to Ivroyel, so today’s banquet will be abundant.”

She smiled and simply used magic. “I have something prepared for the distinguished guests, so would you please take some time?”

Purple mana spread in all directions, and the lights in the banquet hall dimmed. Only the stage in the middle of the banquet hall was brightly lit. There stood a beautifully decorated female singer. People admired her in a dress decorated with flowers. She was the most famous opera singer in the capital.

“My God,” someone whispered.

The female singer, dressed as the Queen of the Fairies, began to sing gracefully. “Merciful even to the existence of heretics, and giving blessings to those who do not believe in your name.”

It was a song about an old legend in which the Fairy Queen praised God and offered her crown to the Holy King. It was also a song that perfectly matched the theme of this banquet.

While people were distracted by the singer, Duchess Ivroyel approached.

“Count,” she smiled and nudged Kieren with her elbow. “It’s quite a commotion. How amazing?”

“Thanks to Your Excellency,” Kieren smiled and replied politely to the sly words. Then the Duchess’s smile deepened.

“Hello, goddaughter,” she reached out to Chesha, greeting her. “Let’s hold you for a moment. Hmm, small, so small.”

The Duchess, who took Chesha from Kieren, pretended to coax her, then whispered to Chesha. “How was today’s party? Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Yes!”

“It’s sparkling, huh?” She spread her hands in front of Chesha. “Now, look at this.”

Small purple glitter rose from her palm and enveloped Chesha. The glitter, which shone secretly in the dark banquet hall, was as beautiful as fireflies in the forest. Duchess Ivroyel swayed with a selfish voice. “Would you like to make something like this, goddaughter?”