The Baby Fairy is A Villain Chapter 57

Chesha was so startled that a strange sound escaped her lips.

And it wasn’t just her, everyone in the room had clearly heard the Duke of Yvroiel’s declaration.

The temple was abuzz with noise and murmurs.

Rumors about the adopted child of Count Basilian had already reached the capital’s temple.

But to think that the baby picked up by Hilon was that famous adopted child.

It was more than enough to leave them stunned.

Even so, Hilon gave no response.

As he stood there, his face unreadable, the Duke gave a wry smile in return.

“Thank you for taking care of my child. I’ll be taking her now.”

The Duke declared proudly, making it clear she intended to take Chesha with her.

“Y-yes! Of course—please, go ahead.”

The bishop in charge of the temple responded, looking half-dazed.

She was a godmother whose overflowing status and authority left no room for objection.

No one dared to oppose the Duke taking her goddaughter.

No one, that is—except Hilon.

He remained where he was, still holding Chesha firmly in his arms.

Duke Yveroil’s eyes narrowed.

“You there.”

She pointed directly at Hilon.

“If you’re not deaf, then hear me clearly—I’m taking my goddaughter with me.”

Only then did Hilon speak.

“It makes no difference to me whether she’s Your Excellency’s goddaughter or not.”

“Ho?”

Duke Yveroil arched a brow, clearly caught off guard.

She hadn’t expected to be challenged.

Around them, the holy knights and priests gasped, holding their breath.

The bishop’s face had gone so pale, it wouldn’t have been surprising if he collapsed right then and there.

Hilon continued in a calm, steady voice.

“No one has the right to impose their will on this child.”

He met the duke’s gaze without flinching.

“She will go with you if she chooses to. If not, she will remain here.”

As soon as his words fell, Duke Yvroiel let out a sharp burst of laughter.

The sound echoed through the temple, loud and almost unhinged.

After laughing as if she’d heard the most absurd joke in the world, she waved a hand dismissively.

“How amusing. I haven’t heard something that bold in years.”

Her voice was light, almost playful—but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Soon, the smile vanished from her face, replaced by an icy expression.

The duke of the mighty empire did not take kindly to insults, especially not when directed at her.

“And who are you to speak so arrogantly before me?”

But Hilon showed neither fear nor hesitation.

His tone remained as calm as ever, just as it had been from the start.

“I am her escort knight.”

No further explanation. Just that single, resolute sentence.

Yet, unexpectedly, those words alone were enough to cool the Duke’s fury.

“My goddaughter has a fine escort knight.”

The tension that had been surging wildly just moments before began to ease slightly.

Even a hint of satisfaction could be seen in the Duke’s expression.

“The child’s opinion matters, you say.”

It had been said that the Duke of Yvroiel was hot-tempered and easily swayed by emotion, and the description proved accurate.

A seemingly warm atmosphere began to settle between Hilon and the Duke of Yvroiel.

Of course, it was a mood perceived only on the Duke’s side.

She wasn’t sure, but somehow…

The Duke seemed to be imagining taking Hilon out of the temple and assigning him as Chesha’s personal escort.

‘She’s a duke with a great imagination.’

Hilon would never consider leaving the temple.

She felt a little dumbfounded, but just then, the sound of a cane striking the stone floor echoed through the quiet temple.

The sound rang out exceptionally clearly.

Kiern, who had been standing back until now, stepped forward.

Chesha saw Kiern approaching her.

It had only been a few days since she last saw him, but already he felt somewhat unfamiliar.

Maybe it was because she usually saw him half-dressed in a gown at home, and now he was neatly put together in a suit and coat.

The hem of his long coat fluttered lightly in rhythm with his steps.

“Chesha.”

He spoke affectionately to Chesha.

“Dad is here to pick you up.”

Duke Yveroil frowned at his overly sweet tone, clearly displeased.

But Kiern paid her no mind and kept his eyes fixed on Chesha.

“Were you surprised because of Belzeon? Let’s go home now.”

He reached out his hand toward Chesha.

His low voice continued gently.

“Chesha is a Basilian.”

The whispered words stung her heart as if branding them.

Chesha looked at the hand stretched out to her.

But she didn’t take it.

As the silence between them stretched on, the smile on Kiern’s lips slowly faded.

“Chesha.”

Her name was called again, patiently and gently.

Strangely, something about his careful voice tugged at her chest.

She knew better than anyone that he had come to take her back out of necessity.

After all, Chesha was the most suitable child for Kiern’s purposes.

So, like a snake, slyly slithering around, knowing that he was trying to achieve what he wanted by touching the soft part of Chesha’s heart.

Even though she knew everything, Chesha still cared about him.

It seemed even more like that because she had come out just to see his face.

With Kiern standing right in front of her, it was hard for Chesha to turn away firmly.

‘If only she had just stayed in the room instead of coming out,’

Then, at least, none of this would have happened.

Chesha regretted it belatedly and quietly replied to him,

“I’m sowy…”

Did she have a taste for words?

Chesha’s mouth felt bitter.

It was as if she had taken a bite of candy.

“….”

Kiern said nothing.

He remained in the same outstretched position.

Chesha turned her head away.

Hilon quietly adjusted his hold on Chesha and embraced her.

As if to shield her from Kiern’s gaze.

Watching the smooth flow of their actions,

Kiern let out a short, dry laugh.

“…Oh no.”

He spoke slowly, chewing and spitting his words out.

“What does our Chesha have to be sorry for?”

His eyes burned a fierce, bright red.

Silence fell all around.

The knights and priests grew tense, clearly on high alert.

Though sweat dripped from their brows in instinctive fear, they didn’t dare take their eyes off Kiern.

It was as if they were witnessing something new, something they had never seen before.

From Count Basilian, who was supposed to be ordinary…

They felt an unsettling, terrifying sensation.

A sense of intimidation and foreboding, like witnessing the approach of an inevitable natural disaster.

The Holy Knights rested their hands on their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment.

The air inside the temple was taut with tension.

“….”

Hilon’s eyes, which had remained blank until now, subtly shifted.

He didn’t reach for the holy sword at his waist. 

But the blue in his eyes flickered strangely under the lantern light.

Like a hunter watching prey approach the snare.

Chesha realized it at once.

‘He’s waiting for Kiern to make a mess.’

Waiting for him to take just one more step.

If Kiern moved even slightly forward, he’d trigger a trap he couldn’t escape.

The moment he used even the smallest trace of dark magic within the temple,

Hilon would condemn him as a heretic on the spot—as the Heresy Inquisitor, he had the authority.

Dozens of eyes were on Kiern.

There was no way Kiern didn’t understand what was happening.

A sharp, calculating man like him surely knew.

And yet, he moved like someone on the edge.

As if he might let himself go at any moment.

“You don’t even answer Daddy anymore….”

Kiern didn’t laugh anymore.

Chesha watched the shadows in the temple twist and writhe unnaturally.

So far, only she had seen this side of him.

If he went any further, the others would notice too.

‘What’s wrong with him?!’

Just as Chesha was debating whether she should smack him across the face, a low voice reached her.

“You weren’t dragged by Belzeon.”

Kiern asked expressionlessly.

“But… Chesha, leave Daddy?”