The Villainess’ Kindergarten

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of someone calling me again.

 

“Sister-in-law!”

 

As soon as I opened my eyes, the children called me at the same time, and Ren and Lima jumped into my arms. Feeling a sense of déjà vu, I opened my mouth while holding Ren and Lima in my arms.

 

“What’s happen?”

 

As soon as I finished speaking, Lima shouted.

 

“You know it’s Jasmine’s birthday, right!”

 

“I know.”

 

In response, I knocked on the bed as if asking the children to come up, and the children sat huddled together on the bed. It was so big that there was still room even after all the kids sat down.

 

At that time, Lima handed me a large box.

 

“How about this?”

 

When I opened the box, there was a glass bottle filled with purple flowers made of jewels. My eyes widened when I saw the beautiful flower, and Lima smiled in satisfaction when she saw it.

 

“It’s a gift for Jasmine.”

 

Each child showed off the gifts they had prepared. Greenly said he would give a fairy tale book featuring a princess, Ren said he would give a glass bottle full of chocolate and candies, and Thomas would give a large doll. I burst into laughter at the gift that matched the children. At that time, Thoma opened his mouth.

 

“Sister-in-law, guys. Brother asked us to have lunch with him today.”

 

The children had never received a birthday greeting from Baridas before. Baridas didn’t wish them a happy birthday, so the kids didn’t have any expectations either. That’s why Jasmine said it was Fiora’s birthday this year. Because the children no longer had adults to celebrate their birthdays. Still, I felt a little better now. I learned that Baridas does not hate them, and that I, their new family, love and care for them. It seemed like the emptiness the children had been feeling was being filled little by little. I looked at the children with pride. Then, smiles spread across the twins’ faces at the same time. They looked at each other without any thought and opened their mouths.

 

“Did he remember that it was Jasmine’s birthday?”

 

“I think so.”

 

When I looked back at Ren, she was also smiling with her face full of anticipation. When our eyes met, she smiled shyly and opened her mouth.

 

“I hope lunch comes soon.”

 

Then there was a knocking sound. Judging by the weak force with which it was struck, it was clear that it was Jasmine. At the same time, the children spoke in unison.

 

“Sister-in-law, you can’t tell her where we are!”

 

“I want to surprise her.”

 

“Can your sister-in-law stay with Jasmine until lunch?”

 

It was so cute to see children like that that I burst out laughing. After stroking Lima and Greenly’s heads, I held up my finger to signal them to be quiet. When the kids opened the locked door and went out, Jasmine jumped into my arms.

 

“Sister-in-law, my sister and brothers are all gone…”

 

Jasmine was so lovely that I held back her laughter and hugged her.

 

“Looks like everyone is busy today.”

 

As I patted Jasmine on the back with a sneer, she wrapped her arms around my neck. When I heard a small rattling noise coming from the door, I looked over and saw the children watching us through the crack in the door. After giving them a smile, I picked up Jasmine and headed down the hallway.

 

Where am I going? When I looked out the window, the weather was very nice. We can go to the garden.

 

“Today is Jasmine’s birthday, and you’re upset, right?”

 

At my words, Jasmine nodded her head, burying her face in my shoulder. I burst into laughter at that sight and came down to the first floor holding Jasmine.

 

“Everyone will be here soon, until then. Would you like to take a walk with me?”

 

Jasmine, who looked up at the sky at my words, nodded her head. Seeing that she said yes, I asked one of her maids to bring cookies and macaroons to the garden.

 

Jasmine, who was sitting on a chair prepared in the garden, started crying and munching on her macaron.

 

“Our Jasmine, aren’t you nice?”

 

I took out my handkerchief and wiped away the tears from her eyes, but Jasmine seemed very upset. What should I do with this? I didn’t know you’d be this disappointed. For Jasmine to feel so sad, it seemed like she had committed some sin.

 

“Last time… On my birthday, mom and dad wrote this together in the morning, and mom and dad looked at each other and said…”

 

I am a sinner. No matter what anyone said, from now on I was a sinner. Whatever happens, everything is my fault from now on. I tried so hard not to be a villain, but I was clearly a villain to make Jasmine cry.

 

Then Jasmine’s eyes widened.

 

She got up from her chair and started running towards me.

 

“Dad!”

 

She shouted “Dad” to Baridas behind me.

 

* * *

 

Baridas was quite embarrassed by this situation. Jasmine was crying and Fiora was standing in front of her, not knowing what to do. It was a perfect situation for people to misunderstand that Fiora had made Jasmine cry. However, Baridas did not seem Fiora like the kind of person who would make her cry.

 

He picked up Jasmine, patted her back, and looked down at Fiora.

 

“What happened?”

 

At those words, Fiora looked up at Baridas with an expression as if she was about to cry.

 

“I was bad, I made Jasmine cry, what should I do…”

 

Baridas burst into laughter at the sight of Fiora. It occurred to him that there was no way a person with an expression like that would intentionally make Jasmine cry. And he knew full well that Jasmine was a crybaby from the beginning.

 

“Min, stop crying and talk.”

 

Jasmine’s eyes widened at the unusually friendly voice and her nickname Min. Then he looked up at Baridas with a surprised face. Baridas smiled sweetly and wiped away Jasmine’s tears.

 

“I can’t do anything if the main character cries on his birthday.”

 

Seeing Baridas’ affectionate appearance, Jasmine pursed her lips, and then he hugged her neck and opened his mouth.

 

“Are you going to eat without mom and dad watching?”

 

* * *

 

I looked at Baridas in surprise at Jasmine’s words. Baridas was looking at Jasmine with an expression that was difficult to explain. What was clear was that it was not an expression that conveyed good emotions. Fortunately, Jasmine was in Baridas’ arms, so she didn’t seem to see his expression.

 

“…I miss them.”

 

You look like you’re going to kill someone at any moment and say you want to see them. It occurred to me that he, too, was not good at lying. Or, you just don’t feel the need to hide it.

 

“I understand how you feel, but Min. If you cry on a good day like this, your mother and father will be sad.”

 

Contrary to what he said, he didn’t look sad at all. On the one hand, I felt creeped out by his attitude, which seemed to contrast so much with Baridas, who usually treated me kindly. However, Jasmine, who could not see his expression, smiled slightly and hugged Baridas’ neck, perhaps comforted by his words.

 

“Okay, I won’t cry anymore.”

 

At her laughter, Baridas smiled sweetly, stroking Jasmine’s head. For the first time after possession, I felt like I was seeing the person he described in the novel. Baridas held Jasmine in one arm and extended his opposite hand to me.

 

“Let’s go back sooner rather than later.”

 

He was smiling and holding out his hand to me. As if I had never seen him make such an expression before, what I felt from him now was a clear sense of discomfort. There was something I didn’t know about. It also concerns the former Duke, the children and their father. It was a moment of regret once again. I should have read the original straight. And at least twice! In the end, I awkwardly held Baridas’ hand.

 

It’s a hand I’ve held several times, but today it felt a little cold.

 

* * *

 

As we entered the ceremony hall, the children arrived first and were waiting for us. Jasmine, seeing Touma, Ren, and the twins waiting for her, smiled brightly and ran to them.

 

“Happy birthday, Jasmine.”

 

The children spoke with her in unison and gave her the gifts she had prepared. Jasmine, who accepted them, smiled brightly and nodded. Her expression was the brightest, loveliest, and cutest I’ve ever seen.

 

“Thank you!”

 

Afterwards, the gift prepared by Baridas also came into the room. In addition to the doll, there was a lot more prepared, including dresses, jewelry, and even a toy castle. One side of the restaurant was filled with gifts from Baridas.

 

“Happy birthday, Jasmine.”

 

At his words, Jasmine ran to Baridas and kissed his cheek. Baridas looked surprised at her unexpected behavior, but then smiled and stroked her head, and Jasmine smiled and hugged his neck.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Now it was my turn to give the gift one last time. I held out to her the wand that I bought her yesterday. It was in her pocket so I couldn’t tell what it was yet. Jasmine thanked me and gave me a kiss on the cheek before opening her mouth.

 

“Can I rent a bar even if it’s open?”

 

“Of course.”

 

In response to my answer, Jasmine carefully untied the knot tied in his pocket. Then the jewel on the wand sparkled and revealed a gorgeous appearance. Jasmine’s eyes widened as if she liked her wand.

 

“You’re so pretty, thank you, sister-in-law!”

 

I felt fortunate that Jasmine liked it. The wand, which was half as long as Jasmine’s, looked a little big, but it wasn’t heavy, so it wouldn’t be difficult to use.

 

“I’m glad.”

 

At my words, Jasmine got up from her chair and ran towards me. She said as she hugged me.

 

“I like everything my sister-in-law gives me, including dresses, strawberry milk, and birthday presents. My sister-in-law came and I behaved really well.”

 

Such lovely words made me smile automatically. I burst out laughing and stroked her head.

 

“Thank you for thinking that way.”

 

* * *

 

At a time when everyone was focused on Fiora and Jasmine’s warm appearance, only one person, Baridas, was thinking about something else.

 

… What is strawberry milk?

 

At the sound of a sweet-sounding name, his eyes turned to the pink drink placed right in front of the children and Jasmine. Is that strawberry milk? Baridas pointed out her strawberry milk to her waiting maid, and soon after, the pink drink was delivered.

 

Baridas took a sip of strawberry milk as if he was fascinated by the sweet and strong strawberry scent of the drink. Baridas’ eyes widened at the sweetness and savory taste he tasted for the first time.

 

Which chef’s work is this?

 

The moment he thought that, Fiora opened her mouth.

 

“Strawberry milk, does it suit your taste?”

 

He thought it had a similar taste to the coffee Fiora made, but Baridas’ eyes widened when he realized that this was also something she made.

 

“It’s as sweet as a latte.”

 

* * *

 

I burst out laughing at the sight of him using new words as familiarly as modern people. I didn’t bring it to Baridas because I didn’t think it would be to his taste. He seemed to like sweet food more than I thought. The children whispered as they saw us like that.

 

“Young people get along well.”

 

Lima whispered.

 

“That looks great.”

 

Greenly countered.

 

“But, when I spend it, my sister-in-law is a waste.”

 

Jasmine said and Thoma nodded. Ren, who burst out laughing at their appearance, said.

 

“Jasmine, how about asking your brother for your sister-in-law as a birthday present?”

 

“Not bad.”

 

The children shared practical jokes and burst out laughing at the same time.

 

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Translator Note: