The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 49

The Mage Tower Kindergarten was originally established as an internal welfare facility for the children of mages working at the tower.

Because of that, most children waited there until one of their parents finished work and picked them up.

Nivellia and Aref, however, left the kindergarten at a fixed time and boarded their carriage.

“Wow… time really has flown.”

Only, today, the carriage never came.

“Okay, I can see she takes after Mom, but there’s definitely some of Celletina’s face there too. Wait, don’t tell me… did Mom and Sis get up to something?”

Instead of the carriage, a complete stranger appeared before the children.

“Excuse me, who are you?”

The teacher—who always waited with the kids until pickup—stepped in front of them protectively.

Aref quickly pulled Nivellia behind him, clutching her hand tightly just in case they had to run.

Nivellia, in contrast, just blinked her big round blue eyes without fear.

“Oh ho…”

The stranger gave Aref a pleased, almost proud glance.

Still, she knew better than to cause trouble right after being crowned Mercenary King—so she decided to introduce herself properly to the stern-looking teacher.

“I’m Armiphera Deiamor.”

“D-Deiamor…?”

The teacher’s startled face was quite a sight—but Armiphera politely kept that thought to herself.

“I’m the daughter of Saintess Muniel, and the aunt of that lovely young lady right there—Nivellia.”

Her golden eyes sparkled brilliantly as she smiled.

The daughter of Saintess Muniel and Holy Knight Ardores.

“Phera!”

And the beloved child-like granddaughter of Mage Tower Master Magia.

“Grandpa Magia!”

“Oh, my sparkling soda water! You ungrateful treasure of another household—you’re finally back!”

The moment he saw her, Magia lifted Armiphera off the ground and spun her around—five full times, no less.

The mages nearby stared wide-eyed, jaws practically hitting the floor.

Some even looked like they might dislocate their jaws from shock.

“Me too! Spin me too!”

Nivellia tugged on the hem of Magia’s cloak, demanding her turn.

With no choice, Magia scooped her up and spun her around too—just like he had done with Armiphera.

And of course, he didn’t forget Aref, who had been quietly waiting for his turn.

Only once all three were satisfied did they sit down and let the grown-ups talk.

“So you really did become the Mercenary King? You little rascal! You’re going to make your father lose his mind again!”

“Sounds like you’re still on good terms with him, Grandpa.”

“Ardores’s frustration is the fuel of my joy.”

“Ahaha!”

Armiphera burst into loud, infectious laughter.

She was a stunning woman—beautiful in a way that spoke more of strength than softness.

Her features were classically attractive, yes, but now her beauty was shaped by sun-darkened skin, lean muscles, visible scars, and the presence of someone who had lived through battles.

Nivellia stared at her aunt—wide-eyed and fascinated.

Sensing the gaze, Armiphera turned her head quickly.

Their eyes met. Nivellia flinched, but didn’t look away.

Instead, she held Aref’s hand even tighter. He held her back just as firmly.

“Oh wow, you two are really close.”

Armiphera plopped down right there on the floor.

“Good thing I stopped by to see Aunt Della first. So, you’re Aref, right? The brave young man who’s been protecting our Nini?”

“It’s my duty to protect the young lady.”

Aref responded with conviction.

Armiphera grinned in approval and nodded.

“So young, and you already understand what duty means.”

“Yes. A subordinate’s duty is to protect their commander.”

“Oho! You even know the word ‘subordinate’? The Mage Tower really is doing a great job.”

Magia beamed proudly as he watched Armiphera. If she’d been a baby, he would’ve smacked her little bottom from sheer affection.

Then, her scarred hand extended toward Aref.

“I’m Armiphera—Nini’s aunt. Just call me Phera.”

Aref cautiously reached forward and shook her hand.

“Wait, do you practice swordsmanship?”

“How did you know?”

“You’ve got fresh calluses forming on your palm. Want me to train you sometime? I may not look it, but I earned my Mercenary King title with a sword.”

“Yes, please…!”

For Aref, whose dream was to become a knight, it was a golden opportunity.

He now looked at Armiphera with pure admiration in his eyes.

Then, Armiphera’s gaze shifted naturally to Nivellia.

She’s really beautiful…

And not just because she was her niece—Nivellia was genuinely a lovely little girl.

Her white-silver hair was soft and fluffy like cotton candy. Her bright blue eyes were clear and pure, as if untouched by the filth of the world.

Her cheeks were round and rosy, and though her features were small, they were already delicate and well-formed.

“Hey, Nini.”

“Nini.”

Nivellia echoed her own name, as if proudly declaring, “That’s me!”

It was so adorably sincere that Armiphera couldn’t help but smile. This time, she reached out her hand to Nivellia.

“I’m your aunt. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Nini’s happy to meet you too!”

Nivellia grasped her hand tightly.

“But… Auntie, you need to be scolded.”

“…Huh?”

Armiphera blinked, caught off guard by the sudden comment.

“Why?” she asked, a little stiffly.

“Because you ran away from home.”

Nivellia had been taught that running away was a bad thing. And whenever her grandfather or father mentioned her aunt, they always looked troubled.

Even young Nivellia understood that leaving home meant hardship.

Even when she was a cat, she never wandered far from her territory.

Why leave behind warm beds and tasty food just to roam around?

“Running away is bad. It makes your family worry.”

“Well… you’re not wrong.”

Armiphera admitted it easily.

“So when we get home, you need to apologize!”

“Wow… I can’t believe this is my brother’s kid.”

“Mom’s the one who gave birth to me.”

“You’re hilarious, you know that?”

Grinning, Armiphera tried to shower her niece’s cheek with kisses.

But Nivellia turned her head this way and that, dodging them skillfully.

“This little kitten doesn’t let anyone touch her unless she knows you’re stronger than her.”

Magia pointed his chin at Nivellia’s stern little face and gave up with a sigh.

“……”

Hearing that, Aref quietly resolved to train harder in swordsmanship.

Because one day, he wanted to earn the right to pet Nivellia’s head.

As they prepared to leave, Magia asked,

“By the way, how did you get here? What happened to the carriage?”

“I, uh… broke one of the wheels. By now they’re probably replacing it with the spare…”

Before she could finish, the Deiamor family’s carriage came racing toward them.

The driver’s eyes went wide the moment he saw Armiphera.

Even the horses neighed nervously, pawing the ground.

“…You didn’t beat them up, did you?”

Magia eyed her warily.

“No! They were just startled by my… presence.”

“You’re a real piece of work. That’s why I adore you. Show your father that fire too, alright?”

With that, Magia stuffed Armiphera’s scarred hands full of candy and chocolate.

He even threw in his specialty: a magical candy that changed flavor every minute.

Inside the carriage, Nivellia sat beside Armiphera.

“Auntie.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re not gonna eat all that, are you?”

The candy Magia had given her was far too much, so Armiphera had wrapped most of it in a handkerchief and set it beside her.

Nivellia clearly had her eye on it.

“I could eat it all.”

“Your teeth will rot if you do. I’ll help a little, since I’m worried about you.”

“No thanks, I’m good.”

“….”

A small frown appeared on Nivellia’s forehead.

The look of a sulky kitten lifting her brows in protest was so funny that Armiphera couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Pwahaha!”

Her loud, booming laugh made both Nivellia and Aref flinch.

“Aww, you adorable thing! You’re just too much!”

“Nini’s always been this cute!”

“Well, make sure you know that. If you don’t, some weird guy might sweep you off your feet and leave you in tears.”

I’ve seen it happen too many times…

Armiphera even made a dramatic, sorrowful face like she’d been through it herself.

Fortunately—

“Nini already has someone to marry, so it’s okay.”

Her precocious niece already had a fiancé.

Nivellia hopped down from her seat and walked over to Aref, who was sitting politely across from them.

Then, with a straight face, she introduced him.

“Aref! He’s Nini’s subordinate! And Nini’s partner!”

“…Partner?”

“We’re gonna mate and have ten babies together when we grow up.”

“…What?”

Even the battle-hardened Mercenary King, Armiphera Deiamor, was caught completely off guard by the sheer shock of that sentence.

As Caleo watched his sister step off the carriage with the kids, he was left utterly speechless.

“You really need to raise your daughter better.”

It was hard to believe he was being scolded about parenting by the same sister who once ran off to become the Mercenary King.

“…What did she do now?”

He asked anyway—just in case.

“Nini said she’s going to mate with Aref and have ten babies.”

“KYYYYAAA!”

Caleo screamed like he’d just been stabbed through the heart.

Support