Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 113

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 113

 

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One of the things that must be obtained to become the head of the Blanche family is the recognition of the heads of the vassal houses.

 

Silvio, Rachel, and Dukoff.

 

Getting recognition from the heads of those three families who had turned their backs on Belinda would certainly not be an easy task.

 

Among them, if there was someone who seemed relatively manageable, it was Hollio Rechel, whom I had met at the casino.

 

As I had seen before, he was an ardent follower of Adelia Blanche, and I had succeeded in leaving quite a strong impression on him.

 

However, Marquess Rachel had shown no particular interest in me since our first meeting.

 

Even when we encountered each other at the casino, he would only nod in greeting and observe me from a distance, never showing the enthusiastic reaction I had expected.

 

Half-doubting his lukewarm response, I requested a meeting while Schubel was frantically busy handling casino affairs.

 

I must return the golden chips I borrowed from you immediately.

 

…Well, it was half a threat, but Marquess Rachel gladly invited me to his manor.

 

“The Marquess is waiting for you. Please follow me.”

 

I followed the guidance of an elderly butler who looked extremely tired and headed straight to the Marquess’s study.

 

The corridors of Recel Manor had a somewhat gloomy atmosphere, not because the building was old, but because it wasn’t properly maintained.

 

Dust accumulated on the corridor windowsills.

 

Not even a shadow of employees could be seen, and the walls were bare with only marks where paintings once hung.

 

‘The financial situation seems more serious than I expected.’

 

Clicking my tongue, I walked down the corridor for quite a while before finally meeting Marquess Holio.

 

“I believe this is the first time we’re meeting privately like this. Please sit over here.”

 

As if trying to ignore his declining family fortune, he was nothing but energetic.

 

I took a sip of what was the weakest and most astringent tea I had ever tasted, then got straight to the point.

 

“As I contacted you beforehand. You remember the golden chips I lent you that day, don’t you? I’ve come to get them back.”

 

“Of course, of course. This Holio has not forgotten those brilliant golden chips you lent me that time.”

 

Marquess Rachel placed a money pouch on the table between us as if he had been waiting for this.

 

From the weight that made the table jingle, it seemed the pouch contained platinum coins.

 

“Here, please check…

 

“Now that we have the principal, shall we talk about the interest?”

 

“…Interest… you say?”

 

Marquess Rachel, who had been untying the string that bound the pouch’s opening, hesitated.

 

“Even casinos charge interest when they give loans, so it’s natural for me to charge interest as well. It’s not like you and I have a personal relationship, Marquess.”

 

“That’s… true.”

 

“However, since I made the mistake of not mentioning it beforehand, I’ll only charge exactly the same interest rate as the casino.”

 

“Yes, yes… Thank… you.”

 

Despite his agreeable words, the Marquess’s expression showed difficulty. This was because the casino’s loan interest rates were quite vicious.

 

He was currently preparing a large-scale opera that he presented every spring.

 

From discovering new talent to hiring playwrights and orchestras, everything went through his hands – it was an opera with guaranteed success, but the problem was that he was currently in a very tight financial situation due to planning this opera.

 

So much so that he couldn’t hide his stiff expression over a mere 1000 gold in interest.

 

“If it’s difficult to pay back immediately, there is another way.”

 

I pretended to be relaxed as I brought the teacup to my lips again, then put it down with a grimace at the terrible taste spreading in my mouth.

 

I lightly furrowed my brow as if shaking off the astringent taste remaining in my mouth and concluded my words.

 

“You just need to support me once at the first monthly meeting held this year.”

 

Hollio Rechel was a gambling addict, but he wasn’t stupid.

 

His expression was as serious as if he were facing a bet with his entire fortune on the line.

 

The first monthly meeting of the year, where all the heads of vassal houses would gather, was scheduled to proceed after Schubel’s succession ceremony ended.

 

Marquess Rachel probably had his own expectations about what kind of opinion I would present then.

 

If he rejected my proposal, he would pay back his debt to me including interest, and if the opposite, that gold coin pouch would return to the Marquess’s possession.

 

Marquess Rachel didn’t give an answer easily.

 

After fiddling with the gold coin pouch for a long time, he finally opened his mouth.

 

“After the head of the family passed away, you must have had your own realizations, Marquess’s Daughter. But who would have thought you were hiding such excellent abilities.”

 

…Abilities?

 

I couldn’t easily understand what Marquess Rachel meant.

 

“That day, I saw the shadow of Adelia Blanche in Marquess’s Daughter Belinda Blanche. So I continuously observed you while watching the gambling tables.”

 

Oh… this bastard, don’t tell me…

 

“Blackjack, full house, and even a straight flush! I had never seen a straight flush hit at the casino before. That’s when I made up my mind.”

 

Marquess Rachel gripped the gold coin pouch tightly like a knight swearing noble loyalty.

 

“Whatever you bet, Marquess’s Daughter, I call.”

 

“…I wasn’t proposing gambling, Marquess.”

 

“Marquess’s Daughter, it’s my belief that life is like gambling. In this one life we live, we must play in the big games. I’m going all-in on Marquess’s Daughter Blanche!”

 

I had expected him to say this, but…

 

‘Why am I suddenly feeling anxious?’

 

Was it really okay to make an ally of this madman who would bet even his own life on a gambling table?

 

I needed his recognition for now, so I had no choice, but in the long term, he was a self-defeating move.

 

“I’m confident that I will never sink as long as I’m with you, Marquess’s Daughter.”

 

Though I was very anxious, I did my best to deliver a service comment for now.

 

“That’s right, Marquess. You just need to enjoy the surrounding scenery as if you’ve boarded a ship with favorable winds.”

 

“Haha, this looks very promising indeed. This is not the time for this. Aren’t we now in the same boat? Specially! I have something very special that I absolutely want to show you, Marquess’s Daughter.”

 

While I was feeling anxious, Marquess Rachel suddenly stood up and began guiding me somewhere.

 

“To be able to show my life’s masterpieces to none other than you, Marquess’s Daughter – it’s the glory of our family!”

 

I followed him without knowing why, but I had a bad feeling about this.

 

Soon, the Marquess guided me to the front of what appeared to be the largest and most luxurious hall in the manor.

 

“These are all my collection!”

 

The Marquess vigorously opened the door before us and proudly exclaimed.

 

“…”

 

I looked at the enormous exhibition room that occupied the best room in the manor and thought.

 

‘This bastard is really a completely ruined guy.’

 

Inside the room, all sorts of miscellaneous items that the late Adelia had supposedly used were carefully preserved in glass cases.

 

It was a terrifying collecting obsession that would have definitely landed him in prison if Adelia were alive.

 

This made it certain.

 

The reason Hollio Rechel, who was practically a stalker fan of Adelia Blanche, supported me was because I had imitated Adelia Blanche.

 

“Marquess’s Daughter Blanche, would it be alright if I asked for a handshake?”

 

“The only time you can hold hands with me is when we’re making a contract.”

 

A cold response slipped out without me realizing it.

 

Yet this crazy bastard just nodded excitedly.

 

“Indeed, that’s the 53rd saying from Adelia Blanche’s quotes!”

 

What the hell is that, you damn otaku.

 

* * *

 

“I’ll bring the contract!”

 

I didn’t know what he wanted to contract about, but while waiting for Marquess Rachel who had disappeared after leaving those words, a deep sigh escaped me without realizing it.

 

“Haah.”

 

“Haah.”

 

“…?”

 

I was sure I had only sighed once.

 

Looking around, I realized I wasn’t alone in this vast exhibition hall.

 

He seemed about two or three years older than Leo. The slender boy was writing something on a paper in his hand, and upon belatedly noticing me, gave a brief bow.

 

“You must be the guest from the Blanche Estate. Have any new items belonging to Adelia been discovered?”

 

“No. More importantly, what are you doing right now?”

 

“I’m appraising Father’s collection. I’m trying to find out how much he paid for them, how much they can be resold for, and what the loss would be if we resell them.”p>

The boy muttered quite dryly about selling off the collection that was his father’s very life, then began chewing on his pen tip while mumbling.

 

“This is a brooch that belonged to Lady Adelia… If we say it brings good luck, it might sell. This one… it seems like he was scammed…”

 

Each word was too heavy to come from a boy who was at most twelve years old. Heavy enough to make me sigh without realizing it.

 

“You must have a hard time with such a father.”

 

The boy pushed up his glasses that were dangling from his nose tip and lightly denied my words.

 

“He’s not as bad a father as he appears. Though he’s addicted to gambling, he truly loves Mother and me, and tries his best to take care of my education. He also has the ability to plan performances. Though it’s like pearls on a swine’s neck.”

 

While his words were correct, the fact that such a sharp assessment came from his son’s mouth made my ribs ache.

 

“Marquess Rachel won’t easily agree to sell his collection.”

 

“I won’t ask him to sell everything. Just enough for the Academy entrance fee. I can cover the tuition afterward with scholarships.”

 

“Do you want to go to the Academy?”

 

“Yes. So I’ve made a plan. I’ve calculated all the costs of raising me from birth until now. If I pass the high-level civil service exam immediately after graduating from the Academy, it’s an amount I can pay back entirely in 4 years. Therefore, I plan to brief Father accordingly.”

 

“…”

 

Are you perhaps living your second life?

 

It was such a solid life plan that I couldn’t help but think that.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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