Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 117

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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 117

 

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“Rachel Dukoff?”

 

At my voice, the woman who was resting under the tall tree while feeding grass to her horse looked up.

 

The question in my tone was because the person before me was so young that ‘childish’ would be more fitting than ‘youthful’ to describe this girl.

 

She stared at me blankly for a moment, then tilted her head and asked back.

 

“Belinda Blanche?”

 

Only then did I realize my rudeness and immediately dismounted from my horse.

 

“My apologies, Count Dukoff.”

 

Only then did the gentle gaze of the head of the Dukoff family soften slightly.

 

“I was rude as well. It was such an unexpected encounter that I committed a breach of etiquette.”

 

The girl nodded readily and gently stroked the head of the horse standing beside her.

 

It was already famous that Rachel Dukoff loved horseback riding so much that she would participate in the royal equestrian competition at the youngest age this year.

 

I naturally chose horseback riding as a topic to continue the conversation.

 

“I was looking into riding clubs, and I happened to notice the club that you joined, Count.”

 

“It’s a club with a long history, so I’m sure it will be to Marquess’s Daughter Blanche’s liking.”

 

Fortunately, thanks to fragments of Belinda’s memories, I was well-versed in horseback riding theory and experience, allowing me to lead the conversation smoothly.

 

Moreover, Rachel Dukoff seemed to have no particular grievances against me.

 

I was inwardly relieved and leisurely looking for the right timing to bring up the main topic.

 

“You’ve been developing many new hobbies lately. Gambling, and now horseback riding. It wouldn’t be strange if art collecting was your next hobby.”

 

The head of the Dukoff family’s gentle tone was as charming as a young lady who had just debuted in social circles, but for a moment I was left speechless.

 

Gambling is the head of the Rachel family’s pleasure, horseback riding is Count Dukoff’s hobby, and art collecting is the head of the Silvio family’s pastime.

 

If she had that in mind and was talking about my activities in contacting the three vassal houses…

 

“That would be nice too. If you have time, how about visiting Silvio Manor with me? I hear there are many excellent works there.”

 

I casually dropped the suggestion.

 

“Unfortunately, I have no interest in appreciating artwork, so I’ll have to decline.”

 

She gently refused to meet with me.

 

However, I didn’t back down easily. Since gaining the support of the head of the Silvio family was uncertain, I had to at least capture the interest of the head of the Dukoff family.

 

“I heard that Dukoff’s golden scales are fair, but to refuse without even hearing what I would place on the scales. It seems the scales have tilted to one side since you became count, Marquess’s Daughter.”

 

At my light provocation, Rachel Dukoff’s smiling face hardened for the first time.

 

She was intelligent and mature beyond her years, but not skilled enough to hide her emotions completely.

 

Thinking she had been insulted, she took a moment to compose herself before speaking with a serious attitude different from before.

 

“Marquess’s Daughter, I don’t know what you’re plotting, but I—no, the Dukoff family will not join your cause.”

 

At her finally revealed true face, I deliberately put on a relaxed expression and nodded.

 

“Even if I promise any benefit?”

 

The head of the Dukoff family has always moved according to profit. Surely she would be interested in my words…

 

“Yes, no matter what benefits you promise, my mind will not change.”

 

…She should be interested, right?

 

“I don’t want to have another confrontation with you over such matters, so I’ll make it clear here and now. You naturally wouldn’t know since you have no interest whatsoever in family affairs, but the reason I can be in this position now is because your uncle, Jonas Blanche, supported me during his lifetime. Thanks to him, I was able to rise to the position of family head despite being just a young woman.”

 

Something like longing appeared on her face, which had always seemed confident as if she would never look back at the past.

 

Only seeing that did I realize I had been taking the Dukoff family’s affairs too lightly.

 

“You’re right, Marquess’s Daughter. Dukoff’s golden scales make it their creed to weigh even faith and put a price on it. But that doesn’t mean I’m worse than a beast who knows no loyalty.”

 

With those final words, Rachel Dukoff swiftly mounted her horse.

 

“The head of the Silvio family supported you because you inherited the bloodline of the legitimate heir. The same goes for me. Because Schubel Blanche is Jonas’s biological son, I will not do anything that opposes his interests. Even if it would bring tremendous benefits to my family.”

 

Her eyes looking down at me from above shone with firm resolve.

 

Although I failed to gain her support, it wasn’t as if there were no other methods.

 

I met her upright gaze directly and answered.

 

“What if I have a truth heavy enough to break the Count’s scales? Are you confident those scales still wouldn’t waver?”

 

“…If you had said that while offering even a single flower at Jonas’s funeral, my heart might have changed. But everything is too late now, Marquess’s Daughter.”

 

With those final words, the head of the Dukoff family immediately turned her horse around.

 

I waited until I confirmed her horse had disappeared before pressing my forehead and sighing.

 

Oh my, Uncle. Just how many good deeds did you perform during your lifetime?

 

To change Rachel Dukoff’s mind, I have no choice but to reveal the fact that Schubel killed Uncle.

 

The only problem is that there’s no evidence of his crime remaining. Except for his confession.

 

Of course, I already have a plan to extract his confession.

 

But to execute the plan, I’m missing exactly one puzzle piece. Schubel’s motive for murder is precisely that.

 

‘I can’t carelessly reveal the fact of Uncle’s poisoning until I know that.’

 

And that also meant gaining Rachel Dukoff’s support would be distant for some time.

 

However, the disappointing news wasn’t limited to that.

 

When I returned to Blanche Manor, Vivian was waiting for me with her twin braids tied low.

 

Vivian’s face, which should have been as confident as a student returning with perfect test scores, was more dejected than I had ever seen.

 

Surely the Magic Tower would have recognized her abilities, so why does she look like that?

 

When I glanced at Chaser beside me, he leaned toward my ear and whispered.

 

“The Magic Tower suspected that Vivian wasn’t the creator of the healing potion. In their eyes, Vivian is a 4th-tier mage who was just an apprentice until recently. It’s reasonable suspicion. Well, there’s also the political reason that if a mage not affiliated with the Magic Tower creates such an amazing potion, it would damage the Magic Tower’s authority.”

 

Then Vivian hung her head low like a mole digging tunnels and muttered gloomily.

 

“They’re right. Come to think of it, I didn’t even do proper testing… Acting like I was something special just because I completed one bottle…”

 

No, these people! They can’t recognize a gem when they see one, so why are they crushing our child’s spirit now!

 

Somehow it felt like nothing was going well.

 

I swallowed a sigh and thought of Terry, who had been out of contact for several days.

 

‘I hope at least Terry brings good news.’

 

* * *

 

Barbet County Tavern.

 

A young-looking girl with short hair casually rested her chin on her companion’s shoulder and whispered.

 

“What exactly is written there to make sister’s face turn so deathly pale?”

 

Then her companion shuddered and pushed the girl’s chin away rather coldly, saying.

 

“It gives me the creeps, so don’t call me sister.”

 

At those words, the girl pouted her lips, then soon looked over her companion’s appearance with mischievous eyes.

 

Short ash-colored hair and androgynous features.

 

With pants on top of that, she looked exactly like a handsome young man.

 

Therefore, the girl opened her mouth freely without caring about others’ gazes.

 

“Okay, then I’ll call you brother.”

 

“Hey!”

 

“What, brother?”

 

Terry got goosebumps at the way she changed the address so casually.

 

‘Does she get possessed by a ghost every time she disguises herself? How can she call me brother without even changing her expression?’

 

If you grabbed any passerby and asked, ten out of ten would point to the girl before them and say she was a really cute little sister.

 

But she is not Terry’s little sister.

 

‘She’s a little brother disguised as a little sister.’

 

There was no one more helpful than Jerry for hiding one’s identity and gathering information in unfamiliar territory away from the Royal Capital.

 

Therefore, Terry had made up her mind and asked her younger brother to accompany her on this mission.

 

It cost quite a bit of money, but Jerry was worth every penny.

 

“The person presumed to be the notary is staying at Parzen Hotel.”

 

“I heard he occasionally dabbles in gambling? Since many people pass through gambling halls, it seems like we could get close to the target.”

 

“Sister, I want to disguise myself as an aristocratic noblewoman today. So give me spending money. Let me shop at the boutique.”

 

Jerry changed his disguise daily, blending seamlessly into any location without arousing suspicion as he gathered information about the notary they were searching for.

 

He was certainly unmatched when it came to information gathering, but the problem was that the preliminary preparations required quite a hefty sum of money.

 

Terry had solved all of that using the promissory notes Belinda had given him.

 

He had gone through quite a bit of trouble using double fake identities in between to ensure Belinda’s name wouldn’t be revealed, but he thought there would be no problems.

 

That was until Belinda’s carrier pigeon arrived, proposing they gamble with their entire fortune.

 

In the end, Terry, who was now facing the crisis of losing his entire fortune, sighed deeply and clutched his head.

 

Jerry, who had been watching him with his chin propped up, suddenly spoke up.

 

“What is it about that noble that you like so much, brother?”

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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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