Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 119

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 119. Lorowi Answers. Only What Was Asked (2)
“Whoa, quite the spectacle.”
I’d never seen the Outer Palace so crowded before the regression—not since that protest after the Princess’s withdrawal from state affairs. Back then, the people had misunderstood that I was extravagant, so roughly a hundred thousand had gathered demanding that Princess Vishnabel cease her involvement in governance. How vivid it all remains, like yesterday’s memory.
“Pisha! Why did your face suddenly turn pale? Are you getting carsick from being off the ground?!”
“Miss Pisha, why have you suddenly become as gloomy as a blueberry, if I may ask!”
So it was true—I was weaker to trauma than I’d thought. Psychological shock was manifesting directly in my body. I steeled myself, thinking, I will overcome this! and made my way toward the Dance Hall in the Outer Palace.
“Oh, Vishnabel. My daughter, my Princess.”
Father was delighted that I’d provided such entertaining content. He seemed intent on thoroughly enjoying today’s ball, having deliberately moved the ornate throne from the Audience Chamber all the way here to the Outer Palace, arranged wine and various appetizers on a table beside it, and even brought opera glasses.
“Here, this is yours, Pisha.”
So I had my own opera glasses too. He must have pulled an all-nighter working, skipping the time he’d normally spend here. The dark circles under his eyes were unmistakable. I wanted to hit him once on the back—so I did.
“Oh my, again! Staying up all night over such nonsense!”
“Absolutely delightful.”
But seeing that Father considered even my hitting him to be content, I gave up. If you keep chasing entertainment like that, one misstep and you’ll become Helbatro. How is it that Chiron’s circle consists entirely of people who find amusement in everything? When I see him beating Prisoner for living that way, it seems like Chiron himself isn’t that type of person?
“I excused you from lessons today, didn’t I? Don’t be angry.”
“Isn’t it just more fun to watch together?”
“Happiness doubles when shared.”
I genuinely found Father’s mouth infuriating. Even young me was annoyed by those lip movements—I couldn’t imagine how frustrated my predecessor or Grandmother must have been.
“Wait! There’s aged mackerel sashimi too?!”
But since it wasn’t happening to me, I decided to enjoy it.
I watched the young men’s entrance while casually plucking aged mackerel sashimi from Father’s appetizer spread. With so many young men preening like peacocks with their feathers fully displayed, my eyes were certainly pleased.
“Hehe, hehehehe.”
“Miss Pisha, what brings you such joy?”
“Huh?”
I jumped at the ominous voice and glanced to my side. Croa, brimming with emotion, had approached within arm’s reach. Why was he appearing and disappearing like that? Wasn’t he just helping Aunt with breathing exercises a moment ago?
“Well, with so many young people around, I’m feeling energized and pleased?”
“But Miss Pisha, you’re only ten years old….”
“That’s not something explained by numbers.”
Feeling energized by young people’s vital energy wasn’t something age could explain. There was genuinely such a thing as absorbing that unique youthful vitality and having your own bodily functions activate in response. When I launched into a full explanation of the concept of feeling energized, the emotional Croa drooped his tail and pressed his forehead.
“I understand. It seems I’ve misunderstood something, so please stop. I was wrong.”
“Oh, really? I’m glad the misunderstanding cleared up?”
Though I had no idea what he’d misunderstood.
As time passed, the entrance to the Dance Hall closed, and Aunt trembled with anticipation, her entire body quivering. Now that everyone had gathered, it was time to begin.
Angelique, the minister from the Road Traffic Authority under the Military Ministry and the official most actively pushing this ball, took the stage. The blonde woman grasped the microphone and spoke cheerfully.
“Everyone, please settle down. Kazelnu will now select her first dance partner.”
It was certainly written in the ball’s schedule. The opening would be Aunt dancing with a man of her choosing, then the men with numbered tickets would take their turns to appeal in sequence. A magnificent chair had been prepared for Aunt on that high stage, positioned above even Father’s seat.
Now that I thought about it, that chair had been brought from the Audience Chamber too. Since it was the second Audience Chamber chair my predecessor used frequently, it didn’t matter how it was used.
“So the lucky man who will dance the first dance is! Who could it possibly be!”
As Angelique enthusiastically proceeded with the event, the orchestra struck the timpani with a flourish. Father, who had been excitedly watching Aunt approach with her trembling movements, suddenly wore an expression of utter boredom.
“You’re supposed to choose a man, not Pisha. That would be cheating.”
No, Father, I don’t think that’s it. Aunt is, after all, a Lorowi. She’s the type who would choose to die together rather than die alone.
“Y-Your Majesty, would you honor me with a dance?”
“Whoa! Kazelnu Lorowi just knelt before the Emperor!”
Kazelnu Lorowi, who had been kneeling on one knee as if asking a lady to dance, extended her hand gently toward Father.
Father, who had been happily drinking just moments before, made a sour face as if the alcohol had lost its taste. Choco burst into laughter. I honestly found it amusing too and covered my mouth while laughing. I could see Croa and Shirley turning their faces away, suppressing their laughter.
“Are you insane?”
“Isn’t the Emperor the most noble man in this place? It’s only fitting that I offer my first dance to him.”
There she goes—Aunt truly was an expert at dragging others down with her. She acts like an idiot most of the time, but how does her tongue become so smooth when she’s trying to make a fool of someone?
“This is maddening.”
“Father, if you refuse this, Grandmother might find some excuse to complain.”
She wouldn’t care if her daughter was embarrassed, but she’d use it as justification to bite back. She might demand the removal of restrictions on private soldiers for defending the Lorowi Territory. Well, the Imperial Family has been exercising veto power over that for over a hundred years anyway.
“I won’t suffer alone. Pisha, you dance too.”
“Eek!”
This father of mine doesn’t want to go down alone, so he’s trying to throw me into the chaos too!
The moment Father finished speaking, Shirley and Croa were preparing to fight, so I quickly intervened to prevent a brawl at the ball.
“You two play rock-paper-scissors!”
“Whoever loses is it!”
“Rock-paper-scissors!”
Croa won in a single round and performed a victory celebration. Ah, but I really don’t want to dance with Croa. He moves like figure skating, so I’m just a supporting actor when I dance with my feet.
“In case something like this happened, I prepared a special pair for you, Miss Pisha.”
Where did you pull those inline skates from? Did you learn magic from Prisoner? That thing where you pull stuff out while fluttering that four-dimensional cloak? No, these guys keep learning strange things from Prisoner while I’m asleep. They’re leaving me out.
Anyway, if I have my own skates, I can do pair skating with Croa.
“Go on and do one round, then come back.”
“Yes, yes. We’re going, Your Majesty.”
Father stubbornly refused to take Aunt’s extended hand and walked toward the center of the hall with heavy steps. Behind him, I could hear Aunt making inarticulate sounds of protest. She really is a genius at putting people in a bad mood.
“Drop dead, Chiron!”
As if in retaliation, once the dance began, Father continued to let out groans of “Ugh!” and “Argh!” Apparently, Aunt wasn’t holding back and was stepping on his feet.
“Huh?”
When Croa lifted me up and displayed a lift technique, exclamations erupted from all around. And among the many men, I spotted my Maternal Grandmother standing alone in a corner, looking gloomy and chewing on her solitude.
If you came, you should have said so—why are you standing in that corner?
“Miss Pisha! Let’s do a solo!”
“Alright!”
Croa and I synchronized our movements and danced across the ballroom. We had essentially become something that displayed skating techniques in time with the waltz, but we were having fun, and everyone gathered in the hall seemed to enjoy it too.
The only one who wasn’t having fun in this situation was Father, whose feet had been stepped on over thirty times.
“Finally, it’s over.”
After the dance ended and I bowed to my partner, applause erupted. Now the real search for a groom was beginning.
Aunt climbed to the highest seat on the platform and watched the men displaying their talents in number order with cold eyes, while Father picked up opera glasses and enjoyed himself with hearty laughter.
I took Choco and my friends and headed toward where Grandmother was.
“Why are you standing here alone?”
I indirectly suggested she stop acting like an outcast and go greet people. In response, Grandmother snorted dismissively.
“That’s enough. I don’t like crowded places.”
Without the Head Attendant Grandmother to mimic, today’s personality must be the Mother version. This one is easier to deal with, I have to admit. It suits the Grandmother’s character well too.

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