Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 122

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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 122. Lorowi Answers. Only What Was Asked (5)
“What are you doing here?”
“Shall we discuss this inside, Your Majesty?”
Huh? I thought only the Duke was here, but there’s a little one hiding behind him. They look about my age. Or maybe a bit younger?
“Does Duke Alset have a child?”
I asked quietly of the Chief Chamberlain, who would know the affairs of the nobility, and Grandmother answered as if she’d expected the question.
“The child from his first wife who fled should be about that age if they’ve grown up safely. Though he doesn’t take them to public places.”
Wait, he brought a child he hasn’t even introduced to the Imperial Family to the ball? Is he using my Aunt’s husband-hunting party as his own child’s debutante? Well, considering he was at each other’s throats with Lorowi until recently, I suppose he’d come looking for a fight.
Poor little thing. They must have been thrilled in their pretty clothes, only to be used by their father. If they’re not introduced publicly, I can guess well enough how they’re treated at home.
Once our party took our seats, the massive doors opened and handsome men from all regions filed in in neat rows. Come to think of it, they all brought their families and servants, which is good news for the Capital’s merchants. The tax revenue this year will be quite substantial. Why don’t we hold my Aunt’s husband-hunting event every year?
“So then. Duke, what brings you to grace us with your presence?”
“Please lower your tone, Your Majesty.”
“Why did you come, you bastard?”
“That’s harsh language.”
“First this, then that—what do you want?”
Father made an expression that turned everyone’s insides out and shrugged, and the Duke’s expression showed his insides were indeed turned out as he took a deep breath.
“Alset cannot be absent on such a fine occasion. For the harmony between Lorowi and Alset, both families—I thought this form of bonding could be an answer.”
“The Duke has married twice.”
“Of course not myself. I’ve come to introduce my son.”
The Duke made a flourish and introduced the little one standing behind him. With sky-blue hair and indigo eyes, draped in the blue that symbolized Alset, the child was unmistakably of pure Alset lineage.
“You’re pushing that little one as a husband candidate?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how old Kazelnu Lorowi is?”
“Yes.”
“Are you insane?”
“I have a similar age difference with my wife.”
Oh my, so Duke Alset and his wife were an older woman-younger man couple. They had quite the age gap.
But that’s when both are adults meeting as such. Pushing a ten-year-old at my fully grown Aunt—what’s he expecting? For my Aunt to just sit around twiddling her thumbs until he grows up?
It was a bewildering combination in every way, and Duke Alset, as if he’d been waiting for this moment, opened his mouth to my Aunt.
“There shouldn’t be any difficulty in conversation.”
Ah, so he came to insult my Aunt by saying there’s not much difference in level between her and a ten-year-old? As the Duke laughed pleasantly, circling around the point that he’d brought a child perfectly matched to my Aunt’s level, the sky-blue child trembled and said, “Father, please don’t.”
Hmm… how cute.
If they’re that adorable, a little husband candidate isn’t so bad, is it? Besides, he’s of pure Alset lineage. As a trade condition, it wasn’t unreasonable.
“Ugh! Tsk!”
But my Aunt looks absolutely furious. This level of provocation is something she’d normally accept readily, turning it into a competition to see who was wrong first—that’s the entertainment. But I should mediate before this turns into a real fight. I was about to signal Father, but someone unexpected stepped forward.
Before things escalated into a big fight, I thought I should step in and mediate. I was trying to give Father a hint about what I was thinking, but unexpectedly, someone else came forward.
“Oh! How do you do, Lorowi Marquis. I hear you’ve returned to active duty? You certainly don’t age.”
Before the Duke, who was smoothly wagging his tongue, Grandmother didn’t even show displeasure. Instead, she made a look of contempt, and surprisingly, she drew up her divine power and caused a small explosion.
“You’ve insulted Lorowi, so it’s a duel, you bastard.”
Grandmother’s flaming punch sent the Duke’s jaw flying. It’s satisfying, but whose style was Grandmother imitating just now? It’s neither the Chief Chamberlain’s style nor Mother’s style.
“Huh, Mother?”
My Aunt rose from her seat as if unable to believe what had just happened. We shared her disbelief. That Chamberlain had actually punched the spoiled brat in the face just because her daughter had been embarrassed?
“Let’s go. If the first match is like that, the rest won’t be worth watching either.”
“Y-yes!”
My Aunt stood up awkwardly, her expression caught between laughter and tears, before she smiled and answered.
“I’ll follow you, Mother. I’ll follow you.”
Was being called by my Grandmother really so wonderful? She hadn’t extended her hand to my Aunt, nor had she made any gesture for her to follow. Yet my Aunt lifted her skirts with joy and ran after my Grandmother.
“I’ll leave the aftermath to you. I’m going to check on my Aunt.”
“Yes, that would be best.”
There would be plenty for them to handle—the fallout from Duke Alset’s challenge, the sudden cancellation of the bridal ball, and more. I decided to entrust all of it to the adults and instead gather the children to follow my Aunt.
We wouldn’t return to Lorowi immediately. It seemed better to go to the Princess Palace first and let everyone rest. With that in mind, I had Emily prepare everything, then said I would catch up with my Aunt and Grandmother to guide them to my inner chambers.
My Grandmother still looked furious, while my Aunt seemed bewildered yet unable to hide her joy.
After we moved to my room in the Princess Palace, my Aunt and Maternal Grandmother were awkward with each other for quite some time. That was understandable for my Aunt, but it was strange to see my Grandmother feel awkward in such an atmosphere.
“Um, Mother.”
“…”
“Why did you do that just now?”
My Grandmother was silent for a long while, then ruffled her hair as if annoyed. I’d never seen my Grandmother like this before. Had a ghost possessed her? She was exactly like the old Yupi.
“If you’re of Lorowi, you can’t just sit idle when you hear such nonsense. It’s only natural to protect your honor.”
“Huh? Wh-what…?”
My Aunt stared at my Grandmother in disbelief. I also stared at the Chamberlain in disbelief. Had she really been possessed by a malevolent spirit?
“Mother, am I of Lorowi? Am I really of Lorowi?”
“You’ve lived as Kazelnu Lorowi for twenty years, yet you say the strangest things.”
“But… I… sob… but…”
My Aunt began to cry. She whined like a child, saying those words should have been spoken long ago.
“What? Why is she crying?”
My Grandmother panicked. She acted like someone who didn’t know how to comfort a crying child. This wasn’t the demeanor of our Mother, nor of the Chief Chamberlain. She seemed far more immature.
“Don’t cry. Stop crying.”
Moving awkwardly, my Grandmother embraced my Aunt—it was the only method she could think of—and patted her back. My Aunt clung to my Grandmother and wept even more bitterly, and watching this, Emily, Shirley, and Croa wiped their tears with sniffles.
“I’m not entirely sure, but it seems the resentment has been resolved, so I’m relieved.”
“This is what typical mother-daughter emotions look like, isn’t it?”
No, that’s not it. Why are you all crying? Am I the only one who finds this situation bizarre? Is this something to be moved by? Please don’t make me the only one lacking empathy.
“Your Highness the Princess! An urgent message from the Marquess Estate!”
Just as I was fully embracing my sense of isolation, Emily, who handled dispatches, came running. Looking at the paper, it contained news that a localized conflict had broken out in a foreign civil war that Lorowi had been preparing to intervene in, with an urgent request for support.
Lorowi was still obsessed with fighting. How long had it been since the war with Alset ended, and they were already taking mercenary work? And this message definitely seemed to be from Butler Grandfather. The way it was written with “Yupi” at the end made it obvious.
“Time has gotten away from us. Then we should return.”
A hazy mist rose around my Grandmother. She ran her fingers through my hair to check it, muttered that it seemed to have started, and simply lifted me into her arms.
“You were lucky. If that swordsman had been there, it would have been troublesome.”
The mist spread, and everyone collapsed in succession. Drowsiness overtook me as well. I tried to stay conscious, but it wasn’t easy.
My Grandmother moved me to a carriage and traveled to the Outer Palace. What was strange was that no one questioned this. Still, the Imperial Guard would surely check when we left the Imperial Palace. The security of the Imperial Palace wasn’t that lax.
“Marquess Lorowi, there’s a child who didn’t accompany you when you entered the palace.”
“We met at the ball and agreed to make him my attendant.”
“I see.”
I see? What kind of response is that? Why is the Imperial Palace security this lax? I’ll issue a severe reprimand when I return. With that thought, I sank into a deep sleep—so profoundly deep that I couldn’t muster the confidence to wake again.

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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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