Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 137
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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 137. How to Not Obsess Over a Child Missing for Over Half a Year (6)
“What punishment are you thinking of giving Doctor Marichi?”
“Huh? Punishment?”
I mean, yes, it bothers me that she abandoned the child without a word. But this didn’t happen because of some structural flaw in society—it happened because of circumstances beyond her control. The ones who should be blamed are people like us.
“So… we’re expanding welfare policies for single-parent households?”
“You’re too soft-hearted for your own good.”
But this whole situation arose because there’s no one to care for the child. Finding a nanny requires considerable wealth, and even then, determining whether they’re trustworthy is another matter entirely. Doctor Marichi, after much deliberation, chose the person she believed would raise the child best—and that’s us.
In reality, the Princess Palace has faced financial difficulties, but we have abundant resources and trustworthy personnel. Father is an expert from a lineage known for raising children who develop divine power.
“I’m absolutely not returning her to that woman! When she grows up, I’m putting her in my household registry!”
“Once you come of age, we’ll proceed immediately. You’re planning to make a life partnership contract with Shirley, then?”
“That seems to be how it’ll work, doesn’t it?”
By the time I come of age, the legislation should pass and be implemented. When I sought confirmation from Shirley and Croa about this, both nodded as if it were obvious.
“Who else did you think I’d do it with?”
“If the other party is Shirley, there’s no helping it.”
Right—Croa, you need to stop making that resentful ghost face and giving those strange looks at anyone other than Shirley.
Now all we could do was wait for milk. I glanced at Kisomalos to see if goat’s milk might work, but he frantically shook his head, insisting he was male and couldn’t produce it. Our household’s ancestral deity is truly useless.
“Feeding and putting her to sleep isn’t the end of it—we’ll need to hire tutors, and then there’s clothing, toys, and everything else. If word gets out that I’ve adopted a child, it’ll become quite the gossip.”
It all comes down to money. Without it, nothing can be done. As I sighed heavily, Father smiled at me with an almost devilish kindness and made an offer.
“Want me to lend you some?”
“Yes, please. I’d be grateful.”
So I end up relying on Father’s generosity again. Still, even if the Chiron Duke’s House is wealthy, is it really okay for me to borrow several trillion like this? How are they even managing their fiefdom’s finances?
When I asked if the northern territories were in good shape, Father said something utterly reckless.
“My nephew will become a duke soon enough anyway, so what does it matter.”
“Oh.”
So once he passes on the ducal title, it’s no longer his concern? But Father, even though you’re lending me money interest-free, what if the creditor changes and suddenly demands immediate repayment with interest? Didn’t you say you’d only hold the ducal title until your nephew comes of age?
“When does that nephew of yours come of age anyway?”
“Well, I’d say about two more years?”
“Eeeeeek!”
In two years, I might not be in a position to pay back the debt leisurely?! If I don’t repay it quickly, won’t that be a disaster?!
My heart began pounding with anxiety, when suddenly something odd occurred to me. When I was undergoing the trial, wasn’t Father an Archduke? If he passed the title to his nephew, shouldn’t he have been unable to rise to Archduke rank?
“…”
Did something happen preventing him from passing the title to his nephew? Could the nephew have… died? Worried on multiple fronts, I asked Father if his nephew was doing well.
“He is growing up well in the Chiron Territory, right? He’s not ill or anything?”
“Well… I wouldn’t know?”
“Show some interest in your nephew!”
“Well, after I went to prison, I entrusted all the fiefdom’s affairs to Choco.”
Now that I thought about it, that was true. When Father staged that petty coup, I’d heard he suddenly went to find Choco and demanded she hand over money and private soldiers. Choco had lamented about it greatly. I’d have to ask her about the nephew’s wellbeing when I saw her later.
After waiting a bit, baby supplies like formula and bottles arrived, and my friends and Emily struggled together heating water, changing the child’s clothes, and managing the chaos. Watching us labor, Father, who’d been enjoying the spectacle, finally couldn’t contain himself when he saw the inexperienced Emilys fumbling with bottles, and he stood up from his seat.
Father picked up a bottle, tapped a few drops onto the back of his hand to check the temperature, then expertly cradled Leon and put the bottle to his lips.
He was a seasoned professional. They must teach all sorts of things in early childhood education programs. I was genuinely impressed.
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The next day, I encountered Choco loitering near the Emperor’s temporary office. Since I had something to ask anyway, I inquired about Father’s nephew, and unlike Father, Choco readily recalled her cousin.
“Oh, Luluping Chiron?”
“That’s quite a unique nickname too.”
What on earth could be shortened to Luluping Chiron? Father said it came from his mother’s name, so perhaps Lulupiña? But still, what kind of name is Luluping Chiron?
I chuckled and remarked that people with such amusing names would surely get along, but Choco’s expression grew serious as she corrected me.
“That’s actually his real name—Luluping Chiron.”
“….”
“….”
“Not a nickname, but his actual name?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
How did that even happen? How did he end up as Luluping Chiron? Were his parents obsessed with some fairy tale involving that word? I’d heard such trends existed before I was born.
“Well, apparently some fairy tale with that word was popular when he was young.”
Ah, so that’s where it came from.
“He was so impressed by it that he asked everyone to call him Luluping Chiron, and he even filed a legal name change petition with the court himself.”
He must be insane. And it’s a disaster he brought upon himself.
As I waited for more with exaggerated expressions of sympathy, Choco sighed about the court’s inflexibility.
“Once he came of age and realized what he’d done, he tried to change it back to his original name, but the court rejected it, saying a second name change was too difficult.”
“Oh my, what a predicament….”
“All his business contracts and banks have him registered as Luluping Chiron, and his official seal is stamped with that name too. It’s probably too late to change it now, especially at his age.”
“This is truly unfortunate….”
Poor thing. So he’s condemned to live his entire life as Luluping Chiron because of a childhood whim? Could he have actually fled to avoid the embarrassment of inheriting the dukedom under that name?
“What’s he doing these days anyway? He’s preparing to inherit the dukedom, right?”
“Wow, you’re incredibly perceptive.”
What? Did he really run away because of the embarrassing name? No, he can’t abandon his fiefdom like that! Even if it takes effort, it would be better to legally change his name and renegotiate all the contracts. The Princess or the Emperor could pressure the court.
As I considered various solutions, Choco delivered an answer filled with unexpected twists.
“He became successful with a jazz band and is aiming to become a superstar, so they’ve relieved him of successor training.”
“What?”
“He has a stage name too. What was it again? Lumi Lumi?”
Luluping Chiron still hasn’t come to his senses? From Luluping Chiron to Lumi Lumi? Fine, live like that forever.
“But what about the fiefdom? Who’s governing Chiron Territory right now?”
“A territorial administrator.”
“This is madness….”
The heir is alive and well, yet they’ve entrusted that wealthy fiefdom to a single administrator? Is everyone insane? If by some miracle that administrator is an honest and upright person, they’d be cursing the Emperor who handed over four trillion in Chiron assets to the Kisomalos Princess.
My head was spinning so badly that I pressed my palm against my forehead.
“Tell Luluping Chiron to come to the Imperial Palace for a while. I need to straighten out his thinking.”
“He’ll probably say he’s too busy with the band.”
“If I order it, he’ll do it! No more excuses!”
“Understood.”
Choco was momentarily startled before breaking into laughter, praising my spirited nature. She declared that only someone so willfully independent could be the Princess of Kisomalos, lifting me up and spinning me around in circles. She swore that by whatever means necessary, she would bring that boy here to show me.
“He was a boy?!”
“Of course. The Chiron household is notoriously lacking in daughters.”
Now that I thought about it, from what I’d heard, the Chiron family was practically all sons. Father was male, Choco was male, Father’s uncle was male, Father’s older brothers were all male—only Mother, who transferred her household registry to Lorowi, was female.
“Well, the ancestral rites must be completed, so come back right after Halloween.”
“I shall obey your command.”
When he arrives, I’ll put him through his paces, make him undergo successor training all over again, and thoroughly humble him so his spirit breaks. Then even as Chiron Duke, he won’t dare complain about paying interest.
“Hmph.”
He’s an irritating fellow, but since he seems manageable, it actually works out well. If he were as meticulous as Father, I’d have been unable to write off the debt and would have had to repay the principal instead.
I hummed a cheerful tune and decided to go out and play with my friends. Kisomalos must have become a spirit by now—surely he’ll say something when he descends during the ritual. This Halloween, I can conduct the ancestral rites without worry.
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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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