Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 169

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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 169. The Young One Learning Only Bad Things (3)
“Why is such a beautiful lady locked away in prison? What crime did you commit—stealing the hearts of countless men?”
“That’s certainly not it.”
What crime was my Aunt imprisoned for? Neglecting my upbringing and teaching me biased knowledge—I said I didn’t mind, so she wouldn’t have been charged. Was it for condoning Yupi Grandmother’s kidnapping of me? But Aunt didn’t even know about the kidnapping in the first place. How could she condone something she knew nothing about?
“…Aunt, why did you end up in the slammer?”
As I stood there bewildered, wondering why she shouldn’t be here, Croa bent at the waist and whispered softly.
“Your Aunt is imprisoned under the law of collective punishment.”
“Huh? Didn’t that get abolished during my grandmother’s reign?”
“Father temporarily revived it.”
Ah, that explains it. I’d heard that a neutral noble family withered away when I was young. Was it because of this? Father really is making excellent use of the imperial throne. Since the law itself wasn’t changed, I hadn’t even realized Father was reviving collective punishment whenever he felt like it.
“It’s because… Aunt’s mother committed grave crimes, so she remains imprisoned alongside her.”
“My! Such filial devotion!”
If Aunt could leave right now, she’d abandon Yupi Grandmother without hesitation. It’s not like Grandmother is acting up like before, calling out “Ru, Ru” incessantly. From what I saw last time when Aunt grabbed Grandmother by the head and they fought, she seems to have made peace with it somewhat.
I said it wasn’t filial devotion, but Edison pretended not to hear, clearing his throat as he stood before the prison. Aunt looked at Edison with dead eyes.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, beautiful lady. Meeting for the first time in a prison—how charmingly atmospheric. I am the founder of the Edison family, Edison Edison. Full name, that is. Amusing, isn’t it?”
Aunt was cursing him with her eyes. The woman who’d been frowning, wondering what kind of fool had rolled in from where, suddenly brightened when our eyes met.
“Piiiishaaa! If you were coming, you could’ve said so!”
“I come when I feel like coming.”
“Right, that’s true! That’s how family does things!”
My Aunt had been locked up in prison, yet she’d become surprisingly positive. Is the air here good? Father got reformed here too, and I even learned something like social skills.
“So, there’s nothing uncomfortable about it?”
“Nope! It’s more pleasant than the battlefield! Meals come on time, and we inmates exercise together. Oh, thanks to the radio Pisha made, there’s no time to be bored at night!”
I didn’t exactly make that radio myself, but since I provided the idea, I’ll take credit for it. All related trademarks and patents are registered under my name anyway.
“Princess, what is that person?”
Larima tugged at my sleeve and spoke hesitantly. Hehe, how adorable. Larima really is small and pretty, and she has the knack of making any gesture seem endearing. This must be the charm of meeting someone younger.
As I stroked Larima’s head affectionately, Croa let out an exaggerated cough. I was startled and automatically introduced Edison.
“Oh right, this guy was supposed to get the propeller business originally. If you mention Edison Industries, Aelset couldn’t possibly not know, right?”
“Ah! The bastard who gobbled up all the Air Force contracts!”
“How dare a child speak to an adult like that!”
“Don’t forget the class system still exists here.”
Even if he lived in some remote backwater, how could he still not be adapted to a class-based society?
I apologized to Larima and compromised with Edison, agreeing to let him off with three beatings.
“How could I possibly go against your word?”
“Good. Thank you for understanding.”
I had Emily, who keeps a three-section staff on hand, give Edison three strikes on the rear.
“Ow! I’m so wronged I should become a noble!”
“Then buy yourself a title with the money you have.”
“What good is money that won’t do that! Better to expand the production line by one more.”
Yes, you’re still cut out to be a businessman. Truth be told, after accumulating all this merit, I was rather thoughtless not to grant him an honorary title. He’s also the aide to Shirley, who will become Count Achilles, so giving him a non-hereditary barony would be perfect.
“Look here. I’ll secure a position for you later.”
“Thank you so much, customer!”
“Before that, we need to do something about that outfit. If you show up to the Capital banquet dressed like that, I’m banning you from entry.”
“What’s wrong with how I’m dressed?”
“You look like a clown.”
“What?!”
I found his surprise more amusing than anything. When I narrowed my eyes and expressed doubt about whether Edison had lost his mind, the man jumped in alarm and explained that every single piece he was wearing followed the latest Capital fashion trends.
“Ah, you’re right. When I think about it piece by piece, nothing here is out of fashion.”
“Exactly!”
“But you can’t wear all of them at once like this.”
Each item was fashionable as an accent piece, but wearing them all together was a disaster. Now that I thought about it, he’d even brought along a sachet I didn’t recognize—he must have been trying to keep up with Capital trends.
“While I’m granting you a title, I’ll also assign a secretary to handle external affairs. Just wear whatever they tell you to.”
“The Princess’s grace is as boundless as the sea!”
If you understand, then stop giving me headaches. The production line is already running without pause, and if the factory catches fire because of this, what then? I’d suggested compromising on just one propeller, but Edison scoffed and glared at Larima.
“No! If it’s come to this, I’ll win fair and square and earn it myself! I won’t let anyone say I clung to the Princess for business deals ever again!”
“If you’re committed to fair competition, that’s exactly what I want!”
Neither of them had any intention of playing fair, yet here they were spouting such nonsense. And the fact that they were talking about fair play with a fourteen-year-old was ridiculous in itself. Both of them were nearly thirty.
“….”
Now that I thought about it, Edison was considerably younger than my Aunt too. I’d forgotten because he wasn’t as dramatically different as Larima, but there was nearly a ten-year gap between Edison and my Aunt.
“What a younger-man killer.”
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
Right. I chatted idly with Croa as we passed the Prison entrance, where Larima and Edison were bickering loudly. The Prison was a bit more modest than my Aunt’s, but it had everything necessary. Standing before it was Yupi Grandmother’s personal Jailer, holding a long wooden stick.
“May the Golden Sheep’s radiance shine upon you, Princess. Unfortunately, today Grandmother is in a foul mood.”
“What’s that in your hand?”
“Ah, this.”
The Jailer placed red ginseng candy and silver pills into the end of the wooden stick, which was shaped like a human hand, then pressed a button to make the fist close. As the multi-purpose hand toy grasped a handful of candy, the Jailer pushed the stick through the bars and explained.
“When she’s throwing a tantrum, giving her this calms her down a bit.”
“Pfft! Pffhehehehe!”
Oh, this looks fun! I should try it too!
I grabbed the stick and shook it through the bars, calling to Yupi Grandmother as if she were a monkey in a cage.
“Yupi Grandmother! Look at this! You have snacks you like!”
As I called to the child-form Yupi Grandmother in a teasing voice, a red-haired ten-year-old child bolted upright from the bed and approached like a ghost. I screamed in surprise—”Eek!”—but Grandmother swung the stick hard and hurled the toy hand at me.
“How dare this tiny thing mock me!”
“But Grandmother, you’re even tinier than me!”
“Where do you get off twisting my words!”
“I’m in my own Imperial Palace, so I’ll twist whatever I want!”
“You’re determined to win this, aren’t you!”
Grandmother reached her hand through the bars to strike me, but I nimbly dodged. I hadn’t trained in Pankration, Jeet Kune Do, and Choco’s assassination techniques all these years for nothing.
Once I’d retreated to a safe distance, no matter how far Grandmother stretched her arm, she couldn’t reach me. All she could do was throw a tantrum and kick the bars with her feet.
“Dammit!”
“Shuffle, shuffle—the tiny child Grandmother.”
“Where on earth did you learn to say such things!”
“The Chamberlain’s daughter taught me, so what!”
“Ugh! That little brat!”
It was delightful. Apparently, coming here occasionally to curse out the Chamberlain was incredibly stress-relieving. As I grinned mischievously, Croa poked my ribs repeatedly with concern.
“Please stop. You’ll only invite more trouble later.”
“What does it matter? I’m powerless now anyway.”
“You don’t know Lorowi’s temperament? If anything happened to Grandmother, he’d break the contract in a heartbeat, even if it meant abandoning his divine status.”
“Oh.”
Now that I thought about it, that was entirely possible. Lorowi was more than capable of such a thing. I decided to stop teasing the Chamberlain and asked about the person I’d been searching for, just in case.
“Grandmother, do you happen to know someone named Kirke?”
“Why are you looking for that person?”
Huh? You actually know her?!

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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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