Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 184

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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 184. Where Is Kirke? (5)
“This is far too sudden!”
Duke Alset cried out toward the heavens. I couldn’t predict how matters would unfold later, but now that Larima had received recognition of legitimate succession, he was effectively the next Duke of Alset. The Elders favored him, and the Maternal Family Home had wealth. True, the Maternal Family Home had neglected Larima until now, but the moment they heard he’d become legitimate, they’d come running to curry favor.
Larima might feel hurt that they’d ignored him until now and suddenly acted friendly once fortune smiled—but what could be done? That’s how politics worked. I’d have to call Larima over later and give him a lecture on worldly wisdom. Even if it grated, one had to exploit every advantage available.
“Princess! Lady Kazelnu! I’ve done it!”
Larima, who had been holding the certificate of legitimate succession in a daze, glistened with tears. I was equally bewildered, truth be told. The timing felt odd, didn’t it? If Duke Alset had recognized Larima’s abilities and made him legitimate because of the propeller component contract he’d secured, he should have stamped the legitimacy seal then and there.
Yet he’d deliberately orchestrated this at my sixteenth birthday banquet, before thousands of witnesses… Either he was an incurable attention-seeker, or he took considerable interest in Larima’s romantic prospects. Or perhaps, as was often the case, there was some meta-narrative reason at play.
“Well done, Larima. I am very proud of you.”
Though various thoughts swirled, I had to offer words of commendation. As I praised Larima with gravity, the sorrows of his younger years came flooding back, and he finally burst into tears.
“Waaah! Princess, I tried so hard! Every day without sleep, studying and studying…!”
“Yes, I know. I know better than anyone how much you suffered.”
Starting from a blank slate, you studied alongside us until your nose bled, and even after catching up with our progress, you never slackened your efforts. You carved time from your sleep to visit the Elders, flattering and cajoling them, gathering those in the family who harbored resentment toward Duke Alset and building your faction.
And still you found remaining hours to visit your Aunt and sing songs of courtship.
You truly lived with diligence. This is something I know, Croa knows, Shirley knows, Father knows, and Marshmallow knows. You have earned the right to weep and wail and whine at this moment.
As I embraced and patted Larima, the Princess Palace household gathered around, and the Aisette Elder Council elders approached with congratulations. Duke Alset, watching this with displeasure, finally voiced something he’d been harboring.
“Your Highness, Larima is my son, but anyone who didn’t know might think you were family.”
“I raised him myself—he’s no different from my own child.”
“Raised him, you say?”
“Duke, Larima has spent far more time with me than with you. Not to mention the Duchess.”
I was as much Larima’s mother as anyone, and he’d been raised in the Imperial Palace. When I stated this boldly, the Aisette Elder Council members who knew the circumstances glared at Duke Alset ferociously. Finding no defense, the Duke drifted away in search of alcohol. He’d picked a fight he couldn’t win.
“Ahem.”
But since it was my birthday, I couldn’t leave the child crying. I leaned close to Larima’s ear and whispered words of encouragement.
“Seize power from above—that’s the spirit. The Imperial Family will back you, so the moment you come of age, take the Duke’s seat for yourself.”
“Hehe, yes.”
Right, I’d be marrying off my Aunt anyway, so she had to become a Duchess for my honor’s sake. I handed Larima to my Aunt and approached Edison with a separate nudge. My Aunt had spent her life on battlefields. Rather than the title of Duchess, she’d want a husband who could provide her a place to shine and weapons to wield.
“Just you wait, customer! I’ll whip my research team into shape and show you anything you desire!”
“That’s right! That’s our Edison!”
I laughed heartily and declared I’d be waiting for new weapons. Shirley and Croa exchanged cold glances and each offered a comment.
“How did you end up like this?”
“It’s because Pisha’s in your eyes—Pisha was always like this from the start.”
“That’s not true. She was kind when she was younger…”
“The world has kind garbage too, you know.”
Quiet, both of you. Stop calling me eco-friendly recycled garbage. I twisted both their ears and sought out Nanakda. I found him because I suspected he’d do something strange if left alone, and sure enough, he was proselytizing to a group of nouveau riche nobles and bourgeoisie.
“Hey! I told you not to solicit religion in the Imperial Palace, you religious fanatic!”
“Ah, ah-ha! It’s not solicitation! It’s purely business discussion!”
“Then pay corporate taxes!”
“Is there no religious freedom in this nation!”
“There isn’t, you fool!”
We have no state religion—the Imperial Family is the faith. I forcibly dispersed the crowd and grabbed Nanakda’s ear. Stay where I can see you. If you pull any strange schemes behind my back, you’re dead.
“You said you’d proselytize in the Empire but made no progress! You said you’d captured Kirke but she’s already escaped! What exactly are you doing, you useless wretch!”
“Wow, that’s the strongest curse word that could ever come out of Pisha’s mouth.”
“We’re in a position where we’d be discarded if we became useless too. Haha.”
These people really hold onto things. How long ago was that usefulness comment, and they’re still bringing it up? But whether it was an effective rebuke for Nanakda or not, the man insisted he’d been working all this time.
“Hey! Do you know how much groundwork I’ve been laying down all this while!”
“He’s got a point there.”
Oh, Father!
He said he’d be late to the banquet, yet he showed up dragging along a bunch of unfamiliar people. And when Nanakda saw these strangers, he puffed out his chest and shrugged his shoulders proudly. Were they people connected to Nanakda?
“The Astiages Empire’s colonial policy is showing signs of collapse. Seleukia, one of the colonies far from the center, has declared independence this time and requested protection from the Kisomalos Empire.”
Oh, so these people here are diplomatic envoys sent from the newly independent nation? I greeted them with the authority befitting a princess and expressed my gratitude for their trust in the Kisomalos Empire.
“By groundwork, you mean this?”
“Exactly! All the independence funds came straight from my pocket!”
Nanakda really does have an enormous amount of money. Truly worthy of being the individual estimated to possess the greatest assets in the Mortal Realm. Well, given that the global logistics market could be paralyzed at his whim, there’s nothing to be done about it. That’s why even the Astiages Empire can’t move its military directly to get Nanakda’s head. Right now, many corporations and nations are entangled with Nanakda as an individual.
“So your nation still had a royal heir who escaped the Empire’s purge? You’ve accomplished something remarkable.”
I’d heard that when Seleukia was absorbed into the Empire, the royal line had been completely extinguished. So I made this comment, but I noticed the envoys looking uncomfortable. Wondering if I’d said something wrong, one of the envoys gave me a surprising answer.
“Your Highness, we are representatives of the Provisional Government.”
“Huh?!”
A provisional government? What? Seleukia established a government? Wait, that means… Seleukia is a republic?!
As I stood there with my mouth hanging open, stammering incoherently, Father covered my mouth and watched me with barely suppressed laughter. This sneaky Father! He’d been hiding all the information about the independent nation just to see me like this! Seeing Nanakda giggling too, it seemed the two of them had deliberately coordinated an information blackout just to watch me make a fool of myself.
“A republic, yes, a republic you say? So then, does a prime minister serve as the representative or something?”
“Ah, we plan to have the nobility participate in voting to elect a president this time.”
“Oh, oh!”
An aristocratic republic—in other words, an oligarchy. At least that was within the realm of understanding. I calmed my mind and decided to empathize within the scope of what I knew and continue the conversation.
“A republic! Yes! It’s actually a field I’ve taken an interest in! I was deeply moved after reading ‘Martin’s Discourse on the Republic’!”
“Pfft!”
Father finally grabbed a marble pillar in the hall and started laughing uncontrollably. Nanakda openly clutched his belly in laughter, and having apparently bonded with Father in the meantime, he spoke warmly toward him.
“Father, it was worth hiding it! Princess Vishnabel is hilarious!”
“I’m not your father.”
Damn it, you bastards. I’ll remember this.

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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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