Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 37
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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 37. From Now On, Kill Each Other (3)
I was about to suggest we could hold a modest celebration if necessary, but Prisoner snorted and told me not to worry about money.
“Chiron isn’t even part of the Three Great Noble Families of the Empire, yet he rose to the rank of Duke. Do you know why?”
“Uh… why?”
“Because he has an absurd amount of money.”
“Whoa!”
What?! There was such a hidden secret?! Why didn’t anyone tell me he was rich sooner?!
As I squirmed with excitement, Head Attendant Grandmother sighed in exasperation and scolded me.
“Sigh, you really are Helbatro’s child—you see one thing and forget two others.”
“Grandmother, why are you scolding me!”
“The state treasury is nearly depleted. Where do you think the funds came from to assault Loruruje Fortress? We’re still in the middle of rebuilding, you know.”
“Oh…”
Right, even if we scraped the treasury bare to attack the fortress, I hadn’t considered where the money for reconstruction and running the nation would come from.
As I stared blankly at Prisoner, the man boasted confidently, showing off the divine seal on his back.
“As I mentioned before, as long as Chiron protects them, people, companies, and investments all grow splendidly. The odds are fifty-fifty, but even that alone has accumulated immense wealth throughout the history of Chiron Duke’s House.”
“Wow!”
So that’s how he was able to keep an eye on Havilland’s ventures. I thought Prisoner’s memories from before his return had come back.
“Wait a second!”
Then couldn’t I use my pre-return memory chance to invest beforehand?! Why am I only thinking of this now? Am I an idiot? Well, I am Helbatro’s child, so I must be a blockhead!
“Father! Your Majesty! Then give me lots of money!”
“Handle your desires within your allowance. Learning financial sense at a young age is important.”
“Wow! Such unwavering educational philosophy!”
So I can’t get a lot of money and flex with a catalog. Still, if I can use the Princess Palace budget entirely for myself, I could make small investments with the surplus. Though technically I’m in debt for a year’s advance.
“However, if there’s a matter that requires funds like this time, send me a proposal. I’ll review it and provide sponsorship.”
“Excellent!”
Just the fact that he’ll review it is more than enough! My stepfather wouldn’t spend money on me—he’d even take away the existing budget to lavish on women and indulge in luxury!
“But can I say one thing?”
“Say whatever you wish.”
Now that I knew the Duke’s House had money, I could make this request, but I recalled what happened on my birthday last year and made a displeased expression.
“I’d rather have a normal birthday party than assault a fortress…”
It’s a shame that the first banquet I’ll ever attend won’t be my own birthday celebration.
At my dejected expression, Head Attendant Grandmother kicked Prisoner’s shin hard.
“I told you we should give her a normal birthday gift!”
So that was the gift they’d decided on after discussion. Strangely, my mood lifted again, and I grinned widely watching Prisoner and Grandmother bicker.
✦ ✦ ✦
The outline of my plan was straightforward.
First, since Alset had been singing about banquets so much, I would host a commemorative banquet to demonstrate my good health.
Second, I’d bring up the topic of my new tutor, creating friction between Alset and Lorowi. My Aunt was furious about losing her right to recommend my tutor, so it would definitely work.
Third, I’d leak suspicious information about Lorowi’s movements—knowledge I possessed from living through sixteen years—to Alset to provoke conflict between them.
Fourth, once they started fighting and wore each other down, the people who annoyed me would conveniently fall silent in pairs.
Plan complete!
In essence, that was the gist of it. Marshmallow and Head Attendant Grandmother apparently deemed my shameless exploitation of even my maternal family for my own safety as demonic scheming.
But here’s the thing—even if my Aunt cared for me, I’d never actually built a relationship of trust with Lorowi.
Even if my Aunt currently held the position of Marquess, my Maternal Grandmother was the true head of the household. If I’d truly trusted Lorowi, I would have entrusted the throne to them. So why did I entrust it to Prisoner, who appeared out of nowhere? Because Prisoner—my father who fell from the sky—was far more trustworthy than Lorowi.
“Piiiishaaaaaa!”
Ugh! My Aunt showed up in that gaudy dress again!
Fearing she’d grab my earlobes and suck on them if she caught me, I quickly shouted for the Friends Shield. Shirley and Croa immediately blocked my path.
“Aunt! It’s been so long!”
“W-we meet for the first time! I’m Croa!”
She wouldn’t use force against the children. I quickly found Prisoner and nestled into his embrace. Yes, this is where I feel most secure—in the arms of my savior, the one who once killed me.
“Your Majesty, surely we shouldn’t prevent a family reunion? May I embrace my niece as well?”
“My daughter dislikes it.”
“Hey, you!”
With so many eyes watching, I couldn’t curse openly. Serves you right! Why do you keep trying to touch other people’s earlobes anyway?
I made my rounds greeting people while nestled in Prisoner’s arms, advertising that the legitimate heir of Kisomalos was thriving in good health. Once the atmosphere of the banquet hall had warmed sufficiently, I nudged Prisoner to bring up the tutor topic.
“Come to think of it, the Princess should probably acquire some means of self-defense soon.”
Wait. We never discussed specifying the subject matter, did we? Startled, I pinched Prisoner’s side hard, but the man just grinned at me as if it didn’t tickle at all.
“Bayonet techniques! The women of our household have traditionally mastered bayonet techniques as a basic skill, Pisha!”
“Ah, how could such a young Princess possibly handle guns and blades? It would be more prudent to begin with unarmed combat.”
He took the bait, just as expected. While various ministers and prominent nobles had coveted my tutor position, none had the audacity to insert themselves between Alset and Lorowi.
“What are you saying? My sister hit an apple a hundred meters away with a revolver when she was Pisha’s age.”
“That is… the former Empress was rather exceptional, was she not?”
Why did my Aunt keep bringing up my mother’s legend and expecting me to match it? Every time she mentioned it, I got incredibly annoyed. My mood soured and I pouted, but Prisoner patted my back and sided with Alset.
“The Princess is indeed still young. It would be best to start with unarmed combat.”
“Your Majesty agrees! We shall find someone appropriate from our household!”
“Wait, wait! I never said I specifically wanted to learn bayonet techniques, did I? Our household has perfectly capable combat instructors!”
“If anything, a Pankration instructor would be preferable.”
Huh?
Suddenly, a comprehensive martial art that could kill someone with bare hands emerged, and everyone in the banquet hall stared at Prisoner with wide eyes.
“I noticed before that the Princess has courage and bites well. Pankration would be suitable.”
That’s not a self-defense technique for building stamina—that’s an ancient killing art. I’d learned boxing and wrestling for self-defense until adulthood, so I knew Pankration was terrifying. Essentially, any action performed with the body was permitted in that martial art.
You could use knee strikes like in kickboxing, apply ground techniques like in jiu-jitsu. You could even bite your opponent to death—it was an absolutely chaotic martial art. That’s why training included exercises to strengthen bite force.
“Pankration! Okay, I’ll look for an instructor, Pisha!”
“Now that I think about it, we have an expert among our household guests. If you’d permit it, I could bring them by as early as tomorrow.”
“Don’t you dare lie in a place like this!”
“Please speak with more courtesy.”
Duke Alset clicked his tongue, lamenting that Lorowi’s lack of decorum was unavoidable, and my Aunt’s fists clenched tight. She was restraining herself because this was an official setting, but… I wondered how Duke Alset planned to handle the fallout later.
In any case, this was the perfect moment while Father seemed more interested in Duke Alset. I jabbed Prisoner in the ribs to signal him, and the man set me down before disappearing into a side room with Duke Alset to continue their conversation.
“Pisha! You’re more comfortable and happier meeting Aunt’s people, aren’t you?!”
Now I’d work on encouraging my Aunt in turn. I made a pitiful expression and threw myself into her embrace.
“Well, Aunt’s people are more comfortable, it’s true~.”
“Don’t worry, Pisha! I’ll make sure to fill this place with our people, even if I have to deal with those bastards!”
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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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