Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 38
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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 38. From Now On, Kill Each Other (4)
Why did my Maternal Grandmother appoint my Aunt as a marquess? Well, she only had two children—my Mother and my Aunt—and since my Mother married into the Imperial Palace and left, there was no one else to elevate. That must be it.
My foolish Aunt really ought to avoid getting swindled somewhere and never returning. Worried about Lorowi’s future, I rolled my eyes toward the side corridor where Prisoner had vanished.
The information about Lorowi that I handed over to Prisoner—I find it suspicious too, but I’m not entirely sure what it means.
Lorowi sends people to Media every quarter. They load cargo from merchant ships full of daily necessities at the harbor and transport it to Lorowi. According to the documents, it’s clearly listed as daily necessities, but I can’t understand why they receive items every quarter—things that could easily be purchased domestically—from overseas via merchant ship.
Since it’s a maternal family matter, and back then I was too busy with Imperial Palace budget issues to pay attention, I simply let it slide. But this has been going on for quite some time. It continued from when my Mother was alive until my death—easily twenty years of this arrangement.
I hope Aelset uncovers everything this time so my curiosity is finally satisfied.
“Pisha! Pisha! Pisha!”
“What’s all this commotion, Shirley?”
“Please, hide me!”
Despite asking to be hidden, she was already squeezing herself under the tablecloth quite skillfully. I glanced around to see if some natural predator had appeared, and there were Count Achilles and his eldest son loitering about the banquet.
“Please tell them I’m completely stupid!”
“Don’t worry about that.”
She was terrified of losing her study space. I positioned myself in front of the table to ensure Shirley stayed well hidden, and exchanged brief greetings with Count Achilles and his family.
When I mentioned that my cousin, the Achilles Young Lady, was spending pleasant days at the Imperial Palace doing embroidery and playing the harp, the Count’s face broke into a smile and he thanked me before leaving.
I suppose you could call it “birds of a feather flock together” or “ink near black becomes black.” Why do all my friends seem to be at odds with their own blood relatives like I am?
“Shirley, your father’s gone.”
When I tapped the table, a girl with lynx-like eyes poked her head out—Richelieu. She scanned her surroundings sharply and let out an angry, growling sound.
“I’m going to destroy that family.”
“At least you’re healthy enough to get angry.”
Being able to rage when furious means your heart is healthy. Croa, on the other hand, has been nowhere to be found since being used in the Friends Shield—he’s merged with the darkness. He probably went into hiding after a few nobles with connections to the Media Royal Family appeared.
Even if he’d suffered damage, it would be understandable for him to vent his anger, so why is he avoiding and hiding?
“Croa! Croa, where are you! Croa!”
I searched for Croa while proudly holding snacks, and from a corner of the banquet hall, a pale lavender darkness gestured to me. At first glance, I thought it was some Lavender decoration, but when I got closer, I was surprised to find Croa sitting there.
“You’re quite skilled at hiding. Here, eat this. Drink it.”
When I put a Choco tart in his mouth, the little one munched through the snack and made a grateful expression.
“If I become noticeable, it seemed I would be a burden to you, Pisha, so I hid myself here.”
Do you want praise? Why do you have that “I did well, didn’t I?” look on your face?
I chewed on the sugary snack like a child and asked a question.
“Why would you being noticeable be a burden?”
“Because I am lowborn.”
“What?”
I hadn’t expected such an answer, so I flew around in figure-eights like a bee with the candy still in my mouth. Who told him that? Did they think it was acceptable to say such things just because of his prisoner status? Prisoner and Choco wouldn’t say such cruel things. Did my Aunt do this while I was away? Surely not the Emilys in my Princess Palace.
“Where did you hear such a thing? From my Aunt? From the Chief Chamberlain?”
“No. I met my Aunt for the first time today, and the Chief Chamberlain has been kind to me.”
“You didn’t come up with such thoughts on your own, did you?”
“My older brothers said so.”
“Wow…”
So there was some interaction among the brothers in that household after all. It would have been better if there wasn’t.
I pondered how to convey to Croa that my mood had soured considerably. You’re my cousin—if my cousin goes around declaring himself lowborn, what does that make my position?
“Croa, I am the legitimate heir of Kisomalos.”
“Yes. You are the one and only Princess of the Imperial Kingdom.”
“The legitimate heir possesses only precious things.”
“You are certainly worthy of such a position.”
“But didn’t you just say that what I have is worthless?”
“When did I ever—”
The little one tried to deny it, but then realized his mistake and clamped his mouth shut.
“Nothing I possess is without value. The same applies to you.”
“Isn’t treating people like objects supposed to be wrong?”
“People or objects—if it’s mine, then it’s mine!”
Prisoner is my father, Grandmother is my Chief Chamberlain, and Shirley and Croa are my companions. If I’ve claimed something as mine, then it’s mine. Whether it’s people or objects, movable or immovable property—it doesn’t matter.
As I declared this boldly, Croa’s expression grew troubled, and he opened his mouth hesitantly.
“Surely what belongs to you must be precious. But I am of lowly birth….”
“You’re mine, so of course you’re precious! Objectively speaking, isn’t being the legitimate heir of Media a noble status?”
“But the throne belongs to my older brother….”
“I’m going to burn down that entire family, so just wait!”
“Eh?!”
To underestimate what it means to be a legitimate heir—that family will face divine retribution even without my intervention. Besides, the customs of the Media Royal Family that I know and the vile practices Prisoner told me about are quite different.
These must be recent corruptions. At least when I studied world history, I never learned of such depravities.
That bastard Prisoner—despite being locked in Prison, he’s surprisingly well-informed about neighboring nations’ affairs. Even without the pretext of protecting the Princess, he would have committed treason eventually. Before my regression, he eliminated me and took over the country.
“Anyway, remember this! Everything I own is precious! Therefore, Croa, you are also of noble status!”
“That’s just sophistry….”
“Say it! I am of noble status!”
“You are of noble status!”
“Not that, you fool! Say it about yourself—Croa is of noble status!”
“Croa is… of noble… status…?”
If I say so, then it’s so. Don’t be cheeky!
I punched Croa’s head with my fist, and the little one let out a yelp, tears streaming down his face.
“From now on, when you introduce yourself, say you’re the noble Croa! And write ‘I am of noble status’ ten times as punishment!”
“That’s tyranny born of power!”
“You’ve learned too well how to complain!”
I kicked Croa’s shin and dragged over the wheelchair.
“Sit!”
“Yes? But—”
“Don’t talk back!”
“Aren’t I supposed to be of noble status?”
“I’m even more noble, so listen to me!”
“Sophistry…!”
I forcibly seated Croa in the wheelchair and made my rounds greeting the nobles. As I went about, something felt odd—I didn’t see any of the neutral faction nobles…. But that wasn’t important right now, so I focused on introducing him properly.
“Listen up! This is Croa, my companion!”
“Ahem, hello.”
“And who might you be?”
“Hello, ahem, I am Croa, a person of noble standing.”
“Oh my, how tedious.”
Croa, you must recite this conversation endlessly as you wander every corner of the Banquet Hall.
The moment I put this into practice, Richelieu eagerly joined the Princess’s distinguished belly introduction gathering. Unlike Shirley, who chattered away with laughter, Croa was half in tears.
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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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