Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 59

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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 59. There are as many ways to deceive as there are glittering stars in the night sky, and now that I think about it, how romantic (1)
After finishing morning sparring with Shirley and taking a refreshing shower, word came that Father was calling for me. He said he’d discovered something about Count Achilles’ territory and had things to discuss regarding the succession matter… I think it’s better to go alone. It would be best to have the higher-ups sort through this first before passing it along to Shirley anyway.
“Don’t call the children. I’ll go by myself.”
So I headed to the Main Palace with only today’s Emily, and in the corner of the Emperor’s Office that I knew so well, Choco was for some reason dressed like a swallow and shaking a cocktail shaker with practiced motions.
“Has Pisha arrived? If you tell me, I can make any drink you’d like!”
“Chocolate milk. Not too sweet.”
“Order received!”
Choco melted chocolate using military portable fuel, then added milk and ice to the shaker and shook it vigorously. I wondered what she was doing, and it turned out Prisoner had been pulling an all-nighter, guzzling down an enormous amount of nutritional tonic.
“Wow, look at those dark circles under your eyes. You look like a panda, a real panda.”
Back when I didn’t bother grooming my beard, I looked like a grizzly bear, but now with those hollow eyes, I might as well be a panda. Regardless, with a build as large as a bear’s, that’s the kind of impression I’d give.
Living like this, only working, I’d die young. If Prisoner died young, he wouldn’t be able to treat me well anymore. I was about to launch into a lecture about this and that, when Prisoner’s eyes fluttered open and he looked at me. More precisely, he seemed to be looking at both my cheeks, and when I saw this father of mine stroking his rough stubble, I immediately realized what he was about to do.
“No!”
I firmly refused, but Father said if I didn’t like it, I should have become Emperor myself, and then he scooped me up and rubbed his cheek roughly against mine.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
It hurts! It hurts! This is surprisingly painful! It feels like he’s sanding my face with sandpaper! My cheeks! My cheeks are getting scraped raw!
“Kyieeeeeek!”
“Quite delightful.”
After thoroughly enjoying himself, Prisoner set me down and basked in the morning sunlight. He’s normally fine, but occasionally does the strangest things.
“Prisoner, why are you acting so crazy? Did you pull an all-nighter?”
“This is my fourth night without sleep.”
“Go to sleep.”
Shouldn’t he be sleeping right now instead of working? When I asked Choco if she could forcibly put him to bed, she answered that his stamina hadn’t declined enough yet to warrant forced sleep.
“Prisoner, you’re surprisingly impressive.”
“Well, I’m the one who survived a life-or-death duel with her, after all.”
Now that I think about it, the two of them did have a final confrontation in the Duchy. I’ve directly witnessed Choco’s prowess with my own eyes, so it resonates, but Prisoner being equally strong doesn’t quite hit home. Why is that? Because he seems manageable?
“Are you pulling all-nighters because of Achilles Territory?”
“No. Lorowi’s predecessor is returning, apparently.”
“What?!”
That woman usually goes on expeditions and doesn’t come back, so what brought her back this time? Looking around more carefully, all the scattered documents were official papers from Lorowi. While I was away from home, the Emperor had changed to Chiron, so that woman must have been quite shocked.
“What are you talking about? Are you talking about me?”
“No. Most of the documents were asking whether the imperial succession was lawful and whether she could have a hand in founding the Air Force.”
“Hmph.”
Right, when has that Chamberlain ever cared about me? She didn’t even visit the Imperial Palace when Mother gave birth to me, or so I’ve heard. And she didn’t spare a glance on the day I died either. That Chamberlain had virtually no interest in me whatsoever. How could she not come even once on the day I was born and the day I died?
“Ugh! How unlucky! Bring me water to wash my ears!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
While Emily brought hot water, let me ask about Achilles Territory.
Thinking he must have called me because he had something to confess, I pressed Prisoner for details, and the man downed another shot of nutritional tonic before sitting on the sofa. Is he going to die like this? If he dies, I’m in big trouble.
“Tada! Here comes the low-sugar chocolate milk!”
“Choco, Prisoner isn’t going to die, right? You made this drink with something good for his body, right?”
“Well, it’s all legal ingredients, so he probably won’t die.”
What on earth did Prisoner put in that beverage to spark talk of legality and illegality? I was loudly insisting I needed to drink it myself to verify its safety when Prisoner tossed me a beaded bracelet.
“It’s not a jade plate, but they were selling jade bracelets.”
“Huh?”
“They have magnets inside, supposedly good for your health.”
“Why would having magnets inside be good for your health?”
“You don’t know?”
I had no idea what he was talking about. Still, since it was supposedly beneficial for health, I put on the bracelet and paused to sense my newfound wellness.
“I don’t feel any healthier at all.”
“Apparently the people in the Fiefdom bought dozens of them each. They’re selling them in the Capital too, so they’re going to make a fortune—everyone here seems to have invested in the factory.”
“Why? They should have some sense, shouldn’t they?”
“It’s fairly common for this sort of thing to happen in isolated rural villages.”
Wait, it’s strange enough that health bracelets are trending, but investment fraud is common? What on earth is happening in my own country?
“If you’re curious, go see for yourself.”
“No, I mean, staying home is comfortable and nice—I don’t really want to go all the way out to the countryside.”
“Go.”
Prisoner had already assumed I would go and finished all the preparations—from arranging the airship to securing the automobiles for transfers, and he handed me a pamphlet for the Achilles Territory tourist route.
“No, you don’t have to do all this! There’s evidence of fraud! You’re the Emperor—just go there, use your authority to crush them, and strip the Count of his title!”
“One cannot become a good Emperor by trying to live an easy life.”
“Do you think you’re a good Emperor?!”
“I’m decent enough.”
“Ugh!”
Damn, did I catch this from Shirley? Hearing nonsense always makes me want to growl.
“And I, well…”
“…?”
Prisoner, about to say something remarkably abstract, made vague hand gestures as if grasping at clouds, then explained to me how he enjoyed life.
“Watching you struggle and strain, working yourself to exhaustion solving problems—that’s what brings me joy.”
“That’s perverted.”
“I received the Emperor’s throne solely to witness the Princess crying and wailing, creating chaos whenever she grows bored, and cleaning up the mess afterward.”
“Everyone around me is a pervert!”
“Your Highness! I am not a pervert, I assure you!”
“You’re the pervert who goes crazy at the sight of blood!”
“Please don’t hurt my feelings!”
I huffed indignantly and tried to escape this den of perverts, while Prisoner told me the luggage was all packed and I just needed to take it. Since he’d prepared it anyway, it would be useful to bring.
I grasped the small Carrier handle that fit my frame, tilted it comfortably, and began dragging it out of the office with a rumbling sound.
As I wobbled this way and that from the weight and the floor made squeaking sounds, I heard Choco and Prisoner slapping the table and laughing.
“Damn, Chiron really is a genius for thinking of this!”
“I knew it would be hilarious watching them drag that thing!”
Ugh! Don’t make fun of someone pulling a Carrier! I grumbled and later accepted Emily’s help as she brought ear-washing water, and I washed my ears.
“Emily, pour the leftover water on the office carpet.”
“Should I bill the cleaning costs to the Princess Palace?”
“Shiiiii!”
Then I’d just dump it in the flower bed in front of the Emperor’s Office! I let out a shriek and rolled the Carrier back and forth as I made my way back to the Princess Palace. My friends praised me for how intellectually impressive it looked dragging the Carrier around, which lifted my spirits.

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“Croa won’t do anything like a curse, right?”
“It was a contract he couldn’t fulfill until adulthood in the Imperial Kingdom anyway. It should be fine.”
“But that kid has such a sharp, piercing gaze.”
“Honestly, I was a bit nervous too.”
The group heading to Achilles Territory was narrowed down to Choco, me, and Shirley. Since it was a place where a con artist ruled the village, Choco was absolutely necessary for safety, and since it was her family’s matter, Shirley had to attend. And the reason Croa was conspicuously absent while we were all going like this was.

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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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