Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 61

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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 61. There Are As Many Ways to Commit Fraud As There Are Twinkling Stars in the Night Sky, and How Romantic That Is (3)
Following Edison’s sniffling guidance into Count’s Mansion, I noticed the surroundings growing progressively darker. Something felt off about heading toward the Reception Room, so I questioned Edison about our destination. The man wiped his tears and answered cheerfully.
“You were in the middle of training and had to leave urgently, Your Highness. The Emperor seemed pressed for time as well, so I’m taking you directly to the Underground Training Hall.”
“Sigh….”
I’d heard that when observing victims of con artists or charlatans from a third-party perspective, one often wonders how they could fall for such obvious schemes. But I never imagined it would be this blatant. This is clearly a charlatan’s con! And they believe in pyramid power or whatever this is?!
Upon entering the Underground Training Hall, I witnessed Count Achilles and his son emerging from a pyramid-shaped structure made of jade, drenched in sweat. That’s not training—if I’m being honest, it’s just a pyramid-shaped sauna, isn’t it?
“Oh my. Your Highness, I apologize for showing you such an embarrassing sight. Both my son and I have been quite absorbed in our training lately.”
“If you’re embarrassed, you should come out beforehand.”
“Well, you see, consistency at the same time every day is what matters most. I’m truly sorry.”
Do you realize this is disrespecting the Imperial Family? Back when my grandmother was Emperor, you would’ve been executed on the spot for this.
So this is how I can feel the consequences of that blockhead dropping Imperial authority to the ground. I took several deep breaths and showed the health bracelet adorning my wrist.
“I hear these items have become quite fashionable in this Fiefdom?”
“The Capital has already heard the rumors! As expected of Edison! Thanks to him, all the Fiefdom’s residents have become healthy!”
Stop it! If I think about the residents doing this routine too, they’re probably all leaving work early, going home to enjoy a nice sauna, and sleeping well. With that kind of work-life balance, anyone would be healthy!
“Health aside, have you heard about the debt crisis in your Fiefdom? It seems you’ve been making rather reckless investments.”
“Oh, I’ll recover the principal in no time! Next year, I should be able to pay much more taxes to the Imperial Family, so Your Highness should have high expectations!”
Count Achilles laughs heartily. Watching him laugh so cheerfully, I wondered what Shirley might think—after all, he’s her father, so she must have some feelings about it. I glanced at Little One, but she made an awkward face and shook her head.
“I was never close with that person anyway.”
Right, she doesn’t even call him father, so clearly they’re not close.
Should I just kill Edison and seize the Count’s assets? This is hopeless. I asked Choco to mobilize once more, but she hesitated before shaking her head again.
“I don’t think that will work, Your Highness. If I eliminate him before you’ve shown what you’re capable of, I’ll be criticized.”
“You get criticized every day anyway. A little more won’t kill you.”
“Besides, I believe the Princess will handle this magnificently!”
Don’t believe in me! Please don’t believe in me! Why does everyone have such faith and expectations in me?! I’m just a descendant of that blockhead and the only daughter of the terrible tyrant Helbatro!
“Sigh….”
I buried my face in my hands before these hopeless fools. I massaged my face, did a dry wash, contemplated how to handle this, and ultimately decided to explore the Fiefdom more thoroughly.
“Exactly what are you investing in? I’d also like to tour the factory where you’re supposedly manufacturing goods to sell in the Capital.”
“As expected of Your Highness! Coming all this way to discover the Fiefdom’s specialty products shows both excellent judgment and remarkable initiative! I’ll prepare everything right away!”
Shirley’s father excitedly ordered Edison to bring his inventions and investment proposals. And I continued to wonder about Edison’s reaction—he’d visibly flinched when the factory tour was mentioned.
“Behold, Your Highness! These are all of Edison’s inventions!”
“Oh….”
They all looked like toys. Inventions? There was a tumbler doll, a ball that makes noise… The only thing that remotely resembled actual machinery was some sort of steamer-like contraption.
“What is this?”
I pointed at the interesting-looking device, and Count Achilles became so excited he snorted. I found it irritating.
“You recognize its significance, Your Highness! This is a machine that artificially creates life itself!”
“What?!”
Such a thing is possible?! Has the Imperial Kingdom’s genetic engineering advanced so far?! If this is true, it deserves an Imperial commendation. I urged him to explain further, and the Count spoke with confidence.
“You place an egg in this machine, and after three weeks, a chick is born!”
All the wind went out of my sails.
“Oh….”
Isn’t that just an egg incubator? Even if it hasn’t been commercialized, a patent application has already been filed with the Imperial State, hasn’t it?
Before my regression, someone proposed building a massive poultry factory to stabilize prices, but the plan fell through when all the nobles refused to construct one in their fiefdoms.
Building the factory itself would be simple enough, but the costs for wastewater treatment and waste disposal are astronomical. With the stench from the livestock pens, we’d be drowning in complaints from residents.
“So… if you provide appropriate temperature and humidity, don’t all eggs hatch?”
“That’s exactly what makes it remarkable! Chicks are born without a hen?!”
After listening to his lengthy explanation, I poked Shirley and whispered in her ear.
“You know how smart Shirley is? Did she somehow drain all the intelligence from her entire family?”
As I murmured this, Little One’s face flushed crimson, and tears began to glisten in her eyes.
“They don’t know, they’re people who don’t understand.”
Oh dear, if I tease her any more, she’ll cry. I should stop and let her rest. She must be exhausted from coming all this way in a child’s body.
“Are you tired? Would you like to go upstairs and rest?”
“Hm! No, I will stay by Pisha’s side until the end.”
Yes, you’re quite spirited. I’m grateful it’s not just the negative aspects that show such spirit.
I wiped Shirley’s tears away with a handkerchief and let out a heavy sigh.
“So then. What does this invention have to do with the fiefdom’s seizure?”
“I believe in Edison’s genius! Enough to stake the fiefdom’s very survival on it!”
No, your fiefdom was already thriving without risking anything. Besides, the fact that your land has a jade stone mine is proof that Count Achilles has been taking excellent care of it. The selection of a strategic fiefdom is all thanks to the family’s guardian deity watching over you. He must have foreseen the mine’s development and told Count Achilles to settle here.
But what on earth did he do to enchant people like this?
As I glared at the man called Edison with his jade-colored short hair and spinning spectacles, he jumped in surprise and told the Count he’d go check on the factory preparations, then bolted from the room.
With him gone, I have nothing more to say. I should end this conversation with the Count here.
“You’ve traveled far and must be tired. Let us retire for now.”
“Yes. We have prepared a guest room for you, Your Highness.”
This bastard isn’t actually trying to insult the Imperial Family, is he? If the guest room was already prepared, why didn’t he come to greet us instead of using the pyramid as an excuse?
I grumbled about this and asked Shirley for some water—cold water would do—to wash my ears.
“The Princess always seeks ear-washing water when she’s in a bad mood, doesn’t she?”
“Hm? This?”
Now that I think about it, I can’t quite remember when that started. Since Choco is asking, I should answer, so I thought for a moment and decided to share what I could recall.
“Someone said that when you hear dirty words, you should wash your ears clean.”
“Who?”
“Who knows?”
“The Empress, Your Majesty?”
“That’s not it.”
Mother doesn’t use such mild methods—she just shoots dead anyone who speaks filth. When I said this firmly, Choco’s expression grew serious, and she opened her mouth reluctantly.
“That’s just like Chiron—shooting someone dead at the slightest provocation?”
“Right. The two of them do seem similar.”
“Are they actually siblings?”
Who knows if there’s some secret about their birth. I’m someone who’s regressed anyway, so I wouldn’t be surprised even if they turned out to be siblings.

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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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