Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 148

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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 148
‘The Dragon Duke is acting as though he owns the Dragon’s Castle, isn’t he?’
Receiving guests was the master’s duty. And standing here was not the Dragon Duke, the castle’s lord, but the Black Panther Duke.
‘Of course, the Dragon Duke wouldn’t be in a position to appear.’
Even when Ekion was around, they never put this child forward.
Now that Tus had taken Ekion’s place, nothing would have changed.
I frowned slightly while nestled in Father’s arms.
Debana Panterion.
The man who had been my father-in-law in the previous loop. Well, I didn’t particularly want to call him that.
‘He was quite faithful to his role as a doting father in a parenting story.’
Watching from the sidelines, I realized that a ‘parenting story father’ was someone with paranoia, a touch of delusions of grandeur, and persecution complex.
Of course, this was only when observing Debana Panterion, who had been the protagonist’s father in this book.
‘He blamed himself for everything.’
Well, he was the worst person to me, but he must have been a good father to Lili.
‘This works out well. I was wondering how to send Lili away to the capital or the Black Panther’s territory.’
Since she’s in this territory, I just need to watch for an opportunity to send her away.
I stared directly at the Panterion Duke’s face.
It felt slightly sharper than I remembered, probably because his face had lost weight.
Why would a man counted among the three strongest of all land animals lose weight?
‘Did worry do this to him?’
They must have been searching for Lili with all their might.
It wasn’t difficult to guess.
Soon, crimson eyes turned toward me.
Unlike the Second Brother’s eye color, which gave off a bright and clear feeling like a ruby, his were characterized by a dark, blood-red hue.
In the story, it was the animal and family represented by ferocity.
Moreover, since his pupils were larger than those of ordinary beastmen, they were nothing short of the symbol of a land predator.
Soon, a heavy and cold voice cut through the air.
“I am the Panterion Duke, currently responsible for protecting the City of Dragons and managing its finances at the Dragon Duke’s request.”
The Dragon Duke’s request—what nonsense.
It was like a goldfish cutting off its own fins.
Father’s voice that followed was just as low as the Panterion Duke’s, and far more pleasant to hear. Yes.
“So the Dragon Duke isn’t appearing this time either?”
Father played dumb despite already knowing.
‘My goodness, our Father… he’s quite the actor, isn’t he? Or is it just that his expression is blank?’
The Panterion Duke’s thick eyebrows twitched.
“Shouldn’t introductions come before questions?”
“You don’t know me?”
“…What?”
“Or is your memory so poor that you’ve already forgotten? How unfortunate for someone so young.”
Wow, our Father’s got a sharp tongue!
“….”
Father simply dropped the name as if to say he would accommodate the ceremony if I insisted on it.
“Pierre Aquasiadel. I have come as the representative of Aquasiadel.”
“…So you’ve brought the Dragon’s Bride this time?”
“Indeed.”
At Father’s curt reply, the Dragon Duke’s brow furrowed slightly.
“You are….”
In that moment, I noticed a young boy standing beside the Dragon Duke.
How had I not seen him until now?
I had been so preoccupied with thoughts of Ekion and Lili, who would be riding in the carriage with the Dragon Duke, that I had overlooked this face entirely.
I blinked slowly.
He appeared to be a couple of years older than me. In reality, he probably was by about that much.
I knew him, after all.
‘Seeing him here, of all places.’
Pointed black ears protruded from his head. Beast ears.
He was a boy with jet-black hair and golden eyes of a different saturation than Ekion’s.
His pale, smooth face was nothing but elegant, but… I quickly scrunched my expression in displeasure.
That bastard.
‘Right, I forgot. If Lili is here, then he would be too.’
Asel Panterion.
The eldest son of the Black Panther Duke and heir to the Black Panther Family.
And in the previous loop.
My fiancé.
Our gazes crossed for only an instant before I coldly turned my eyes away.
“If I recall correctly, what you’re cradling in your arms is your daughter, is it not? Pierre Aquasiadel.”
Incredulity colored the Dragon Duke’s voice.
“Surely you haven’t come to offer your daughter as a sacrifice yourself?”
The hall was already silent.
“How utterly barbaric.”
I could feel the Knights of the Dragon’s Castle regarding Father with contempt.
Where the hell are these rotten bastards looking?
“Just as expected of those uncivilized fish—casting aside their own children without hesitation?”
What did he just say? This foul-mouthed asshole?
“A sacrifice, you say.”
Father recited the word quietly.
“During my passage through this place, I observed that the gatekeepers and all the lords within the City of Dragons spoke as though this were a glorious position. Yet it seems the Pantherion Duchy thinks otherwise?”
Father spoke softly. His tone was quiet but carried weight.
“Merely a sacrifice.”
As the Dragon Duke’s eyes twitched, I quickly opened my mouth.
“Listen here, sir.”
An unexpected word tumbled from my lips, and bewilderment flickered across the Dragon Duke’s face in the sharp tension.
“You…”
“What do you mean ‘you’? As you can see, I’m the Dragon’s Bride. May I ask just one thing?”
As if I’d never heard such a title before in my life.
Well, someone of the Dragon Duke’s stature probably hadn’t either. But that wasn’t my concern.
Besides, looking at that expression, my words wouldn’t come out politely.
“Did you contribute even a single gold coin when I became a bride?”
“What did you just say?”
“I asked why you’re meddling without cause.”
“Such insolence…”
Dragon’s Bride. How many times had I worn that title? Throughout my past life, I had been marked for it.
“The Dragon’s Bride holds the same rank as the Dragon Duke while serving as bride.”
“…”
“Isn’t that right?”
Well, this rule was established merely for appearances’ sake, since the Dragon’s Bride was essentially a sacrificial offering destined to die soon.
But a rule was a rule nonetheless.
“Only the Dragon Duke can dictate my treatment and circumstances.”
“…”
“That should be correct as well, shouldn’t it?”
Which meant I now stood as an equal to the Dragon Duke—and therefore to the Pantherion Duke as well.
“If you dislike my casual speech, then bring the Emperor himself.”
“…Such insolence.”
The ground nearby trembled. It was the ‘Power of the Earth’—something only the Imperial Family and the Black Panthers could wield.
But the earth beneath my father’s feet remained steadfast.
“Are you thinking of testing your strength?”
“Indeed, it seems your daughter’s insolence comes from her father.”
“I have come as the representative of Aquasiadel. Therefore, in this moment, I stand as the acting proxy for my mother, Ocula Aquasiadel, holding equal rank with the Duke.”
My father let out a soft chuckle.
“Surely you don’t mean to say that even someone of the Pantherion stature doesn’t know this?”
“The Orcas seem universally ignorant of the concept of discretion.”
“The fact that we survive nonetheless”
“…”
“Is proof of our strength.”
My father’s eyes gleamed darkly.
‘Well done, Father!’
Yes, any confrontation—whether of spirit, fists, or anything else—had to be won.
“As the Dragon’s Bride, until the ceremony is conducted, my knights and I from Aquasiadel will protect the bride to the very end.”
“I forbid it.”
My father smiled coldly with a scoff. It was a sneer.
“I have no intention of listening to someone without authority, so if you’re dissatisfied, take it up directly with the Dragon Duke.”
“….”
“Come out and speak.”
He wouldn’t be able to come out. There was no way he could.
‘They’re the ones keeping him locked away.’
Watching Father hold his ground in this battle of wills, I felt a deep sense of pride swell within me.
‘Yes, now that’s villainous! I like it!’
Who would ever look at my Father now and think him a terminally ill man resigned to his fate?
This was excellent.
I smiled broadly and tapped Father’s shoulder affectionately.
“Let’s go, Father.”
Father brushed past the Dragon Duke as if he’d been waiting for this moment. Cold gazes followed us.
For some reason, Assel standing beside the Dragon Duke as well.
Regardless, I furrowed my brow while nestled against Father.
‘…I’m getting annoyed all over again about having to return Lili to those creatures.’
* * *
As the Orca Family and Aquasiadel receded into the distance, Debana Panterion clenched and unclenched his fists.
Those arrogant aquatic beasts.
He despised their audacity—bringing a girl who would die anyway and acting so confident about it.
And worse, claiming she was his own daughter. The thought was utterly repugnant.
Aquatic humanoids truly were….
“Father.”
At the quiet voice, the Dragon Duke turned his head.
“How goes the search?”
Assel shook his head, his face clouded with worry.
The Dragon Duke dragged a hand across his face.
“How could the guards fail so completely? Unable to protect even one girl, Lili…!”
His voice, grinding with fury, suddenly cut off as if a thread had snapped.
The Dragon Duke’s expression swiftly returned to its usual cold composure.
“What is the condition of the Dragon’s Bride?”
Currently, they were conducting their search with minimal forces assigned to monitor the Dragon’s Bride.
The situation was urgent, but they could not afford to neglect her care.
Assel spoke.
“Unchanged.”
His tone was blunt.
“Though she appears to be in more critical condition than yesterday.”

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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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