How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 120
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Replace Your Dad
Chapter 120
I frowned as I paced back and forth around the room.
And I recalled the trigger conditions and special circumstances of the branching point.
1. The purpose is to find the male protagonist.
2. Condition is met when mana reaches 1001.
3. Male protagonist candidate conditions are as follows.
– Main characters with 5 or more hearts of affection become candidates (in this case, there are 4 or more candidates)
– If there are no main characters with 5 or more hearts of affection, candidates are chosen in order of highest affection. (In this case, there are 4 candidates)
4. If a prince is included among the candidates, the story is fixed as ‘The Emperor’s Collapse’.
Luciano has 7 hearts.
He’ll definitely be included as a male protagonist candidate, so the story will be The Emperor’s Collapse.
In other words.
“I’m screwed…”
I grabbed my head and groaned in anguish.
It was a situation that only made me sigh.
That’s when it happened.
“Then you just need to pass the branching point quickly.”
I flinched at the voice coming from the doorway.
When I looked up, a familiar face was looking at me.
“Yuise?”
When I asked in surprise, he shrugged his shoulders.
“I came up to the archipelago urgently on the Clan Leader’s orders, Young Lady.”
He emphasized ‘Young Lady’ as if chewing on the words.
I flinched.
‘Come to think of it, I collapsed while communicating with Yuise.’
Yuise’s eyes were blazing.
I smiled awkwardly.
“Sorry…”
“I thought I was going to faint from shock.”
“Yeah, I didn’t expect that to happen suddenly either…”
“So.”
“I won’t act up about training alone next time.”
I folded both hands below my collarbone.
Yuise narrowed his eyes, but soon let out a sigh.
He asked.
“The Emperor wakes up once you pass the branching point, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You just need to fulfill the conditions for passing the branching point as quickly as possible.”
“That’s true, but…”
When I made a reluctant expression, Yuise furrowed his brow.
His face asked what the problem was.
I smiled awkwardly.
“I don’t know the fulfillment conditions.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The fulfillment conditions are different for each character. But I always had Yohaël fixed as the male protagonist…”
“….”
Yuise became quiet.
He took a deep breath and looked into the air.
And then.
“What’s wrong with your judgment, you idiot—!”
His shout echoed loudly through the room.
I quickly hunched my shoulders and covered my head.
“Yohaël was the most efficient…”
Sorry for being an efficiency freak!
* * *
Father’s study.
I reported the situation to Father and the Clan Leader.
The Clan Leader didn’t know about the game, so I told him about it this time.
As the Clan Leader of the Irregulars and the person in charge of Quaron in Father’s absence.
If he didn’t know this information, it could cause confusion later.
After hearing the entire explanation, Father fell silent.
“….”
[….]
Silence continued from the communication device connected to the Clan Leader as well.
I smiled awkwardly.
Father, who had been keeping his eyes tightly shut, slowly opened his mouth.
“…Does the Emperor really need to wake up?”
“Pardon?”
Just as I asked what he meant, it happened.
The Clan Leader’s voice came from the communication device.
[If we treat the Emperor as non-existent, the reason to pass the branching point would disappear.]
Father nodded with blazing eyes.
Yuise let out a hollow laugh.
“I understand wanting to turn away from reality.”
Father and the Clan Leader fell silent again.
It was clear they wanted to forget about the branching point and everything else.
But that’s impossible…
Maybe at other times, but definitely not at this point.
I considered the upcoming situation.
‘The eldest son Yohaël will be chosen as the Emperor’s regent…’
‘The nobles will split like crazy…’
‘The Restoration Council will think this is their chance and try to do anything…’
“Young Lady, as the Saint, will be used as a tool of power.”
Yuise neatly summarized the situation.
Father and the Clan Leader let out angry groans.
Father covered his demonic face with one hand.
And said through gritted teeth.
“Let’s find out about those damn male… candidates first.”
“Yes, Father. I think we should do that.”
“Is there a way?”
“It’s probably one of the people who’ve been heavily involved with me. Especially the princes.”
Since all the princes are main characters.
I took out two letters from my pocket.
“So I’m thinking of going to the Imperial Palace. Fortunately, the Empress and Empress Regina gave me a good opportunity.”
As soon as I woke up, both of them sent me letters.
The main point of these letters, filled with asking if I was okay and words of worry, was this.
‘Come to the Imperial Palace.’
They were letters full of dark intentions to somehow connect me with their sons.
Father clenched his fist tightly.
“Right.”
I looked at the bulging veins on Father’s hand and smiled awkwardly.
* * *
A few days later.
I entered the palace.
…Together with Father.
I glanced at Father sideways.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I’m busy.”
“Then you should go do your work…”
At my words, Father’s eyes widened.
“This is the most important work.”
“….”
Father was glaring at every single man who passed by.
There was almost a hint of madness in his eyes.
I said gently.
“If you keep staring like that, they’ll all run away before I can even check their favorability.”
Father looked displeased, but soon turned his head away sharply, withdrawing his gaze.
Around that time, a maid approached us.
“Her Majesty the Empress commands that the Marquis of Cuaron and the Saint be escorted.”
We had been invited to the monthly royal luncheon.
The Empress and Empress Regina were almost ready to fight over inviting me, so the Emperor settled it with a luncheon.
Well, it wasn’t a bad thing from the Emperor’s perspective either.
It seemed he hadn’t given up on making me his daughter-in-law yet.
Father and I followed the maids to the banquet hall.
Upon entering, most people were already in attendance.
Even the princes and princesses who had been hard to see until now.
Of course, the empresses were there too.
The Empress, who occupied one of the two seats at the head table, spoke.
“Come in.”
Father and I paid our respects.
And we headed to our seats, but…
‘Huh?’
The seating arrangement was strange.
Besides us, there were other guests, but their seats were mixed in with the royals.
Usually, seats are arranged in the order of ‘Emperor—Princes and Princesses—Empresses—Guests.’
But this was all mixed up randomly.
I frowned, wondering what this was about, then gasped.
‘Wow, it’s arranged by power hierarchy.’
This was my first time attending a royal luncheon.
So I didn’t know, but this place was an incredibly cruel arena.
Gaspard, who had caused a major incident recently, was seated far back.
Unlike the Empress at the very front and his brother Yohaël.
Perhaps that’s why Gaspard’s complexion was pale.
Father’s and my seats were quite far forward.
It seemed to be an arrangement considering our achievements so far and the fact that I was a Saint.
It was when Father and I took our seats.
“His Majesty the Emperor enters.”
Everyone rose from their seats at once.
The Emperor approached the head table with hearty laughter.
“I am late.”
It was the moment when the Empress was about to speak with a smile.
“The time when the Sun of the Empire takes his seat is the right time~.”
Empress Lira spoke in a coquettish voice.
She was indeed the favored consort who received abundant affection.
Her seat was quite far forward.
Right after the Empress and Empress Regina, who were daughters of the Seven Families and mothers of the First and Second Princes respectively.
The expressions of the Empress and Empress Regina soured.
The other princes and princesses also looked displeased.
However, the Emperor just chuckled and nodded.
“Lira always makes me happy.”
“Your Majesty always makes Bi into a shy girl.”
“Haha, then that’s a joyful thing for me too. Now, sit.”
The meal began.
They exchanged light conversation, but their gazes were sharp.
‘Social warfare is nothing compared to harem intrigue.’
They weighed every single word to somehow elevate their children or their own authority.
But regardless of all that, I diligently checked favorability ratings.
‘First, Luciano…’
Prince of Avalon 【Luciano】.
♥♥♥♥♥
♥♥♡♡♡
‘Seven hearts.’
His favorability hadn’t dropped.
The moment I thought that, our eyes met.
Luciano mouthed a question to me.
‘Why.’
I flinched.
For some reason, my earlobes felt hot.
When I quickly looked away…
Chuckle.
He laughed softly.
It felt like heat was spreading up to my neck.
My mouth felt dry, so I was looking for water.
Father handed me a glass of water.
“Ah, thank…”
I stopped mid-greeting.
Father’s eyes looking at Luciano were literally blazing…
I said awkwardly.
“Shall we… eat…?”
“Yes. Just eat.”
He meant to stop making eye contact.
Even while saying that, he was staring at Luciano with wide eyes.
I sighed inwardly and turned my head.
Then I saw Yohaël.
‘Favorability.’
As I thought to myself, a window appeared before my eyes.
Prince of Avalon 【Yohaël】.
♥♥♥♥♥
♡♡♡♡♡
‘…What?’
Why is his affection level like that?
Five hearts means he’s definitely a male lead candidate.
When did it rise that high?
No, why on earth?
I was making a bewildered expression.
Yohaël turned his eyes toward me.
Our gazes met.
“….”
“….”
We quietly looked at each other.
Yohaël spoke.
“I missed you. Yustea.”
People’s gazes instantly focused on us.
Even the Emperor groaned “Hooh….” and looked back and forth between me and Yohaël.
* * *
The luncheon ended.
The Emperor called for Father as he left the banquet hall.
Father gritted his teeth with a demonic expression.
“That fox-like bastard….”
I smiled kindly.
“Still, since he called you… you should go….”
I said awkwardly.
The reason the Emperor called Father is obvious.
He wants to remove Father from my side.
To try pairing me with the princes.
As soon as Yohaël suddenly said he missed me, the Emperor’s eyes sparkled with interest.
Father looked at me with a grim expression.
“Yohaël is out of the question.”
“…People can hear you.”
“I don’t like the other guys either, but that one is absolutely not allowed.”
I tilted my head.
I know Father doesn’t particularly like the men around me.
Well, I’m only fifteen after all.
He might think romance is too early for a minor like me.
‘Mother really hated it too.’
When boys approached, Mother would also smile like a demon and come over, chasing all the boys away.
“Get lost! I can’t give away my treasure!”
She made boys cry and sent them away like a gang leader, getting scolded by the Marchioness several times.
So Father’s attitude is familiar, but….
‘He seems to truly despise Yohaël.’
“Why is that?”
When I asked, Father said coldly.
“Because he’s not the type to share affection.”
“What?”
“He’ll only try to monopolize you completely.”
Father took my hand and walked with large strides.
“You can’t be happy beside someone like that.”
He stopped walking when we reached a certain place.
Then he held out my hand.
“I’m entrusting her to you for a moment.”
“….”
“Prince Luciano.”
Luciano looked at me and Father.
Father narrowed his eyes and said.
“Don’t get the wrong idea since I don’t particularly like this either.”
“….”
“I’m telling you to protect her until I return.”
“….”
Father looked very displeased.
However, a smile had already appeared on Luciano’s lips.
Words floated up in front of Luciano.
I won’t get the wrong idea.
“That’s fortunate.”
It was the moment Father chuckled.
The words disappeared and different words appeared once again.
Father-in-law.
“…Damn it.”
Father gritted his teeth.
Then he looked at me.
“Did I make the wrong choice.”
“…You should go quickly. His Majesty is waiting.”
“….”
Just then, I could see an attendant approaching from afar.
Father took my hand and looked at Luciano who was hiding me behind him.
“Watch your mouth. There won’t be any more prince this or that.”
Mouth….
I drooped my eyebrows from behind the prince.
‘Father, please.’
But Luciano only chuckled.
Father left with the attendant, his eyes blazing.
I glanced up at Luciano.
“You couldn’t eat properly….”
Because Yohaël was spouting nonsense about missing you.
The words floating in the air glowed fiercely.
“Others are watching….”
Let them see.
That’s when it happened.
“You mean me?”
I could understand why Father brought me to Luciano.
Yohaël was approaching me.
Father must have sensed Yohaël’s gaze faster than I did.
Yohaël approached with large strides.
As always, a smile was on his lips.
“Hello, Yustea.”
“Hello, Your Highness.”
“Your greeting is so stiff. I’d like you to do it like usual.”
“This kind of greeting will become usual from now on, so remember that.”
I spoke stiffly and shook Luciano’s hand.
“Let’s go.”
“….”
Luciano glanced at me briefly, then nodded his head.
I turned around with him.
That’s when it happened.
“I didn’t know mutes were your type.”
In an instant, my steps stopped.
This time it was Luciano who gently shook my hand.
It meant don’t mind it and let’s go.
However, I couldn’t do that.
I whipped my head around.
“You bastard….”
“…!”
Luciano’s eyes widened.
Regardless, I glared and shouted.
“Don’t you ever say such things to Luciano again. If you’re going to reek like garbage, go lie face down in your room and do it there!”
That’s when it happened.
Clap clap….
Along with the sound of clapping came an ecstatic exclamation.
When I flinched and turned my head, what I saw was….
“Wonderful, my daughter-in-law….”
It was Empress Regina.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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