How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 126

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

How to Replace Your Dad

Chapter 126

Yustea had a bewildered expression.

As if she truly didn’t care about Luciano at all.

Oscar asked.

“Why did you make that decision?”

“Whether Arahan is there or not, Luciano won’t die, but you could die.”

“…What?”

“That’s why you held Yohaël’s hand and entered the Imperial Palace, isn’t it?”

Oscar fell silent.

Yustea looked at Oscar and let out a sigh.

The Ancien Empire Restoration Society.

Even from the name, it was a group that reeked of hatred toward the current Empire of Avalon.

Their actions up until now had shown this as well.

Even when they joined hands with nobles, they thoroughly excluded the imperial family from their movements.

‘But this time was different.’

Oscar was an executive of the Restoration Council.

And he seemed to be a high-ranking executive who had private meetings with the head of the Restoration Council.

They let such an Oscar into the Imperial Palace and allied him with Yohaël, who was closest to the throne.

“For the Restoration Council, Arahan is that important of an existence.”

“….”

“But what would happen if Arahan’s plan goes wrong.”

“….”

“You, being at the center of this affair, would likely be held responsible with your life.”

“….”

“I don’t want you to die.”

Oscar’s eyes trembled faintly.

Because it was the correct answer.

Oscar, who had been staring intently at Yustea, muttered weakly.

“Why do you always….”

Say exactly what I need to hear at my weakest moments.

“It’s not too late yet. Come back, Oscar.”

“You actually treasure this house too….”

Back then too.

“I don’t want you to die.”

And now as well.

Oscar had many names.

Some called him the illegitimate Third Prince, others called him Oscar Herman, and still others called him Oscar Arcunterra.

His misfortune began with his mother’s impossible love.

His mother, Vega, was the only daughter of a great noble family.

A noble birth, chosen to be Empress from the moment she was born.

It was only natural that such a woman would be insufferably arrogant.

From childhood, she caused all sorts of trouble, constantly shocking the adults around her.

Four months before her marriage to the Imperial Family, she even held a knife to her throat to threaten her parents.

“If you don’t let me travel, I’ll die right here.”

“Is that something to say to your parents, Vega!”

“If I marry like this, I’ll be trapped in the Imperial Palace for life! If I can’t even get some fresh air before then, what’s the point of being born?”

She stubbornly obtained her parents’ permission and set out to travel alone.

At some seaside during her travels, she met him.

Archduke Arcunterra, the head of the Ancien Empire Restoration Society.

She fell into passionate love.

Enough to choose to abandon everything and run away with him.

One morning.

She said in Archduke Arcunterra’s embrace.

“I won’t go back. I’ll bear your child like this and live as your woman.”

Parents, family, friends….

She didn’t care about abandoning everything.

But the answer that came back from the man she loved so much was cruel.

“Don’t put me in a difficult position, Vega.”

“…What?”

That day she learned.

The love that made her abandon everything was nothing more than a plan for the Restoration Council to him.

Archduke Arcunterra had simply needed a spy to plant in the Imperial Family.

The sweet persuasions that always worked no longer reached her ears.

She simply trembled with a sense of betrayal.

She wanted him to regret it.

To bitterly repent for daring to shake her heart.

That’s why she left carrying the Archduke’s child and became Empress.

That child, Oscar, was solely a tool for revenge against the Archduke.

In Oscar’s memories, Vega was always drunk.

Such a woman would always grab Oscar and whisper these words.

“I hate you. I hate those eyes that resemble your father.”

Clawing at Oscar like that, sobbing, and then collapsing into sleep was her daily routine.

When she was deposed and he went to House Herman, he seemed rather happy.

Thinking, now there’s no one left to claw at me.

But a greater hell awaited at House Herman.

Count Herman was perfect trash.

Wanting to completely possess Oscar’s abilities that the Emperor coveted, he conducted all sorts of experiments.

In that hell, Oscar wished for only one thing.

‘Someone please help me.’

Someone….

Please, someone help me….

How much had he prayed like that.

When he thought his dream would never come true, that person appeared.

“I’ve come to get you. Oscar.”

His biological father, Archduke Arcunterra.

After beheading the monster-like Count Herman.

That one sentence was enough to dedicate his life.

Because he had extended a hand when it was needed.

But….

“Why do you remind me of that moment.”

“What?”

He frowned at Yustea, who widened her eyes.

“You keep making me think of that time! You do!”

Because you extend a hand when I need it most.

So….

“It makes me weak…!”

He shouted as if venting his frustration.

It was always like this.

He remembered the moment he first saw that child in Andres.

I first met that kid when I was beaten to a pulp because of that stupid Stella Andres.

“Are you conscious? How is the pain? Can you get up?”

Those round golden eyes were filled with worry.

The hands examining my wounds were as careful as if handling something precious.

What happened after that?

The kid who could be so cold to the Andres family, his own blood relatives, smiled brightly in front of me.

“Oscar!”

“Oscar.”

“Oscar…?”

Whenever we met, he would run over as if he was so happy to see me.

I could understand why Yuise had fallen for him.

It was because of those eyes filled with endless goodwill.

And even now that it’s been revealed that I’m part of the Restoration Council…

“What did I do wrong…?”

“…”

“Sorry. If I did something wrong, it must have been a mistake.”

“…”

Look.

Even now you’re looking at me with those gentle eyes.

As if you would embrace all my misfortune and negativity.

I could understand why Yohaël was obsessed.

It must have been the same for him.

Endlessly gentle, embracing even the filthiest things.

That’s why it was amusing, and why it was regrettable when it disappeared.

That frail body that embraced him and faced all kinds of storms in his place.

Oscar covered his face with one hand.

“Oscar…?”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere…?”

“…”

I like you.

Why do you make me have feelings I dare not reveal?

* * *

This is troublesome.

Extremely troublesome.

I awkwardly rolled my eyes.

‘…Is he crying?’

Oscar remained silent with one hand covering his face.

Having someone cry in front of me was troublesome.

‘I’m not good at comforting people…’

Scratching my neck with a troubled expression, I said.

“Well, crying won’t solve anything…”

“…Be quiet.”

From his voice, it didn’t seem like he was crying.

Maybe his emotions just got intense for a moment…?

“Um, well… anyway, this isn’t the time for that…”

“…”

This is the Imperial Palace.

And specifically, the greenhouse of Yohaël Palace.

“Since we don’t know who might come, wouldn’t it be better to move quickly…?”

As I spoke while reading the situation, hot breath flowed out between Oscar’s fingers.

Soon he lowered his hand and said.

“How did you get here?”

“Thanks to Prince Luciano.”

“…What?”

“Prince Luciano had his spy planted in Yohaël Palace secretly bring me in.”

“…Didn’t you say you chose me over Luciano?”

“Yeah.”

“Then what do you mean Luciano brought you in?”

“Well, I told Prince Luciano ‘I’m sorry to Your Highness, but this time I want to help Oscar’!”

I said that with a bright smile.

Oscar was silent for a moment.

Oscar, who had been looking at me with a dumbfounded expression, soon twisted his face.

But he soon sighed and said.

“…Well, fine. Anyway, it’s true that you prioritized me over that guy.”

Now that I think about it, he’s really obsessed with being ‘prioritized’.

That’s when it happened.

We heard signs of people outside the greenhouse.

Quite a lot of them too.

It seemed like palace servants were about to organize the greenhouse.

I stiffened in surprise.

Then…

Swoosh.

Oscar hid me inside his cloak.

And the greenhouse door opened.

“Oh my, you must be here to manage the greenhouse’s magic stones.”

“Have you been well, Sir Jose?”

“You still seem to drink a lot. Your nose is still red, so be careful. The Administrator will scold you again if he sees.”

We could hear the palace servants chattering.

‘Sir Jose?’

And their tone was casual, as if they’d known each other for years.

The palace servants laughed cheerfully, greeted each other, and scattered in various directions.

In the meantime, Oscar whispered to me.

“Match my steps.”

“Okay…”

I answered quietly and followed him from inside the cloak.

We moved carefully, but with a person inside the cloak, it should have been noticeable to someone.

But until we passed through the corridor, no one spoke to us.

I escaped Yohaël Palace practically embraced in his arms.

Only when we reached a deserted place did he let me go.

As soon as I came out of the cloak, I shouted.

“It’s recognition-blocking magic!”

“Right.”

“How does it not get caught by the Imperial Palace barriers?”

“Because this cloak itself is a sacred artifact.”

My eyes sparkled.

Amazing.

It seemed to have the power to make the wearer appear as a familiar person to others.

‘So that’s how he moved around the palace so well.’

“But why was I able to recognize you?”

“It only becomes undetectable when activated. Rub the cloth four times to activate it…”

Oscar’s eyes narrowed as he spoke.

Because I had made too interested an expression.

He said firmly.

“I won’t give it. I won’t sell it.”

“…Tch.”

When I clicked my tongue, he chuckled.

“So what about Arahan?”

“Hm?”

“Did you definitely kill him?”

“How could I kill someone the Emperor is keeping a close eye on inside the Imperial Palace?”

“…But you said you dealt with him?”

“I did deal with him.”

I never said I killed him.

Oscar looked at me as if asking what I meant.

I grinned.

“I made it so the Emperor can’t meet with him for a while.”

“How?”

“By covering his face with blisters.”

“…What?”

“I disguised it as an infectious disease. I made it look like Mammoth Disease, so no one except doctors can meet with him.”

Mammoth Disease.

A disease that kills within a week once the rash begins.

The bacteria spreads through the air via breathing, making approach completely impossible.

“Hah…”

Oscar made an incredulous expression.

“Did you get Luciano’s help with that too?”

“No.”

“Of course. No matter what, a prince wouldn’t help with faking an infectious disease…”

“I got help from Empress Regina.”

When I smiled brightly, he grabbed his forehead.

“Getting help from that guy or getting help from that guy’s mother is the same thing.”

It was at that moment he said that.

It’s different.

If it were me, I wouldn’t have let Yustea go directly to the underground prison.

Letters appeared in the air.

Both Oscar and I immediately recognized who had displayed the letters.

The only one who could do such a thing was obviously Luciano.

I flinched and turned my head.

Luciano was watching us with his arms crossed and an expressionless face.

No, to be precise, he was watching me.

That man looks like an Imperial Palace administrator to me.

Is that Oscar?

Then Oscar rubbed his cloak twice.

The cloak’s pattern glowed faintly.

Then Luciano raised an eyebrow slightly.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

It seemed Oscar had deactivated the holy relic.

Luciano stared intently at Oscar.

But he didn’t say much.

He just looked at me.

Come here, Yustea.

“Ah, yes…”

Just as I was about to go to Luciano.

Oscar quickly grabbed my wrist and pulled me back.

“Is there really a need to go over there to talk?”

“Huh?”

“Here is fine enough.”

Luciano’s eyebrow twitched.

I looked back and forth between Luciano and Oscar.

‘Why are they acting like this?’

When I made a confused expression, Luciano strode toward me.

Oscar and Luciano’s gazes clashed sharply.

An even more maddening thing happened at that moment.

“Brother!”

“…What is all this?”

Even more people appeared.

It was Prince Ain and First Prince Yohaël.

Ain’s face hardened.

“What is this situation now?”

The four men looked at each other with cold faces.

It was at that moment.

A majority of the male lead candidates have gathered.

Chapter 1 is ending.

Chapter 2 of the scenario begins.

【Chapter 2. The Emperor’s Collapse】

“Already?!”

I thought there would still be time before the Emperor’s collapse even after the scenario started…!

The crazy party had begun and Chapter 1 passed by in an instant!

‘I need to narrow down the candidates to two people in Chapter 2…!’

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————