How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 131

—————
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 131

The hand moving the pen flowed without obstruction.

* * *

Imperial Palace.

Despite the tragic news of the Emperor’s unconsciousness, the Imperial Palace was full of vitality.

After being freed by Yohaël, the Empress invited all kinds of nobles to the palace.

It wasn’t just those she had maintained friendships with.

“Glory to the Empire. I am Ariel of Count Asoho’s family.”

“I greet Her Majesty the Empress…!”

Even girls from families who had difficulty entering the Imperial Palace received this honor.

The Empress Dowager responded with a smile.

The noble ladies whispered while covering their mouths with fans.

“It must be to find a match for the First Prince, don’t you think?”

“Wouldn’t that be the case?”

“Oh my, you’re still slow with the news.”

“Pardon?”

“The First Prince’s match already has a candidate, I heard. This palace invitation is to control high society.”

“A candidate?”

“As for who that is…”

Stella, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, twisted her skirt hem.

‘He’s decided on a match…?’

Yohaël?

He was someone who had been endlessly gentle to Stella.

He had comforted her through any mistake.

When she sparkled with excitement, he would look at her as if she were more precious than anything in the world.

“Grandmother scolded me again… Hmm, I can’t understand it, Yohaël. Why can’t we be friends if there’s a difference in status… Ah, Grandmother told me not to say such things.”

“It’s fine with me.”

“…Really?”

“I won’t misunderstand anything you say.”

“You’re special. So it’s enjoyable just watching you.”

“Stella…”

“Lovely Stella.”

“Stella.”

The voice calling her name was always gentle.

So much so that she could deeply feel his affection toward her.

“You’re not my type.”

“…!”

The dry, emotionless voice she had recently heard from Yohaël came to mind.

Stella bit her lips tightly.

Just then, someone plopped down in front of her.

“You’ve been a bit strange lately.”

It was Gaspard.

“Huh?”

“You have no energy at all. If it were the usual you, you would have recovered by now no matter what happened.”

Her hand gripping her skirt hem tightened.

‘This is all because I gave my body to GM…’

She had struggled to create a body according to his will.

After that, synchronization began and conversation with GM became impossible.

Other systems worked properly, but she lost the function of the most important chat window.

From the moment she realized she couldn’t talk to GM, everything became anxious.

Moreover…

‘The world might be an unfair and painful place.’

Everything was full of things that didn’t go as planned.

When she worked hard but didn’t get results, everyone treated her coldly.

A world that had been like a candy castle, full of all kinds of sweet things.

When she learned that the true face of that world was sticky and fishy like filth, she became afraid.

‘Why is everyone so cruel only to me…’

It was when Stella’s head was tilting downward.

“Is the tea to your liking?”

The Empress’s voice was heard.

Stella sprang up as if bouncing.

In the process, her teacup shook and clinked against the saucer.

Clang.

When the sharp sound rang out, the other girls exclaimed “Oh my…” in confusion.

The Empress’s eyes sharpened for a moment.

‘Mind your manners.’

Stella was a child with not a single satisfactory aspect.

If she weren’t a promising Saint candidate, there wouldn’t even be a reason to deal with her.

Though called the foster daughter of the Andres Marquis family, she was born a maid.

Her vulgar nature that caused all kinds of trouble and even brought shame to her own son.

‘I can’t believe she was born from the same seed as her sister.’

Stella looked at the tablecloth wet with tea water, going “Ah, aah…”

To Stella, who didn’t know what to do, the Empress said.

“Leave it be.”

“I’m… sorry…”

“Mistakes made in youth are the foundation of growth.”

Stella’s eyes widened.

‘Why is Her Majesty the Empress being kind to me…?’

When she made such mistakes, the Empress would usually show displeasure.

But today she was benevolent.

Stella was puzzled, but the Empress had a clear intention.

Stella was someone worth keeping close.

With Yustea gone, she was now Andres’s only daughter.

A means to provoke Yustea.

A girl who enjoyed overwhelming popularity among the common people.

“You must have had many hardships.”

“Ah…”

“I’m not unaware of your efforts.”

“…”

Stella’s eyes became teary.

The guests at the Imperial Palace were startled to see Stella showing tears.

Stella quickly pressed the back of her hand to her eyes and laughed “Ehehe.”

“I’m sorry. I’m happy that Her Majesty the Empress understands my heart…”

“Yes. Your mind and body must be exhausted.”

“Your Majesty…”

“The country is in chaos. Everyone must join forces to sort out this chaos. I need your help, you who embraced the people like sunlight.”

“I, I will do my absolute best.”

Stella nodded her head vigorously.

The Empress chuckled softly and turned her head.

“Andres should also take good care of the nation’s pillars.”

Her gaze fell upon the table of noble ladies.

Among them, she looked intently at the Marchioness of Andres, who had been quietly holding her teacup.

People’s gazes turned toward the Marchioness of Andres.

The Marchioness’s eyebrows tensed slightly.

‘She’s telling me to take Stella back to the main house.’

Interfering in another family’s affairs.

But now that the First Prince was gaining power, there was nothing good about damaging the Empress’s dignity.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“…!”

Stella’s face brightened instantly.

“Really? Then you’re forgiving me, Grandmother?”

Stella immediately ran to the Marchioness.

The Marchioness gave no reply.

However, since Stella was so delighted, it appeared harmonious on the surface.

The Empress watched the scene warmly, then addressed the gathering.

“I am pleased that all the ladies of the Seven Families have attended my tea party.”

At that moment, the atmosphere froze briefly.

All the ladies of the Seven Families?

Wasn’t Yustea, the granddaughter of Marquis Esgaroth, absent?

‘She intends to completely isolate Yustea.’

The leaders of high society exchanged glances.

Since the Empress had made such a decision, they had no choice but to follow.

* * *

An unexpected guest came to the manor.

…Through the back door.

It was Guinevere, daughter of Duke Navarro, one of the Seven Families.

She was my Academy classmate, and our grandfathers were rivals.

Upon hearing the news, I headed to the reception room.

Guinevere had even wrapped a scarf around her head.

“Why did you come so secretly…?”

“I came risking my life.”

Guinevere spoke with determined eyes.

“…What?”

“If they find out I met you, I’m finished in high society. Finished.”

Guinevere covered her cheeks with both hands as if she didn’t want to think about it.

She was someone who cared deeply about people’s opinions.

Originally a crybaby who acted spoiled, but in front of others she played the role of a proud and perfect lady.

It was the same when she fell behind me academically at the Academy.

In front of others, she would turn her head away coldly.

But she would hide in the restroom, stuff a handkerchief in her mouth, and sob quietly.

For such a Guinevere, being finished in high society would indeed be terrifyingly frightening.

Guinevere gulped down the juice the manor servant had given her, then gasped for breath.

“I came to tell you that you’re in big trouble. This is such a big deal that…!”

“The Empress is trying to exclude me from high society?”

“…!”

Guinevere’s eyes widened enormously.

“You know?!”

“Yes.”

“It was really incredible. I’ve never seen someone excluded so blatantly before. The Empress said at the tea party that she was pleased all the ladies of the Seven Families had come. Even though you weren’t there!”

I thought she was rapping.

I sat quietly across from Guinevere and nodded.

Guinevere was shocked by my indifferent reaction.

“If you know, why are you just sitting still?”

“Then what should I do…?”

“Well, go to the Imperial Palace and…!”

“And?”

“…Is begging a bit much?”

Guinevere sat back down and held her chin.

“That would hurt your dignity too much, right? Isn’t there a way to beg without losing face? Hmm….”

“Begging would be useless. The Empress won’t change her mind unless I agree to marry the First Prince.”

“But Her Majesty the Empress showed interest in Stella Andres.”

“She probably wants to marry both me and Stella to Yohaël side by side.”

“What…?”

I shrugged and said.

“Then she could swallow both Andres and Esgaroth at once. Most importantly, if Stella and I, who are rivals, both become concubines, no one would dare challenge the Empress’s authority.”

“Hmm….”

“Just like using the princes’ succession struggle as a means to strengthen imperial power.”

“How vicious….”

Guinevere shook her head disapprovingly.

I said to the pale-faced Guinevere.

“Anyway, thank you.”

“…Huh?”

“You were worried about me.”

Then Guinevere’s face turned red.

“Well, that’s….”

Guinevere cleared her throat and swept her hair behind her ear.

She didn’t look very coy.

Since she had already made a fool of herself.

But I didn’t dislike such a Guinevere.

“Cute.”

“Wh-what?”

Guinevere jumped up.

I tilted my head.

“Why?”

“Why do you say such things so honestly?”

“If something’s cute, I call it cute. What else should I say…?”

When I looked puzzled, Guinevere shouted.

“A-anyway!”

She put so much force into her voice that a vigorous crack came out at the end.

“If there’s anything I can help with… just say so….”

“Would you do that?”

My face brightened instantly.

Guinevere flinched.

“As much as I can… What do you need me to do?”

“You own a media company, right?”

Then Guinevere lifted her chin proudly and said.

“Our newspaper has the highest credibility in the Empire. Our circulation rate is overwhelmingly first place compared to other newspapers.”

“Not the newspaper. The gossip magazine.”

“Gossip?”

“Yeah.”

“I need a gossip magazine. And I’d like them to publish this kind of content.”

“What is it…?”

Guinevere’s eyes widened like lanterns as she read the note I had written and handed to her.

She read it over several times as if she couldn’t believe it.

Then she stared at me with her mouth hanging open.

“A-are you serious?”

“Yeah.”

“…Publishing this as an article would be like throwing myself into the Almen River. Really, really serious?”

“Yeah!”

When I smiled brightly, Guinevere shut her mouth.

That afternoon.

A gossip article touched by the hands of the newspaper owner’s daughter was immediately released.

‘And its contents were…’

* * *

That afternoon.

The Empress treated the noble ladies with a gentle mood.

Everything was perfect.

Her son Yohaël had become Acting Emperor, and she had cornered the troublesome Luciano and his mother.

Empress Regina was in the interrogation room.

Luciano was at the experiment site.

The news that Luciano had just been dragged to the experiment site relieved the resentment that had been lodged in her heart for over ten years.

“So you’re considering Prince Yohaël’s royal marriage.”

An elderly noble lady asked.

The Empress nodded.

“That’s right. So I need the ladies’ help. Since both candidates are practically without mothers, please help prepare for the royal marriage.”

“If you entrust it to us, we’ll do our best…”

That was the moment.

“Your Majesty.”

The head maid of the Imperial Palace approached urgently.

“What is it?”

“A disturbing article has been published in a gossip magazine. You should check it.”

A gossip magazine?

The Empress furrowed her brow.

“You’re saying I need to check some gossip magazine?”

“Given the content…”

What could it possibly be?

The Empress took the gossip magazine the head maid offered.

The Empress’s face contorted as she checked the headline article.

【Yustea of Esgaroth, Royal Marriage Countdown?】

The illustration inserted with the article clearly evoked Prince Luciano to anyone who saw it.

The Empress let out a hollow laugh.

“They’re playing tricks. A mere gossip magazine article.”

“The situation is not ordinary.”

“Not ordinary?”

“As soon as this article came out, all kinds of gossip magazines are publishing articles about the relationship between Lady Cuaron and the Second Prince. As if… they had prepared in advance.”

The Empress frowned.

What?

‘Someone prepared this kind of thing… surely not.’

A figure came to mind.

A genius of public opinion warfare.

Someone who had helped her countless times with that talent in the past…

‘Yustea…!’

* * *

Gossip magazines covering my relationship with Luciano poured out.

It wasn’t just gossip magazines.

Even newspapers covered the content.

It was truly a mountain-like amount.

I smiled brightly after checking the articles.

“This illustrator should get paid well. They drew it provocatively well. Sales must have increased.”

Then Yuise, who was organizing the gossip magazines and newspapers, said with a tired expression.

“You’re saying that after ruining your own reputation? And that illustration… I’m going crazy.”

Yuise seemed very displeased with the illustration of Luciano and me sharing a passionate kiss.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I’m glad Guinevere helped. Other gossip magazines were afraid to report first because they feared Esgaroth and the Imperial Family.”

I had anonymously distributed the content to various media outlets, but there was no place to break the dam.

I grinned.

‘Now, it’s time to drop the final bomb.’

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