How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 147

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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 147

“We haven’t been here long, but we’ll have to head back.”

It was Father’s words.

I nodded my head.

Soon, everyone from Esgaroth rose from their seats in the Colosseum.

The finals opponent had been decided.

* * *

The world was buzzing with excitement.

“Not just Esgaroth, but Andres is amazing too. How did they manage to gather all those people?”

“Andres’s hidden strength is famous. I’m looking forward to the finals.”

Even on the way out of the Imperial Palace, it was bustling with people anticipating the family tournament finals.

All the while, I was lost in thought.

“Should we stop by a restaurant?”

I was startled by the voice beside me and looked up to see Father watching me.

“Ah…”

“I heard there’s a good restaurant around.”

I blinked my eyes.

‘He’s worried about me.’

Because my mood seems strange.

But the fact that he didn’t ask means he thinks there might be things I don’t want to talk about.

“…”

I quietly looked at Father.

“Yusi?”

“…Because I like it.”

“What?”

“I just like everything.”

My kind and thoughtful Father.

“Yes, what restaurant? I like black chicken soup. Make it again, Young Lady.”

“But you promised to make tiramisu first…”

“Abel, you like black chicken soup too. You ate two whole chickens.”

“It was delicious. Haha…”

People who are like family, making silly jokes and being harmonious.

I bit my lower lip tightly.

Yuise looked at me.

As if she wanted to tell Father about the Marquis’s threat right now.

I shook my head at her.

‘Don’t say anything. Absolutely not.’

Father isn’t someone who can give up on something.

The Irregulars are kind too.

If I don’t want to go to Andres, they’ll stand in the way with desperate resolve.

Even if it means giving up Esgaroth, their long-held goal.

“Anywhere is fine. As long as we can all eat together—”

Just as I said that and stepped out of the Imperial Palace.

A small clicking sound came from beneath my feet.

When I flinched and looked down, what I saw was…

‘A mechanical doll!’

It was Cesar’s mechanical doll in the form of an insect.

Abel looked puzzled, but the Irregulars including myself knew the mechanical doll came from Cesar.

The mechanical doll circled around me.

‘Me?’

When I pointed with my index finger, the mechanical doll moved with a whirring sound.

As if telling me to follow.

“Just the Young Lady?”

Antonio looked puzzled.

“That bastard isn’t trying to bother the Young Lady, is he?”

When Antonio grumbled, Father’s eyes grew sharp.

I quickly waved my hands.

“No. He’s a rational person. He won’t bother me for no reason.”

“But…”

“It’s really okay. Please go ahead.”

After saying that, I followed the mechanical doll.

I don’t know how complicated the route was.

It entered the marketplace, then stopped by the town square, and this time headed to a dressing room.

‘Is the dressing room the final destination?’

Just as I thought that, a clerk quietly approached me and whispered.

“This is Cesar’s group. I’ll escort you.”

Then they led me to some deep room.

As soon as I entered the room…

Bang.

The door closed and a familiar silhouette appeared from behind.

“Cesar?”

“How many trackers are you walking around with?”

Cesar grumbled as he spoke.

“Trackers?”

“Andres and the Restoration Council each attached trackers to you.”

“Ah…”

So that’s why he made me come around in circles like this.

‘But he said each?’

Aren’t Andres and the Restoration Council in the same boat right now?

Why did they each send trackers?

As I was tilting my head in confusion, Cesar spoke.

“It seems you do think after all.”

“Huh?”

“…I mean not reporting Count Andres’s proposal to the Clan Leader.”

Cesar said, turning his head away sharply.

I nodded, saying “Ah…”

“If you’re thinking of the Clan Leader, it’s the right method. Even if he has to go back into the shadows, he won’t give up on someone he’s taken as a child.”

“Right.”

“So…”

Cesar still kept his gaze fixed on empty air as his lips moved slightly.

Then after a long while, he spoke.

“…It’s fine if you get the Spiral Coffin or something.”

Really?

I opened my eyes wide.

Cesar was someone who only moved for the benefit of the Irregulars.

And right now his purpose is ‘to make the Andres family use Irregulars in the family tournament.’

To use it as blackmail material later when Andres corners the Irregulars.

‘For that purpose, winning would be more beneficial.’

Well,

-Used Irregulars in the family tournament.

-Used Irregulars in the family tournament and ‘won’.

Between these two, wouldn’t the latter be much more advantageous?

“You’re saying you won’t let Andres win?”

“If Andres receives the Spiral Coffin as the family tournament victory prize, he could use it to threaten you again.”

“So you’re saying you’ll help me?”

“….”

Cesar fell silent again.

Eventually, he spoke with a choked expression.

“I’m not helping you, I’m just trying to lighten the burden on the Clan Leader’s heart.”

“….”

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“You know what. I can see favorability ratings.”

Cesar snorted.

His face showed complete disbelief.

But I really do have favorability as a trait.

So….

Irregular 【Cesar】.

♥♥♡♡♡

♡♡♡♡♡

‘I can see two hearts are filled.’

When I first entered this room, there was only one heart.

But when he realized that I hadn’t reported Count Andres’ threats for Father’s sake, just as he thought, the second one filled up.

“You’re being shy.”

“What are you talking about.”

Cesar looked at me with an incredulous expression.

However, as soon as our eyes met, he quickly turned his head away again.

Then he pulled out a stack of parchments from his chest and handed them to me.

“What’s this?”

“Information on Andres’ family tournament participants.”

“…!”

I was startled and accepted the parchments.

“As you know, there are four participants. Me, Oscar, Leira, and….”

“GM.”

“Is that his name? Nothing is known about him, so we call him the nameless one. I’ve analyzed and written down their individual special abilities, tendencies, etc., so read it carefully.”

“There are only three sheets?”

There are four participants.

But only three parchments.

“The Elite know me well enough, so just ask them.”

“I want to know how you see yourself. Not how others see you.”

“…Why are you saying such embarrassing things?”

“I’m being serious….”

Cesar grumbled as he pulled out a notebook and pen.

Then he quickly wrote his name and pushed it toward me.

【Cesar】

Handsome

As I stared at the parchment with wide eyes, he snorted.

“Wrong?”

“…It’s right, but it’s kind of annoying.”

Cesar’s face contorted with irritation.

Meanwhile, I smiled brightly.

“Got it. I’ll remember. Handsome Cesar. Kind of annoying.”

“…This is driving me crazy.”

Cesar let out a deep sigh.

* * *

Time flowed like water.

The family tournament finals were ten days after the first preliminary round.

My knights and I were frantically focused on training right up until the preliminaries.

The final training session only ended on the afternoon before the family tournament.

“When this is over… don’t forget you promised to give us snacks like a mountain….”

“If Young Lady had been the training captain, we might not be people of this world anymore.”

“Stop saying things that would make the Clan Leader happy. I don’t even have the energy to respond.”

“It’s not easy, haha….”

I smiled brightly looking at the sprawled-out knights.

“They say the finals competition details will be announced on the day itself. Until then, let’s steel our hearts.”

As I clenched my fist like that, the knights weakly clenched their hands.

‘Good, then I need to do a final check of our strategy.’

Thinking that, I returned to my quarters, but the butler handed me a letter.

A red envelope and a single lisianthus flower.

“It was delivered to the guard at the gate without a recipient’s name.”

“….”

“Shall I find out who it’s from?”

“…No need. I know who it is.”

I quietly stared at the lisianthus.

This lisianthus was what Count Andres sent every time he gave me orders.

I opened the letter.

5 o’clock, wait at Moheta.

I’d have to hurry to arrive at the designated time.

I sighed and said.

“Bring me my coat.”

“Yes.”

And so I left the manor.

Moheta was a historic upscale restaurant.

It was another meeting place for nobles, different from clubs or salons, so the inside was packed with customers.

Already drawing attention due to the family tournament, I had to endure pouring gazes as soon as I entered the restaurant.

Count Andres had secured the best table.

All the way to his table, I could hear people whispering.

“Count Andres is meeting with Yustea?”

“Weren’t they enemies?”

“Since Stella was expelled, their relationship might have been restored.”

“Well, can blood ties really be severed just by cutting them?”

I silently sat across from the Marquis.

“You had a hard time coming.”

“I really did.”

“But you came anyway. Sit down. We should have dinner.”

“I’ll have my meal with Father.”

“I am your father.”

The Marquis glanced at me as he spoke.

I sighed.

At any other time, I would have firmly refused, but thinking that Father’s life was in his hands, I couldn’t easily decline.

The order must have been placed in advance, as food started coming out from the appetizers as soon as I sat down.

“Please bring it out again. My daughter has trouble eating raw oysters or shellfish.”

I flinched as I was about to pick up my utensils.

In the meantime, the server took the dish away.

I furrowed my brow.

“What are you doing?”

“Making an effort.”

“Pardon?”

“An effort to become your father again.”

“….”

“Why do you have that expression?”

“Because it’s absurd.”

I closed my mouth after saying that.

Various dishes came out starting with appetizers, and finally the main course steak arrived.

‘Let’s eat quickly and leave.’

Just as I was thinking that, the Marquis took the plate in front of me.

And pushed his own plate toward me.

The meat had been cut into small pieces.

“…Marquis.”

“It should be Father. Dad would be fine too. Though it might be too good for that bastard, it wouldn’t sound too bad to my ears.”

I put down my silverware and folded my hands on my knees.

“Please don’t do this.”

“Didn’t you like these kinds of things? It seems like Marquis of Cuaron won your heart with these petty gestures.”

My eyes met with the Marquis’s.

* * *

Count Andres, Rohan, quietly stared at Yustea.

When she first came here, she had shown emotions like displeasure or bewilderment.

But now, his daughter’s face was as calm as the sea after a storm had passed.

“I’ve taken your words to heart. If you give me time, I’ll think it over and decide. So you don’t need to do this.”

She hadn’t forgotten what he’d said about coming back.

“Why?”

“That’s….”

“Are you afraid your hatred might melt away?”

“….”

The Marquis also put down his utensils and looked at his daughter.

“Are you afraid that the hatred and resentment you’ve stubbornly maintained might melt away, making you unable to take revenge?”

“….”

“If that’s the case, I’ve already done enough. You’ve taken sufficient revenge, and I was shaken by your revenge more than you think.”

“…That’s not it. I don’t want that either.”

“Then.”

Yustea smiled bitterly.

“Because I know how painful it is when a heart doesn’t return.”

“…What?”

“No matter what you do, Marquis, we can’t go back to how things were. I left my heart behind in that painful time.”

“….”

“So this is the last consideration I’m giving you as blood family.”

“….”

“Please don’t put effort into me. And don’t suffer alone.”

“….”

The Marquis’s eyes changed.

A blade-like emotion flashed across his previously relaxed expression.

Today’s Yustea was different from before.

The previous Yustea had been like an abandoned dog.

A dog that had been hurt many times and barked fiercely on purpose to avoid getting hurt more.

So he had known.

Words of hatred, accusations of resentment, bloodshot eyes.

Those things were like proof of affection.

But now it was different.

“Why do you have that expression?”

“Before, it hurt to look at you, Marquis. Of course it still hurts now, but the part that hurts is different.”

“…What?”

“If before my chest hurt, now it’s my memories that hurt.”

“….”

Yustea lowered her head and fidgeted with her hands.

“I thought about why that might be. I think it’s because someone applied medicine to the wound in my chest.”

He could tell who it was without asking.

There was only one person who could make that child smile with such an expression.

Count Andres clenched his fist tightly.

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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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