How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 173

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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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How to Replace Father
173
Prince Terius gazed at Yustea for a long moment before bursting into laughter.
He gestured to the seat across from him and spoke.
“Sit down first. Let’s talk.”
Yustea settled quietly into the chair before him.
With his arm propped against the armrest and his chin resting on his knuckles, there was an ease about him that seemed unsuited to a prince of his station.
That was why people let their guard down.
They saw him as righteous, unpretentious, and magnanimous.
But he was born to rule.
Like all those who understood power, he grasped advantage quickly and excelled at adjusting situations to his favor.
Terius opened his mouth as he studied Yustea’s expressionless face.
“If you need an apology, I’ll give one.”
“Since I’ve ended up protecting the Nasel Crown, I’m in no position to receive an apology. Was that also your intention?”
Her measured tone left Terius looking conflicted.
“I didn’t mean any harm. I thought it would turn out well for everyone.”
Terius offered a gentle smile.
All he’d done was pretend not to notice Emma eavesdropping.
Emma was the one who’d moved.
So there was no real fault on his part.
“I thought it would be good for everyone.”
Emma had been a person who needed to disappear for the sake of both his benefactors.
Sometimes parents are better off absent than present.
Such was the case with Stella.
She harbored ambitions beyond her station, yet lacked the ability to achieve them.
She was neither wise nor backed by a powerful house.
A lucky night with Count Andres and a daughter born from it—that was the greatest achievement of her life.
Having nothing else, she would wield her sole achievement.
Stella would live out her days being exploited.
“Yustea, listen.”
That woman wielded two weapons in her hands.
Courage bordering on ignorance, and a daughter named Stella.
She would swing them without realizing she cut herself in the process.
Of course, Yustea’s life wouldn’t be in danger, but there was nothing more unpleasant than being wounded by a blade swung in clumsy hands.
“Besides, things seem to have worked out well.”
There was no reason for discomfort.
Terius regarded Yustea with an affable expression.
Yustea met his gaze steadily.
“I believe you are mistaken, Your Highness.”
“Mistaken about what?”
“Just because the outcome went well doesn’t mean I have no reason to find you troublesome.”
“…What?”
Terius’s brow furrowed.
His posture shifted, leaning forward toward her.
He let out a thoughtful sound.
“I’m having trouble understanding. There was no malice, and everything turned out well for all involved—so why the anger? Did I make you feel like a pawn on my chessboard?”
“My feelings aren’t what matters.”
“Then?”
“There are lines a person can never cross.”
“That’s true, I suppose.”
“For me, that line is my mother. For that reason, the Nasel Crown was never something I could use.”
…
Terius’s expression grew somber.
He murmured, “Ah,” and straightened his posture.
“I see now. I understand your position, Young Lady. If you wish an apology, I’ll offer it.”
He reflected.
‘Quite earnest.’
Excessively so.
That was why she was less entertaining than he’d hoped.
When fleeing assassins and competing with Stella, Yustea showed no concern for consequences.
What intrigued Terius was her prioritization of efficiency over pride.
He found himself drawn to her each time she surprised him with the unexpected.
“Will you promise never to use my mother again?”
At her words, Terius shrugged.
“I will.”
Yustea rose from her seat.
“Thank you for receiving me so late at night.”
“You came on this night just to hear me promise not to use your mother?”
“Yes.”
Yustea was turning to leave when—
“What if I hadn’t agreed?”
She stopped and turned back to face him.
“I would have detonated some of the Mana Stones you gave me.”
“…What?”
“Ideally, I’d have been badly hurt in the explosion. After all, an explosion involving a Saint draws attention nicely.”
“What are you—”
“It would derail your plan to seize continental dominance through Mana Stones.”
…
“Mana Stone prices, now skyrocketing, would plummet. Ilfarm, which grew through wealth-based expansion, would suffer greatly.”
“Do you understand what you’re saying?”
Terius’s face hardened.
Yustea continued expressionlessly.
“I would have used the opportunity to contact your siblings and invite them to Ilfarm’s royal palace. That alone could create a rival faction threatening to you.”
As Terius narrowed his eyes, Yustea withdrew a Mana Stone from her pocket and placed it on the table.
“I’m relieved it won’t be necessary.”
‘…It’s not hypothetical. I came prepared to detonate.’
What kind of girl is this?!
Terius shot to his feet.
His expression grim, he seized her wrist.
“I can’t believe you’d go this far just because I used your mother’s name.”
“Which is why you should be cautious.”
Yustea’s gaze was icy.
“Your skill is adjusting situations. Mine is disregarding all limits.”
“You—”
“That’s why you cannot defeat me.”
…
“You won’t stake your life on the game, but I will stake mine before anything else.”
Yustea wrenched her hand free.
Then, with composed courtesy, she bowed and turned to leave in one smooth motion.
Terius remained frozen, staring at the space where she’d stood.
He could only laugh breathlessly.
‘This is unbelievable.’
And yet…
“…This is actually fun.”
There was something people got wrong about him.
He was eighteen, brimming with competitive spirit.
Yustea.
She fascinated him as much as his benefactor had that day, escaping assassins with quick thinking.
* * *
As Yustea left the Imperial Palace, Radia, the eldest daughter of Count Claren’s House, approached her.
“I should apologize first.”
“You didn’t let Emma and her brother escape?”
“How could we?”
“Then what?”
“To be clear, we didn’t let them escape. …But their condition is poor.”
…
Radia glanced away briefly.
Her expression darkened.
“When we found Emma, she was barely breathing. It appeared she’d been attacked by someone.”
…
“But I’ve brought in skilled healers and physicians, so we should be able to—”
“That won’t be possible.”
Yustea cut her off flatly.
Radia’s brow creased.
“The healers I’ve recruited may not match a Saint’s power, but they’re first-rate. They’re renowned throughout the Archipelago.”
“Perhaps we should focus on adjusting the agreement instead.”
The agreement between Yustea and Radia was this:
1. Emma would be prevented from touching the Nasel Crown, and her identity would be revealed to Yustea.
2. In exchange, Yustea would spread news of this incident in the way Radia preferred.
It was true that Emma had tried to destroy the Nasel Crown, but she had been stopped by Count Claren’s House.
Radia wanted the incident reported in a way that would minimize damage to her family.
“There’s no rush, is there? If you don’t trust the healers and physicians I’ve provided, why not step in yourself?”
“My power isn’t sufficient.”
“What do you mean?”
She wasn’t in a situation where she could confidently heal it in seconds, as her future self might in four years.
No, even four years from now would be impossible.
‘A Saint cannot resurrect the dead.’
She gazed beyond Radia into empty space.
Final Ill Fate collected.
Age advancement is now possible.
User confirmation in progress for advancement.
Name: _________
Ill Fate collection successful.
Emma had completely vanished from the board.
* * *
“Mother! Ahhhh, Mother—!”
Stella’s wails echoed through Yeongbin Palace.
The nobles assigned to manage the Ilfarm delegation sighed.
Since Prince Terius was attending to Stella, who had lost her mother, there was no way to stop her.
Even if it had been possible, no one was heartless enough to rebuke a grieving girl.
Not only were they not that cruel, but they also cared what others might think.
“Wouldn’t it be better to send her away?”
Romeban, the elder of the Olbera siblings, spoke up, and Roji shrugged.
“Prince Terius says there’s no one outside to comfort her, so he wants to keep her close.”
Terius had suspended all his duties to console Stella.
The delegation had no choice but to wait.
Romeban shook his head slowly.
“But the Imperial Palace isn’t a good place for grief to fade.”
Roji, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, spoke.
“Why not tell her that wailing over a criminal mother isn’t good for her?”
“Do you have any shred of humanity at all?”
“The Emperor’s Nasel Crown was almost destroyed, and that idiot and her brother jumped into the barrier at Claren Crafting Workshop and died side by side—”
“Stop.”
Romeban covered Roji’s mouth.
Roji spoke with irritation in her voice.
“It’s for Stella’s sake too. If she keeps wailing like that, people will remember her dead mother’s crimes even more.”
“Not everything efficient is good.”
Roji clicked her tongue.
“Anyway, where’s Yustea? Today’s schedule is backed up and we need to revise the later appointments.”
She looked at Guinevere.
“You don’t know anything?”
“She said she had to visit the Temple.”
“First she was sick and missed a few days, now it’s the Temple again? Being a Saint sure has its perks.”
At the disparaging remarks about Yustea, Guinevere’s eyes widened.
“Yustea is—!”
“I’m late.”
The door opened, and a familiar voice echoed.
Familiar, but one they hadn’t heard in some time.
The noble delegation members blinked, their eyes widening.
“Y-Yustea?”
Even Guinevere, startled, rushed toward the entrance.
The Olbera siblings and Count Claren’s eldest son—who had looked unnaturally pale since their arrival—reacted the same way.
Yustea’s hair, which had reached her waist, now fell only to the middle of her back.
Her height, which had barely touched a grown man’s chest, had suddenly grown considerably.
Her cheeks, which had been like peaches in high summer, were now delicately angular.
Yustea, at age fifteen, had returned.
“Where’s Stella?”
When Yustea asked, Guinevere stammered, “Ah, um, well…”
It had already spread as rumor that the Nasel Crown was needed to restore the condition of Dia, Yustea’s birth mother.
Her father’s concubine had tried to harm her birth mother and died, so Yustea’s feelings must be complicated.
“Maybe you shouldn’t go today… No, well, if you want to go, I can’t stop you, but…”
“Tell me where.”
“With Prince Terius…”
“Thank you.”
“Huh?”
“For always… treating me kindly.”
Yustea’s voice grew quieter.
Guinevere’s eyes glistened.
‘Wow.’
Around three or four years old, Yustea had been purely obedient and kind.
And around ten years old, she’d been so composed that she earned the title of Iron Empress.
And now, Yustea was…
‘A blend of both.’
Guinevere smiled shyly.
“Y-yes. Oh, and…”
She whispered.
“You won’t remember, but… well, it’s good you don’t remember, but you used to call me—”
“Sister.”
“You remember?!”
Too shocked, she let out a small cry.
When she’d grown from three to around ten, she hadn’t remembered.
Yustea continued.
“I’m grateful for… the doll you gave me too.”
Then she quickly left the room.
Guinevere placed both hands on her cheeks and spoke.
“Since my birthday comes earlier… wouldn’t that make me your sister for several months of the year…?”
Roji watched the dazed Guinevere muttering and said,
“What’s wrong with her? Is she crazy?”
“Humanity. A touch of humanity.”
Romeban shook his head.
* * *
I let out a deep sigh.
‘Growth isn’t always good.’
Around ten years old—or more precisely, at eleven—patience had become my constant.
So I didn’t show it, but as my limbs shot up, the pain was excruciating.
I groaned slightly, tapping my shoulders.
‘At least I remember, which is fortunate.’
I didn’t need to waste time figuring out the situation.
First, let me finish the Emma matter.
I was moving with that resolve when—
Someone pulled me from behind.
I didn’t see their face, but I know this scent.
I quickly turned around and spoke.
“Prince Luciano.”
“No pretty older brother or rival faction?”
“No.”
Luciano laughed softly.
“When did you come back?”
“I activated this morning. It seems my eleven-year-old self, worried that memories would fade after growing up, finished everything by morning.”
“I see.”
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
…
“Also, you were a huge comfort to my eleven-year-old self. I was so discouraged about being abandoned at Andres, but when you said it would be okay… um?”
Luciano pulled me into an embrace.
I froze.
“P-people might pass by…”
“I’ll let go before anyone comes.”
“Why… why are you doing this…”
“Because I like it.”
“…Sorry?”
“That the age gap isn’t so large.”
Ah.
I had avoided him because the age gap was too large.
“I only avoided it because I was worried about you. People wouldn’t view it favorably, and it would become the subject of gossip…”
“I know.”
…
“I knew from the beginning what a good person you are.”
I stared at him for a long moment.
Then I couldn’t help but laugh.
‘So he was worried too.’
He simply hadn’t shown it, trying not to disturb the people around me who were already anxious.
Like my eleven-year-old self.
I pulled him close around the waist.
Luciano startled.
“…What’s this?”
“Because I like it too—”
Just as I spoke—
Footsteps came from behind.
I jerked, trying to pull away from Luciano, but he held my back firmly.
So I remained pressed against him, looking back.
Prince Terius stood beside Stella, staring at me.

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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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