How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 193

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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 a Father
Chapter 193
Javid trembled with barely contained excitement, as though he might burst at any moment.
But Marquis Dennis, the head of Javid’s faction, was faster.
“Well, now.”
When Yustea glanced at him, Marquis Dennis laughed—a low, measured sound.
“I must confess, I’m at a loss as to how you managed to stockpile such quantities of food and water beforehand. Yes, Cuaron will endure.”
“That’s right.”
“But what of the other regions?”
……
Marquis Dennis curled his lip upward in a thin smile.
“Though we may lack the resources of the Saint, we too saw fit to accumulate provisions before the Great Famine took hold.”
“But—”
“Indeed, our preparation time was limited, so our stores are hardly sufficient. As a result, there are places where riots have broken out, just as the Saint predicted.”
……
“And if even we, who prepared, find ourselves in such straits, what must the other regions be enduring?”
……
Marquis Dennis glanced sidelong at the merchants.
Then he lowered his voice so that only Yustea and Javid’s faction could hear.
“The hostages are the people of the entire Empire. Can they truly survive two more months?”
At last, a smile returned to Javid’s face.
He laughed—a harsh, braying sound—and spoke.
“Now I see it. Time has been on our side all along.”
Marquis Dennis nodded.
“If Cuaron cannot bring itself to declare defeat, the only recourse is to appeal to the Imperial Judgment—the Emperor’s Judgment.”
The implication was clear: the Emperor would release his hold on me under pressure.
Javid’s faction’s expressions grew languid with renewed confidence.
A vassal in the faction spoke up, his voice laced with mockery.
“Let us hope Cuaron grows wealthy by selling food and water. After all, Cuaron’s prosperity will ultimately become the strength of Esgaroth.”
In other words, it would become the strength of Javid, once he became Count of Esgaroth.
They turned away, their faces smugly satisfied.
Yuise spoke.
“The other side has competent minds at work, it seems.”
“Marquis Dennis didn’t become one of the Three Elders for nothing.”
“So what do we do now that pressure won’t work?”
“That’s true…”
I exhaled slowly, gathering my thoughts.
I’d expected that if only the foolish Javid were involved, he’d have been terrified by now.
“Well, it doesn’t matter.”
Antonio’s eyes widened.
“They’re not scared at all, and you say it doesn’t matter?”
“Right. We’ve accomplished our actual objective, it seems.”
“Your actual objective?”
I smiled thinly.
And I lowered my voice.
“To provoke the Marquise into pressuring the Emperor.”
The Marquise, panicked by Cuaron’s apparent confidence, would press the Emperor to release his hold on me.
That was always the plan.
Antonio also dropped his voice as he asked.
“And pressuring the Emperor accomplishes what, exactly?”
“It causes an enraged Emperor to aid us.”
“Surely the Emperor must help us anyway, since they’ve committed something as monstrous as the Great Famine?”
“He must help us so thoroughly that he cares nothing for the dignity of the Imperial Family.”
To obtain the Water Path Key.
I watched Javid’s faction recede into the distance, and I smiled coldly to myself.
‘Go on, then. Go quarrel with the Emperor himself.’
* * *
Esgaroth Mansion.
The Marquise, having received word from Javid and Marquis Dennis, let out a hollow laugh.
“Even now, they fail to grasp their place.”
Marquis Dennis spoke.
“I cannot fathom how they foresaw the Great Famine and accumulated such stores of water and provisions.”
Javid snorted dismissively.
“That hardly matters now. If Cuaron alone survives while everywhere else dies, the Emperor will be desperate indeed.”
Javid regarded the Marquise.
“Striking at Cuaron was a mistake. The target must be the Emperor.”
“…Yes.”
The Marquise called out beyond the chamber door.
“Send word to the Imperial Palace. Tell them I wish to speak with the Emperor.”
Javid’s smile never left his face at his mother’s sudden change in demeanor.
‘Truly, such formidable authority.’
With but one exercise of her authority, she had risen above the Emperor himself.
That authority would eventually pass to him, her only son.
The Empire itself would soon rest in his palm.
Presently, a communication crystal arrived.
The Marquise, positioning Javid behind her, regarded the Emperor’s image in the crystal.
“I salute you, brother.”
[Do you understand what you have done?]
The Emperor’s voice that emerged from the crystal was thick with rage.
“A rat, cornered, will bite a cat. And should I be driven to a cliff’s edge, what catastrophe might I not unleash?”
[Aurellia—!]
A roar erupted from the crystal.
The Marquise remained unmoved.
“Now I understand why the Previous Emperor entrusted me with this authority.”
[You…]
“He foresaw this crisis. This foolish age in which you forget the past, brother.”
The Marquise’s lips twisted into a bitter line.
She was born to the Previous Emperor’s beloved concubine.
The Previous Emperor had cherished his beloved mistress and the daughter who bore his very features as though they were the rarest of jewels.
She had wanted for nothing, and every noble house had bowed before her.
Even the present Emperor, Augusto himself.
Thus the Previous Emperor had been her greatest ally in all the world.
Even as he closed his eyes in death, the Previous Emperor had commanded the Emperor:
“Cherish Aurellia as you would your own child, and love her as you would a lover. Remember the sorrow of that girl who lost her mother in infancy, and promise me you will shield her from all tempests and guard her as precious beyond measure.”
“All that has transpired stems from your breaking of the Previous Emperor’s dying wish. You must not forget this.”
[And so.]
“I, too, wish to resolve this matter with all speed.”
[What is your point?]
“The Saint is needed by the Empire for its restoration. Should the Saint cause the Empire grievous harm, she becomes unnecessary.”
[You ask me to abandon the Saint?]
“That girl deserves nothing more than the wretched station of some base commoner’s wife.”
[…]
The Emperor’s expression turned glacial.
Yet no further roar emerged.
Behind the Marquise, Javid’s lips curled upward in a satisfied smirk.
The Marquise spoke again.
“Furthermore, the position of heir to Esgaroth has stood vacant far too long. I beseech you to persuade my husband.”
[The Count of Esgaroth is not a man to be threatened twice.]
“Indeed. He is too stubborn for that.”
The Marquise rested her chin on her interlaced fingers as she spoke.
“Which is precisely why Your Majesty must exert yourself.”
The Emperor’s eyes blazed with cold fury.
[You shall come to regret this, again and again.]
“I think not.”
The image of the Emperor in the crystal faded.
The Marquise rose to her feet.
Javid let out an astonished cry.
“The succession falls to me at last!”
“Prepare yourself thoroughly.”
“Of course. Once I have Esgaroth in my hands, I shall sever the heads of that wretched Aslan and his daughter and cast them to the dogs.”
The Marquise laughed softly and patted Javid’s cheek.
* * *
I sat on a gazebo bench, holding a communication stone.
“So the Emperor will likely be contacting the Marquise around now.”
[I should stay clear for a while. I’d rather not bear the full weight of the Emperor’s wrath.]
Luciano spoke with shameless candor.
“That won’t do!”
[Filial piety?]
“No—we need to persuade the Emperor. To our advantage!”
[I was never particularly filial, but even I haven’t stooped to exploiting an anguished parent.]
“You dislike the idea?”
[It’s refreshingly straightforward. Efficient.]
I laughed softly.
‘Good. Now I need to prepare the next phase.’
With that thought, I ended the communication.
I was making my way to the Inner Palace to begin preparations.
“Would you not sell water and provisions to outsiders…?”
From behind a pillar, Romeben of the Olbera Count Family emerged, his eyes glistening with tears, his expression desperate.
“The Olbera Domain has begun to suffer casualties…”
He clasped both hands together, his eyes shining.
Prince Ain regarded the large man with the face of a kitten starved for three days with barely concealed disgust.
“Do you intend to maintain your position as a victim of Luciano’s romantic entanglement?”
……
“If you accept help from Yustea here, it becomes advantageous—to my brother, even.”
“…I would never presume. From the outset, I have been most gratified to remain in Esgaroth.”
When Romeben reversed his stance as easily as flipping his palm, Ain’s face twisted in disdain.
I smiled benignly.
“For matters of immediate pressing need, I can arrange a fair price.”
“The beautiful romance between you two—I fully support it.”
Romeben clenched both fists in delight.
“Might we discuss the details later? I have urgent matters to attend to.”
“Of course. I shall have documents prepared.”
Romeben smiled brightly.
Though Ain’s face remained sour, he stepped aside to clear the path.
I proceeded toward the Conference Hall.
The Irregulars had gathered there.
“Of the thirty-two spies from Ilfarm presently in the vicinity of Esgaroth, we have completed investigation of twenty-seven.”
“But none of them possessed the Water Path Key.”
The words came from Clan Leader and Cesar.
Having read their investigation reports, I let out a low sound of frustration.
“So five remain. And their investigation?”
“It won’t be easy. These are individuals who’ve secured positions throughout the Empire.”
The spies from Ilfarm were not merely infiltrators.
Some had originally been Imperial citizens, but were later turned through Ilfarm’s bribes.
The remaining five are distinguished nobles.
We cannot simply march up to them and—
“You’re a spy! Confess whether you have the Water Path Key!”
—their stations forbid such crude tactics.
And shaking down all five in such a manner would invite backlash.
Above all, it would severely compromise the position of Prince Terriars of Ilfarm, who provided the spy list.
Since I had built a fairly solid understanding with Terriars, I wished to avoid that outcome.
Cesar spoke.
“Since these are powerful individuals, the investigation will take considerable time.”
“What if we concentrate on one target?”
“If we reduce the number, the timeframe would shorten proportionally.”
“Then let’s focus on one.”
I smiled sharply and continued.
“I have a likely candidate.”
At that, the Irregulars regarded me with surprise.
“You have an inkling?”
In response to Cesar’s question, I nodded.
From the game, the conditions for the Water Path Key’s owner were three.
One: They must be a spy from Ilfarm.
Two: Upon entering the Great Famine episode, they would be positioned within the protagonist’s vicinity.
And there was a third condition.
“Acquaintance—they must have a prior connection to me.”
There was precisely one person who satisfied all three conditions.
I pointed to a name on the list.
Upon seeing it, the Irregulars stiffened.
“Truly?”
“You’re certain it’s this person?”
“That would be…”
Yuise, Cesar, and Clan Leader all bore expressions of disbelief.
Clan Leader spoke.
“Of the five remaining, this one is the most troublesome.”
“I know. That’s why we need the Emperor’s help.”
“Will he assist us? Surely he’s overwhelmed with the Great Famine crisis—this is an imposition he’ll refuse.”
The other Irregulars nodded in agreement.
I smiled confidently.
“He’ll have no choice but to agree.”
“…Yes?”
“How so?”
“He’ll be furious by then—about the Marquise’s insolent presumption.”
And it will have impressed upon him even more sharply—
the danger posed by the Marquise and Javid.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
“A communication from the Imperial Palace.”
The Elite exchanged glances, their brows furrowed.
“Is it Prince Luciano?”
“Why is she not contacting the Young Lady directly through the castle?”
The Unit Member who brought the crystal spoke.
“It is the Emperor, Your Majesty.”
“…!”
“…!!”
The Elite’s eyes widened in shock.
I nodded gravely.
The Emperor’s figure appeared in the crystal placed upon the table by the Unit Member.
The Emperor’s expression was colder than ever before.
He spoke.
[Esgaroth. Yustea, daughter of Marquis Cuaron.]
At the Emperor’s address, the Elite stiffened.
His tone of address differed markedly from his usual manner.
As though he were about to issue an imperial decree.
I bowed deeply.
“Yustea, daughter of Marquis Cuaron. I acknowledge Your Majesty.”
[You have stated you possess a means to resolve this crisis.]
It seemed Luciano had conveyed my words well.
“I do, Your Majesty.”
[From this hour forward, you shall be my proxy. The fate of the Empire shall walk with your every step.]
It was as good as permission to employ any means necessary.
I smiled faintly to myself.
‘The Marquise and Javid. They’re finished.’

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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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