How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 196

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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
Episode 196
I bolted from the bedroom in a panic.
I tore down the second-floor corridor in a daze, descending the stairs that connected to the first floor.
‘What on earth is happening?’
Killing them had never been part of the plan.
I’d arranged to send them to Grandfather once things quieted down at Esgaroth.
‘Did assassins slip in?’
Cuaron’s Barrier was constructed from an ultra-advanced Formula that Ros had created.
Even if someone breached it, there was still the Barrier maintained by Abel and Yuise.
If assassins had gotten inside, Abel and Yuise would have known.
If they hadn’t known, then an even more powerful force must have infiltrated.
‘The Imperial Palace? The Restoration Council? The GM?’
I hastily opened Father’s Office door.
“Father, how did this—!”
I stopped mid-shout.
“Just about to have some tea, actually. How are you, Yusi?”
…Why was the atmosphere so peaceful?
The other Irregulars present with Father seemed equally unbothered.
“When the rain comes, my whole body aches, you know.”
“A list of Javid’s Faction’s hidden assets—and you’re reading it over tea?”
“These pastries are… mine….”
Cesar tapped his shoulder and yawned.
Even Abel and Yuise, who formed the secondary Barrier, wore unconcerned expressions.
“…You all knew.”
These people had known beforehand that the Marquise and Javid would die.
That’s why they looked so nonchalant.
As I narrowed my eyes, Father lifted his teacup and spoke.
“Well….”
“What’s going on?”
“Don’t worry about it. Those who needed to leave have left.”
“Did Grandfather know too?”
“He did. Now, about that tea—”
“This isn’t the time for tea!”
Tea didn’t matter.
When I frowned in frustration, Father flinched.
But he merely averted his gaze as if staring at distant mountains, offering no further explanation.
“A drought struck during planting season—we’ll have a famine this year. Every Manor will be scrambling to buy up grain with their eyes wide open, so we should….”
“Father!”
“….”
Father glanced at my expression.
The Elite of the Irregulars snickered.
* * *
Esgaroth Mansion.
Marquis Esgaroth sat across from a figure who had entered through a secret passage.
“This is our first real conversation. …Dia Neroban.”
Neroban—her maiden name.
The Marquis had deliberately chosen a title unrelated to Andres.
Dia wore a serene smile.
“You honored my daughter greatly. I have received a debt of gratitude I shall never forget, even in death.”
“It is Aslan and I who owe a debt to your daughter. Think nothing of it.”
The Marquis smiled in return and offered her tea.
Holding the cup, Dia spoke quietly.
“As for the Marquise and her son….”
“Aslan helped, it seems. And you were the one who carried it out.”
Dia looked at him.
She had heard his reputation, of course, but he was far from a simple man.
The Marquise and Javid’s disposal was indeed a joint effort between Aslan and her.
She had obtained the key to the Underground Prison from Aslan, and he had aided her by turning a blind eye to the deed.
According to Aslan, he had not informed the Marquis of this fact.
“You’ve planted eyes and ears in Cuaron.”
“To protect my son and granddaughter. Let no one else know.”
“Another son was slain by my hand. You must have some regret about that.”
“Javid was not my child.”
Dia’s hand froze as she set down her cup.
When she looked up, the Marquis smiled softly.
“That woman used drugs to try to spend the night with me. But I feigned intoxication while remaining perfectly lucid. There was no intimacy between us that night either. That’s why she was so desperate.”
“…The Marquise bore another man’s child?”
“Marquis Dennis, who was once the head of Javid’s Faction, possessed a sharp mind. Why do you suppose such a man never abandoned Javid?”
“…!”
Dia’s face hardened.
“Marquis Dennis was Javid’s true father.”
“That I know this is unknown to the Marquise and Marquis Dennis. Javid himself probably believed I was his father until his final moment.”
“….”
“Javid was dull-witted, but valuable simply by existing. The cadet branches never dared reach for the Succession because of him.”
“….”
“He had his uses, so even after his mother’s death, I intended to let him live as a member of the Ducal bloodline in some corner of Esgaroth.”
“….”
“…But if he was targeting my son, that changes everything.”
The Marquis’s eyes gleamed with terrible light.
In that moment, a chill ran down Dia’s spine.
Dia laughed awkwardly—a hollow sound.
The Marquis set down his cup and asked.
“So now that you’ve come to your senses, will you take Yustea away? It seems you left quite a large debt unpaid—without your daughter and Aslan knowing.”
Dia shrugged and sighed.
“I had considered it, but I must abandon that plan.”
“Why?”
“Because the Marquis appears to be a formidable shield for my daughter.”
Even when he kept his son at a distance, he never took his eyes off him.
He honed that brilliant talent called Aslan, ensuring that in his absence, no one in the Empire could threaten him.
In the end, Aslan had established himself at Esgaroth and wielded influence across the entire continent—all without the Marquis’s public support.
Everything had unfolded exactly as the Marquis had arranged.
‘Above all else….’
The Marquis was a beast that had held its breath for all those long years, nursing a hunger for vengeance for the woman he loved.
For the sake of one enclosed in his care, he had made calculations so meticulous they were terrifying.
Dia rose from her seat.
“I am relieved, if you harbor no displeasure at Javid’s death.”
“Did you think I would block Yustea’s path forward because of that?”
“A mother with a daughter becomes anxious over trifles.”
“Your worry has been eased, then. And…thank you.”
The Marquis’s smile was gentle.
“I know you stepped forward for Aslan and Yustea’s sake.”
“…Well.”
The Marquise and Javid remaining alive would have been like carrying a bomb in one’s arms.
Now there was no key to unlock that gate.
If the Marquise wielded her Authority again, the damage would fall entirely on Aslan and Yustea.
Even if her core were sealed to prevent her from exercising Authority, she could pass it to another.
“That Authority carries a dangerously powerful force. Even if it fell into someone else’s hands instead of Javid’s, it would be perilous. It could become a tool to coerce the Saint.”
“Indeed.”
The Marquis glanced at Dia.
Behind the demeanor of one called a mad dog—recklessly bold—lay a nature cold as ice.
“Your exterior is a mask to hide a cruel nature.”
“Perhaps.”
“Those who see only your surface will never know your true self; they’ll think you humane, in fact.”
“….”
“And so you’ll have quite a number of followers.”
“What is your point?”
“Is there room in your vessel for only Yustea? Will it always be so? Cannot you also love what Yustea holds dear?”
Dia’s brows drew together.
“Pardon?”
The Marquis smiled softly.
“What of my son?”
“….”
“Haha.”
‘…This old man.’
Dia’s expression turned incredulous.
She stood.
“My entire life belongs to Yustea alone. That child is my all, my breath, my world.”
Then, with only the barest nod as parting, she left.
The Marquis remaining in the room uttered a low hum.
Marquis Sintus, who had been watching his back all this while, spoke.
“I told you not to rush so, did I not?”
“If that extraordinary woman decides Esgaroth’s actions displease her and simply whisks away my granddaughter, what then?”
“That may be true, but….”
The Marquis clicked his tongue with a sharp sound.
“She’s clearly watching us for now. One misstep, and she’ll wrap Yustea in cloth and bow to me as an apology.”
“But her resolve is firm, sir. It doesn’t seem she’ll agree to marry Lord Aslan.”
“Yes, well.”
In those eyes, only her daughter existed.
‘I have no choice but to give up.’
The Marquis closed his mouth with obvious regret.
“Never mind that. Tell me how much our darling brought in from Cuaron this time. Let’s see how much she’s filled our warehouse with.”
The Marquis broke into a wide grin.
Marquis Sintus shook his head.
If Dia and the Marquis clashed over Yustea, the Empire would be turned upside down.
* * *
[So Javid and the Marquise are dead, then.]
“Pawel Menod too. They say he was cut off somewhere, but they won’t tell me what that place is.”
[You needn’t know. It seems Mother handled it very well.]
“…Could it really have been Mother?”
I gazed at the Communication Stone, my expression sullen.
[Of course.]
“I suppose so….”
[If the Underground Prison wasn’t destroyed and only the lock was quietly opened, then someone gave out the key. That would be your father.]
“Hmm.”
[Why?]
“I’m thinking about how to handle this situation. I’m not sure how to report it to the Emperor.”
[His Majesty has been laughing about like a broken machine all day long.]
[Ahahaha—!]
[Like that.]
A cheerful laugh erupted from the Communication Stone.
Judging by Luciano’s exasperated tone, it must be the Emperor.
“He’s aware of this, then.”
[He had to be. He’d killed members of the Imperial bloodline and couldn’t report it. The Marquise—rather, Aurelia’s—crimes cannot be made public.]
Well, from the Emperor’s perspective, Javid and his mother dying would certainly ease his mind.
Mine too, for that matter.
I nodded.
“Then it’s a relief. But….”
[You have another worry?]
“It’s not my worry.”
I glanced back cautiously.
Behind a pillar in the distance, two figures watched me with grim expressions.
It was Ain and Romeban Olvera.
The two men whom Luciano had left behind still hadn’t been able to depart.
As I looked, Ain strode forward.
Romeban followed with a reluctant expression.
Ain spoke in a grave voice.
“How much longer are you keeping us stuck in Cuaron?”
“I really ought to be heading back to the Olvera Domain soon….”
[For now, you’ll stay longer.]
“There’s no one trying to force Yustea into marriage anymore—why do we need to be here?”
[There is a reason.]
“What?”
[She’ll need protection again.]
The two men narrowed their eyes in confusion.
I shared their bewilderment.
“What do you mean?”
[A letter from Marquis Esgaroth has arrived at the Imperial Palace.]
A letter from Grandfather?
‘At this time? What could it be about?’
As that thought crossed my mind, I gasped.
“Could it be—!”
A laugh-tinged voice came from the Communication Stone.
[It’s a letter confirming Aslan Cuaron Esgaroth as the Successor.]
“Yes—!”
I threw my hands up in the air.
Father’s long, drawn-out succession struggle had finally ended.
As I bounced on my toes in joy, Romeban smiled and said, “Congratulations.”
Ain laughed too, but his expression grew serious again moments later.
“How does Father’s getting married have anything to do with us needing to protect Yustea?”
[The Succession is settled. But he’s unmarried. Now, what happens?]
Suddenly, Ain, Romeban, and I all fell silent.
I murmured.
“Father’s…marriage?”
[The Ducal House now lacks a mistress. Among the direct line, Yustea is the only woman. Choosing your father’s bride is your role.]
‘Oh no….’
All manner of schemes would now come into play.
Ain and Romeban both sighed heavily.
“Please take good care of Eppy….”
“Please, Prince, tell Roji not to cause trouble….”
I laughed awkwardly, privately vowing to treat both of them well.
“Thank you for telling me, Prince.”
Just as I was about to end the call, a low voice came through.
[I’m hoping your father marries quickly.]
“Why?”
[Because next comes us.]
“…!”
[His Majesty has signed the Proposal Letter. Once your father’s marriage is finalized, our engagement will move forward.]
“Ah….”
[I miss you.]
I felt shy and cleared my throat awkwardly.
Ain made a sound of disgust and grimaced.
* * *
Just as Luciano had foreseen, talk of Father’s marriage came up.
But before that, there was something to be done.
“Handle it carefully! Don’t damage the Young Lady’s clothes!”
“Where should this room be placed?”
“This is the Clan Leader’s baggage!”
Father and I were moving into the Citadel.
‘Finally, we’ve reached this point.’
I watched Father receive greetings with an impassive expression.
“How does it feel?”
“What?”
“You’ve achieved one of your goals.”
Father ruffled my hair.
“Not bad.”
He was smiling like that when—
Episode begins.
‘…What?’

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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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