How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 201

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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
Chapter 201
* * *
So, if I explain the progression of events in detail, it went like this.
As I mentioned, I had been wary of the Restoration of the Former Empire approaching the Irregulars.
It was only natural—Oscar, an Elite, had once been an operative for the Restoration Society.
I kept a particularly close watch on the unit members who followed Oscar as their leader.
The members of Oscar’s Unit, now Abel’s Unit, regarded their leader with special affection compared to other units.
If the Restoration Society tried to win them over, wouldn’t Oscar’s trained members be the most likely targets?
‘If they’re going to approach, now that we’ve moved to Esgaroth would be the perfect time.’
We hadn’t completely secured the Esgaroth Mansion the way we had Cuaron.
With far more people coming and going, covert access was easy.
I tasked the unit members selected by the Clan Leader and Yuise with internal surveillance.
And a few days ago, I received a report.
“Aragon slipped out of the castle in secret?”
“Yes. He’s skilled at moving undetected, so we couldn’t follow him, but he left the castle without filing any entry records.”
I contacted Oscar that very day.
It was only natural.
If the Restoration Society was trying to win over Aragon, they would certainly have used Oscar.
As expected, Oscar told me he’d met with Aragon.
My suspicion became certainty in that moment.
‘After that, it was simple.’
I could predict when something would happen just by observing Aragon’s state.
If they were plotting during tonight’s party, their goal was obvious.
I glared sharply at the woman I had by the collar.
“What were you trying to accomplish by marrying Father?”
“….”
“I’m asking you. Anne.”
Anne Gnaeco, who had been rigid the entire time, clicked her tongue.
Her cunning nature was showing through.
The innocent and virtuous mask she’d worn in the party hall had been stripped away.
But she didn’t confess to her crime.
“I really have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You’re going to brazen your way out after getting caught meeting with Aragon?”
“That’s only the Noble Lady’s claim, isn’t it?”
Anne’s lips twisted.
“The Noble Lady seems unhappy about her father’s marriage. So she fabricated impropriety on the part of a guest to prevent her father’s wedding, didn’t she?”
“Me?”
“There’s a woman targeting Aslan Esgaroth who’s doing this—just that alone would stir the world, and Esgaroth would become cautious about his marriage.”
Anne lifted her chin defiantly.
“You can’t frame a woman of noble birth, so you picked me from a humble family!”
Julieta and Sophia, who sat beside Anne, exchanged a glance with me.
They thought Anne’s words had credibility.
It was to their advantage if Anne’s words were right rather than mine.
That way Father wouldn’t hesitate about the marriage.
Julieta folded her arms and spoke.
“This matter certainly requires a thorough investigation.”
Sophia also nodded in agreement while smoothing her hair.
“I agree. It would be best to call the Imperial Soldiers and clarify the facts unambiguously.”
With an ally appearing, Anne’s smile deepened.
“Let go of me, please.”
Julieta and Sophia consented.
“Can’t you hear what Miss Gnaeco is saying? Really, this is why the role of parents matters. I see now.”
“It seems the Archipelago society’s assessment of the Noble Lady has been far too favorable.”
Both of them ganged up and blamed me.
The three of them, stuck together, wore triumphant expressions.
How pleasant for them.
If Anne’s words were true, my actions would have been unforgivable rudeness.
They now had grounds to demand something of Esgaroth.
Not only did Julieta become arrogant, but even Sophia, who had feigned support for me, widened her eyes and blamed me.
Anne wore a smug expression.
No matter how much I was caught, she believed all she needed to do was turn Father’s heart.
‘I thought I’d end this quickly.’
I exhaled a sigh.
Anne seized the moment to knock my hand away.
With a sharp crack, my hand burned as though fire had ignited on its back.
Aragon surged forward in agitation.
Bang—!
The door opened roughly.
Everyone’s eyes in the room turned simultaneously toward the doorway.
It was Father and the Elites of the Irregulars.
Behind them, Mother appeared.
Mother’s expression was intensely sharp.
But it wasn’t Mother who moved first.
Father strode in and took my hand.
Seeing my reddened hand, Father turned his gaze toward the three women.
Anne rose from her seat.
“Ah… it’s an easy misunderstanding. But that was a form of self-defense. I was so startled….”
As Anne spoke hesitantly in an innocent tone, Julieta and Sophia backed her up.
“That’s right. We’re witnesses. To suddenly grab Miss Gnaeco by her collar like that… this matter certainly requires discipline. Being kind alone isn’t education, after all.”
Julieta seized the opportunity to play the wise mother.
Sophia quickly interjected.
“I was so flustered, I can’t even say. I don’t misunderstand the Noble Lady’s feelings. With such a charming father, one might well grow infatuated.”
Father opened his mouth.
“You’re mistaken.”
“Yes, which is why someone capable of proper education is needed—”
“Ah, how awkward.”
Julieta and Sophia answered quickly.
Anne secretly curved her lips upward.
But the one Father glared at coldly wasn’t me.
Father spoke to the women.
“Your role is not that of judges. You are the ones being questioned.”
“…Yes?”
“What are you saying….”
Julieta and Sophia were taken aback.
A pale nimbus of light gathered at Father’s feet.
It stretched forth like dense tree roots, binding my and Anne’s limbs.
“Gasp…!”
With mana constricting even her throat, Anne gasped.
Julieta and Sophia froze in shock, staring at Father.
“A-Aslan!”
“Why, why—!”
Father approached the restrained Anne.
“Because the Trick of Reconciliation didn’t work, you resort to a Divisive Strategy. Shallow tactics.”
“A… ggh….”
“You didn’t account for my deep trust in Yustea.”
Father continued in a flat voice.
“I’m not the sort to corner a culprit without proper evidence. Am I, Yusi?”
I stared at Father with wide eyes.
Miliano approached me and called softly, “Young Lady.”
It was a cue to state what I already knew.
“…I verified with our operative hidden in the Restoration Society. We’ve also secured the servant who hid the Restoration Society’s note in Aragon’s room. Moreover, traces of Anne Gnaeco’s contact with the Magical Tool that Aragon possesses will serve as evidence.”
As the evidence came pouring out, Anne flinched.
Father stared intently at Anne.
“If you want to preserve your life, you must not speak another lie.”
“U-ugh….”
“When did you make contact with the Restoration Society?”
“….”
The mana constricting Anne’s body intensified.
Anne cried out as if screaming.
“L-last m-month… ugh….”
“Why did you take the Restoration Society’s hand?”
“I-I was sick of p-poverty… ugh… I didn’t want to live like this anymore… I’m sorry… I’m sorry….”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“Ah….”
A glimmer of hope crossed Anne’s face.
But only for a moment.
With a sickening crunch, her limbs twisted.
“Because I have no intention of forgiving you.”
Father withdrew the mana.
Anne collapsed to the floor.
The pain from her twisted limbs was severe enough that she drooled and lost consciousness.
The room fell silent.
After a stretch of silence, Julieta and Sophia spoke.
“I… I wish you’d told us the evidence beforehand. We misunderstood.”
“My, my, goodness.”
They concluded that it was my infatuation—not wanting to lose Father—and their reproachful attitude changed in an instant.
The two looked at me with awkward expressions.
“How bewildering. In the future, you’ll need to learn how to win others’ trust through conversation. In any case, I should apologize to the Noble Lady for today’s incident.”
“It would be nice if we could find time to have a deeper conversation.”
“Yes. It wouldn’t be good to leave misunderstandings.”
“Let’s meet separately.”
I found this rather unbelievable.
That wasn’t a proper apology.
Meanwhile, Father made a gesture to the Irregulars.
Antonio left the room and dragged someone back in.
Those who entered with bowed heads were the young ladies I’d seen at the party.
More precisely, the ones who’d pushed me and spilled wine on me.
Upon seeing them, Julieta and Sophia’s faces went pale.
‘So that’s why he brought the two of them.’
“You instructed these young ladies to do so. To make me commit a breach of courtesy, correct?”
“….”
“….”
The two kept their mouths sealed while their hands trembled.
“It doesn’t seem you two plotted this together. How did you both arrive at the same idea?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Twin souls, I suppose.”
Yuise and the Irregulars watched Julieta and Sophia, who could only swallow dry.
Their eyes held contempt.
Father spoke.
“Esgaroth has sent official correspondence to your families in both the Northern and Archipelago societies.”
“A-Aslan!”
“Oh, no. Not that…!”
This wasn’t going to end with brief humiliation.
It would follow them as scandal their entire lives.
The two clasped their hands in supplication.
“We went too far. We’re reflecting! After our last engagement fell through, circumstances became difficult…!”
“We couldn’t ignore our family’s expectations…! Please, forgive us…!”
Tears appeared, but Father paid no attention whatsoever.
Yuise spoke to them.
“He is endeavoring to punish you according to nobility’s methods.”
It meant to refrain from using Irregular methods.
Julieta and Sophia sank down, bursting into tears.
* * *
The incident spread widely.
Julieta and Sophia couldn’t show their faces in public.
The Irregulars laughed at the newspapers carrying illustrations of Julieta and Sophia.
“What a scandal, what a scandal.”
“They were so particular about manners, but their actions are worse than street rabble.”
“Complete disgrace.”
Yuise chuckled and spoke.
“They said they wanted to avoid making noise at the Clan Leader’s first party.”
“They came with firm intentions, so it couldn’t be avoided. If it was going to be noisy anyway, I thought it better to use it to promote Father’s authority.”
Above all, we needed to divert people’s attention.
From the matter of the Restoration Society and Anne Gnaeco.
While public interest turned toward Julieta and Sophia, we quickly reported Anne’s matter to the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor, who detested the Restoration Society, naturally sent people to retrieve her.
“We’ve been entangled with the Restoration Society far too much. It won’t do if rumors spread that we’re one of their targets.”
“But Julieta and Sophia know about it.”
“They won’t be believed even if they speak. People will see it as them throwing out a sacrificial victim to clean up their scandal.”
And they’d be too frightened of Father to bring it up in the first place.
“Then was there any need to reveal Anne’s identity to the two of them?”
“Later, if the Restoration Society tries to wage a public campaign claiming Oscar is evidence that we’re connected, I’ll use them as witnesses.”
They’ll be able to return to society, so they’ll be very happy to serve as witnesses.
“Everything unfolded exactly according to your plan.”
Yuise chuckled.
The other Irregulars also sent glances of respect, their eyes shining.
“…There is one thing that deviated from the plan.”
Father’s popularity hasn’t waned.
I thought it would die down with the Julieta and Sophia incident.
I looked out the window with vacant eyes.
Carriages stretched endlessly.
They kept coming to the castle with all manner of excuses.
Today too, the leaders of Northern society arrived, apologizing for not properly teaching the younger generation.
Along with their daughters or nieces….
“Shouldn’t you go?”
“I need to stop Father before he explodes….”
So I made my way to the Grand Reception Hall where Father and Grandfather were.
The Grand Reception Hall was absolute chaos.
A familiar face stood before the Grand Reception Hall.
It was Mother.
Mother wore an expression thoroughly irritated.
“Mother?”
“Ah, Yusi.”
Mother kissed my cheek.
I asked.
“Why are you here?”
“It’s about time I left.”
Mother had been able to stay at the castle with me for a few more days thanks to Grandfather’s consideration.
She needed to pay respects to the Clan Leader who had shown her kindness before departing, but guests had been pouring in since morning, leaving no opportunity.
“Come in with me.”
I entered the reception hall with Mother.
And as I approached Father and Grandfather….
“My, it’s been ages. Do you remember me? We met once in the Archipelago!”
“Ah, Saint. How I’ve longed to see you.”
“Noble Lady, I…!”
I was surrounded by women again.
They all had tremendous combat power, so I groaned.
“Greetings in order, please…!”
It was inevitable that I’d greet them anyway.
With no mistress of the house, receiving guests fell to me.
After they met Father and Grandfather, they all wanted to speak with me alone, so I had to entertain guests late into the night.
Mother watched me from a distance.
She’d looked displeased yesterday too, seeing me worn out from talking to people.
“Well….”
I was raising both hands.
Through the crowd, I saw Mother approaching Father.
Mother pressed against the wall with a thud, trapping Father.
Everyone who saw this gasped.
Even I stared at Mother in surprise.
Grandfather hummed, “Ho-oh.”
“Your posture hasn’t changed?”
…He was saying such things.
His tone was full of vitality.
Father’s eyes widened.
Mother gripped Father’s jaw and spoke.
“You belong to me now.”
…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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