How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 219

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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 219
I read the letter again.
Don’t search for me, please.
Please….
“Something’s off about this.”
As I spoke, Yuise frowned and closed her eyes.
“It seems the Pashard family’s carriage was spotted near the castle during the day.”
As I thought.
‘So it was Madison Pashard’s doing.’
I let out a sigh.
The Pashard family was a house with deep historical roots.
Though not among the Seven Great Houses, they were always on the list of candidates for the most influential house after them.
Now that the Seven Great Houses had lost their power, the Pashard family had strengthened ties with the new powers, surpassing the former glory of the Great Houses.
“We can’t exactly march into a house like that….”
A sigh escaped between Yuise’s teeth.
I asked.
“Is there any solid proof that they took Miliano?”
Besides the letter’s tone and the evidence that the Pashard carriage was seen.
The tone could be fabricated easily enough.
The fact that the Pashard carriage had been parked there wasn’t solid proof either.
The Irregulars shook their heads.
I groaned.
“Then a direct assault is out of the question.”
Would Marquis Pashard ever admit that his daughter had kidnapped a knight?
In aristocratic society, that was as good as declaring he’d let his daughter grow old unmarried.
Not only would her marriage prospects be ruined, the Pashard family would face utter disgrace.
‘They’ll deny it outright.’
But there was one consolation.
“I don’t think she intends to harm Miliano.”
Given the phrase about him being mine, it seemed she’d taken this action out of rational attraction.
“We’ll need to try convincing Madison Pashard herself.”
“The Clan Leader already made contact.”
“And? What did he say?”
“That she’s ill and absolutely cannot meet anyone.”
I groaned.
Antonio spoke with urgency.
“Is there no way, Young Lady?”
“A way….”
I pondered for a moment.
Then my eyes fell on Anne and Calypso standing in the doorway.
More precisely, Anne, whose soul seemed to have departed.
That group, the Torch Society—who had instilled the “—with style” speech pattern into both that reckless Madison Pashard and stubborn Anne beyond measure.
I turned sharply toward the Irregulars.
“Let’s contact the Torch Society. They might be able to bring Madison Pashard out.”
The Irregulars’ brows furrowed at the mention of the Torch Society.
“The Torch Society?”
“Isn’t that just a ladies’ gathering?”
“It’s not even an official function—would she really come for just a ladies’ gathering?”
They didn’t trust my words.
“Good manners are the beginning of courtesy….”
Anne began to murmur.
The Irregulars froze.
“It might help.”
“Yes.”
Anne was proof enough of the Torch Society’s power—something anyone could understand.
* * *
The next day, I invited Asta Sintez and Nicola Donati to the castle.
Asta, the only daughter of Marquis Sintez, the most powerful of the Three Elders, embraced me as soon as she arrived.
“It’s been so long.”
I welcomed her with a warm smile.
“Thank you for accepting such short notice.”
“Please, don’t mention it.”
She laughed softly and turned to Nicola.
Nicola stood with shoulders drawn in, looking around the castle.
Unlike the Sintez family, the Donati Marquis family was not particularly prominent within Esgaroth.
It seemed she was nervous, having never set foot in Esgaroth Castle before.
“I hope you’ve been well, Nicola.”
“Y-yes!”
Nicola quickly bowed her head to me.
Asta consoled her not to be nervous.
In the game, Nicola became Father’s adopted daughter.
And she was meant to die in a scheme, with Asta being framed as the culprit.
The fact that the two of them had become friends and were getting along was remarkable.
The change surprised me anew.
“Please, come in. I’ve had tea prepared.”
“Young Lady—or rather, I should say Young Lady, if you’ve prepared it, my expectations are high.”
She naturally called me Young Lady, now that I had become the granddaughter of Marquis Esgaroth and the daughter of the Young Duke.
“Then I mustn’t disappoint.”
We smiled and headed toward the rear garden.
We spent some time chatting over tea.
Once the atmosphere had warmed, I broached the main topic.
Asta’s eyes widened as she listened.
“You wish us to call Madison Pashard?”
“Yes. I have something urgent to discuss with her.”
“I’m not sure she would come if we called.”
My eyes widened now.
“Hasn’t Madison Pashard become greatly devoted to the Torch Society?”
Literally, it meant: ‘Doesn’t Madison do whatever you say?’
Then Asta and Nicola exchanged awkward smiles.
“To be precise, she’s not devoted to the Torch Society itself.”
“To be more accurate, it’s fair to say she’s devoted to Dolores.”
That was the moment.
Something clattered loudly as Anne passed through the rear garden.
She must have been carrying snacks.
Dishes and food scattered at Anne’s feet.
“D-d-Dolores….”
Anne murmured that name as if it were the name of her sworn enemy.
It seemed she was the one who had taught Anne the “—with style” speech pattern.
Nicola still looked uncomfortable.
“Dolores is a good person. She’s kind and devout in her faith. …Though perhaps a bit too devout.”
At that, Asta shrugged.
“If Dolores called her, Madison might come. But whether Dolores would call her is another matter entirely. Even if you, a Saint, asked her to.”
“She believes one shouldn’t trouble others through power, pressure, or bribery for personal matters.”
What a good person indeed.
But for me right now, it was an inconvenience.
As I grew downcast, Asta said, “Ah.”
“She might call her if it’s for a prayer gathering.”
“A prayer gathering?”
“Next week, wasn’t it?”
Asta turned to Nicola.
Nicola checked her diary and nodded.
“Yes, it is. How fortunate.”
I spoke.
“I heard there’s heavy rain coming next week. I’ll have to pray the prayer gathering isn’t cancelled. I truly must meet Madison Pashard.”
Then both of them reacted strangely.
The moment they heard my words, they shook their heads.
With visibly stiffened faces, firmly.
“There’s no chance the prayer gathering will be cancelled. Absolutely none.”
“None whatsoever.”
…To that extent?
I was puzzled.
But their words proved true.
The following week, a downpour came.
Carriages could barely move.
And yet….
“It really wasn’t cancelled.”
The prayer gathering was not cancelled.
* * *
Cathedral.
The Torch Society members held umbrellas that sagged under the weight of the rain, unable to keep out the downpour.
All their faces, soaked through, were expressionless.
“My mother asked if I’d truly lost my mind. She wondered if going out in this weather was sane.”
“My brother said the same.”
Asta swept back her wet hair with a sigh.
“At least we managed to arrive before the water reached our calves. Some others might have been cut off by the flooding.”
Then the other members’ faces brightened.
“Dolores lives far away, so she won’t be able to come, right? Don’t you think we should cancel for today and head back?”
I stood between two Irregulars holding umbrellas, watching the scene.
‘Right, impossible.’
It was strange that no cancellation notice had come beforehand.
Yuise and Antonio, holding umbrellas, whispered.
“Doesn’t this mean we can’t meet Madison?”
“We’ll have to think of another plan.”
But then.
“Forgive my lateness. I’m so sorry to have wasted your precious time.”
A delicate voice was heard.
Turning around, I saw women in white holy robes approaching with bright smiles.
…Holding oars in both hands.
The other Torch Society members swallowed dryly.
“What are those in your hands…?”
“The bridge was washed out. We procured a ferry.”
“You didn’t leave it to the servants…?”
“The ferry was small. Since we needed to bring everyone, there was no space for servants. Though the servants regrettably cannot join in the prayer, I’ve had an altar prepared at home for them to offer their prayers.”
The woman with brilliant silver hair smiled radiantly.
Fair-skinned, with silver hair unmarred by a single strand out of place.
And a woman whose height exceeded 180 centimeters, with broad shoulders.
She was thin, but her skeletal frame itself was so massive she didn’t appear delicate at all.
As she gripped the oars firmly, sinews seemed ready to burst from her muscles.
The Torch Society members instinctively laughed.
But we and the Irregulars fell silent.
Behind us, Anne, who refused even to hold an umbrella, whispered.
“She’s crazy, I’m telling you.”
Meanwhile, the Torch Society members entered the cathedral.
Our group followed after them.
I asked Anne.
“Is she stronger than you?”
“No, I’m stronger!”
“But you couldn’t handle her?”
“She said I couldn’t hit her. And if I was rude even a little…!”
It was a moment of her speaking huffily, like a tattler.
Then came a sharp crash from in front of the prayer hall.
I peered inside.
A member who had been complaining about having to hold a prayer gathering in this weather had thrown her umbrella carelessly.
But the moment that member saw the scattered umbrella, she froze.
“D-Dolores, this was just the w-wind… I mean, I didn’t in-intend to throw the umbrella….”
The member who threw it went pale.
Dolores kindly shook her head.
“I understand your heart. Everyone makes mistakes. Now, let us pray.”
Dolores took the member’s hand and began to pray.
“To the exalted Lord in heaven, we humbly beseech you. Grant us the wisdom to acknowledge our mistakes, the resolve to overcome them, the strong body to observe propriety…(excerpt omitted)…forgive our sins yet do not let us forget them, embracing our humble souls. Your little lamb is not confused by evil, for we remember that you are with us. Let your hand finally guide the lowly spirit…(excerpt omitted)…so that only your principles are rightfully established upon the earth you have touched, we humbly beseech you….”
It was an overwhelming flood of prayer.
The prayer recited and recited but never seemed to end.
The member whose hand was held was nearly fainting.
The other half-dazed members cheered and clapped repeatedly as they chanted the prayers.
“Oh, my Father.”
“My Father…!”
I glanced quickly to the side.
Anne too was enthusiastically cheering and clapping while shouting.
“Father…!”
Ah, so that was it.
Dolores was a Spiritual-Type Warrior.
Whenever someone after that showed even the slightest breach of propriety, Dolores smiled benevolently.
And—
“Now, let us pray.”
—the prayers erupted in flames.
As a result, the prayer gathering never actually began.
Soon even the Irregulars and I seemed like we might start murmuring ‘Father.’
It was truly an extraordinary endurance test and a spiritual-type attack.
Around the time everyone was dazed and hazy, Dolores smiled warmly and looked around.
“My heart has settled, and I feel so much clearer now. But then, who are those people…?”
Dolores’s gaze finally reached us.
I snapped to attention and approached her.
“I am Yustea Esgaroth. Thanks to Asta Sintez and Nicola Donati, I was granted the honor of attending the prayer gathering. And those two people are….”
I gestured toward Antonio and Yuise.
A signal to introduce themselves.
Antonio spoke with a hollow expression.
“I am Antonio….”
Yuise and I fell silent.
Dolores truly was something else.
* * *
Dolores was pleased that I, a Saint, had attended the prayer gathering.
“I’m so happy you came. I’ve always wanted to see you. Now, shall we begin our prayers?”
I hesitated.
“Is there no one else joining us?”
That was when.
Patter-patter-patter.
The door burst open with running footsteps.
It was a woman with her hair done up in round buns on both sides.
“I’ve arrived, so please stop messaging now!”
From her manner of speech, I knew.
The one influenced by Dolores.
The one we and the Irregulars suspected as Miliano’s kidnapper.
Madison Pashard herself.
Seeing her breathless and flustered, Dolores smiled benevolently.
“Madison Pashard has graced us with her presence as well.”
“I see.”
I answered while watching Madison.
Madison was waving her communication stone frantically.
[Can’t you come?]
[It’s unfortunate. But do not worry. These days we can pray together even from afar, and that is the Lord’s blessing.]
[To the exalted Lord in heaven, I humbly beseech you….]
[Grant us the wisdom to acknowledge our mistakes, the resolve to overcome them….]
[The strong body to observe propriety….]
In the realm of communication stones, spiritual-type attacks could reach across any distance….
And so the prayer gathering began.
Since it was my first time attending, I used the excuse of wanting to observe everyone and positioned myself in the back row.
Madison was right at the end.
“To the exalted Lord in heaven….”
Dolores looked up at the deity with teary eyes and recited her prayers.
I spoke in a voice low enough to be buried by the prayers, yet loud enough for Madison to hear.
“How is Miliano doing?”
“…!”
Madison spun around to face me.
Her eyes were full of hostility.
She bit her lip hard and spoke through gritted teeth.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“I know. If you let him go quietly, nothing will come of this.”
“I told you to stop the nonsense.”
“Miliano is a kind person. It’s possible to develop rational attraction to him. But kidnapping crosses a line.”
Madison scoffed.
“So what if you know? What can you do about it? Are you planning to wage war between houses over a single knight? I have no intention of ever letting Miliano go. No matter what you do.”
Her manner of speech had reverted.
And so I decided to do something about it.
I raised my hand quietly.
“Dolores, Madison Pashard has kidnapped my knight.”
“…!”
Dolores turned sharply.
Madison’s face went pale as ash.

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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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