How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Replace Your Dad

Chapter 25

Of course, I had prepared an excuse.

“I need to use medicinal incense, but it’s quite potent. I have to adjust it while monitoring the Duke’s condition.”

The Duke stared at me intently.

I couldn’t help but swallow nervously.

‘What if he says he’ll hire an expert and just wants me to hand over the medicinal incense?’

But then the Duke let out a quiet chuckle.

“Give her a room in the East Wing of the servant’s quarters.”

With those words, the Duke left the room.

I guess that was permission.

My face brightened as I followed after him.

* * *

Marquis Sintus furrowed his brow.

‘What on earth is going on?’

With that child called Yustea, I mean.

When she first asked for 3 days, I thought she was up to some scheme.

But from last night until today, all that child has done is…

“There were some errors in the translation, so I fixed them a bit.”

“Isn’t the air a bit stuffy? Should I open a window for ventilation?”

“For a gift to send to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, I’d recommend raw gemstones. She prefers collecting uncut gems over processed ones.”

…Only things like that.

And she did them well, too.

There were more approval documents neatly stacked on the Duke’s desk than usual.

She had made work easier by providing perfect materials at exactly the right timing.

‘She’s a heaven-sent worker…!’

Marquis Sintus forgot his suspicions and asked.

“Did you also help the Marquis with his work at Andres?”

“No? Father didn’t really like having me around, so even dining together was only allowed as a reward.”

“Why?”

What could possibly be wrong with such a daughter!

She works well.

When she was the young lady of Andres, even the Empress Dowager praised her as the finest lady.

She considers dining with her father a reward.

Yustea said it had gotten chilly and left the room to bring some tea.

Marquis Sintus burst out to the Duke.

“How full must Marquis Andres’s belly have been?”

If his own daughter Asta resembled Yustea even by a fingernail’s worth, he wouldn’t have lived eating stomach medicine like rice.

“Having a daughter who robs her father’s warehouse and runs away just because he won’t send her to training camp…!”

“Is that what your daughter did?”

Only then did Marquis Sintus come to his senses and coughed awkwardly.

He presented documents with an embarrassed expression.

“This is the investigation report on the camellia poisoning case you ordered.”

The investigation results were as expected.

“So the culprit is Ayabel from House of Marquis Valboa.”

“It wasn’t aimed at you, Your Grace. She probably intended to poison you and then cure you to catch your eye.”

“Her goal would be to become an imperial consort.”

“That’s correct.”

“Impressive.”

“Yes, to be blinded by greed and dare to do such a thing…”

“No, I mean that child.”

Even though the Duke’s Intelligence Department had designated a target and investigated, they couldn’t find information about the poison Ayabel used.

‘But she figured it out.’

And she was properly detoxifying it.

The Duke’s physical condition was visibly improving.

There were even confirmations from doctors and clergy that the poisoning was getting better.

“Marquis Andres really did have a full belly.”

With such a daughter, he would never have let her go.

He was having such thoughts when…

A knock was heard.

“I’ve brought tea and refreshments.”

Yustea entered carrying tea.

There was a portion for Marquis Sintus as well as the Duke.

“Today’s refreshment is Margerust fruit jelly.”

The Duke and Marquis Sintus casually put the Margerust fruit jelly in their mouths.

“…!”

“…!!”

Both men’s expressions changed instantly.

What on earth was this taste?

The fruit jelly they thought would just be sweet had a taste that made their eyes widen.

The moderate sweetness dramatically enhanced the bitter flavor of Margerust.

A chewy but not difficult to bite, exquisite texture.

A fragrant aroma that rushed into their noses with each chew.

But it didn’t interfere with the tea’s fragrance.

Rather, it made the original aroma more three-dimensional.

Marquis Sintus forgot his manners and gaped.

That Marquis really must have had a full belly.

What an idiotic fool!

* * *

It was sunset when I finally left the Duke’s chamber.

I was with Marquis Sintus.

The Marquis cleared his throat and said.

“That… thing you served with the tea.”

“The Margerust fruit jelly?”

“Yes, that fruit jelly thing. …Do you have any left?”

“No.”

“I see…”

The Marquis’s shoulders drooped.

Did he like the Margerust fruit jelly?

Come to think of it, every time I went out and came back, the Marquis would stare wide-eyed at my hands.

And when he confirmed they were empty, he would look dejected and turn his head away.

“There’s none left, but I can make more. Should I make some for you?”

“That would be grea…!”

The Marquis’s face brightened as he started to shout, then flinched.

After clearing his throat several times, he said.

“It would be troublesome for you.”

“It’s not that difficult.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

“Yes.”

“And what I’m about to say isn’t in return for the fruit jelly, but well… you worked hard on the detoxification too. It’s really not because of the fruit jelly… At my age, I’m really not getting red-eyed over mere refreshments, really not…”

“…?”

Marquis Sintus repeated three times that this wasn’t because of the sweets before finally speaking.

“Do you… need anything?”

Need anything?

Of course I do.

“I’d like to communicate!”

“Communication… you can get permission from the communication room anytime to… Ah. You mean secret communication with someone.”

As expected of the Marquis’s right-hand man.

He seems to know about the Clan Leader’s existence.

And he quickly caught on that I wanted to communicate with the Clan Leader.

“Then go to the garden with the addicted camellias.”

“Camellias?”

“The Marquis’s domain has strictly forbidden entry to that garden. No one will catch you communicating there. I’ll temporarily disable the barrier nearby so your communication won’t be traced.”

“Thank you. I’ll make two boxes of Magarst sweets.”

“I’m telling you again, this isn’t in return for the sweets.”

“Of course. Absolutely not.”

I bowed to Marquis Sintus, who was smiling contentedly while muttering “Two boxes…,” and quickly left.

Then I found the communication stone in the room the Marquis had given me and hurried to the garden with the camellias.

As the Marquis said, not even an ant was visible around the garden area.

Still, just in case, I crouched under the vine wall and connected the communication.

[Miss!]

[Miss? You called her Miss?!]

I couldn’t have been happier to hear the Clan Leader and Antonio’s voices.

“Have you been well?”

[We’ve been fine, but we heard you went through hardships.]

[That’s right! You were locked in prison!]

[Move aside! We were searching everywhere for ways to approach the Marquis’s castle when we heard you were released from prison. Is your body intact?]

[Your fingers! Do you have all your fingers?!]

[Can’t you hear me telling you to get lost?!]

[Is that you, Miss?! Clan Leader, Antonio sir! Let me also…! Miss, are your organs safe?!]

[Me too, me too…!]

Even passing clan members joined in worrying about damage to my body.

“I’m fine. But I won’t be working as a servant anymore.”

[Were you kicked out?! Clan Leader, I think I should go get her after all. How heartbroken the child must be!]

[It’s okay, Miss! I also messed up a mission the Clan Leader gave me, but it ended with just getting hit on the head twice…!]

[Joseph, bring me my sword!]

The Clan Leader exploded and was even looking for weapons.

I quickly answered before the Clan Leader actually drew his sword.

“I wasn’t kicked out. I changed workplaces. To the Marquis’s side.”

[…What?]

The Clan Leader’s voice immediately lowered.

He seemed to have caught on to what this meant.

“Yes. I made contact with the Marquis. But you’ll have to wait a bit for a private meeting with the Clan Leader.”

[I see.]

“I’ll try to finish things quickly and complete the mission…”

That was the moment.

I sensed a presence nearby.

“I’ll contact you again next time.”

I immediately ended the communication and crouched down low.

After my mana depletion was resolved, my senses had returned.

Someone was definitely approaching this way.

‘The Marquis’s domain strictly forbade entry, so who could it be?’

I had gotten permission from Marquis Sintus, but no one else should be approaching.

Moreover, the footsteps weren’t from just one person.

Wondering who it could be, I peered through the vines and saw familiar faces.

“Sister, please…!”

“Let go!”

It was Ayabel and Asta.

Asta glared at Ayabel with a furious expression.

“You’re really going to use poison? Father was investigating that poison. It’s only a matter of time before he finds out what you did!”

“…!”

Ayabel’s expression turned pale.

‘Ah.’

As soon as I heard their conversation, I understood what was happening.

‘Asta is angry because Ayabel used artificial saliva.’

I had known from the beginning that the artificial saliva was related to Ayabel.

Because artificial saliva was a poison made by House of Valboa, Ayabel’s family.

In the game, to obtain artificial saliva, you had to sneak into House of Valboa.

‘I wondered if it was Marquis Valboa or Ayabel, but it was Ayabel.’

Then she must have planned to poison the Marquis and then cure him to win his favor.

Her purpose would have been to rise to the position of imperial consort with the Marquis’s help.

‘Ayabel originally wanted to become an imperial consort.’

Still, in the game she didn’t go as far as using artificial saliva.

Did she like Luciano that much?

Well, in the game, the prince who came liked Ayabel, so there was no need to get the Marquis’s support.

‘But that prince was originally interested in another girl at first, so why did he suddenly turn his attention to Ayabel?’

Thinking that far, I was startled.

Originally in the game, the person who came to Esgaroth was Nicolle.

What if the girl the prince was initially interested in was Nicolle?

From Ayabel’s perspective, Nicolle would have been a thorn in her side.

She had sufficient reason to poison her.

‘But in the game, Asta confessed to poisoning Nicolle…’

Just as I was thinking that far, Ayabel hugged Asta’s waist.

“Sister.”

“Let go of this…!”

“Do you remember, sister? You were my prince.”

“…”

“When I climbed up a tree and couldn’t come down and was crying, you caught me. I remember what you said. Trust me. When have I ever failed to protect you? You said that.”

“…”

“So protect me this time too…”

Ayabel looked up at Asta with tears in her eyes.

Asta was biting her lips tightly, as if recalling precious memories with Ayabel.

Ayabel said.

“Say that you did it. The Marquis won’t be able to abandon your father, Marquis Sintus. So if it’s your doing, he’ll have no choice but to cover it up and let it pass.”

What?

What is that crazy girl saying?

‘I see. In the game too, Asta took the blame for Ayabel’s crime.’

Asta looked at Ayabel with a hardened expression.

“You…”

“Are you just going to watch me die?”

“….”

Asta couldn’t say anything.

Ayabel’s expression brightened.

As if she was certain that Asta would take the blame for her.

At that moment, I stood up from my seat.

“…!”

“…!!”

Ayabel and Asta were startled to see me suddenly appear.

I strode toward the two of them.

And grabbed Asta’s wrist.

“Let’s go.”

As I tried to pull Asta away, Ayabel roughly pushed me back.

“What business is it of yours!”

“It is my business.”

“What does someone like you have to do with my sister…!”

“She ate meals with me. She protected me from being bullied.”

And if Asta becomes the culprit, the Marquis will be busy.

It would interfere with the Clan Leader’s private meeting.

Ayabel let out a hollow laugh.

“Over something so trivial….”

“Even someone like me, who only had such trivial interactions, worries about Asta. But you, who calls Asta your sister, only worry about your own safety.”

“That’s because my life is at stake…!”

“If you committed a crime knowing your life was at stake, then take responsibility.”

Only after saying that did I look at Asta.

“Asta abandoning her won’t kill that girl. It’s all her own fault.”

“….”

“So let’s go. To someone truly worth cherishing and loving.”

“….”

Ayabel’s lips curved up crookedly.

“Even if you do that, my sister won’t….”

At that moment, Asta took a step toward me.

“What… what are you… why….”

“Goodbye, Ayabel. My sister whom I truly loved.”

“What…?”

“That’s all I can say now.”

“Sister!”

Ayabel called out as if screaming, but Asta only took my hand and walked silently.

Behind us, Ayabel collapsed to the ground.

After leaving the garden, Asta asked.

“Was my heart worthless?”

“No. You just gave your precious heart to the wrong person.”

“…Thank you.”

* * *

Sitting on a bench with Asta, I stared blankly into space.

People’s stares were piercing.

…Because Asta, sitting next to me, had been crying like a waterfall for quite a while.

Anyone could see she was a woman with a story, so passersby kept glancing at her.

I quietly extended my sleeve.

Since the handkerchief was already soaked through.

Asta wiped her tears roughly on my sleeve.

But then it happened.

“…What are you doing?”

Marquis Sintus, who was on his way home from work, stopped when he saw Asta and me.

Asta quickly turned her head away.

“It’s none of your business.”

“Aren’t you my child?”

“Even children have something called privacy.”

“You should have thought about privacy when you were stealing your father’s emergency fund.”

Marquis Sintus frowned and approached.

Then he asked me.

“What trouble has she caused this time?”

“Uh, well….”

If I told him that Asta knew about Ayabel bringing poison into the castle but kept quiet about it, Marquis Sintus would explode in anger.

As I hesitated, Asta spoke with her head still turned away.

“Ayabel brought in poison.”

“How did you know? I only received the report today myself.”

“…I knew from the day she entered as a servant.”

“What?!”

‘Oh no.’

Sure enough, Marquis Sintus shouted.

“You mindless…! If you knew that, you should have reported it! No, more than that, do you know what that poison is? What exactly is it!”

“Canaria.”

What?

I flinched and looked at Asta.

‘But that was mandrake?’

I was certain since I dug up the ground and confirmed the pouch soaked with blue-green liquid.

“Canaria?”

“I don’t know much about it. I just heard it explained in passing at Ayabel’s mansion. But I remember it clearly. It really looked like a canary bird.”

‘She had another poison besides the mandrake.’

Why did she have other poison besides just the mandrake?

Canaria is a toxic substance, but it’s not an item used for poisoning people.

‘Could it be….’

I jumped up and grabbed Marquis Sintus.

“What about the Marquis? Where is the Marquis?”

“He arrested Marquis Valboa and Ayabel thirty minutes ago. He’s probably meeting with the captured prisoners now. At Tartaros Tower.”

“…!”

I immediately ran off.

Behind me, the father and daughter called “Yustea?!” but I couldn’t stop.

I only shouted.

“Please call a mage!”

Canaria, a highly flammable chlorine-based toxic substance.

Used to cause explosions.

She likely had it as a means to escape by causing an explosion in an emergency.

This means the Marquis might get caught in an explosion.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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