How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 276

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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 276
* * *
Meeting Gaspard wasn’t difficult.
“He’s always at the Jedo Temple on weekdays, from nine to ten in the evening,” Yuise had told me. “Waiting for Maria.”
That’s what she’d said.
It was fortunate that he was easy to find, though I couldn’t help but find it absurd.
‘How could he wait so eagerly after meeting someone for just a few days?’
All I’d done was bring him snacks and stand around looking vacant.
“I’m sick of this world. You couldn’t possibly understand the anguish of such a noble existence.”
“….”
“Damn it. You have no idea what it’s like to be disrespected for not being born first.”
“….”
“Will you be here again tomorrow?”
I half-listened to Gaspard muttering away to himself like that, offering affirmations here and there—”Yes,” “I see”—as appropriate.
I found myself curious about what image “Maria” held in Gaspard’s mind.
I’d obtained medicine from the Sorcerer Ros.
“Your vocal cords will shift in two hours. Once that time passes, your voice should return to normal in less than ten minutes.”
“Got it.”
“So you must return within those two hours. Two hours is the maximum estimate, and since we haven’t finished verifying the side effects yet…!”
“I understand.”
Last time, I’d worn a magical device around my neck and posed as a novice priest.
But the problem was how openly I’d moved about in the Jedo Temple.
The security had strengthened, and there was a risk the device would trip the ward barriers.
‘This time the matter is urgent, so I can’t ask the Senior Priest for help. I need to slip in and out fast, alone.’
Getting in wasn’t difficult.
I entered during the open hours of the central temple, posing as a civilian.
Then I changed into a novice priest’s robes in the restroom and waited in an empty corner until Gaspard arrived.
‘It’s almost nine.’
I checked the time on my pocket watch and swallowed the medicine Ros had given me.
Outside, darkness had already settled.
The sun had vanished, and gloom blanketed everything.
Only a pale moon and scattered torches pierced the darkness.
For me, it was perfect.
There was no better cover for concealing one’s appearance.
‘At this hour, Gaspard would be in….’
There was no need to wonder.
The backyard where Gaspard and “Maria” had met before.
I made my way toward it.
In the backyard, tinted indigo by the dusk, I saw a familiar silhouette in an easy chair.
Blonde hair stirred softly in the gentle spring breeze.
Ice in a glass of liquor on the tea table clinked softly as it melted.
Gaspard sat quietly, gazing up at the sky.
“…So you’ve decided not to come again today.”
His muttered words sounded achingly melancholic.
I thought to myself.
‘A madman. A complete madman….’
If I could, I would have preferred never to entangle myself with him, but so long as I had purpose, I had no choice.
I approached him.
“Were you referring to me?”
“…!”
He spun around abruptly.
Gaspard’s eyes trembled faintly.
He stared at me for a long moment.
I stood quietly before him.
The veil covered my face, concealing my eyes, yet I could sense our gazes meeting.
His eyes, quivering as they took me in, soon clenched into fists at his sides.
Then he strode toward me with hurried steps….
“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting.”
…and pulled me into a tight embrace.
I wanted to kick my own shins….
He buried his forehead against my shoulder and spoke.
“Where on earth have you been….”
“Ho—”
“Never mind. You’re here now.”
I’d started to say ‘home,’ but the words caught in my throat.
“I heard why you left. I failed to protect you.”
“It’s fi—”
“Do you resent me?”
I tried to say it was fine, but again the words lodged themselves.
“That won’t happen again. No one will ever touch you. The place beside the most exalted Golden Throne in all the world—that is your seat.”
“Your H—”
“It means you’re allowed to be by my side.”
I’d tried to address him as ‘Your Highness,’ but again—again!—my voice failed me.
‘This is madness….’
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Thank goodness for the Veil.
Without it, my face would have twisted into something absurd for him to see.
‘…I’ll let this pass for now.’
He wasn’t going to give me a chance to speak until he’d unburdened himself completely.
Gaspard gripped my shoulder, his eyes taking on a distant, wistful softness.
“I came every day.”
“….”
“Would you come today? Will you come tomorrow? I came with those thoughts in my head—I doubt you can believe that.”
“….”
“Don’t laugh. I can hardly believe it myself. That I, of all people, should do such a thing for someone like you.”
Then Gaspard laughed softly to himself and tapped my forehead lightly with his knuckles.
The moment felt sweetly charged.
Soon he spoke again.
“But you can trust it.”
“….”
“This vow—that I will be by your side from now on.”
“….”
The confession spilled from him, raw and aching.
All this time, I’d kept my lips sealed.
He wouldn’t have given me a chance to speak anyway.
Gaspard released a burning sigh and drew me into his arms.
“I missed you.”
At this point, even academic curiosity stirred.
The question escaped before I could stop it.
“Why… why do you…?”
I’d only done as I was told—brought him snacks, stood quietly beside him when he spoke. That he should feel this ache in his heart for someone like me made no sense.
Gaspard laughed softly again.
Who’d said he wasn’t Yohaël’s brother? It seemed the fatal charm ran in the family.
He pinched my cheek lightly.
“Don’t think so little of yourself.”
I nearly cursed aloud.
I gritted my teeth and swallowed the impulse.
He must have heard my words as something like a tearful sigh—’Why would someone like you ever love someone like me?’—.
He cradled my cheeks in both hands.
“…!”
Startled, I grabbed his hands.
His eyes trembled.
“Maria….”
‘Oh, I thought the Veil was slipping!’
It was only because I pressed his hands down to hold the Veil in place that it didn’t slip away.
But then Gaspard slowly began to lift the Veil.
He turned his head and leaned closer to me.
‘This…!’
I wasn’t naïve enough not to know what this meant.
I had to get away from him first, veil or no veil.
I spun around abruptly, turning my back to him.
The veil slipped from his grip and tumbled to the ground.
‘Turning my back—that’s a mistake.’
If I faced away, he’d see my face.
I had to extract information in this position.
“I heard you’re… leaving.”
“Yes.”
“Is it far?”
He hesitated at my question.
‘He’s not going to tell me?’
It made sense—classified information like that wouldn’t slip out easily.
I’d need to dangle a better lure.
I was still turning it over in my mind.
“Don’t worry. It won’t be that dangerous. There’s Sanponce Territory nearby, and I’ve already secured sufficient support. Nothing will happen to me.”
Sanponce Territory nearby?
‘The Reconstruction Council Headquarters is near Sanponce Territory?’
I stiffened.
The vicinity of Sanponce Territory hadn’t appeared on any of our candidate lists.
Was there actually a location capable of concealing a large military force?
Considering the geographical characteristics around Sanponce Territory, it had nothing to do with grain.
The hot, humid climate wasn’t conducive to wheat cultivation.
‘Regardless, this is a major lead.’
If I could narrow it down to the vicinity of Sanponce Territory, a thorough search of the surrounding region would expose Gaspard’s soldiers.
‘Good. Now I need to leave—’
That’s what I was thinking.
I felt warmth against my back.
The madman had wrapped his arms around me from behind.
I lowered my head in a panic.
“Come to my palace.”
“…Pardon?”
“I don’t want you in any lower place.”
His hand gripped my chin.
“…!”
That was the moment he tried to turn my face toward him.
“Now that’s an amusing picture.”
It was a familiar voice.
My face lit up in an instant.
It was him…
‘Luciano!’
I lifted my head slightly to look at Luciano.
Behind my ear, I heard Gaspard grinding his teeth.
I was about to slip away, but Gaspard whispered into my ear first.
“Hide your face and head for the front gate. My carriage will be there.”
“…?”
“Don’t let him see you. His woman is cunning. If she learns that you’re my weakness, she’ll use it against me.”
“…”
“Go. Hurry.”
The cunning woman of Luciano bolted without hesitation.
And I headed for the back gate instead of the front.
I climbed into the shabby carriage that was waiting and muttered to myself.
“Let’s pray Gaspard comes back to his senses.”
In any case, I’d gotten what I came for.
I spoke to Yuise, who was sitting in the carriage with me.
“Sanponce Territory and its surroundings. Turn it inside out if you have to, but find Gaspard’s trail.”
Yuise nodded in the darkness.
Yuise’s Team was deployed throughout the Sanponce Territory region.
By dawn.
Yuise’s Team returned with information.
“Paschas Village.”
“Mills are being operated on a village-by-village basis.”
“It appears to be part of the Reconstruction Council’s operations division. And there are traces of Spatial Distortion.”
So they were hiding their headquarters using Spatial Distortion.
I let out a low chuckle.
“Let’s move out.”
The final confrontation was about to begin in earnest.
* * *
Finding their location was good.
I assembled the troops and we set out first thing at dawn.
The forces that had been prepared for the past two days moved without difficulty.
But I was in quite a predicament.
Inside the carriage.
Sitting alone with Luciano, I found myself stealing glances at him.
“Luciano.”
“….”
“Luciano~?”
I called out awkwardly, drawing out the syllables, and he cast a sharp glance in my direction.
Still, he said nothing.
His eyes were fierce….
“Why are you so angry…? Are you still worried that I came along?”
“That picture was quite entertaining.”
“Picture?”
I blinked, confused by what he meant, then realized what he was referring to.
“An amusing picture indeed.”
He’d said exactly that yesterday.
When he saw me in Gaspard’s arms….
“That was….”
“I understand. It couldn’t be helped. We needed the information. If this falls through and I lose my position as Crown Prince, I’d be in danger.”
Luciano continued, his expression blank as he looked at me.
“But I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed in myself for putting you in an impossible situation, and I’m disappointed that your man is so petty.”
He exhaled slowly.
Turning his gaze toward the window, he ran his hand through his hair.
The morning light caught the outline of his face, scattering white across his features.
He murmured softly.
“I’m sorry.”
Snap.
A brief scratching sound echoed through the carriage.
I had cupped his face in both my hands.
He narrowed his brow.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re adorable.”
“…What?”
His expression was dumbfounded.
The bright eyes, the sound of my voice carrying no consolation but rather calling him cute—it was clearly absurd to him.
For a man in his early twenties, it was a word his pride couldn’t accept.
He laughed dryly.
Then he pinched my nose lightly.
“You mean because I’m handsome.”
“Calling your lover cute means they’re endearing. It means your heart is full of affection for them.”
“….”
“It means you love them so much you want to hold them close.”
“….”
I kissed the tip of his nose lightly.
The corners of his mouth lifted.
“This is the real thing.”
He pulled me close and settled me on his lap, then tickled my sides.
I didn’t yield.
I tickled his neck while nipping at his shoulder.
We were lost in playful banter and giggles when it happened.
Someone rapped loudly against the window.
Only then did I startle, glancing out the window.
Irregulars and unit commanders from each division were staring into the carriage.
“…Why?”
When I asked, Cesar, who had been tapping the window with his knuckles, spoke.
“We’ve arrived.”
Miliano grinned widely.
“We arrived quite some time ago.”
Even Antonio shook his head in disbelief.
“How did the time slip away like that…?”
As I laughed awkwardly, the Elite’s eyes narrowed.
I was embarrassed….
* * *
We had arrived in the forest near Paschas Village.
Yuise unfolded a map.
I studied the map, my brow furrowing.
“I don’t see any anomalies on the imperial map.”
“That’s because it’s an imperial map. However…”
Luciano, speaking with formality before the general, unfolded a different map.
It was a map of the Old Empire.
And not from its final days—but from the early-to-middle period of the Old Empire.
A document of imperial secrecy, not even disclosed to the public.
The moment I examined both the imperial map and the Old Empire’s early map, my eyes widened.
“There was a lake during the Old Empire’s early period.”
“Yes. Nine square kilometers centered on that lake are unmarked on the imperial map.”
“So it’s there.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“Let’s move out.”
That was when it happened.
A message materialized in the air.
Turn back. It’s a trap!
…It was Oscar’s message.
‘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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