How to Replace Your Dad - Chapter 53

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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 53

 

“Nonsense. Do you think I would believe such words?”

 

“I don’t need the Marquise’s belief. What matters is that I’ve revealed my identity to you.”

 

“What’s the point of hearing such lies.”

 

“If you lay a hand on me even after I’ve revealed my identity, this won’t be a family matter.”

 

“Ha.”

 

Marquise Esgaroth let out a bitter laugh.

 

But I didn’t miss the confusion that seeped into her eyes.

 

It must seem strange.

 

The reason Father adopted me when I would only be a weakness.

 

The healing power she witnessed with her own eyes.

 

The fact that I couldn’t possibly claim to be a Saint unless I was insane.

 

As proof, when I took one step, then another step closer, she flinched and stepped back.

 

“Neither your title as Marquise nor your status as former princess will protect you.”

 

“….”

 

She stepped back another step.

 

“So you shouldn’t even think about laying a hand on me.”

 

“….”

 

Another step back.

 

“Of course, not on Father either.”

 

“….”

 

Another step back.

 

“Unless you want to become the main culprit who made the Empire lose its Saint, you’d better remember this well.”

 

One final step.

 

I stopped walking and smiled brightly.

 

“The exit is over there.”

 

Go away.

 

The Marquise gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

 

But she couldn’t attack me.

 

The Marquise glared at me as I smiled cheerfully, then stormed out the door.

 

After driving out the Marquise, I turned my head.

 

“Now that the Marquise is gone… huh?”

 

The expressions of the people looking at me were strange.

 

It seemed like there was a question mark floating above Antonio’s head.

 

“Saint… what?

 

The employees and knights were also looking at me with dumbfounded faces.

 

Even Yuise let out a bitter laugh.

 

Yuise probably found it absurd that I had blurted out the name “Saint” that she had tried so hard to hide.

 

And Father…

 

“I said I would protect you, and you were protected.”

 

He muttered ominously.

 

* * *

 

Emma moved among the maids with an extremely excited face.

 

“Pack more coats. Stella gets cold easily. We should also pack the tea leaves she likes… no wait. They’ll feed her such good things at the Imperial Palace.”

 

She raised her voice as if the dejection from before had never happened.

 

“My goodness. A Saint. I’m the mother of a Saint…!”

 

Repeating those words countless times.

 

Emma hugged Stella’s clothes and let out an ecstatic exclamation.

 

‘All the hardship wasn’t in vain.’

 

It had been a miserable life.

 

A life where she couldn’t become the wife of the man she loved.

 

Everyone thought that Rohan fell in love with her, a maid of Andres, after his first marriage failed, but that was wrong.

 

‘It was a story fabricated because of Dia’s pride.’

 

Dia was born as the daughter of Marquis Neroban Family.

 

The Neroban Family was a poor family with an estate the size of a palm.

 

The Marquis and his wife cherished and loved their only daughter Dia, but couldn’t stay by her side for long.

 

Her originally frail mother passed away, and her father, who loved his wife more than anyone, also fell ill with grief and closed his eyes.

 

Dia became alone at a young age.

 

Having been quick with numbers since childhood, she immediately sold the estate.

 

And based on that money, she created Baul Trading Company.

 

Emma was a worker at that Baul Trading Company.

 

Originally having poor parents and a gambling-addicted brother, Emma was about to be sold when Dia bought her.

 

“Is, is it really okay to spend such a large sum to buy someone like me…?”

 

“I think I’m a bit crazy too.”

 

“I’m, I’m sorry…”

 

“But people sometimes do crazy things. Besides, you’re a special child to me.”

 

“Young Lady…”

 

Dia and Emma were born on the same day, at similar times.

 

It was Emma’s mother who nursed Dia in place of Dia’s frail mother.

 

Dia thought of Emma as a milk sister and cherished and loved her.

 

Dia was clever.

 

The trading company gradually grew in size and became a major merchant guild owning 16 mana stone mines.

 

However, it wasn’t smooth sailing.

 

“Lady Dia, an inspector has come!”

 

“A tax evasion investigation…!”

 

“The lord of the mines has filed a lawsuit.”

 

A wealthy person without backing tends to become a target.

 

Despite being called one of the Empire’s three major trading companies, they couldn’t secure any national projects.

 

Dia thought of Baul Trading Company as a large glass orb.

 

If it received a proper impact, it would shatter.

 

‘Then I need to increase its hardness.’

 

So she chose a marriage alliance with the Andres Family.

 

Coincidentally, Count Andres had become single after his first marriage failed.

 

The former Marquise of Andres opposed it, but since the former Marquis highly valued Dia’s abilities, the marriage progressed.

 

“Emma, could you go to Andres first?”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes, you have a younger sibling. You’re good at taking care of children, right?”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

“Count Andres has a young son. From what I saw at the manor, the former Marquise is too strict, so he seems to have no one to attach to. I’d like you to go first and take care of him.”

 

“Why go to such lengths?”

 

“What?”

 

“Well… it’s just a marriage alliance anyway. But I wondered if there’s a need to be so devoted to a child who doesn’t share a drop of blood…”

 

Then Dia said with an embarrassed expression.

 

“We agreed to make an effort for each other.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“If we’re going to marry each other, let’s try to create a proper family. So that man said it wasn’t a bad idea.”

 

“….”

 

“So I thought I’d try hard at it.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Don’t let them know I sent you. The Marquise will make a fuss saying I conspired to corrupt my grandson. That damn old hag….”

 

That’s how she came to enter the Marquis family.

 

And finally, she met Count Andres, Rohan.

 

He had beautiful blonde hair and jewel-like blue eyes.

 

A man like a masterpiece that a first-class painter would spend his lifetime completing.

 

He smelled wonderful, and his noble atmosphere was breathtaking.

 

He always wore a smile, but people said they felt an unapproachable wall around him.

 

But for her alone, he was an exception.

 

“You have a deep connection with Dia?”

 

“Th-the Clan Leader and I are milk siblings… We, we were born on the same day, at similar times, so the Clan Leader found me adorable, saying I was like a twin….”

 

He would speak to her like that.

 

When the maids looked at her with envious eyes, her shoulders would swell with pride.

 

She loved being an exception to such a beautiful man, and desperately tried to strike up conversations with him.

 

“P-people think Baul Trading Company owns 9 mana stone mines, but actually it’s 16. I thought you should know, Count….”

 

When she came to her senses, she had been passing along Dia’s information.

 

‘So that woman was partly to blame too.’

 

Why did you keep me close to such a wonderful man?

 

Why didn’t you guard against me at all?

 

You thought there was no need to be wary, didn’t you?

 

If you hadn’t looked down on me, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

 

Because Dia was incredibly busy just running the trading company, she rarely came to the Andres Estate before marriage.

 

‘I hope she never comes.’

 

That’s what she thought.

 

She wished she could be alone with him forever like this.

 

She wished and wished for it.

 

But eventually the ceremony approached, and Dia became his wife.

 

On nights when Rohan and Dia spent the night together, she couldn’t sleep.

 

It felt like balls of fire were crawling through her veins.

 

When Dia finally became pregnant with his child, she couldn’t bear it.

 

She threw every object in her dormitory room and wailed.

 

“Why, why, why! Why only you…!”

 

Why were you the only one born a noble?

 

If I had been a noble like you too.

 

If I had had eight estates.

 

Then I would have built a trading company and earned a fortune, and the place beside him could have been mine.

 

The atmosphere between Rohan and Dia wasn’t bad.

 

The employees would burst into hearty laughter, wondering if it was really a political marriage when they saw the two together.

 

They shared meals together about once a day, and even when Dia’s straightforward personality upset the Marquise, he would just chuckle softly.

 

Each day was agonizing.

 

Then one day came.

 

It was when Dia was in her final month of pregnancy, and for some reason, Rohan and Dia had a big fight.

 

The cold war that began then dragged on.

 

Two weeks before the birth, they were even shouting at each other.

 

Emma approached Rohan, who was alone on the terrace at night.

 

Seeing Emma sniffling as she offered him tea, Rohan asked.

 

“Why are you crying.”

 

“I’m… frustrated….”

 

“About what.”

 

“I resent Lady Dia for treating someone more precious to me than anything so carelessly, but I’m in no position to pour out this resentment….”

 

She threw herself into his arms.

 

“Even just one night would be fine. I want to comfort you, Count….”

 

That night was ecstatic.

 

To be able to sleep in the arms of such a beautiful man.

 

She was filled with joy and happiness.

 

But misfortune came the next morning.

 

A maid who saw her in Rohan’s bed gasped and reported the news to the Marquise.

 

“How dare…! How dare someone like you!”

 

The Marquise struck her mercilessly with a flower vase.

 

Dia watched with a pale face as she lay on the floor, crying.

 

“Lady Dia… Lady Dia, please help me. Lady Dia…!”

 

She pleaded, but Dia didn’t move.

 

Even when the Marquise threw her out.

 

Only when she was thrown outside the estate with her luggage did Dia approach her.

 

“L-Lady Dia, please don’t send me away. I have to take care of Master Onel. When your child is born, I’ll do my best to care for that child too, so please…!”

 

“Shut your mouth, Emma.”

 

“L-Lady Dia….”

 

“The children must never know that I cherished and loved you like family.”

 

Dia spoke as if grinding her teeth.

 

“I won’t raise them to be children who can’t trust people because they fear betrayal. So you keep your mouth shut.”

 

“….”

 

“And never let me see you again.”

 

Acting superior until the end.

 

In the end, she was just hurt in her pride from having her husband stolen.

 

But still, his heart belonged to her.

 

Because Rohan came to her as she cried in front of the estate.

 

He comforted her as she cried and gave her money. It was a large sum that would last a commoner a lifetime.

 

And the world placed another stroke of luck in her arms.

 

She was with child.

 

He couldn’t come to her right away because of the piercing gazes of the Marquis couple and Dia, but as long as there was a child, she could return again.

 

With such thoughts, she endured and endured.

 

Amid the suffering, the good news was that the relationship between Dia and the Count was worse than strangers.

 

‘I made it that way.’

 

The Count couldn’t forget me.

 

She had defeated Dia.

 

Though a long time had passed, he really did come looking for her.

 

“Mother, who is this person?”

 

“This is your father, Stella.”

 

She was able to enter Andres with her child.

 

And finally became the mother of a Saint.

 

“Ah, the world was on my side.”

 

Look.

 

The true victor was herself.

 

If the Imperial Court and Temple appointed Stella as Saint like this, she would become a Marquise instead of a detestable commoner.

 

Emma, clutching Stella’s clothes, let out an ecstatic exclamation.

 

The maids laughed charmingly and said.

 

“How twisted Yustea’s insides will be when she hears this news.”

 

“Of course. The young lady caused such a commotion at the estate to prevent her from becoming the Andres Marquise.”

 

Emma paused.

 

‘Right, that girl.’

 

That daughter whom Dia treasured like her own life.

 

She was unbearably arrogant, just like my mother.

 

“Yustea, where is that child now?”

 

I can’t just leave her be.

 

Emma’s lips twisted into a sneer.

 

* * *

 

Duke Esgaroth’s Second Residence.

 

The Clan Leader’s voice flowed from the communication stone.

 

[So… you’re saying that after breaking the ancient curse ‘Dark Mirror’ that afflicted the Clan Leader, you gained purification abilities?]

 

“Yes. I was poisoned that day, but it was purified immediately.”

 

[When Godin, the Administrative Official of Esgaroth Mansion, came looking for the Saint, he discovered that you were the Saint.]

 

“Yes. Considering the location where the divine waves occurred and my newly acquired abilities, it seemed I was indeed the Saint.”

 

[….]

 

The Clan Leader fell silent.

 

That wasn’t all.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

Father, Antonio, and Yuise all fell silent too.

 

Were they angry that I had hidden something so important?

 

I hesitantly opened my mouth.

 

“I wasn’t trying to deceive you on purpose. It’s just… my mana is terribly weak, and I was scared I might die if I got used for various things…”

 

Just as I was mumbling those words.

 

Antonio spoke.

 

“So what should we call this? Jackpot?”

 

[Gold mine.]

 

“Jackpot.”

 

Antonio, the Clan Leader, and Yuise spoke in emotionless voices.

 

The next moment.

 

[Kyaaaho!]

 

[Hurullari!]

 

[Kruaaak─!]

 

The Clan Leader’s Team members who had been listening alongside the Clan Leader burst into cheers.

 

[A Saint! Our Young Lady is a Saint!]

 

Even the Clan Leader was in an uproar.

 

Antonio threw his fist into the air in joy.

 

Yuise also smiled slightly.

 

‘Everyone’s happy. That’s a relief.’

 

They weren’t just ordinarily pleased.

 

[What is the meaning of this, Clan Leader.]

 

[Yes. A Saint, no less. We have someone even greater than the Clan Leader in our Quaron.]

 

[Should we bring the Mirror World? We need to inform those Elite who questioned the Young Lady’s qualifications and shut their mouths!]

 

‘It’s nice that everyone’s happy.’

 

This actually puts my mind at ease.

 

Now I can protect Father until he becomes a Marquis.

 

I was also smiling and turning my head when.

 

Father, who was sitting at the desk, was frowning and staring at something.

 

Looking closer, it was a book.

 

One titled 【Father, the Prince Who Protects His Daughter】.

 

Father muttered.

 

“Shouldn’t it be wrong to be a princess protected by her daughter?”

 

His voice sounded somewhat dejected.

 

I earnestly tried to comfort Father.

 

“What’s wrong with being a princess? I like princesses. They’re pretty, kind, and even when dragged away by the Demon King, they don’t lose courage…!”

 

“….”

 

Yuise quickly shook her head at me.

 

‘This isn’t right?’

 

‘Leave out the princess talk.’

 

We conversed with our eyes.

 

Just as I was about to comfort Father with different words.

 

The butler entered with a knock.

 

“A woman named Emma from Andres Estate has come to visit.”

 

…What?

 

Even before me, Father, Antonio, and Yuise’s auras turned murderous.

 

“That woman came?”

 

“Has she lost her mind? The Young Lady is here. I’ll…!”

 

As Antonio looked ready to rush out, I quickly spoke.

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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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