I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 101

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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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<Chapter 101>

The Count Gilt’s family had been a house with deep knowledge of the arts since ancient times.

They periodically sponsored unknown painters, and when such painters later came to prominence, high society would mention the Count Gilt’s family alongside the painter’s name.

Also, the artworks sent by those who became famous painters as tokens of gratitude became profitable business items.

The art gallery operated by the count’s family was always overflowing with new works. Thanks to this, a new social venue was formed among the nobles centered around it.

It was Gilren, who became the new head of the family, who shattered that long-standing tradition.

Having lived a life of abundance since childhood, he indulged in massive extravagance, and in search of greater stimulation, he even got involved in gambling.

As a result of relying only on taxes from his territory and the art gallery business while living recklessly, he had no money left.

Eventually, he even put his artworks up for auction.

Nominally, he boasted that “great works should circulate around the world,” but everyone knew while keeping quiet about it.

That the Count Gilt’s family would soon be ruined.

‘I have to do whatever it takes. No matter how much I sell artworks at auction, this money can’t sustain my lifestyle forever. To create a foundation where money keeps coming in…’

While pondering this dilemma.

Gilren heard rumors that Countess Rioletta had divorced.

She, who was called the queen of high society, was referred to as ‘Countess’ by the ladies, but was actually the legitimate head of Rioletta.

This was because her husband was from a count’s family who had married into hers.

In other words, whether she divorced or not, she still possessed Rioletta’s vast wealth.

‘Wait a minute, Countess Rioletta is… said to have great interest in artworks too.’

Countess Rioletta, namely Evelyn, frequently visited the Count Gilt’s art gallery as part of her social activities.

Using this, Gilt continued to have seemingly coincidental meetings with Evelyn, and as a result, he was able to win her affection.

Gilt needed a new family.

No, he needed a new source of money.

If he got engaged to Evelyn and married her, even if he couldn’t gamble like before, he would be able to live luxuriously.

Conclusion.

He could do anything to get married.

Even stealing the hair of six-year-old Olivia.

‘She hasn’t slept for days and won’t show her hair either. When the child was sitting on the bench, I had no choice but to secretly remove her bonnet from behind.’

He could have been completely marked as a strange person by the child, but his own well-being was more important than Olivia’s feelings.

If asked why he removed the bonnet, he could just make an excuse that he was happy to see her and was playing around.

“Olivia, daddy’s here!”

Stealthily. He approached behind the bench where the children were sitting and quickly removed Olivia’s bonnet.

As expected, there were several strands of hair caught between the bonnet.

‘Hair! It’s a bit little, but this much isn’t bad…!’

However.

“Huh…? Count, why are you taking Rie’s bonnet away?”

The child who turned her head was not Olivia, but Rie.

“Aah!”

Gilren screamed in shock.

As he stepped back and looked inside the bonnet again, there were definitely Rie’s silver hair strands caught in it.

“Why are you…? No. This bonnet belongs to Olivia!”

“Ah, when we were walking. We played bonnet switching game. But Rie didn’t have a bonnet so she gave me her hair tie.”

“…What?”

Where in the world was there such a game!

While he stood there stunned in surprise, the child who had been sitting quietly next to Rie looked back at him.

It was Olivia with her hair in twin tails using Rie’s hair tie.

“Count… did you remove the bonnet thinking Rie was me? Why? Because you wanted my hair?”

As Gilren’s eyes widened, the gazes of nobles who had been looking for flowers nearby all focused on him at once.

Wondering what they had just heard.

The knights stationed throughout the grand garden also began to pay attention to them.

‘Damn it!’

Gilren, who cursed inwardly, laughed heartily.

“Want your hair, you say. I just wanted to play a prank as a father.”

He expected to be embarrassed.

But not getting Olivia’s hair and only being embarrassed was an unexpected risk.

“Carelessly removing someone else’s bonnet isn’t a prank. And you made a mistake with my friend and didn’t even apologize.”

Olivia was clearly angry at him for carelessly removing her friend’s bonnet.

And he didn’t even get the hair!

“I heard from Mother that the Count Gilt’s family is a prestigious house. But Count, you are…”

Olivia looked him up and down and stood up as if he wasn’t worth talking to.

“I can’t stay with that Count. I’m going to tell Mother right now. Let’s go, Rie.”

“Yes!”

Rie, whose hair was disheveled, nodded and stood up.

The small child kept glancing at him until the end as she took Olivia’s hand and walked away.

“Olivia, wait a moment. Olivia!”

He reluctantly called out to the child, but the children arrived at the bench where Evelyn and Emilia were sitting in the blink of an eye.

“My goodness, Rie. What happened to your hair? Mother tied it up prettily in twin tails for you.”

“Yeah. But the Count made a bird’s nest.”

“The Count? You mean Count Gilt?”

“Uh-huh. Rie was wearing Olivia’s bonnet, and from behind, like this, waaah!”

As she explained the situation with her hamster-like hands moving around, a question arose in Emilia’s expression.

“Why would the Count do such a thing…?”

No matter what the child said, Gilren was confident he could handle the situation with his characteristic wit.

He was about to step forward saying it was all a joke, that it might have seemed harsh to the child, and that he was sorry.

But Olivia’s words came faster.

“Mother. I can’t live with that Count.”

“What?”

“I told you before. That he seems to be trying to steal my hair. He’s been strange since then, and today he even messed up my friend’s hair.”

Emilia’s complexion worsened as she listened to the child’s words.

“Is that really true? I can’t understand the Count.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying! If the Count continues to stay at our marquis castle, I want to live somewhere else.”

“Olivia! What are you saying!”

Evelyn shouted in surprise at the child’s words about running away.

Then the gazes that had been focused on the three of them became even more intense.

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. They say the Count tried to steal the child’s hair?”

“I heard he stole the child’s bonnet.”

“I saw it myself, he removed the bonnet that little young lady was wearing from behind.”

“Why?”

“How would I know? He must be crazy.”

As the murmuring conversations around them grew louder, Evelyn, conscious of this, pressed her temples.

“Olivia, then… it would be better to stay apart for a while. How about going on a trip somewhere?”

At those words, Olivia was momentarily speechless from shock.

Because when her daughter had said this much, it would be reasonable to send him away, but she was still protecting the Count.

“Mother… are you choosing the Count over me?”

At the question asked in a trembling voice, Evelyn was startled, and Rie and Emilia also looked at her.

“Of course not, that can’t be. I’ll send the Count away, so don’t worry. But I can’t just let him go after tormenting my daughter like this! I’m going to find out what his intentions were and punish him sufficiently.”

Though her voice was high as if excited, her attitude remained elegant, and Olivia nodded with a bright face.

Because this was the mother she knew.

“Then, can I stay at Rie’s house in the meantime?”

“That would require permission from Viscount Birdwell and Miss Emilia, wouldn’t it? Before that…”

Just as she was about to say no, a loud voice rang out.

“Olivia! Mother said yes!”

It was Rie.

At the child’s words that she had received permission, a smile appeared on Olivia’s face.

“She gave permission!”

Evelyn sighed and nodded her head.

“Alright. Then stay at Rie’s house for the time being. It seems I’ll be indebted to Miss Emilia.”

“Thank you! Rie!”

Excited, Olivia ran toward Rie.

Meanwhile, the flower-finding event had ended, and the host’s voice could be heard calling everyone to gather at the platform.

Gilren, who had been lost in thought, flinched.

He could see the people around him glancing at him while heading in that direction.

For some reason, his left cheek stung, and when he turned his head, he met Evelyn’s eyes filled with fury.

‘Follow me.’

She mouthed the words silently, then turned her head sharply and left.

“…Hiccup.”

Pale-faced, Gilren followed her with quick steps, muttering.

“Evelyn, I’m truly sorry. I never intended to make such a big scene…”

When they stopped between some secluded bushes away from people, Evelyn whipped her head around and glared at him.

“To make me suffer such embarrassment. You did properly obtain my daughter’s hair, didn’t you?”

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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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