I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 107

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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 107】

“What’s wrong, Rie?”

“Ah… the tart is really, really delicious!”

“I’m glad it suits your taste.”

Rie, who had shouted due to a good idea that suddenly came to mind, put the tart in her mouth as if nothing had happened.

Serena began to feel at ease watching the child who just ate snacks with an oblivious face.

No matter how much she interfered with her life at every turn, Rie was four years old.

Why had she been so wary of a child who melted over just one tart?

My goodness. Now that she was relieved, a good idea came to mind.

‘After she finishes eating and goes back, I should write a letter to Emilia. Telling her to come get Rie since she’s here. Then she’ll definitely agree, and we can meet naturally, right?’

Her face, which had been troubled for a moment, gradually brightened.

What she thought was a troublemaker coming in was actually making things go smoothly.

‘Perhaps I’ve matured a level after going through various things?’

As always, Serena had a tendency to praise herself more than necessary.

When excessive, it would cause problems by preventing objective perception, and now was exactly that time.

Because she failed to notice Rie, who was chewing on dessert while simultaneously using her head.

“Auntie.”

“Hm?”

“Being with auntie is good because I get to eat lots and lots of delicious desserts.”

Serena, who flinched once again at being called ‘auntie,’ held back her desire to get angry and prettily curved the corners of her eyes.

“Really? Then you should go home and brag to your mother about eating lots of delicious things.”

“Yes. And I’ll tell her that story too. That Serena auntie who went to prison didn’t give snacks and always bullied Rie… but auntie is really, really kind!”

“!”

Serena was shocked, never imagining her own name would come out of Rie’s mouth.

Though her face stiffened at the too-sudden situation, she quickly raised the corners of her mouth while fluttering her broken fan.

“Serena? Why would that name suddenly come up?”

Is this little one trying to test me?

For that, the four-year-old child’s eyes were far too stupid and innocent.

“Seeing the dessert reminded me of Serena auntie.”

But then, the child who had looked as clean as a white flour lump frowned.

“Serena auntie is really, really mean. Right?”

“Huh? Uh-huh. That’s right.”

I mustn’t get worked up here.

It would be troublesome if Rie noticed something awkward, but there were also maids from the Marquis House in front of the reception room door…

“And Serena auntie has princess syndrome.”

“It’s not princess syndrome!”

Smack!

“Huh.”

Rie shrank her shoulders, startled by the sudden friction sound.

Serena had hit her own thigh with the fan.

“Auntie… are you okay?”

She could endure being called mean, but the expression ‘princess syndrome’ was absolutely impossible to let pass.

Or almost impossible.

Her face turned bright red as she barely held back her anger and took a breath.

‘Endure it, Serena. You must endure it.’

The back of her hand gripping the fan turned pale.

“Princess syndrome… seems like a bit of an excessive expression. She may be someone who committed illegal acts, but calling that young lady princess syndrome is wrong. Because that young lady was called the angel or flower of high society.”

The corners of her mouth, barely raised, became somewhat grotesque.

“So it wasn’t she herself who called her a princess, but other people. And Rie, speaking ill of others is a bad thing. You don’t want to become a bad child, do you?”

“Ah-ha!”

Ah-ha?

That’s it?

I struggled to suppress my anger while answering?

“…Rie, when an adult scolds you, you should know to say ‘Yes, I was wrong.'”

It was when Serena was gritting her teeth in extreme irritation.

A familiar boy’s voice was heard from behind.

“Let’s head back now.”

When she turned around in shock, thinking there were only maids besides Rie, Jair was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching the two as if observing.

The maids didn’t know what to do at the Crown Prince’s appearance and just bowed their heads.

And some who were reading the situation glanced at her strangely, as if it was odd that she was defending ‘Serena.’

‘My goodness. I must have talked too long.’

This was all because of Rie.

“Yes! Auntie, Rie will go now!”

“Yes. Do that. Give my regards to Emilia.”

But with all eyes on her, Serena could only smile and wave.

And she hardened her expression coldly while watching the two figures from behind.

‘…Rie, Rie. Rie!’

Though she disliked children, until now she had never once thought of harming a four-year-old child.

But watching those silver twin tails that clung like leeches even after switching bodies…

‘Should I get rid of her? Secretly, when no one’s around?’

Serena watched the child moving away with darkened eyes.

But her murderous thoughts didn’t continue for long.

Because a maid who suddenly approached with a pale complexion whispered in her ear.

The maid was one of the dark mage group who had been staying at the Marquis House with her.

“Madam. This is an emergency message. They say there was a fire at the clothing store.”

* * *

Serena wasn’t the only one who received the emergency message.

The Emperor had also received a carrier pigeon that Jair had secretly sent.

“An emergency message came from Jair. He burned down… a clothing store that Countess Rioletta, suspected of being a dark mage, frequently visited?”

The Emperor checked the letter again in case he had misread it.

But only the content stating that Jair had personally burned down the clothing store was imprinted.

Casselik, who was sitting across from him, couldn’t react for a while.

“…His Highness the Crown Prince is as quick to act as my daughter.”

“Children of that age are originally like that.”

“At least at that age, I didn’t set buildings on fire or carelessly use time abilities, but I suppose times have changed a lot.”

“Don’t speak in roundabout ways and just say it, Duke. That my son is strange.”

“He is strange.”

At the true feelings that finally burst out, the Emperor slammed his desk with a thud.

“Damn it. If the Countess was suspicious, he should have told me right away, not burned down a building! Acting this hastily will make the bugs run away even more!”

The Emperor was right.

If they found the suspected opponent’s stronghold, they shouldn’t have charged in recklessly, but should have moved carefully under a thorough plan.

‘Should I turn back time.’

Even though he’s the Crown Prince, is he still just a child after all? This was a problem for adults to solve.

However, the boy he had observed so far was thorough, and his actions always had reasons, making it too light to dismiss like this.

It might be better to watch for now.

It was when he was casually checking the clock while thinking that.

“…?”

The second hand of the clock, which should move smoothly as usual, wasn’t moving smoothly.

Creak, creak.

Like an unmaintained wheel rolling with difficulty, it was about 0.5 seconds slower.

‘…How long has it been since Rie gained her time ability?’

Could it be that the ability is already transferring?

When a new time ability user emerged to succeed the existing one, the existing ability user’s power would gradually be depleted over several months.

But this is too early.

Casselik, momentarily flustered, decided to wait a day. And when the next day came, he immediately turned back time.

Click.

Fortunately, the button pressed properly and he was able to return to the Emperor’s office again.

“…If problems arise, I will turn back time to resolve them. Let’s trust His Highness the Crown Prince for now.”

After finishing his conversation with the Emperor, Casselik stepped outside the Imperial Palace.

“I need my ability until we eliminate the dark mages. I need to resolve this as quickly as possible.”

Rie was still only four years old.

No matter how well she handled her ability, there was no way she could have proper judgment at such a young age.

“This isn’t the time for this. I should go to Shadow who said he was investigating around the clothing store.”

Just as he was thinking this and about to give orders to his assistant waiting in the carriage.

“Sir, an urgent messenger bird has arrived from the Birdwell Barony!”

His assistant held out a letter with an urgent expression.

At the word Birdwell, Casselik’s face instantly hardened.

“What’s the content?”

“They say a strange guest has arrived at the baronial house. Her name is Mary and…”

“Mary?”

“Yes. Count Greenlenton’s daughter, the child who once pretended to be a time ability user!”

“What?”

Mary had disappeared along with Count Greenlenton after they escaped from prison.

How could that child be there?

“Go to the Birdwell Barony immediately. Report the current situation to the Imperial Palace as well.”

“Yes.”

Casselik untied the reins attached to the carriage and mounted his horse.

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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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