I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 11

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

【Chapter 11】

“Pfft.”

When Rie, with her pigtails drooping down, muttered helplessly, he desperately turned his head and covered his mouth.

Actually, he had asked expecting the child’s reaction, but it was more amusing than he thought, making it hard to hold back his laughter.

“Hahaha! Ha, Rie. Sorry. Don’t cry…”

“Rie not crying.”

Rie stuck out her lips. Even when upset, she had to say what needed to be said.

Philip bit his lower lip once more and finally opened his mouth.

“Right. Then how about we make a deal? In exchange for me finding this book for you, Rie tells me why she was looking for this book.”

“If I tell you, you’ll give me the book?”

“Of course.”

“Hmm.”

Rie wiggled her fingers pretending to think, but inside she was grinning wickedly.

‘Making a deal over something like that! What a naive mister!’

Having learned about the world’s countless affairs and harsh realities through the Maid Sisters’ gossip, Rie had expected Philip to demand money or material things.

‘But just a story!’

“Hehe…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh. Nothing.”

Rie, who had unconsciously let out a laugh, shook her head pretending not to know.

“Mister. Please lend me your ear.”

“Ear?”

Philip knelt down and offered his ear.

Rie stood on her tiptoes and began whispering.

* * *

At that moment, in the Library Reading Room.

“What on earth is that child doing?”

Had 30 minutes passed?

It was when Serena, who had been sitting in her chair for quite a while, was about to go look for the child.

“Goodbye, mister!”

“Yes, you too Rie. Let’s meet again later.”

Just then, the child’s voice could be heard from not far away.

When she quickly turned her head, a small child appearing from between the study rooms was waving her hand vigorously at someone.

“…Marquis Philip?”

Serena’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

He was the Current Emperor’s younger brother who worked as an Imperial Lawyer.

‘…He’s not someone who should appear in a place like this, so why?’

She didn’t know what it was, but this was actually good.

Marquis Philip was one of the Emperor’s closest confidants.

The Emperor, who cherished his precious Crown Prince, only entrusted him to Philip.

‘We greeted each other at the last banquet, so it should be fine to acknowledge him, right?’

She hurriedly smoothed down her hair and approached them with a shy smile.

“Rie, did you enjoy looking around the library?”

“Ah yes. Auntie is here…”

“Oh my-.”

And ignoring the child’s words, she hurriedly embraced Rie and stood before Philip.

“Aren’t you Marquis Philip? Hello. I’m Serena from the Marquis Mersilla House. We greeted each other at the last banquet, though I’m not sure if you remember.”

“Aha.”

“I wonder how our Rie ended up with you, Marquis. I hope she didn’t cause any trouble.”

Serena pretended to be shy as she smiled and covered her cheek with one hand.

Philip, who had been smiling while listening to her words, suddenly opened his mouth meaningfully.

“You’re that… Aunt Serena?”

“Pardon?”

But soon Serena realized.

“No. Anyway, since you say we met before, please forgive my rudeness for not remembering.”

That his smiling gaze wasn’t very friendly.

‘Why, why? There’s never been a man who didn’t fall for my smile…’

Though she was flustered inside, Serena swept her hair back again.

“Since you’re an Imperial Lawyer, you must meet many people, so of course you might not remember!”

She subtly revealed her delicate, white nape.

“Thank you for understanding. Well then.”

Philip, showing only minimal courtesy, nodded briefly and turned his gaze back to Rie.

“Rie. You remember how to use what uncle told you, right?”

“Yes!”

“Good. Make sure to use it well, and let’s meet again next time. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye-!”

Philip seemed completely smitten with Rie, only looking at the child before disappearing.

That’s… it?

Serena just stared blankly at his retreating figure.

‘…Did I do something wrong to the Marquis at the last banquet? I’m sure nothing happened.’

“Aunt Serena. Until when is the library open?”

Just then, a small hand weakly tugged at Serena’s sleeve.

“Huh? Oh? Let’s go now. We should go.”

Serena, who had been flustered by Philip’s appearance, unconsciously nodded.

But wait a minute.

‘Aunt Serena?’

Come to think of it, Rie always called her that. And earlier, Philip had definitely.

‘You are that… Aunt Serena?’

Serena narrowed her eyes as she mulled over what could be considered a rude remark.

Only then did her mind start working.

‘Rie talked about me to Marquis Philip.’

She was truly a strange and… irritating child.

Ever since meeting Rie, nothing had gone according to her plans.

The reason she had brought the child to the library was to isolate her by eliminating opportunities to interact with friends at an age when she should be running around and playing.

“Aunt?”

But.

The child who looked up at her with bright, clear eyes had brought back one of the Emperor’s close associates instead of being isolated.

Moreover, it seemed she had said something about her.

Judging by the Marquis’s reaction, it didn’t seem to be anything positive.

Serena bit her lower lip.

“Rie. Did you tell Marquis Philip about your sister?”

“Hmm, hmm? Yees.”

“What did you say?”

Rie seemed to hesitate for a moment and glanced at her sideways.

“I just told him I came to the library with Aunt.”

“…I see. Shall we go quickly then?”

“Yees. Ooh.”

Judging by Philip’s expression, she definitely hadn’t said just that.

But since the child wouldn’t tell her exactly what she had said, she didn’t know how to respond.

Out of petty revenge, she gripped the small fern-like hand roughly, and Rie’s body flinched as if in pain.

But Serena pretended not to notice and climbed into the carriage.

‘I need to isolate Rie for now.’

She looked down at the small child and nodded slightly.

* * *

Although the divorce between Duke Casselik and former Duchess Emilia was finished, the Imperial Court became busy again without a moment’s rest.

This was because Emilia had filed a petition to change custody regarding Duke Casselik, who had been designated as Princess Rie’s legal guardian.

Thus, this month’s newspaper front page was once again occupied by the Theodore Ducal House.

[Emilia files petition for custody change. The beginning of a full-scale custody battle with Duke Casselik?!]

Thud.

Casselik gave up on reading the newspaper to the end.

High society, which had been in chaos over the divorce issue and was just about to quiet down, was ignited again due to the custody dispute.

‘I should tell Serena not to attend any banquets for the time being.’

Naturally, he had received advance notice from the court about this matter before it appeared in the newspaper.

Emilia had always been obedient.

Though she seemed to have affection for the child, since it was born through contract and he held ownership, he thought she wouldn’t harbor any lingering attachment.

She seemed to be quietly leaving the Duke’s mansion, so why was she suddenly trying to take the child?

He didn’t know the reason, but through this opportunity, he planned to remind her once again.

What happens when you mess with the Theodore Ducal House.

“Marquis Philip. Has a reply come?”

Since a custody change petition had been filed, a trial would proceed.

Though he felt somewhat sorry for that woman who had neither wealth nor honor, Casselik decided to completely crush her spirit.

In that sense, Marquis Philip was an essential figure for this trial.

He was an Imperial lawyer who handled all processes when problems arose in the Imperial Palace.

So he rarely moved unless it was an Imperial matter, but there were rumors that he would take cases if promised substantial compensation.

However.

“Well… he declined.”

“What?”

Casselik asked again in disbelief.

“I said we’d pay whatever compensation he wanted?”

“Yes.”

“Did you also write that we were willing to pay around a thousand gold beforehand?”

“…I wrote exactly as Your Grace instructed, but he declined saying his schedule was busy.”

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