I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 14

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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 14】

“She said she likes Mother.”

Philip, who answered after much thought, chuckled softly.

“She wants to live with Mother, so we should make that happen.”

He remembered the child who had smiled brightly while talking about her mother.

From that smile alone, he could feel completely how much she loved her.

The staff member seemed not to notice his strange expression.

Judging by how he looked deflated as he tried to wrap up the conversation.

“From your answer, it seems you’ve also lost interest, Marquis. I’ll take my leave now.”

“As expected, you know when to make your exit.”

When he waved his hand with a smile, the staff member nodded with a sulky expression and walked away.

But after the staff member disappeared.

“…She wants to live with Mother, so we should make that happen.”

His muttered words echoed lonelily like a refrain.

Philip’s face was so dark it was hard to believe he was the same person who had been grinning just moments before.

Because he was reminded of a child he loved, who resembled that girl.

That’s when it happened.

His assistant approached like a shadow and handed him something.

It was a letter envelope with a clock-shaped Imperial seal.

“The Imperial Palace? Could it be a reply…”

Just as Philip’s face was about to brighten while looking down at the letter.

“The meeting has been declined. There’s a sentence emphasized with red underlines…”

The assistant, pushing up his glasses, continued while sweating profusely.

“…Just like what you mentioned last time, Marquis… this time they say they’re too busy to meet.”

“Ah.”

As if slightly shocked, Philip’s mouth opened slightly.

It was a rare reaction from him, who always wore a smiling face.

Feeling sympathy, the assistant watched his expression before finally bowing his head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? I’m the one who did wrong.”

Philip, wearing a bitter smile, put his hands in his pants pockets.

“Our business is done, so let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Before getting into the carriage.

Philip turned his head to gaze at the court building.

He could see a child hopping out between the massive doors. The child was holding her mother’s hand and smiling more happily than anyone.

Fortunately, unlike someone else, Rie will have a happy ending.

A genuine smile appeared on Philip’s lips once again.

* * *

[Duke Casselik’s Daughter’s Legal Text Recitation That Even He Didn’t Expect.]

[The Child Ultimately Chose Her Mother. Love Over Money After All?]

After the trial over Rie’s custody ended, newspapers with sensational headlines sold like hotcakes nationwide.

While people were amazed by the results no one had expected, the part that drew the most attention was that four-year-old Rie had read law books and faced off directly against the Duke.

Especially in High Society, where people swarmed to gossip like bees, Rie was the hottest topic.

A child star who won her own guardian.

But this child star faced difficulties.

“Tsk… I told her to give up for the child’s sake, but who knew the child would step forward herself to choose her mother.”

An elderly person reading the newspaper clicked their tongue.

Deep wrinkles like tree rings.

Neatly tied short silver hair. Glasses that revealed an intellectual atmosphere.

It was Morgana, Emilia’s mother and Baroness Birdwell.

Then the elderly man sitting beside her threw a tantrum.

“Whyyy are you being mean to my daughter!”

A man with an innocent-looking face despite his large frame over 180cm.

It was Baron Mordic, Morgana’s husband.

Morgana got angry looking at her husband who was still naive despite his age.

“Stop acting cute when it doesn’t suit you, old man! Do you think I’d dislike our granddaughter? Even thinking objectively, the Ducal House would be much more helpful for the child’s future than a Baronial House!”

“But we could raise her with love.”

“How hard would it be for a child who ate meat every day and wore only pretty clothes at the Ducal House to come here? Our life is already tight enough, and now we have to take care of one more child…”

Just then, the doorbell rang and a maid bowed her head as she entered.

“Lady Emilia and Lady Rie have arrived.”

What was bound to come had finally come.

Morgana and Mordic gulped nervously.

“…Tell them to come in.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The front door opened, and soon they could see their daughter whom they hadn’t met in a long time.

And beside her, a tiny child close to the ground.

The child’s sky-blue eyes, which resembled the elderly couple’s, sparkled before she deeply bowed her head.

“Hello, Grandma, Grandpa-!”

The two elderly people froze at the tremendous shout coming from such a small body.

She was clearly wearing an expensive dress, and her hair shimmered like silk, managed with who knows what kind of perfumed oil.

A little one tainted by the Ducal House.

Could we really raise her well in our manor?

* * *

10 minutes earlier.

“Now Rie will live at Mother’s house with Grandmother and Grandfather. Rie’s surname will soon change from Casselik to Birdwell too.”

“Yay! Rie will live with Mother now-!”

Rie, who got off the carriage, hopped around Mother excitedly.

After the Judge sided with Mother, Rie could finally abandon Father.

Of course, Father only spat harsh words until the very end.

‘Don’t you think this is ridiculous? The child’s future is being ruined because of your greed.’

‘Hmph. Rie isn’t scared of Father anymore.’

At that time, Rie held Mother’s hand tightly and glared at Father with terrifying triangular eyes.

‘Rie knows. If Rie lives with Father, Rie will wither away!’

For a child who had experienced the future one year later, Father’s threats no longer worked.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Rie turned around and followed Mother with an excited heart.

And now, having gotten off the carriage.

“Wow, Mother! Is this a warehouse?”

A very small house like a dollhouse was waiting for Rie.

At the innocent child’s question, Emilia gulped.

“It’s not a warehouse, it’s the house we’ll live in from now on. You mustn’t say such things once we go inside. Understood?”

“Yes. Rie won’t say that!”

“And when you see Grandmother and Grandfather, you’ll greet them nicely, right?”

“Yes! Rie greets well. Hello.”

When Rie demonstrated first without being asked, only then did a smile form on Emilia’s lips.

Following the maid’s guidance into the manor, an elderly couple welcomed Rie.

‘G-greetings. Greetings.’

Rie blinked her round eyes, then took a breath and bowed her head.

“Hello, Grandmother, Grandfather-!”

“Oh my. What a surprise!”

“…That child. Judging by her voice, she’ll eat a lot.”

At Morgana’s crooked muttering as she pushed up her glasses, Emilia shouted in panic.

“Mother!”

“You must be tired from the journey. Come in for now.”

Regardless, Morgana guided the two inside.

Rie’s lips curved up in a proud smile.

‘Was the greeting a success?!’

Only then could Rie look around her surroundings.

The house where she would live with Mother from now on.

Inside the manor was made of wood like a cozy mountain lodge.

It had the atmosphere of a place where rabbits from fairy tale books would settle and live.

Looking around here and there with a curious expression, Rie asked.

“But, Grandmother. Grandfather. Which manor should Rie sleep in?”

“Of course you’ll sleep in this manor, where else would you go?”

“But, home usually has about six buildings, you know.”

The child’s question made the surroundings fall silent. And Morgana realized that the situation she had been worried about was already upon them, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.

That’s right.

Rie had lived in the Duke’s House, which consisted of six castles, since birth.

So naturally, she thought that a home consisted of multiple buildings, not just one.

‘What should we tell the child?’

‘How would I know! If our Rie gets disappointed, this old woman’s heart will break!’

The elderly couple’s expressions grew complicated as they quickly exchanged glances in conversation.

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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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