I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 31

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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 31】

 

She blinked her pitiful doe-like eyes.

 

“You believe me too, don’t you, Duke?”

 

“There’s nothing to believe or not believe. I confirmed it through my time ability.”

 

At his words, Serena gasped and her eyes reddened.

 

“I’m so happy. Actually, when Miss Ella tried to drag me into it at the wedding venue… the sound of people whispering was so frightening. But I thought it would be enough if only you believed me, Duke.”

 

At the sight of her wiping her pooled tears with a handkerchief, the assistant and maids standing nearby were moved.

 

“My goodness, Madam. Such pure devotion…”

 

“As expected, Madam truly loves His Grace.”

 

Under people’s gazes, Serena’s shoulders shrank.

 

She hurriedly covered her mouth with her handkerchief as if embarrassed by the attention.

 

“No. I was just… trusting only in you, Duke.”

 

However.

 

“I find it surprising. I was told you had a good reputation, yet there are people who envy you.”

 

“D-Duke.”

 

“There’s no smoke without fire. It would be best to avoid social gatherings for a while.”

 

At his sharp tone, Serena’s eyes wavered, but Casselik walked right past her and left the office.

 

He had only cleared up the misunderstanding because he didn’t want to see his newly married duchess become the subject of gossip.

 

She was nothing more and nothing less than a contract wife.

 

And there were still unresolved questions from the carriage accident.

 

‘…Just like when I couldn’t find the notebook last time, time stopped once during the carriage accident too.’

 

While turning back his clock, at some point he discovered traces of time travel that he hadn’t used.

 

Now he could no longer deny that there was another time ability user besides himself.

 

If so, he needed to find the ability user before planning for a child with Serena.

 

“Bellik.”

 

“Yes, Your Grace.”

 

“Select the branch families with children under ten years old and send them letters. Tell them we’re currently searching for time ability users, so we’ll conduct ability detection tests all at once at the temple.”

 

“Understood.”

 

When conducting the detection tests, he could invite Rie as well, given that she was direct family.

 

‘I’ll be able to see that child’s face once more.’

 

Casselik, who had suddenly thought of Rie, was startled and gasped.

 

‘Why that child? What would I accomplish by seeing her face?’

 

Even he couldn’t understand his own thoughts just now.

 

Casselik shook his head vigorously to erase the child from his mind.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince’s Palace.

 

Philip was truly following the command to ‘always’ bring Rie when having tea time with Jair.

 

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I just prepared everything. You can eat only what you like.”

 

“Heh….”

 

Rie opened her mouth wide at the sight of the sparkling desserts laid out on the tea table.

 

Tarts, whole cakes, and all kinds of baked cookies!

 

‘When I lived at the Duke’s Castle, Aunt Serena said I shouldn’t ruin my appetite, so I could only eat desserts once a month…!’

 

“Go ahead and eat.”

 

The boy with crossed arms gestured with his chin and a benevolent smile.

 

Of course, Rie had already taken a big bite of cake before Jair even gave the order. Her soft cheeks puffed up as if they might burst.

 

“Munch munch.”

 

“You eat well. Try this too. It’s made with winter wild berries brought from the Northern Region, they say it’s all the rage these days.”

 

Winter wild berries?! That sounds delicious!

 

“Waah-.”

 

No matter how much she ate, the food never seemed to diminish.

 

The child’s cheeks gradually puffed up like dumplings as she held cake in her right hand and tart in her left.

 

That’s right.

 

This is like…!

 

“Dessert hell.”

 

“Dessert heaven!”

 

Marquis Philip, who had spoken at the same time, burst into laughter.

 

“So it was heaven for our Rie. As long as Rie is happy, that’s all that matters.”

 

‘There’s a famous macaron shop in the capital center, I should take her there sometime.’

 

Philip was already thinking about the next place to meet while watching the child eat so well.

 

However, there was one puzzling thing.

 

What was Jair’s reason for calling Rie to this place?

 

Moreover, for some reason, he seemed to care for her quite a bit.

 

‘What is he thinking?’

 

The Jair that Philip knew didn’t particularly like encountering people.

 

Well, according to the Emperor, the Time Observer unintentionally sees the future when meeting someone.

 

But why Rie?

 

“Lord Jair. You’ve been calling Rie quite often lately. I suppose you wanted to become friends with a young lady of similar age. Or perhaps Rie’s future looked quite happy?”

 

When he asked out of curiosity, Jair, who had been watching Rie, shook his head.

 

“It wasn’t particularly that I wanted to become friends.”

 

It wasn’t?

 

“It’s just that when I look at that child, I can’t see the future.”

 

Clang.

 

A fork fell from across the table.

 

“Rie, don’t tell me you’re going to die?! Are you going to heaven?!”

 

Rie, who had been soaring through heaven, suddenly crashed down.

 

‘The reason the Crown Prince has been giving me delicious things all this time… was it because he felt sorry for Rie who’s going to die soon?!’

 

Panicked Philip quickly comforted the child.

 

“Haha. Rie, that can’t be right. Right, Crown Prince?”

 

“No. It’s correct. That’s why you need to stay with me often. As long as we’re together, you won’t go to heaven. Got it?”

 

But Jair was fanning the flames of a burning house.

 

The problem was that the innocent lamb fell for this pathetic lie.

 

Tears began to well up in Rie’s eyes as she blinked once.

 

“…So you’ve been staying with Rie for that reason?”

 

“Something like that.”

 

“Crown Prince… are you perhaps an angel?”

 

“It’s the first time I’ve heard the nickname ‘angel.’ I’ll be an angel in front of you.”

 

“Hehe, Lord Jair is an angel! An angel without wings!”

 

Philip felt dizzy from this mind-numbing conversation.

 

What was his intention? Was Jair playing some uncharacteristic prank?

 

Well, even if he seemed mature, he was still a seven-year-old child, so it was entirely possible.

 

He was also a clumsy child who didn’t know how to make friends.

 

Suddenly, the two children who looked happy came into his view.

 

…Whatever the process, both of them seemed satisfied, so wasn’t that good enough?

 

‘Ah, there was something I wanted to ask.’

 

Philip, who belatedly came to his senses, asked Jair.

 

“Lord Jair. You said you examined the memories from when the carriage was attacked. Did you confirm who the person was that took away the bandits’ swords?”

 

“Ah, that.”

 

At those words, Rie, who had been in a good mood thanks to the angel’s grace, flinched.

 

The fact that Rie had taken the bandits’ swords with her time ability was an enormous secret.

 

‘Can the angel see the past too? Then Rie… my identity will be exposed!’

 

What should I do?

 

Her blue eyes rolled around frantically.

 

…But even if her identity was exposed, she still had to eat what she could.

 

‘Rather than being exposed without eating… I should eat and then be exposed!’

 

So Rie squeezed her eyes shut, trying to enjoy what might be her last supper.

 

“No. I couldn’t see it. Some bold fellow hid the energy flow just at that moment. What kind of trick did they pull?”

 

…An unexpected answer!

 

Rie gently opened her eyes and glanced at Jair.

 

“What exactly does that mean?”

 

“It means I don’t know who the opponent is.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Actually, at the banquet too, there was someone who used time ability and hid their energy.”

 

“Wasn’t it Duke Casselik?”

 

“It wasn’t the Duke’s energy. That would mean another time ability user is hiding their identity, but that probability is slim. Until now, no ability users outside the Duke’s direct line have ever appeared.”

 

While saying this, Jair and Philip glanced at Rie.

 

“Then… it could be the work of dark mages.”

 

“I think so too. Things have gotten a bit complicated.”

 

Dark mage? Energy flow?

 

It was full of words she didn’t understand.

 

Rie glanced back and forth between the two of them, showing the whites of her eyes like a puppy that had caused trouble.

 

Seeing their serious expressions, she was certain.

 

‘Marquis Philip, angel sir. They’re both looking for Rie. So…’

 

She would avoid both of them for the time being!

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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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