I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 34

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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 34】

 

“The Crown Prince said he would protect Rie.”

 

“So why?!”

 

The family members were going crazy with curiosity, but the child herself was smiling brightly.

 

“Because he’s an angel!”

 

Sensing danger in her innocent answer, the family members put their heads together and entered an emergency meeting.

 

“He told the child he’d protect her and even fed her delicious food. What could his intention be?”

 

“I believe His Highness the Crown Prince is around the same age as Rie. Perhaps he wanted to become friends?”

 

“That can’t be. I may not participate in high society, but I read plenty of gossip magazines. Everyone calls His Highness the Crown Prince the seed of a tyrant, a merciless clock’s second hand.”

 

“Why would such a frightening person be so kind to Rie?”

 

“Wait, could it be that he’s taken with Rie? Our Rie is pretty, but… why does it have to be His Highness the Crown Prince~”

 

Regardless of their concerns, Rie continued reading Jair’s letter.

 

[To Rie.

 

Come to think of it, Duke Theodore is conducting an ability detection test for the branch families this time, and I must participate as a Time Observer.

 

Duke Casselik probably invited you too. It’ll surely be a boring time, so you should keep me company.

 

See you there.]

 

‘…Ability test?’

 

If she participated in this, she could meet Father.

 

“Mother! An order from His Highness the Crown Prince!”

 

Rie held out the sparkling letter paper to her trembling mother.

 

* * *

 

“I need solid power to establish myself as a duchess… What on earth should I do?”

 

Due to the recent incident, Serena had been lost in thought for days.

 

Then, a letter arrived for her.

 

[Hello, Duchess Serena.

 

Once again, congratulations on your marriage to Duke Casselik. If you would allow us the time, we would like to invite you to our count house.

 

It will be a good time for Your Grace the Duchess.]

 

Such an unexpected invitation.

 

“Greenlenton Count House is a branch of Theodore… They said there’s a seven-year-old child. Then they’re a subject for this Great Temple’s examination, aren’t they?”

 

Something felt unsettling, but the last sentence written in the letter seemed somehow secretive.

 

[It will be a good time for Your Grace the Duchess.]

 

As if it would rescue her from her immediate anxiety.

 

“I’m going out for a bit. Can you help me get ready?”

 

Serena headed to Greenlenton Count House like someone grasping at straws.

 

And some time later. Sitting at the tea table, she smiled and greeted the count across from her.

 

“Hello, Count Greenlenton. I read your letter saying you’d provide a good time. I was so moved by your warm heart that I came right away.”

 

“How kind of you, Duchess Serena. What a truly kind way of speaking.”

 

Praising her way of speaking. Somehow it felt strange, and Serena’s head tilted in confusion.

 

At that sight, Count Greenlenton’s blue lips curved upward.

 

He was clearly smiling, but somehow the air around them felt frozen.

 

“Ah. Th-thank you.”

 

“But we pursue essence over superficiality. So let me cut to the chase and get straight to the point.”

 

‘…Did he just say “we”?’

 

Before she could feel puzzled, the Count asked.

 

“Duchess Serena. What is it that you want?”

 

“Pardon? Oh, I’m very happy right now. Being the Duchess of Theodore, together with the Duke…”

 

“Aren’t you unhappy that Duke Casselik treats you so coldly?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Serena flinched as he hit the mark.

 

Count Greenlenton made a pitying tsk-tsk sound and picked up his teacup.

 

“Duchess Serena. Let me ask again. What is it that you want?”

 

At his entrancing question, Serena’s green eyes slowly turned toward him.

 

“What I want is…”

 

It was a strange thing.

 

Serena had never revealed her inner thoughts even to Cedric, her family.

 

Desire. It was a word that didn’t suit her, who was gentle and innocent like a deer.

 

But.

 

“I want to be loved forever in high society and remembered as a special woman. That’s why I thought I’d be happier if I married Duke Casselik, but…”

 

At Count Greenlenton’s question, she was freely talking about her true feelings that even she didn’t know well.

 

Before she knew it, she was immersed in her situation and clutched the hem of her dress.

 

“I don’t know when I might be divorced, and meanwhile the Duke treats me coldly. Why does he do that? I tried! I tried to become pretty, kind… the kind of woman any man would like, but…”

 

“I know. I understand.”

 

“But that damn Rie, Rie, Rie! Why does she keep hovering in front of my eyes? Even during the wedding, that child Rie…”

 

“It’s because your method of trying is wrong.”

 

A firm answer cut off her words.

 

When her bloodshot light green eyes turned toward the Count, he smiled faintly.

 

“If you want happiness, you must seize it. And I know an easy way to do that.”

 

The Count clasped his hands together under his chin and looked at Serena with meaningful eyes.

 

“Have you ever heard of magic?”

 

“Magic? That’s forbidden in the Chronos Empire… Eek!”

 

When the Count suddenly stood up and drew back the curtain covering the wall, startled Serena cowered.

 

When she lifted her closed eyes, a huge magic circle was drawn on the wall.

 

In front of it sat a bizarrely shaped statue that looked eerie just to behold.

 

“If you believe in our god, you can be happy forever.”

 

Serena’s mouth fell open. Her hands began to tremble slowly with fear.

 

She couldn’t believe the situation before her eyes.

 

‘Th-th-this is… this is the dark magic I’ve only heard about…!’

 

The dark magic that was once prevalent long ago was banned empire-wide, and began to be called ‘dark magic’ in comparison to divine abilities.

 

But to think that Count Greenlenton was that very dark magician.

 

“How about it, Duchess? Don’t you want to enjoy eternal happiness?”

 

Serena wished all of this was a dream.

 

To meet a dark magician. That fact alone could make her branded as a criminal.

 

Moreover, these people didn’t even seem to realize they were criminals.

 

Just look at how they simply called dark magic ‘magic.’

 

But what if it was really possible, as Count Greenlenton said?

 

Eternal popularity. Eternal attention.

 

Me, being loved by Duke Casselik’s side.

 

‘…If, if such a thing is possible, why believe in Chronos God instead of magic?’

 

Serena became curious.

 

She absolutely wasn’t trying to participate in something evil.

 

But if she could have what she wanted by using dark magic, wouldn’t the god ruling the Chronos Empire be the evil one?

 

That’s right. She wasn’t the bad one.

 

“What do I need to do?”

 

When Serena asked, Count Greenlenton’s lips curved up ominously.

 

“You’re anxious not knowing when a time ability user might appear, right? Then you just need to create a time ability user first.”

 

“But the Duke won’t even spend nights with me, so how can I do that…”

 

“You don’t necessarily need to give birth to one. You can just find someone who already exists.”

 

Serena, who had been biting her lips from wounded pride, scoffed at the next words.

 

“Then I’ll get divorced.”

 

All he needed was a time ability user.

 

If someone appeared to make his heir, she would be immediately discarded.

 

“No, Duchess. You can create as many time ability users as you want. With magic.”

 

“…”

 

Serena’s eyes widened as she lost her words.

 

Creating time ability users? Such a thing couldn’t be possible.

 

But if magic could achieve everything, then that might be possible too.

 

“If the time ability user you create trusts and follows only you, Duke Casselik will have no reason to cast you out.”

 

Count Greenlenton approached her silently and handed her something.

 

It was a black potion.

 

“Magic is similar to effort. Another word for effort is sacrifice. I’ll turn the child of the Greenlenton Count House into a time ability user for you. However, to do that, we must offer a living sacrifice to our god.”

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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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