I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 39

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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 39】

 

“Ah, right. That’s it.”

 

She had momentarily forgotten while being enchanted by the dress, but there was a reason she had dismissed the Head Maid.

 

Serena approached Mary with a pretty smile.

 

“Sigh. I’ll begin now.”

 

The child who sighed picked up a cup that was nearby.

 

But she wasn’t drinking water. Pretending to drink, she spilled it directly onto the floor.

 

Then the water pooled at their feet began to emit a strange red light.

 

Dark Magic had been activated.

 

“Wow. If we’re inside this, the Duke won’t be able to see us even if he uses his Time Ability, right?”

 

“Yes. To be precise, the Time Ability gets deflected. The Duke will then mistakenly think I used a Time Ability.”

 

How amazing this is!

 

Her eyes became round as she clapped her hands together.

 

“Dark Magic is really versatile!”

 

“Right? If I ever become Duke Chronos, any Nobles who want it will be able to use abilities. A world where everyone uses abilities fairly. Isn’t that wonderful?”

 

“…But you have to offer people as sacrifices every time you use an ability.”

 

To Serena’s worried question, Mary answered lightly as if asking what the problem was.

 

“We can just use Slaves or Commoners. From their perspective, they’re dying while being used for Nobles, so how honorable is that?”

 

“Is… is that so?”

 

“Yes. Knights think it’s honorable to die in battle on the Battlefield. It’s the same for them.”

 

Mary’s eyes had no light as she said this, making Serena feel a bit chilled.

 

‘I heard she received education from Dark Mages since childhood. That’s probably why her values are different from ordinary people.’

 

But if someone were to devote themselves to death for me… that might feel good?

 

The more people willing to sacrifice themselves for her, the more noble she would appear.

 

“…That’s wonderful.”

 

Serena, who had let her imagination soar, agreed.

 

But they hadn’t created this Secret Space using Dark Magic just to have such trivial chatter.

 

“So. Since the Duke drank ‘that water,’ the effects should start appearing soon, right?”

 

When she asked about the main point, Mary’s eyes lit up as she crossed her arms smugly.

 

Here, ‘that water’ referred to an essential drug for achieving her ‘eternal happiness.’

 

Its name was ‘Peaceful Rest.’

 

This drug was said to gradually make the user lose their will and self, eventually leaving only an empty shell.

 

Currently, Casselik’s ego was too strong.

 

So strong that there was no room for Serena to wedge herself in.

 

So when his ego weakened with the drug’s help, she planned to use Hypnosis on Casselik to make him like her.

 

But judging from Mary’s expression, it seemed there was still a long way to go.

 

“I set the drug amount to the minimum so it wouldn’t be noticeable. It’ll take about 6 months to see enough effect for Hypnosis.”

 

6 months. Not a short period, but it’s worth waiting for.

 

She was already imagining herself in the Duke’s embrace when she chuckled softly.

 

Mary suddenly muttered as if feeling uneasy.

 

“By the way, what the maids said about the flower pot earlier. It’s not an outsider who infiltrated, is it? Should I have questioned them more…?”

 

“Let’s leave it for the maids to handle. It’s not a big problem, but if they can at least accomplish that, they’ll feel proud that they protected the Duke’s Castle. We need to instill such small desires for achievement to make them devoted to the family.”

 

“Ah. It’s a problem suited to the level of commoners.”

 

The two like-minded people grinned wickedly.

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

The problem that could have been resolved at Serena’s level was eventually reported to Casselik.

 

“Duke. I apologize for reporting such a trivial matter.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Recently, the flower pot in the guest reception room has been dug up every morning. It’s clearly someone’s doing at night, and it’s been continuing for a week now.”

 

‘Truly trivial indeed.’

 

“Isn’t castle management the lady’s domain?”

 

“Well… when I reported to the lady, she told the maids to stand guard by the flower pot all night. That’s possible, but if it’s an outsider coming in, there’s a risk of injury…”

 

“An outsider?”

 

He sharply picked up on the point that Serena had simply overlooked.

 

“I’ll check it myself.”

 

He needed to examine that place with his time ability.

 

Casselik, who had stopped time, entered the Third Castle and climbed the stairs.

 

According to the Head Maid’s report, he should go to the 5th floor, but he suddenly stopped his steps at the 4th floor.

 

Because he remembered hearing that the child was sick.

 

Of course, the Theodore Ducal House’s physician would have examined her, so the child would be fine.

 

So there was no need to go.

 

A choice leaning toward emotion rather than reason. It was unfamiliar behavior for him.

 

‘…If rumors spread that a child visiting the Duke’s Castle is sick, it would be fatal to the family’s reputation.’

 

Casselik tried to rationalize himself, giving importance to this choice.

 

But where he found the child was not the infirmary, but the guest dining room.

 

Perhaps because of her small stature.

 

The child sitting alone at the wide, long dining table eating looked pitiful.

 

There were maids nearby, but they were chatting and laughing among themselves as if unaware the child was even there.

 

“…”

 

The child looked lonely.

 

Though it was natural for her to be lonely.

 

Being born into the Theodore Ducal House meant trading honor and wealth for responsibility.

 

But even so.

 

‘The Marquis likes to walk holding hands with Rie.’

 

‘….’

 

‘Though Father wouldn’t like it.’

 

The small hand holding the fork caught his eye particularly.

 

If he were to hold that hand, what would happen?

 

“…I wonder if she’d stop calling me Dung Cart.”

 

Casselik, who had been chuckling without realizing it, suddenly stopped.

 

‘I laughed?’

 

Only then coming to his senses, Casselik pressed his forehead and shook his head.

 

What good would holding her hand do? That would be the end of it.

 

There would be no benefit or honor for the Theodore Ducal House.

 

‘…There’s no time for that.’

 

For reasons unknown, he always felt a sense of urgency as if being chased by something.

 

The inexplicable pressure was probably due to the reason he had regressed. The problem was that without his notebook, he couldn’t know that reason.

 

So he had to focus on his immediate tasks.

 

First, he needed to teach Mary how to use her ability.

 

He wouldn’t tell the child about the notebook right away.

 

If she got scared or had second thoughts and turned back time, everything would become meaningless.

 

Until then, he couldn’t be caught up in unnecessary emotions.

 

Deliberately turning his gaze away from the child, Casselik went up to the 5th floor and arrived at the problematic reception room.

 

‘Someone definitely did this at night, and it’s been going on for a week.’

 

Recalling the Head Maid’s words, he turned time back a week, and soon the reception room was bathed in the dim night sky.

 

Was it still before the culprit arrived?

 

The flower pot was clean.

 

“…To think I have to worry about things like this. I should check quickly and go.”

 

About 10 minutes passed like that.

 

Someone’s shadow really did fall across the reception room.

 

‘The culprit?’

 

He, who had been standing leaning against the wall, cast a sharply honed gaze.

 

“Kami! Please!”

 

The culprit was none other than Rie.

 

Moreover, the crow had appeared from somewhere again, and she was trying to communicate with the animal.

 

At 2 AM, no less.

 

“…What?”

 

As if understanding her words, the crow climbed onto the flower pot and moved about busily.

 

Casselik was bewildered watching this scene.

 

Just to be sure, he carefully observed the entire week, but Rie appeared every dawn and unfailingly caused trouble before leaving.

 

The ‘flower pot incident’ that had the Head Maid trembling was nothing more than Rie’s prank.

 

“…If they had been properly raised in the Duke’s House, they would have known not to play such pranks.”

 

Casselik clicked his tongue.

 

He didn’t know how much longer they would stay at the Duke’s Castle, but it seemed he would need to assign them a proper tutor during that time.

 

Now that he had identified the culprit, there was nothing more to see.

 

Just as he was about to return time to the present.

 

“Father!”

 

Suddenly, the past Rie called out to him.

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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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