I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 46

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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 46】

 

[Emilia knew this fact but still hid my identity.

 

However, Count Greenlenton appeared at the Northern Region’s specialty export auction house, determined to expose my identity somehow.

 

Of course, not even a scratch was made on the Chronos Ducal House.

 

Even if I was a bastard, I was a Time Ability User.

 

I regressed once again to one year ago.

 

To prepare for the future, I had to become so perfect that no one could touch me.

 

First, to formally propose to Emilia, I submitted a marriage proposal to the Birdwell Baronet Family.]

 

After finishing reading the notebook, Rie was once again overwhelmed with shock.

 

“…Father is… a, a bastard?!”

 

A bastard was, as Rie had learned, a bad creature.

 

She was told it was an existence that made one of the spouses pay the price for breaking their marriage vows.

 

The child, too shocked, covered her mouth with her palm spread wide like a starfish.

 

Kami beside her also looked flustered.

 

“…That Duke bastard. What the hell has he been doing?”

 

“Ugh. My head is all jumbled like clay!”

 

Eventually, Rie’s small head reached its capacity limit and she collapsed backward.

 

Rie’s vision spun round and round as she lay sprawled on the bed.

 

“Little One!”

 

“I need snacks… If I don’t eat something delicious right now…”

 

“…If you don’t eat?”

 

“Gack.”

 

Rie, who had been gazing at the ceiling with dreamy eyes, closed her eyes.

 

Startled by this sight, Kami fluttered and flew out the window.

 

“Little One-! Wait for me. I’ll somehow steal even a piece of bread for you!”

 

However, Rie’s sugar deficiency was filled not by Kami but by other visitors.

 

Mother had appeared together with Marquis Philip.

 

“Rie. I bought something delicious on the way here. Shall we eat together?”

 

And she was carrying a cake box!

 

“Delicious food! Rie’s!”

 

Rie hurriedly got up, carefully hid the open notebook, and went out.

 

* * *

 

A few days ago, Philip had sent a message asking if he could visit the Birdwell Barony.

 

No matter how much he investigated, there was only one answer.

 

Who could make the bandits’ swords disappear in an instant? Only a Time Ability User.

 

Moreover, the owner of the suspicious pink ribbon bag found at the scene, and the only blood relative of Duke Casselik.

 

Of course, when the temple announced that a new Time Ability User had appeared, he was briefly confused.

 

However, according to the Imperial Intelligence Network, Mary was a fake.

 

Having received this information secretly, he was now certain that Rie was the Time Ability User.

 

Philip entered the Birdwell Barony carrying an armful of desserts in both hands.

 

“Thank you for making time for me. I bought various things on the way here, but I’m not sure if they’ll suit your taste.”

 

“My goodness, you’re our guest but you bought so many things! Please sit down first.”

 

Emilia, who had become somewhat closer to Philip after the carriage incident, guided him.

 

However, she was busy.

 

Though she had taken time off from the embroidery shop for Philip, she had to do some work at home.

 

“I’m sorry, but please spend some time with Rie. I have things I need to do.”

 

“Take your time.”

 

He smiled genuinely at Emilia, who looked apologetic.

 

Actually, he had business with Rie anyway.

 

“Eat up, Rie.”

 

“Marquis, but how did you know Rie likes macarons?”

 

Tea time began, and as they ate the cakes and macarons he had brought, Rie swung her legs excitedly as usual.

 

Philip, who had been watching her with his chin propped up, smiled and answered.

 

“I can tell just by watching you eat, Rie. But Rie.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“About the carriage incident. Uncle has been looking for the brave person who hid the bandits’ swords ever since then.”

 

This time he wouldn’t let it slide easily like before.

 

He had brought his secret weapon, after all.

 

“Huh… Oh. Ahem.”

 

At Philip’s words, her dangling little legs stopped for a moment.

 

“Yes.”

 

The child’s expression, which had been focused on snacks, changed.

 

The way she glanced at him with those big eyes was just like a puppy that had gotten into trouble.

 

As expected of a child, even if she could lie, she couldn’t hide her expression.

 

‘How cute.’

 

Philip chuckled and sighed.

 

“…I was going to give a reward to that brave person. What a shame.”

 

“A, a reward? What kind of reward?”

 

“This badge.”

 

Philip took out a shining badge.

 

The round badge made of pure gold had a “Well Done” stamp on it.

 

“Wh, whoa! It’s cool! Rie has seen lots of these! People who do cool things like His Majesty the Emperor wear these!”

 

The child’s body trembled with excitement over the “Well Done” stamp rather than the pure gold.

 

It was understandable since the badge was made specifically to target the child’s taste.

 

“Cool, right? But there’s no one to give it to. Uncle thought the badge owner would be Rie, but Rie said it wasn’t her.”

 

“Huh? Well, that’s true. Hmm.”

 

Philip’s eyes lit up as he asked the child who seemed to be pondering.

 

“Oh, really? Is Rie perhaps a wonderful person?”

 

“N-no…”

 

Though she said that, the child seemed already swayed by the pure gold badge, fidgeting with her fingers.

 

“Well, not really… but Rie does know someone who took the bandits’ swords…”

 

Hmm?

 

“If Rie receives it… I’ll pass it along for you!”

 

This little one is being clever, isn’t she?

 

“…Alright. Then will you pass it along?”

 

She’s cute, so I’ll let it slide.

 

Philip barely held back his laughter as he handed the badge to Rie.

 

I’m curious to see what reaction she’ll show when she receives this.

 

“W-wow…”

 

The child’s eyes sparkled as she carefully received the badge like handling treasure.

 

Then suddenly, the child spun her body around.

 

She tried to pin the badge to her chest without Philip noticing.

 

Philip pretended to be serious as he stopped her.

 

“Hey now. Only the person who received the award can wear that. Rie can’t put it on.”

 

“…B-but…”

 

Rie’s face crumpled.

 

Her two adorable hands, like a hamster’s front paws, were tightly gripping the badge.

 

“But what? Is Rie the owner of the badge?”

 

“…Eeeh.”

 

Right. She won’t give it up easily.

 

But she must have felt quite wronged, as her flour-like cheeks were puffed up like a balloon.

 

Philip chuckled and asked.

 

“Do you want to wear this?”

 

Nod nod.

 

“Because Rie is the brave person who defeated the bandits?”

 

Nod no—

 

“Huh!”

 

The culprit who finally revealed her true colors squeaked in panic.

 

“It wasn’t Rie! I was trying to shake my head no…!”

 

“It’s okay. You can wear the badge. Rie is a Time Ability User.”

 

“H-huh! H-how did you know?!”

 

“Well, because Rie was acting like ‘I deserve this badge, it’s unfair’…?”

 

“R-Rie hid it super super secretly though?!”

 

Shocked, Rie’s mouth fell wide open.

 

Even so, she didn’t forget to keep the badge tightly gripped so it wouldn’t be taken away.

 

“You hid it secretly? Why did you hide it like that?”

 

Philip asked Rie gently, but even without hearing an answer, he seemed to know the reason.

 

‘She doesn’t want to go to the Duke’s Castle.’

 

From when they first met by chance in the library, the child had wanted to escape from her father somehow.

 

At the young age of four, she was prepared to read law books herself and even go to the courtroom.

 

‘…Hmm, this is heartbreaking.’

 

Philip, who had been staring at the child for a while, spoke.

 

“Rie. Don’t worry. I’ll keep the fact that you’re a Time Ability User a secret.”

 

Then the child’s eyes widened as she was fumbling to attach her badge.

 

“Really?”

 

“Yes. Really.”

 

“…Marquis Philip. You’re the best!”

 

Kyaa, the child screamed and spread her short arms to wrap them around Philip’s neck.

 

Philip hesitated at the child’s sudden embrace.

 

Because a thought he hadn’t even recognized himself came to mind.

 

He had to protect Rie and Emilia.

 

‘And if this child gets a new father…’

 

Philip, lost in thought for a while, quietly patted Rie’s back.

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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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