I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 55

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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 55】

 

He participated as a representative of one business office among the numerous companies that Serena had registered.

 

This was to hide the fact that Serena had joined hands with dark mages.

 

“….”

 

Only then did Serena return to reality.

 

She realized that behind the wonderful and confident woman, the shadow of dark magic was cast.

 

She trembled all over.

 

“I know.”

 

“Yes. Serena would know best. Anyway, if we win the auction, I’ll go offer a handshake instead. Direct hand contact works better.”

 

“…I understand.”

 

At the end of the strange conversation, it was finally time for the fig auction.

 

“It’s the figs. Those participating in the fig auction, please take your seats!”

 

At the host’s words, Serena rose from her seat.

 

Then, as she expected, surprised people began to murmur.

 

“Is Duchess Serena participating in the auction herself?”

 

“Wait. Wasn’t she here as an observer in her capacity as duchess?”

 

With her characteristic innocent smile, she tucked her hair behind her ear and sat down in the chair.

 

Meanwhile, the opponent approaching from the opposite side was a man as huge as a giant.

 

But attached to the man’s hand was a small child.

 

“…Rie? Isn’t that the child who said she would abandon the Theodore surname at the divorce proceedings?”

 

That’s right.

 

Rie had sat down in the chair herself.

 

Nelson even knelt down and handed Rie the auction paddle, as if he was only there to help the child.

 

“What’s this?”

 

“So it’s just the duchess and the little one?”

 

A strange confrontation structure. And only two teams at that.

 

The flustered host looked around.

 

“Isn’t anyone else participating? Please take your seats quickly!”

 

Then someone shouted from the side.

 

“Duchess Serena has contracts with 53 companies! We’re on Duchess Serena’s side!”

 

“Hey, show some dignity. This is a ducal house!”

 

A colleague immediately scolded him, but people who caught on to the situation began to get excited.

 

“So all the participants are uniting to compete against the Birdwell Barony?”

 

“That’s ridiculous. How much did the duchess contract the goods for….”

 

“Isn’t this already a won game for the duchess?”

 

“That little one looks like she’ll cry during the bidding. Why did she even come?”

 

As the situation became noisy, even Casselik, who had been watching expressionlessly, showed cracks in his composure.

 

He was flustered by Serena’s unexpected actions, but since it was an official occasion, he didn’t dare speak carelessly.

 

However, he only looked at Rie with thoughtful eyes.

 

Serena, who had been glancing at such a Duke, clenched her mouth shut.

 

‘The Duke is only looking at Rie even in this situation. But it’s fine. After I win the auction and face the Duke, from then on he’ll only look at me…!’

 

Maybe even on his knees, begging me to keep his secret?

 

“…My goodness.”

 

Her heart was racing just from imagining it.

 

Bang bang!

 

The host struck his gavel to calm the situation.

 

“If there are no more participants, we’ll start the auction as is. Please restrain yourselves!”

 

That’s right. The auction had begun.

 

“Like other products, figs will also start at 1 silver per kilogram!”

 

‘1 silver… I should end this right away.’

 

Serena smiled and raised her auction paddle.

 

“50 copper.”

 

“50 copper?!”

 

“Just how low are you going? Wasn’t 60 copper the lowest price earlier?!”

 

People were shocked.

 

“Money really does call money! Just how much stock do you have?”

 

“I thought the Duchess was just delicate, but you’re quite a strong-willed businesswoman.”

 

“40 copper!”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

A child holding a white auction paddle shouted.

 

Then a spectating man warned Nelson.

 

“Nelson! This auction is no joke! Don’t let the child hold the paddle and tell them to stop quickly! If this gets sold, you’ll have to supply 30 tons at once!”

 

“That’s right. Your orchard size isn’t nearly enough!”

 

But Nelson and Rie didn’t even pretend to listen. Serena raised her paddle without hesitation.

 

“30 copper.”

 

“Yes! 30 copper has been bid. This is the lowest in all auctions so far…”

 

“20 copper!”

 

But the childish shout continued.

 

‘What?’

 

This time even Serena was surprised enough to look at the child.

 

‘At this rate, I’ll be at a loss too…’

 

But she couldn’t end it here.

 

She had no choice but to grit her teeth and raise her paddle.

 

“10 copper.”

 

“10, 10 copper has been bid!”

 

The excited host sensed the end approaching.

 

Serena felt the same way.

 

From 10 copper onwards, it was no different from giving away figs for free, or rather, taking an even greater loss herself.

 

It takes about a year to harvest figs, and if the price dropped to 10 dong, it would be difficult to even pay the wages of the farmers who worked that hard.

 

“Since we can’t lower it by 10 units, I’ll lower it by 1 unit. Now, is there no one? Then 10 dong per kilogram…”

 

“9 dong!”

 

But the child smiled without any sign of distress and raised the auction paddle.

 

Finally, Serena, unable to bear it any longer, stood up.

 

“Duke Theodore is watching this auction directly. But is it really okay to entrust that child with an auction paddle? Auctions are not a game!”

 

“Yes, that’s right. If you participate in an auction as a joke and can’t take responsibility, you’ll face severe punishment, little lady.”

 

The host, who had been scolding the child with a stern expression, glanced at Casselik.

 

At this point, it meant wouldn’t it be better for the owner to step in and handle the situation directly.

 

“What should we… do, Duke?”

 

But Casselik, who had been watching, answered leisurely.

 

“She’s my blood. This is also my auction house, so I’ll take responsibility. Continue as is.”

 

‘This is ridiculous.’

 

Shocked by those words, Serena looked at Casselik.

 

“Duke…! How could you say such a thing to me… You’re being too cruel…!”

 

Serena sobbed prettily like a delicate flower, but he didn’t budge at all.

 

“Serena. I even pretended not to know that you participated in the auction without telling me. But now you’re interfering by picking fights with other participants. Do you not know who owns this auction?”

 

No, rather, his voice dropped even lower as if he was displeased.

 

“People will think I’m a joke.”

 

Flinch.

 

When Serena pressed her lips tightly shut at those words, the gazes that had been looking at her favorably began to waver.

 

“Did she secretly participate in the auction?”

 

“I thought the Duke knew everything and that the Duchess was just going along with the child.”

 

“Then what? Are the current wife and the former wife’s daughter really competing? She’s competing against a four-year-old.”

 

She’s competing against a four-year-old.

 

Serena’s face turned bright red at the sudden cutting sarcasm.

 

“…”

 

Shame rose up to her throat.

 

It was true that she had come this far by individually contracting with 53 farmers just to try to beat a mere four-year-old.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

One of the farmers who had come to observe raised his hand and spoke.

 

“…Excuse me, Duchess. If you lower it to 8 dong, it will be a loss no matter how much volume we sell.”

 

“Y-yes, that’s right. If you make it 8 dong… I’ll withdraw from this contract.”

 

“What? You already signed a contract, so you can’t back out!”

 

Panicked, Serena unconsciously raised her voice.

 

‘Oh no, this is bad.’

 

She had never raised her voice before to maintain her innocent and pure image.

 

She tried to cover her mouth with her hand, but people were already surprised by Serena’s attitude, which was different from usual.

 

She bit her lip and thought.

 

‘I’ve already taken a loss anyway. Even if I have to push myself a little, I have to win somehow. If I want Count Greenlenton to shake hands with the Duke…’

 

“…I apologize for causing a disturbance. I’ll proceed with the auction. I’ll lower it to 8 dong.”

 

Serena sat down, desperately suppressing her devastated feelings.

 

However.

 

“Hehe, 7 dong!”

 

The child swung her legs that didn’t reach the floor and raised her auction paddle.

 

‘Yes! Just for fun. I think my husband would like it too.’

 

Just as Serena had said a few days ago, she seemed to be participating just for fun.

 

A moment of silence passed.

 

The host, who had been watching Casselik and Serena’s reactions, finally performed his role.

 

“…3, 2, 1…. 7 dong per kilogram of figs has been sold!”

 

And so the fig reverse auction came to an end.

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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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