I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 58

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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 58】

 

Cedric of the Marquis Mersilla House—wasn’t he Serena’s real brother?

 

Why would he investigate Ella?

 

“Why is Cedric investigating Ella’s death?”

 

“Well… they say Miss Ella was Lord Cedric’s lover.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Philip let out an exclamation.

 

If she was his lover, he would certainly want to investigate.

 

What struck him as strange was that ‘Ella,’ who had been Cedric’s lover, had pointed to Serena as the real culprit behind the carriage incident at the recent wedding.

 

What was important here was Cedric’s reaction.

 

His lover had pointed to his own sister, been dragged to prison while protesting her innocence, and he himself had been investigated alongside her, yet he showed no reaction whatsoever.

 

Then two hypotheses could be established.

 

One, Cedric was in cahoots with Serena.

 

Two, Cedric was an idiot.

 

“Thank you. Come to the Marquis Castle tomorrow and speak to my assistant about the fee—I’ll pay you generously.”

 

“Th-thank you.”

 

After parting with the private detective, Philip immediately headed to the Marquis Mersilla House.

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, Serena had already been confined in a guest room at the Duke’s Castle for half a day.

 

She had been summoned under the pretense of having something to discuss in the reception room, only to be suddenly brought to a guest room and locked up.

 

He must have definitely noticed something.

 

‘…How on earth did he figure it out? Count Greenlenton transformed into Marchioness Conn, so he shouldn’t have been able to recognize him. There was no evidence whatsoever. Could Duke Casselik actually be a mage himself?’

 

She couldn’t even open the door freely unless the knights opened it for her first.

 

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

 

All she could do was spend the entire day lost in thought, biting her nails.

 

Count Greenlenton, who had been dragged here with her, was nowhere to be seen—she didn’t know where he was being held.

 

At first she had been terrified, but as time passed, she became calmer.

 

She had dark magic.

 

Although without Count Greenlenton she didn’t even know how to use it, Serena still had value to them.

 

So they wouldn’t just leave her to rot in this guest room.

 

‘For now, if Duke Casselik asks me anything, I absolutely must deny everything and play dumb.’

 

Just as she was steeling her resolve, the door creaked open.

 

“…Duke Casselik?”

 

At first thinking it was the gatekeeper, she realized it was Casselik who had opened the door and quickly stood up.

 

Serena, who had been coldly assessing the situation, produced tears in 0.1 seconds and collapsed to the floor.

 

“D-Duke… How could you do this to me? You clearly said you had something to discuss about the figs deal, so why did you lock me in this room?”

 

“The Marchioness Conn who accompanied you turned out to be a dark mage.”

 

Clank.

 

For a moment her breath stopped, but she had already expected this to some extent.

 

Serena hurriedly gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

 

“…My goodness. A dark mage… you say? I had no idea at all. To me, he was just a really kind business partner….”

 

“When Mary was revealed to be a dark mage, you had a prophetic dream that exposed the child’s identity. Did you have a dream this time too?”

 

Casselik pulled over a chair and sat down.

 

Seeing his serious expression, it seemed like he was genuinely curious.

 

‘…Phew, thank goodness I mentioned the prophetic dreams.’

 

She felt relieved as she wiped her tears with a handkerchief.

 

“Actually… I did have a prophetic dream. I didn’t know Marchioness Conn was a dark mage, but in the dream she suddenly acted scary toward me. Something felt strange… so that prophetic dream was pointing to a dark mage.”

 

“I see. After Mary, you got Marchioness Conn’s identity right too, all through prophetic dreams. Quite impressive.”

 

‘…Did he fall for it?’

 

Serena slightly lowered her handkerchief and observed Casselik’s reaction before answering.

 

“Oh, no. To become the Duke’s wife, this much is….”

 

“Who said I believed you?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

He chuckled softly.

 

“The knights just searched your bedroom. Do you know what they found there?”

 

“Wh, what?”

 

“Oh my. You couldn’t see that in your prophetic dreams? If you had gotten this right too, I would have acknowledged you.”

 

After finishing his words, Casselik stood up coldly.

 

“I’ll give you one more chance. Haven’t you always had prophetic dreams at conveniently lucky timing? I’ll give you a chance to sleep, so test that luck of yours again.”

 

“Du, Duke. Duke!”

 

Startled Serena cried out, but the Duke looked down at her like she was an insect and disappeared.

 

‘Th, this is bad. I need to ask Brother Cedric for help. Somehow….’

 

She was rummaging through the drawer in the guest room looking for a quill pen and document to write a letter when.

 

Someone opened the door wide without even knocking.

 

It was the maids.

 

“…Madam. By the Duke’s orders, we’ve prepared tea so you can sleep comfortably.”

 

The maids who had smiled brightly at her just days ago now had wariness in their expressions.

 

Serena forced a smile and declined.

 

“Th, thank you, but no. I’m not in the mood for tea.”

 

“Ah…. This isn’t a suggestion, it’s the Duke’s order.”

 

“What?”

 

“He told us to watch you drink the tea and report back.”

 

Serena’s heart plummeted.

 

Forced to sit on the bed by the maids, she lifted the teacup with trembling hands.

 

With her eyes tightly shut, she took a small sip, and suddenly her pounding heart calmed down as her mind began to feel hazy.

 

‘I’m not sleepy… but why….’

 

She struggled to lift her eyelids, but eventually succumbed to sleep.

 

* * *

 

At that time, the Marquis Mersilla House was in an emergency situation due to the sudden visit of Marquis Philip.

 

“Cedric, what business does Marquis Philip have visiting us? Hurry up and tell me something! Don’t tell me the Marquis’s visit is because of our Serena?”

 

Marchioness of Mersilla beat her chest repeatedly while looking at her son who was standing there like a fool in a daze.

 

“Is the fact that Serena hasn’t been in contact lately related to the Marquis?”

 

“I’m organizing my thoughts right now, so please, please don’t pressure me! The more Mother does this, the more confused I get!”

 

“But this mother needs to know what she needs to know!”

 

“I’ll tell you in 10 minutes!”

 

Cedric, who had hastily sent his mother out of the room, slumped down.

 

“Is this a dream…? Why would Marquis Philip suddenly…?”

 

Nothing had gone right since the carriage incident.

 

Following his lover Ella being poisoned to death, recently Serena hadn’t sent him even a single letter.

 

He had sent several letters because he was curious about how she was doing, but there wasn’t even a reply.

 

In the midst of all this, Marquis Philip had appeared without any notice.

 

‘Your lover was poisoned to death, so you must be deeply grieved. Aren’t you frustrated? Your lover might have been innocent, but she died in prison.’

 

Philip had asked nonchalantly as if he knew something.

 

Of course he was frustrated.

 

That’s why he was even hiring private investigators to find the culprit.

 

But if he said ‘I’m frustrated’ to the Marquis, it would be exposed that Ella wasn’t the culprit of the carriage incident.

 

In the end, he couldn’t say a word.

 

Marquis Philip had returned brazenly, saying he would visit again later.

 

“Why on earth… our family… no, I… when did I start falling apart like this?”

 

No matter how much he reflected, there wasn’t a single thing he had done wrong.

 

No, there was one thing that came to mind.

 

‘Rie.’

 

Duke Casselik’s biological daughter, but a Non-Ability User.

 

The Little One who dared to ignore Serena’s kindness.

 

His sister had shed tears because of that Little One, and his lover had been poisoned to death after getting involved in an unrelated incident trying to catch that Little One.

 

“Because of that damn Little One… my life has been ruined. Even though she’s just a child abandoned by the Duke…”

 

He stood up abruptly, grinding his teeth until his eyes were bloodshot.

 

Maybe.

 

The reason Serena hadn’t been in contact lately might also be because of that Little One.

 

“Go to the Birdwell Barony. Right now!”

 

Cedric, fuming with his hair disheveled, got into the carriage.

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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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