I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 64

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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 64>

 

And as the child said, there was a need to inform them of the current situation.

 

First, Casselik spoke up.

 

“As you’ve probably already seen in the newspapers, Serena colluded with dark mages and brought dark magic into the Duke’s Castle.”

 

Marquis Philip also chimed in.

 

“Speaking of dark magic, I actually had something to tell you about that, Duke. I think Emilia should hear this too.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Tell us in detail.”

 

Philip explained what he had experienced.

 

How he had come to visit the orphanage by chance while investigating the carriage accident and dark magic, and encountered a private detective there.

 

People’s expressions became strange.

 

“…So the person who hired the private detective was Cedric… Something’s odd about this.”

 

“Yes. They say Cedric was Ella’s lover… The connection is really strange. He’s going so far as to hire a private detective to find the culprit who killed his lover, yet he stayed quiet when she pointed to Serena as the perpetrator of the carriage accident.”

 

“…So Serena might be the main culprit behind the carriage incident.”

 

“It’s circumstantial evidence. We don’t have physical proof yet. We’ll uncover it soon, so please wait.”

 

A moment of silence fell.

 

Casselik gripped the armrest of his chair.

 

His broad hand turned white and blue veins bulged out.

 

Serena already had a history of joining hands with dark mages. If she was crazy enough to do that, it wouldn’t be strange if she had caused the carriage incident.

 

‘If Serena really was behind the carriage incident, then while Rie and Emilia were suffering, I was having a wedding ceremony with that woman…’

 

For a moment, he felt like he couldn’t breathe.

 

Just thinking about it made his stomach turn inside out.

 

He was suddenly drowning in self-loathing that dominated his reason, when a composed voice pulled him out.

 

“Then what will happen to Serena now?”

 

It was Emilia.

 

“I’m going to divorce her. The moment that woman was caught colluding with dark mages, she was no longer qualified to be a duchess.”

 

Would it end with just divorce?

 

If Serena was the mastermind behind the carriage incident, he planned to use everything he had to make sure that woman could never set foot in the Chronos Empire again.

 

However, Emilia seemed to misinterpret his words and nodded.

 

“Well, I suppose this wasn’t a difficult problem for you. After all, you can just have another contract marriage.”

 

Her voice, which seemed to understand everything, held neither resentment nor regret.

 

“That’s not what I meant…”

 

“Thank you both for letting me know. About sending trustworthy escort knights too – if you send me the list, I’ll discuss it with my parents and select someone.”

 

He tried to say something, but Emilia cut off any chance for private conversation.

 

‘…Damn…’

 

Meanwhile, Rie, who had been listening to Emilia and Casselik’s conversation, fell into contemplation.

 

‘Should I tell the truth? To Mother and… the Duke?’

 

The child glanced at the two with rabbit-like eyes, but ultimately kept her mouth shut quietly.

 

* * *

 

Inside Theodore Castle, the noble prison.

 

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

 

In the room created as a courtesy to maintain noble dignity, the sound of something being tapped could be heard.

 

Crouched Serena was tapping the wall with a nail.

 

She had been doing this for a month already.

 

Sometimes knights who heard the noise treated her like a madwoman, but Serena didn’t care.

 

She had already lost everything. Honor. Reputation. Even admiring gazes.

 

Only one thing remained for Serena.

 

The obsession to escape from prison.

 

“…Count Greenlenton?”

 

Thanks to piercing the wall one by one with the nail, she had barely managed to create a small hole.

 

When she put her face to it, strange green eyes were revealed from the other side.

 

It was Count Greenlenton wearing the shell of the Marquis’s wife.

 

He too was imprisoned in the room right next to Serena’s.

 

“It was worth the wait. I’ll acknowledge your obsession, at least.”

 

“Ha… It feels good to have a conversation while making eye contact with someone after so long. But what do we do now?”

 

“There’s a way to get out.”

 

“As expected!”

 

“Of course, only I can get out.”

 

“Aaaaah!”

 

At his next words, she involuntarily let out a short scream.

 

“I worked hard for a month to drill this hole, and only you’re going to escape? Then why did you wait for me all this time?”

 

“Calm down, Serena. I waited because there’s a way for you to escape too.”

 

Right after, he held out a piece of paper through the hole.

 

A strange magic circle was drawn on it.

 

“What is this?”

 

“To escape from prison with me, you need to become a dark mage too.”

 

Serena felt like her heart stopped for several seconds.

 

She had ended up in this situation because of dark magic, and now he was telling her to become a dark mage.

 

“But if I become a dark mage…”

 

“That’s right. A mark will remain. But you’re already branded as a criminal. Do you have anything more to lose here?”

 

“…”

 

“The security here is so tight that with my abilities, I can’t get you out since you’re an ordinary person. Unless you become a dark mage. So choose.”

 

Serena’s expression darkened.

 

If she became a dark mage, she would have to live with the mark for the rest of her life.

 

But if she stayed here?

 

In the Chronos Empire, criminals involved with dark magic were unconditionally sentenced to death.

 

This was something she couldn’t escape even if she was the Marquis’s daughter.

 

“Once we get out of here, you can also take on someone else’s shell. That’s how you start over.”

 

Start over.

 

Somehow the Count’s words felt tempting.

 

Life as Serena was over, but if she could start with a different body.

 

If she could rebuild wealth, honor, and even her image.

 

“…How do I become a dark mage?”

 

At her question, Count Greenlenton chuckled as if he had expected this.

 

“Draw this magic circle exactly the same with your blood. And you need a large amount of blood to offer to the gods… For that, you’ll have to sacrifice one of your arms or legs.”

 

“What?!”

 

“Don’t worry. If you follow my instructions, you can use someone else. Just think of someone to offer as sacrifice, like you used to do.”

 

“Someone to offer as sacrifice…”

 

Her mind, stained with anger, worked quickly.

 

Anyway, once she escaped from here, she would shed Serena’s body and live as someone else.

 

In that case.

 

Wouldn’t it be okay to get some revenge on the person who made her end up like this?

 

Serena, who had immediately thought of Rie, came up with an even better target.

 

“…Is Emilia possible too?”

 

That child looked happiest in the world when she was with her mother.

 

Then conversely, wouldn’t she despair the most when her mother was in misfortune?

 

Serena no longer had any hesitation.

 

When the Count watching her through the hole nodded, she immediately struck her palm with the nail she was holding.

 

A moment of pain.

 

Blood dripped down between the nail embedded in her palm.

 

With that blood, she drew a magic circle and prayed with her palms pressed together.

 

“I am Emilia Birdwell, born of the bloodline of Viscount Birdwell Mordic. I offer that woman’s arms and legs to you and shall become your daughter….”

 

The old Serena who used to scream at the sight of blood had disappeared.

 

She had offered her soul to a heretical god.

 

* * *

 

A peaceful afternoon.

 

Good news arrived at the Birdwell Barony.

 

“Oh, my goodness. Honey, look at this.”

 

Morgana, who was reading the newspaper as usual, called out to Mordic.

 

“What is it… Oh my! That’s right! I told you so~ Pirate suppression would be nothing special for our Ethan!”

 

When Mordic, who was reading the newspaper together, broke into a broad smile, Mary, who had been watching, seemed to catch on and came running over with a clatter.

 

“Don’t tell me Uncle Ethan is coming back?”

 

“Uncle Ethan…?”

 

When Rie tilted her head toward the adults and gaped, Morgana, realizing her mistake, explained.

 

“Rie, this grandmother explained to you that you have two uncles, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“One is Uncle Nelson, and the other is Uncle Ethan. He’s a knight who works in the navy and defeats the bad guys at sea.”

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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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