I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 76
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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 76>
‘Also, to tell Mother about the notebook’s contents… I first have to reveal that Rie is a time ability user…!’
Determined, Rie gulped.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous.
If she told them everything truthfully, Morgana and Emilia might get angry.
Because if they had known Rie was a time ability user, Emilia wouldn’t have had to go through the divorce in the first place.
“Grandmother, Grandfather, Mother. It’s Rie, I have something to tell you…”
“What is it?”
Then Mordic, who had been playing chess alone, also looked at Rie.
Receiving the gazes of three people, Rie squeezed her eyes shut.
“Rie is… actually a time ability user!”
“Is that so?”
“Huh…?”
“Yes. I thought so.”
‘Oh?!’
Surprisingly, the Viscount couple’s reaction was calm.
“You’re not angry?!”
When Rie asked again, Morgana let out a chuckle and stood up from her seat.
Then she gently stroked the child’s head.
“What would we have to be angry about with our baby? Actually, Grandmother and Grandfather had been guessing that Rie was an extraordinary child. We didn’t know it was being a time ability user, but…”
Melting.
Rie melted under the gentle touch.
As soon as Morgana removed her hand, Mordic, who had been waiting, stroked the child’s head.
“Still, thank you for telling us the truth. Grandmother and Grandfather were waiting for when Rie would tell us.”
‘Huh?’
Rie, melting again…
“I should have told you quickly… I’m sorry.”
“What’s there to be sorry about? You tell when the time comes. But your mother seems troubled?”
When he chuckled and pointed at Emilia, she snapped awake from being frozen like ice.
“Rie. Then… when you were able to come to the courtroom during the divorce with Father, was all of that because you used your ability?”
“Huh?”
Mother is shocked!
Emergency! Rie needs to apologize to Mother!
Rie got down from her chair and ran over, burying her face in her skirt.
“Mother was always wilting at the Duke’s Castle. Rie wanted Mother to smile. That’s why I came to where Grandmother and Grandfather are.”
“Rie…”
“Did Rie do something wrong? If I did wrong, I’ll write a reflection letter. Rie will accept punishment too.”
The child tilted her head back with tears glistening in her eyes.
“It’s not like that. I was just surprised, my baby.”
Emilia hurriedly picked up the child and entered the room.
This must be how it feels when someone hits you hard on the back of the head.
Actually, she was still dazed.
Emilia still felt suffocated when she recalled the divorce papers she had received from Casselik like a notification.
‘When I signed the contract, I never thought we’d separate when she was this young. I thought we’d raise her at least until she became an adult…’
The reason wasn’t because of heartbreak.
It was none other than Rie.
‘I was so scared of losing you.’
But to think she didn’t have to be separated from this child in the first place.
While it was fortunate, another anxiety also arose.
That’s right.
Now Casselik was none of her concern.
But if Rie revealed she was a time ability user, and Duke Casselik tried to take the child back again?
“Rie. Do you want to go back to the Duke’s Castle?”
She knelt down and met Rie’s eyes. She could see blue eyes that perfectly resembled the Birdwell bloodline.
Soon the child shook her head.
“No. Rie is a time ability user of the Birdwell Baronet Family.”
“!”
“If Father needs help from a time ability user… then Rie will help him. But Rie is Mother’s daughter.”
“…When did you grow up so much? Rie, thank you. For being Mother’s daughter.”
Finally relieved, she hugged the child with peace of mind.
The small but warm body temperature always made her happy.
“Mother, but… there’s something else Rie didn’t tell you.”
“What is it?”
But for some reason, the child hesitated.
And after a moment.
After hearing all about the notebook’s contents and that Casselik had also read this notebook a few days ago, Emilia simply nodded without any particular reaction.
“I see…”
A shadow fell across her face as she stared blankly into space.
* * *
Emilia instinctively realized.
That Casselik would come to the Viscount’s house soon.
But faster than expected, he came today.
The tall man standing in front of the front door hesitated awkwardly before opening his mouth.
“…Thank you for allowing the visit. Is Rie at home?”
“She’s sleeping since it’s nap time now.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Casselik’s low voice, which had always been angry or cold, was softened.
Emilia thought.
‘The Duke saw the notebook.’
‘I wonder if Emilia also saw the notebook.’
That was the same for Casselik, who was walking down the corridor beside her.
The fateful first meeting and the time when they burned with love.
Now the couple knew all of the past, but their reunion was utterly dry.
However-
Casselik’s gaze glancing down at Emilia was awkward like a boy’s.
Click.
Emilia, who had closed and locked the reception room door, asked directly.
“No one can hear our conversation here. So what do you want to talk about?”
“Well.”
Casselik, who was about to speak, hesitated.
“Why?”
“No. Wait a moment.”
After staring intently at Emilia for a moment, he changed the subject with an “oh” expression.
But having caught him, she grabbed onto Casselik’s words and persisted.
“You used to drag things out asking to have a conversation, and now you suddenly don’t want to talk?”
“It’s not that… your hair looks good tied up. You always wore it down.”
What did I just hear?
When Emilia made a bewildered expression, he also seemed absurd and rubbed his face with his hands.
“I know. That’s not something to say in this situation. That’s why I shut my mouth. Anyway, I was wondering if you heard about the notebook from Rie.”
So it is about that after all.
I had prepared for when I would have a conversation with Casselik.
Emilia took a deep breath slowly, trying to speak properly.
While clenching her trembling fingers that rested on her knees.
“I heard from Rie. That countless things happened to us before you turned back time with your ability.”
“If you only heard roughly, let me clear up the misunderstanding from here. The reason I proposed a contract marriage to you was to protect Rie, who I thought was a Non-Ability User, and everyone else….”
“Duke.”
Emilia cut off his words.
Before hearing his story, no, regardless of whether she heard it or not. She had something she needed to say properly.
“I know, Duke. I pity you. But in my memories of this life, always… you’ve only ever shown me your back, haven’t you.”
“Emilia, that’s….”
“Shall I be honest? I’m still scared every time I face you.”
Emilia’s voice was almost like a whisper.
Even conveying her true feelings was painful for her.
Casselik lowered his head at the sight of her like this.
He had nothing to say.
“…I’m sorry.”
But on the other hand, he had many things he wanted to say to her.
“The reason I proposed a contract marriage to you was to protect Rie, who I thought was a Non-Ability User, and everyone else. Time Ability Users must continue their lineage for the Chronos Empire, and I was the only one who could continue that lineage.”
“….”
“So if I wrote a contract with someone else and had a Time Ability User, then….”
“Then what. You were going to meet me again? Then what crime did that woman who bore the Time Ability User commit?”
“No. I was just going to… watch over you. That’s what was written in the notebook.”
“…You took so long just to say that?”
Emilia frowned because something seemed strange.
But soon, shocking words followed from his mouth.
“But before the last regression, you develop amnesia.”
With his answer, time seemed to stop for a moment.
She was lost in thought for a long while, trying to process this unrealistic confession.
“…Was it an accident? Or… why did that happen?”
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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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