I Don’t Need a Dad Like This! - Chapter 94
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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 94>
“I’m fine, but Rie’s cup is empty too. Rie, don’t you want to drink some milk?”
When Philip asked, Rie answered while swinging her legs.
“Yes~.”
“Rie says she wants to drink milk. Then I’ll ask you to bring it.”
“…?”
After his polite response, Philip turned his head away sharply.
On the surface, it seemed like he was conveying Rie’s request, but in reality, he intended to send Casselik away and spend time with the two of them.
Thus, the conversation led by Philip bloomed into pleasant chatter.
Excluding Casselik.
“….”
A vein bulged on Casselik’s forehead as he stood still.
‘Bear with it.’
If it weren’t for Emilia and Rie, he would have grabbed Philip by the collar long ago.
However, he knew well that this was exactly the ‘trap’ Philip wanted.
‘Philip. That fox-like bastard.’
He’s clearly trying to provoke me into exploding with anger. I absolutely can’t let that happen.
Casselik silently left the reception room and returned with Mary’s help, carrying a warm tea pot and a glass of milk.
“Duke, thank you. Rie, uncle will give you milk.”
“No. I’ll give it to her directly.”
He avoided the fox trying to steal his credit and handed the milk glass directly to Rie.
“Hii-. Thank you!”
Small hands grasped the milk glass.
Tilting her head back and drinking the milk gulp by gulp, Rie glanced at Casselik.
‘Father is… serving me. This is something Mary should be doing…!’
For Rie, this was an unexpected situation.
After giving Philip a ‘pass’ and watching him treat Mother well with satisfaction.
Casselik, who she thought would leave dejectedly, suddenly started earning points.
She had hoped Father would disappear on his own since Mother seemed uncomfortable.
‘Hmm. He’s being a good father. Plus 1 point as Mother’s boyfriend…?’
As Rie’s large eyes rolled around.
The two men were subtly watching the small observer’s gaze.
That’s right.
The outcome of this war would essentially be decided by Rie’s declaration, not Emilia’s choice.
Both men had come to Birdwell Mansion partly to court Emilia, but their real purpose was to attend the upcoming Cradle Blessing Ceremony with Rie.
Philip was the first to pull out his secret weapon.
“Oh right, Rie. Uncle brought you a present but forgot to give it to you. This is the novel you like, right? A new publication came out.”
When he pulled out the novel he had kept hidden, the child’s previously calm eyes widened.
No, they were about to widen.
The corner of Casselik’s mouth, who had been sitting quietly, curved up slightly.
“If it’s a new publication of <The Cave>, I already gave that to Rie as a gift. An autographed copy, no less.”
“…I see.”
Philip’s complexion darkened at the mention of an ‘autographed copy.’
He too had spent the past few days hunting for the limited autographed copy like catching mice.
‘So it was in the Duke’s hands.’
However.
“An autographed copy is nice. But what uncle brought is a special illustrated edition limited to five copies.”
Philip opened the novel so Rie could see it.
As handsome and pretty protagonists appeared between the pages, the observer’s nostrils began to flare with interest.
“Wo, wow! The sister I only saw in text is alive and moving! Thank you, Marquis Philip. Rie wants to have this!”
Rie hurriedly climbed down from the sofa and clutched the novel.
If he just gave the book to the child at this moment.
That is, if he simply handed it over without saying anything like Casselik did, that would be amateur.
But Philip was different.
“Rie, uncle will read it to you, so come sit on my lap. Would you like to look together too, Miss Emilia? This is the novel Rie always sings about.”
“Ah, I did receive it from the Duke earlier. But this is the first time I’m actually seeing the pages.”
“Woaaa-.”
Rie, whose soul was sold to the limited edition illustrations, was already sitting on Philip’s lap.
Emilia too, under his natural leadership, leaned forward to look down at the book.
Then what was completed-
“!”
A scene like a harmonious family.
Casselik’s heart sank with a thud.
The fist resting on his knee had turned white, with blue veins bulging.
‘That… fox-like bastard…!’
At the restaurant last time too, if he hadn’t intervened, Philip would have acted like a family with those two like a snake.
But he mustn’t get angry.
He was an uninvited guest. He was already receiving glares from Rie, and if he showed his temper here too…
‘What can I do right now?’
Casselik wanted to tear Philip and the two women apart.
In that case-
“…Can I read along too.”
“Pardon?”
The voices that had been blooming with laughter stopped abruptly.
“The Duke says… he wants to read the novel together?”
Emilia asked back, doubting her ears, and Philip let out a hollow laugh with a ‘no way’ expression.
“That’s right.”
“Ah… then with the autographed copy you brought…”
“Let’s look at the illustrated version together. Emilia, move aside for a moment.”
“Huh? Yes.”
As Casselik squeezed in between them, Emilia bewilderedly moved to sit aside.
It was an action to at least separate Emilia, but in his haste, his knee touched Philip’s.
Simultaneously, both men, getting goosebumps, bit their lips.
Casselik mustered his non-existent self-control and opened his tightly shut eyes.
“Rie, which illustration do you like the most?”
“Uh uh, Rie likes this one!”
“How flashy.”
“Sister’s eyes are pretty. Sparkly sparkly!”
“The eyes are flashy indeed. The eyelashes look about 5 centimeters long. Whatever they put in the pupils makes them colorful.”
He didn’t know if it was pretty, but he reacted as detailed as possible.
‘…Huh?’
Philip’s smile rotted as he watched this.
The real war between the two men was just beginning.
* * *
At that moment.
Mary was hovering around the kitchen with an uneasy expression.
“The Duke ordered me to stay put, so I did hand over the tea pot and milk… but is this right?”
No matter how much it was Casselik’s independent action, she was a maid of the Birdwell Baronet Family.
The more she pondered that a guest, and a Duke at that, had taken over a servant’s duties, the more her blood ran cold.
“Right. Let me bring some snacks and cake at least. Everyone must be hungry.”
With various snack bundles packed like that, she knocked politely and opened the Reception Room door.
“Oh, Ellia. I have loved only you. If not you, then no other woman…!”
A heavy bass voice calling out an unfamiliar name.
‘Co-could they be having an important conversation?’
Just as startled Mary was about to hurriedly tiptoe backwards.
“You loved only me? Then why were you with a different partner at that banquet instead of me?”
Due to the deliberately raised tone, a ridiculous voice that sounded neither male nor female could be heard.
She froze.
When Mary, sensing something strange, raised her gaze, Philip spoke elegantly toward Casselik.
“I no longer love you. My heart has already left you!”
Then Casselik, sitting beside him with their knees touching, muttered.
“No. Please, Ellia. If you leave me… I will chase you to the end. Even if your heart leaves me, your body must stay by my side!”
“No, I’m going to run away!”
“Kyaak! Run away!”
Flap flap.
When Philip shouted, Rie let out a delighted scream while waving both hands.
“Dung Cart finally became obsessive! Sister, hurry and run away before the obsessive male lead chases you!”
That’s right. They were immersed in a novel.
All for Rie’s sake.
Just then, Rie, who had been enthusiastically cheering for the fleeing heroine, sniffed with her nose.
Before the startled Mary could say anything, she met the Child’s blue Eyes.
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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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