I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 52
Count Amelot’s breathing quickened.
Someone was keeping the child.
Honestly, there was no worse situation than this.
If the child were wandering alone, catching her would be simple enough. But if someone was protecting her—especially if that someone was a nobleman—it became immensely complicated.
If he’d registered the child in his own Registry, that would be one thing. But taking a child who wasn’t his daughter, wasn’t family, without legitimate cause—that was far from simple.
Especially with a noble house. They would certainly demand to verify the relationship between him and the child.
And once it emerged that the child wasn’t even listed in the Registry, forgetting about retrieving her would be the least of his worries. With no family connection established, he might be thrown out entirely.
Of course, he could coerce the child into calling him father. But even with coercion, a parent would still face questions—why wouldn’t a nobleman report his own child? Why hide her existence?
What explanation could he possibly offer?
That she wasn’t his legitimate daughter, so he never processed the paperwork? That he’d never registered her because he only meant to use her quietly, then dispose of her in silence?
‘Damn it all!’
No matter how he turned it over in his mind, there was no way out.
There was only one solution to ease this anxiety: find Karin. He had to find her, no matter what.
Nothing else mattered.
He only needed the money to flow back into his own hands.
“Darling!”
The Countess entered the study just then, approaching him.
“What’s happening? You promised you could find that girl within this very week! Do you have any idea how much the salon debt has piled up? Emily received an invitation to the Marquis’s party, but because of these bills, I can’t even commission a proper dress for her…….”
“Blast it! Just have the dress made somewhere cheaper!”
“!”
The Countess flinched at her husband’s shout, gasping involuntarily. More than his raised voice, it was the suggestion to find a cheaper seamstress that truly shocked her.
“I-impossible! You want our daughter to wear common fabric and bargain materials?!”
“Ahem!”
“It’s the Marquis’s party, darling. The Politz family—the Imperial Bank’s very own directors! If Emily shows up in an outdated dress, how humiliated she’ll feel. Do you know how the ladies of high society gossip about even a single thread, a single ruffle?”
“For God’s sake! You think I want to send Emily looking shabby?! I’m the one going mad—me, do you understand?!”
“Then just find that girl already! Once she cries, everything is solved!”
“It’s not as easy as you think!”
“Still, you have to find her somehow! Do you know how much money she brings in?!”
The Count’s household had never been particularly wealthy. They lacked influence even in political circles.
But several years ago, everything changed when he brought the child home.
By forcing the girl to weep, he could extract the Jewels she produced and sell them for staggering sums.
Thanks to her, he’d earned an enormous fortune over the years. The days when he was excluded from high society gatherings were ancient history. Now he received invitations to the Marquis’s balls—he’d become genuinely wealthy.
But the joy was short-lived.
When the child disappeared, the miracle vanished with her.
“……I suppose there’s no helping it.”
He truly hadn’t wanted to resort to this method.
“What is it? What are you thinking? Have you thought of a way to find her?”
“Yes. But I’ll need your seal.”
“My seal? What for?”
“If someone is indeed keeping that child, it will be extremely difficult to retrieve her without official means. She’s not even listed in the Registry, after all.”
“……You wouldn’t.”
The Countess turned his words over in her mind, then slowly shook her head.
“Absolutely not. I won’t permit it.”
“Madam, there’s no other way to bring the girl back! If we report her as a missing child and search through official channels, we don’t have to keep fumbling about in secret anymore! Do you understand how many thousands of gold I’ve poured into the Guild already?”
“But we don’t know where that child came from, what gutter she crawled out of. What if she’s a slave by birth, or some traitor’s blood, and word gets out later—?”
“Once we find her, I’ll have her removed from the Family Genealogy immediately. I’m meeting with Chancellor Zerban in three days, so I’ll have the paperwork processed quickly then. The Chancellor will listen to us if there’s more tribute in it for him.”
“But still…….”
“But still nothing. We have to try everything we can! You said the salon bills need paying!”
The Countess’s body trembled slightly.
Her face twisted with shame as she recalled the collection notice that had arrived that very morning.
The Count gently wrapped his two arms around his wife’s shoulders and spoke.
“Just bear with it this once.”
“…….”
“When that girl comes back, you can take it out on her. Beat her with a book, do whatever you like. Just don’t kill her.”
“……Sigh, truly. We’ll see about this later, won’t we.”
Having to keep a baseborn nobody on equal footing with her own daughter.
She was already disgusted.
* * *
<Done. I did it. I succeeded. I have done it, and done it well. Hyacinth, the Duke’s loyal servant, has completed this task with absolute perfection.
After changing into prepared clothing, I will move immediately. Fortunately, aside from some malnutrition, there were no injuries. I did crack a few Imperial knights’ skulls like fruit, but fortunately there were only two of them, so disposal was straightforward.
I will bring evidence with me.
We shall meet again hereafter.
Respectfully submitted by your devoted, reliable servant who has once again laid down his life for Bancadium, Hyacinth…….>
Roll. Roll.
Tumble. Tumble.
I read through the letter with increasing speed. Then I read it again, just to be sure.
I widened my eyes as large as they could go, scrutinizing every single character to make sure I hadn’t missed anything.
And then, finally, when I accepted this miraculous reality—
“It will take about a week for her to return.”
The Duke spoke in an even voice.
“So once she arrives, we should let that maidservant rest first, then examine the evidence one by one…….”
The Duke was still speaking when he glanced at me and his eyes went wide as lanterns.
“Ah, oh.”
Startled by his look, I belatedly touched the corner of my eyes.
The tears I thought I’d finally stopped began falling, one by one, all over again.
“Karin!”
As I moved to rub my eyes with the back of my hand, my sister quickly stopped me and produced a handkerchief.
“Don’t you dare make our girl cry, brother!”
“……What did I even say?”
The Duke protested as if wronged. Worried any misunderstanding might arise between them, I quickly explained.
“No, no, I’m sorry. Sister. It’s just that I’m so happy the matter worked out well…….”
“See?”
At my words, the Duke turned to my sister with a look that said ‘I told you so.’
My sister let out a small sound, cleared her throat once, and then gently dabbed my tears away with the handkerchief.
“Our dear girl’s eyes are all red. We can’t have you crying anymore.”
Worried a wound might form, my sister showed her concern openly.
I forced every bit of strength into my tear ducts to try to stop them.
But before I could help it, a small smile tugged at my lips.
It was then that the Duke murmured something.
“Clever little thing.”
“Pardon?”
Clever?
Me?
Bewildered, I tilted my head and asked.
“Me, sir?”
“Yes, you stirred-up speck of dust.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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