I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 10

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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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Chapter 10

“I’m scared….”
I tried to deflect, but Count Trabel showed no intention of believing me.
Eventually, he settled into the seat beside the sofa and began pressing me to confess honestly.
“Wait, were you acting when you cried yesterday too?”
“Yesterday I really was scared and cried…!”
“Yesterday ‘was’?”
“Today ‘also’…!”
“You certainly understand the proper usage of particles.”
Count Trabel’s hand came to rest on the crown of my head, just as it had on the stairs earlier. The patting wasn’t painful, but the uncertainty of his intent made it uncomfortable.
‘Ugh. This is like sitting on pins and needles.’
My plan was to get acquainted with Theon, not to sit beside Count Trabel like this.
“When does this little one start lessons? Callet.”
“In two days, sir.”
Callet answered Count Trabel’s question.
Lessons referred to the mandatory education that young direct descendants of the Trabel Family had to receive within the estate.
Kane, the eldest son of my uncle, had entered the Academy this year.
The cousins of similar age remaining at the mansion were my uncle’s daughter Ciel, my aunt’s son Calips, and my uncle’s twin sons Hati and Mati.
Especially the twins and Calips were mischievous troublemakers who got along splendidly.
Sigh. Just thinking about having to endure their mockery for lacking ability made me anxious.
“In two days? That’s soon.”
That worry vanished at the sound of Count Trabel’s voice, but now I had to resolve this crisis…!
Should I say I was so terrified of Count Trabel that I couldn’t move? Would he believe me if I trembled now?
Or should I make a pitiful expression like I did with Anne—.
“Then I should give you a gift to commemorate your arrival home. Tell me, is there anything in this room you’d like to have?”
“Pardon?”
Oh no, my eyes sparkled without my realizing it.
And in turning my head so quickly, I even made eye contact with Count Trabel…!
“Oho.”
One of Count Trabel’s specialties was negotiation.
He had an exceptional ability to discern how much the other party was tempted by his proposals.
“It seems you do want something. That candy isn’t enough for you, is it? What do you want?”
“I… want….”
“Choose whatever you like.”
“I want….”
“Go ahead and choose quickly. Or shall this grandfather choose for you? Now, over there is a box filled with chocolate—.”
“That one! That one right there!”
I reflexively raised my finger.
Here it was—the opportunity of a lifetime, being told by the head of the Trabel Family himself to choose anything I wanted.
‘But not chocolate!’
The Commander’s Office held many of Count Trabel’s personal collections.
For instance, a short sword displayed behind thick glass on the wall—too blunt for actual use, but the proportions between hilt and blade were exquisite, possessing considerable artistic value—
‘Estimated auction price around 50 million Cona?’
Hehe. At that level, I could hide it under my clothes. As long as the relatives didn’t find out, choosing something expensive should be fine, right?
Funds were useful. Even if I had no immediate need, having them meant I’d find a use eventually.
“That won’t do. Choose something else.”
Too expensive, apparently. I was rejected outright.
Then what about the fountain pen in the walnut bookcase! Estimated auction price 35 million!
“Something else.”
The horse-shaped ornament on the table! Estimated auction price 20 million!
“Ahem.”
Count Trabel’s index finger gently pushed aside my index finger, which had been pointing at the horse ornament.
My fingertip moved past the horse ornament toward something else.
A common cube puzzle toy displayed near the entrance of a general store.
‘Estimated consumer price…’
3,500 Cona.
I blinked at Count Trabel. He looked away, ignoring my gaze.
For reference, my monthly allowance from Father back in Bonwell Village was 10,000 Cona.
“….”
Count Trabel smiled wickedly as he looked at the cube toy.
“Do you want that?”
Unbelievable. Count Trabel’s sense of value was smaller than my allowance.
“Grandfather.”
“Yes?”
“I…”
I smiled brightly at Count Trabel and moved my index finger a bit further in the direction he’d been pushing.
“I want that one!”
A jewelry box with a music box function.
Estimated auction price around 15 million Cona!
“…What kind of seven-year-old has such expensive taste?! Absolutely not!”
“Hehe.”
Behind the startled Count Trabel, Callet’s laughter burst out.
“My apologies.”
At Count Trabel’s sharp look, Callet quickly composed himself.
I pouted.
“…You asked if there was something I wanted.”
“I asked if there was something you wanted, not that I’d give it to you.”
“Hmm. You don’t need to give me anything.”
At first, I’d eagerly reached for expensive items, but from the second time onward, I’d caught myself.
This was a space used by other relatives as well.
If valuable items went missing, someone would definitely wonder about their whereabouts.
‘That was close.’
If rumors spread that the youngest granddaughter who’d rolled in unexpectedly had received a gift from the family head—
Harassment was guaranteed starting from classes the day after tomorrow.
I aimed for a peaceful and quiet classroom atmosphere. I had no intention of smelling rotten eggs or seeing dead mice on the first day of class.
“Well, now.”
Count Trabel patted my head again, speaking in an exasperated tone.
“Don’t you have the golden touch? Everything you pick up goes well over ten million Cona.”
“Such a coincidence…”
“Coincidence, my foot. What were you planning to do with something like that?”
“…Room decoration?”
Truth be told, I found his reaction amusing…
“Looking at you, it seems like you’re teasing this old man.”
Ouch. It wasn’t for nothing that he was the Trabel Family head. I felt as though he could see right through me.
I fidgeted with my fingers and played dumb. Watching me like that, Count Trabel, who had been silent for a moment, pulled a small pouch from his bosom.
“Take this instead.”
“Family Head…! That’s…!”
Callet was startled and spoke up. If Uncle was shocked enough to show it, this was no ordinary item.
My heart trembled as I handled the pouch I’d received. I felt hard, round objects inside.
“What is this?”
“Don’t you like it? Then I’ll have a gift sent to your Separate House later—something large and expensive enough for everyone to see.”
“No, no, I like this!”
I don’t know what it is, but I absolutely don’t want gifts sent to the Separate House! A gift that doesn’t show I received anything is something to be grateful for!
“If you lose it, I’ll give you a beating.”
How petty. And it’s supposed to be a gift.
“I will treasure it as dearly as my own life.”
Count Trabel gestured toward the pouch I was handling and asked casually.
“It’s good, right? Because it’s small.”
“…Pardon?”
He was asking if I liked it because it was small?
The question that had passed in a moment struck my ears like an arrow.
As I tried to lift my head, Count Trabel’s hand gently shook mine.
Then, with a soft sound, he stood up.
“Your behavior is exactly like your father’s. The other children can’t help but show off.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Take some candy with you. Let’s go, Callet.”
“Yes.”
It was just as Callet opened the door to match Count Trabel’s pace.
Count Trabel stepped outside and unleashed a thunderous rebuke.
“What have you done well to cry about!”
Startled by that voice, I hurriedly climbed down from the sofa.
‘I wasn’t even crying?!’
Callet raised his index finger in a quiet gesture. Count Trabel continued his tirade even as he stepped into the Corridor.
“Stop your crying and reflect until you’ve learned your lesson—don’t you dare come back out! Why are you still here! Return to your posts and get to work!”
It seemed the knight uncles were still lingering in the Corridor.
A resounding chorus of disciplined affirmations rang out, followed by the synchronized sound of footsteps.
Anyone listening would think Count Trabel was furious with me.
Yes, that’s exactly what anyone would think….
“Anyone… listening…? Huh?”
Watching Count Trabel through the closing door, I blinked.

***

For reasons I couldn’t fathom, Count Trabel had helped me.
A performance that seemed to follow from the moment I’d apologized to him like someone deserving punishment, all with Anne in mind.
It appeared he’d read my true intentions perfectly.
‘Terrifying—the experience of Count Trabel.’
Tick. Tick.
I watched the hands of the desk clock.
Since I’d received his help, our movements had to be in sync.

“Stop your crying and reflect until you’ve learned your lesson—don’t you dare come back out!”

The time it took for a little granddaughter scolded by her grandfather to stop crying and reflect on her actions….
I’ve never been scolded so badly by Father that I cried, so I wouldn’t know… ugh. This is difficult.
“Would fifteen minutes be enough?”
That seemed like it would suffice.
If I waited too long, people might come looking for me.
“Let’s leave after fifteen minutes!”
With the time set, I clambered onto the sofa with a grunt.
I needed to check what was inside the pouch Count Trabel had given me.
“What could this be that made Callet so shocked~”
Count Trabel had declared it wasn’t something he’d give even for a jewelry box worth fifteen million cona, yet Callet had been astounded by it.
It must be something extraordinary!
I untied the pouch’s drawstring and pulled out the object inside. It was a stone no larger than my thumb.
“Is it really just a stone? It must be a jewel, right?”
Since one of Trabel’s major enterprises was mining, I could appraise most gemstones—even in this body.
And now, I could do it to some extent!
As time passed, I felt the experiences from my memories integrating into my body as if they were my own.
Just yesterday at dinner, everyone was startled when I handled the noble’s tableware so skillfully.
I held the stone up to examine it with my naked eye.
“Let’s see. If it’s an opaque sky-blue gemstone, it could be larimar, amazonite, or….”
Several possibilities came to mind, but I couldn’t be certain which one it was.
I closed my eyes and concentrated my senses on my fingertips as I caressed the stone.
A smooth surface with no irregularities, a shape resembling a bean.
A shimmer.
It was as if I could hear a clear sound of water from somewhere—.
“This is…!”
Having completed my appraisal, I opened my eyes wide, unable to contain my astonishment.

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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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