I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 105

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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 105

Aunt Mariane’s mood had been foul for some time now.
Things weren’t unfolding according to her wishes—a pattern that had repeated several times recently. It all started after Reytan Quartz Trabel joined the Trabel Family. She found him utterly insufferable.
And worse still—

“The Blue Company withdrew its investment? Reytan took on the investment funds you were supposed to repay?”
“We decided to convert it into a family-supported venture… It’s fortunate, really. Reytan Quartz Trabel, he—”
“…He? You’ve lost your mind.”

Somehow, that fool Yosel had been won over to the point of calling him by an honorific. All these years, Yosel had looked down on Reytan Quartz Trabel as a bastard child.
Yosel had always despised Reytan Quartz Trabel as a child born of infidelity.
Mariane, deeming this a matter she couldn’t overlook, hired a capable investigator to uncover what had transpired between them.

“He gambled away two billion cona in investment funds?”
“Yes. Reytan Quartz Trabel took over that venture and repaid the investment using family support funds.”

She was so exasperated she couldn’t even laugh.
A gambling addict who dug his own grave was one thing. But Reytan Quartz Trabel’s family-supported venture?
‘I have to stop this.’
He was collaborating with the Trang Clothing Shop, a hole-in-the-wall establishment. Mariane immediately tried to purchase the building and drive the shop out, but that too refused to bend to her will.
Around the same time, an article appeared in the Daily Sunrise featuring a knight. The release-day look of Lucian Alexis, the protagonist in the photograph, had become wildly popular.
As crowds flocked to the Trang Clothing Shop, the landowner caught the scent of money and became less responsive, and with Reytan Quartz Trabel’s frequent visits to Hisport Town, the hired thugs grew fearful and began to withdraw.

“We cannot interfere with their business or threaten the landowner. The shop has temporarily closed, and if we’re caught by Reytan Quartz Trabel…”

And yesterday.
Upon hearing the settlement amount of net profits from the jewelry store going to Baron Oldman, her fury ignited anew. Seven hundred million cona in monthly settlement from her fifteen percent stake. Considering autumn was the jewelry store’s off-season, winter—the peak season—would yield several times that amount. And if calculated annually, how much would that be?
‘Ten years, twenty years, thirty years…!’
Mariane’s rage swelled like a balloon ready to burst at the slightest prick. She couldn’t shake the thought that Baron Oldman was extorting her money.
‘How did it come to this?’
The Dwarves’ proposal: bring a perfect gem, and they would consider a transaction.
To build credentials for entering the Diamond House, she had asked her father for an opportunity to prepare a gem. Or rather, before that—

“I entered the Study to deliver a performance report directly… and happened to see a letter…”

It was because Edgar had brought information. He had told me that he saw a letter sent by the Dwarves in Laksek’s desk drawer.
However, I couldn’t hold him responsible for causing the problem. Edgar and I were husband and wife sailing in the same boat.
Mariane barely suppressed her seething anger as she spoke to Edgar, who was pacing about the inner chamber.
“…What are you doing, dear?”
“Ah, my love.”
As if waiting for Mariane to speak, Edgar scurried over to her where she sat on the sofa.
He took the fan from her hand and began fanning himself gently as he opened his mouth.
“I’ve just returned from the Main Estate—.”
“The Main Estate again?”
Mariane’s eyes narrowed sharply. The way she looked at Edgar was as if she were regarding some useless burden she couldn’t discard.
“That is….”
Edgar’s voice trailed off, cowed. At his demeanor, Mariane irritably flicked her hand. She needed to know what he had seen and heard this time, after all.
“Tell me.”
“Father is searching for the belongings of his late second wife.”
“And?”
“If he can’t find them, he’ll give up, won’t he?”
“Give up? You don’t know our father. He’ll do whatever it takes to find them—.”
Wait.
Mariane felt a chill run through her. Though she hadn’t inherited the full intuition that Count Trabel possessed, Mariane had a certain instinct of her own.
“….”
Mariane’s index finger touched the edge of the fan. As the fan slowly lowered, Edgar’s face came into view—his complexion deathly pale, his eyes hollow and sunken.
“Surely not, you.”
“W-what is it?”
“You took the belongings, didn’t you?”

***

“Miss Berry, you absolutely must not run, yes? You need to synchronize your pace and breathing with the horse from the walk—that way, when you gallop later, you’ll be able to ride with stability.”
“Yes! I’ll be careful!”
This was already my third riding lesson.
The riding instructor released the reins he’d been holding, satisfied with my spirited response.
“Then take one lap around the Training Ground on your own. I’ll be watching from here.”
The pony I rode was a beautiful chestnut with white fur on its legs, as if wearing white socks. As I began to slowly circle the small Training Ground, I fixed my gaze between the pony’s perked-up ears.
[The jewelry box is still in the wardrobe!]
Akum, who had just returned from Sapphire House, was updating me on the status of the jewelry box. I whispered to Akum.
“What about Uncle by Marriage? Are Aunt Mariane and Uncle by Marriage still at Sapphire House?”
[They went out before I left! Aunt Mariane was furious. I’m not sure exactly why, but I think it’s because of the jewelry box!]
“Huh. Why?”
[I came out of the wardrobe because I heard Aunt Mariane yelling, right? And she was saying something about why he brought such a useless thing, what would happen if Father found out, and telling him to put Julia’s keepsake back. But Edgar said that wouldn’t do. Then the two of them went out.]
“Hmm. What’s going on.”
I tilted my head in confusion.
From what Grandfather had told me about the jewelry box, it was just an ordinary one. He said Grandmother Julia had kept precious metals inside and locked it securely, and he’d mentioned with pride that no one could open it.

“No one can open it? Even with a key?”
“I’m not sure if that’s true. I never tried to open it. It’s probably in the room where your grandmother’s belongings are kept. Should I bring it?”
“No, no~ I was just curious and asking!”

If Uncle by Marriage and the jewelry box were somehow connected, then the most plausible hypothesis was that something he wanted to hide was inside it, and he was keeping it because he couldn’t open the box.

Click.

But last time, the lock on the jewelry box was definitely unlocked, wasn’t it?
The lock mechanism looked ordinary. If it could be opened with a key, Uncle by Marriage could have had a locksmith open the jewelry box. He wouldn’t be the type of person to overlook such a straightforward approach.
In any case, this means Aunt Mariane has now learned of the jewelry box’s existence. That could mean the hiding place might change. My heart grew anxious.
‘There’s definitely something in Julia’s jewelry box. It’s too large to ask Akum to bring it to me….’
Whoosh—! Boom!
That was when it happened.
My vision darkened as if eclipsed by a total solar eclipse, and then brightened again as the ground trembled beneath me.
“Huh…?”
“Hey, slowpoke.”
I turned my head toward the voice. I saw hooves. Following the long legs upward, I found Calips looking down at me.
“C-Calips! You mustn’t jump over the fence! And you certainly can’t jump over people!!”
The riding instructor’s cry echoed from far away. The Training Ground where I was and the Riding Grounds were connected with only a fence between them.
Calips had jumped over both the fence and me on my pony in one leap.
“At that pace, when will you ever finish crossing the Training Ground? Walking would be faster.”
“….”
“What, why are you looking at me like that?”
Calips, who had clearly come to mock me, wore an awkward expression as I stared at him without saying a word.
Calips was Aunt Mariane’s only son.
‘My cousin living in Sapphire House!’
Heh.
I grinned at Calips, my lips curving upward.
“Calips!”
“…Hey, I told you not to call me that—.”
“You’re really good at riding!”
At my words, Calips’s hand holding the reins flinched.

***

“That’s why! I need to meet Baron Oldman in person!”
Bang. Bang.
Baltar’s iron-like hands drummed against the wooden table. Zena quietly fitted earplugs into her rabbit-like ears and spoke to Baltar.
“It’s too loud.”

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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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