I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 119

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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 119

‘Julia Quartz’s jewelry box?’
My heart quickened at Grandfather’s words. So this is what it feels like when a thief’s conscience catches up with them!
I had already swallowed its contents. Julia Quartz had told me that only someone who could see water spirits could open the jewelry box—.
“Are you giving it to me?”
I asked Grandfather with feigned surprise.
“Your father is searching for it. Julia’s jewelry box has gone missing.”
“…Missing?”
“Yes.”
Grandfather let out a troubled sigh and patted my head several times before speaking again.
“There’s no point in lying—you’ll see through it anyway. Brown, your uncle, had the jewelry box, but when he passed away, it went missing. Your father is searching for it now.”
“Gasp.”
I was genuinely startled by this revelation. That meant whoever currently possessed the jewelry box might have stolen it from Uncle Brown.
‘…Could it be Uncle by Marriage?’
Akum remained displeased that Julia Quartz’s jewelry box was in Aunt Mariane’s hands. He regularly checked its location, and it was still hidden deep in her wardrobe.
‘If Grandfather is searching for the jewelry box and Uncle by Marriage still has it… then he must be doing something improper.’
Should I tell Father where the jewelry box is?
I asked Grandfather.
“Does that mean Father is currently investigating Uncle Brown’s accident?”
“…Heh. You read between the lines well when I tell you the truth.”
Grandfather stroked my head with an exasperated expression, but he said nothing more about Uncle Brown’s accident.
“In any case, since I’ve taught you how to win the Dwarves’ favor, I should give you a reward. When Reytan finds the jewelry box, I’ll give it to you. How does that sound?”
“You’ll give me Julia Quartz’s jewelry box?”
“You don’t seem pleased. Last time you asked with such bright eyes, I thought you were interested.”
“Hehe.”
I laughed awkwardly. In truth, since I had already examined the jewelry box’s contents, I felt little attachment to it. Though it might be good to accept it for Akum’s sake—.
‘If Father finds the jewelry box, that means it will be recovered from Aunt Mariane’s hands first, right?’
In that case, there was no reason to regret not having it. Akum had said he only cared that it didn’t fall into Priscilla’s children’s hands.
‘Perfect. I needed a source for hair!’
There was something I had been worrying about.
Even if I bought a potion from the Alchemists, I needed someone to use as the target for transformation. It couldn’t be just anyone. Grasping the Holy Grail meant revealing my face before Aunt Mariane.
‘I also need to consider the possibility that Aunt Mariane might investigate the person I choose as my target. So I have no choice but to ask Grandfather about this.’
I needed someone whom neither Aunt Mariane nor anyone else would search for, and whom I’d have no chance of encountering by accident. If it were Count Trabel, who could do anything—!
I looked up at Grandfather with a bright smile.
“Grandmother’s keepsakes would be more meaningful to you and Father! Could I receive something else instead?”
“Something else?”
“Yes!”
“….”
Count Trabel fell silent for a moment. Was it not going to work?
“If nothing else will do…. Then….”
“Why the long face? I was nervous. I didn’t know what you’d say next. Good grief. Here I am, a grandfather of my age, being played like a puppet by a seven-year-old granddaughter?”
Count Trabel suddenly raised his voice and asked me.
“Come on then, speak up. Let me hear what you have to say.”

***

A few days later.
Late at night, I entered the Room of Contemplation.
I was examining the documents Jack Jack had brought me.

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Receipt (Customer Copy)
Amount: 5,000,000 Cona
Thank you for your patronage.
– Camilla Research Institute
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This was a receipt for a potion purchase.

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XX08 January ~ XX09 November: Edensia Palace / Apprentice Maid
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This was a record of Zena Chaser’s work history.

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Iron Ore Quality Inspection Report
Sample Number: 3823-01
1. Chemical Composition Analysis Results
Iron (Fe) 65.5% …
Sulfur (S) 0.03% …
…(omitted)…
The iron ore in question met all evaluation standards for each category and
was rated as premium grade.
– Heyshal Empire Mineral Inspection Standards Agency
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This was a quality inspection report for iron ore from the Crest Mine, and….

‘And then….’
I picked up a glass bottle sealed with a cork stopper.
It contained a handful of someone’s hair.
‘Hair from a relative that Count Trabel obtained—someone the family would never meet!’
The corners of my mouth lifted slightly.
Hehehehe.

***

Splat!
An unsliced apple pie struck the face of Jena Chaser, a fourteen-year-old apprentice maid, and tumbled to the ground.
It happened as she walked through the Central Courtyard. The suspected culprits—other maids—snickered at Jena, now covered in apple pie remnants, as they retreated.
Lucian Alexis, seventeen years old, witnessed the scene moments later and approached Jena. Though he had never spoken to her before, he knew who she was—an apprentice maid who had served the First Princess since last year.
One of the maids Belesa kept close. Perhaps because she could never quite fit in with that circle, always standing expressionless at the very back like a doll. At some point, whenever Lucian visited the palace, he found himself searching for Jena with his eyes. Today was no exception.

“What kind of—… I only have a handkerchief. Here, use this to wipe yourself off.”
“It’s fine.”

Jena brushed off the pie remnants with an unbothered expression, then spoke to Lucian as though reporting someone else’s affair.

“One of the maids’ fiancé confessed to me, so this is what resulted. There’s no need for an outsider to concern themselves.”
“That doesn’t justify throwing a pie at someone. I can’t ignore this. The culprits will face punishment.”
“No. Please don’t concern yourself.”

Though she asked him not to worry, he witnessed similar incidents several more times afterward. He couldn’t simply stand by.
But the more Lucian tried to help Jena, the more the harassment toward her became covert and vicious.

“I’ll protect you.”
“How?”
“However I must.”

Jena looked at Lucian. Her lips, which bore no movement, were cracked and scabbed over. Those who had tormented her had avoided touching her face, afraid of being discovered. This time, he had to stop them.
That winter, when Jena discovered that the head maid harbored prejudice against other races, she left the palace.
The head maid was dismissed, and though they searched for the vanished Jena, the last anyone saw of her was boarding a ship departing the Edencia Kingdom.

Ten years passed like that.
Lucian caught sight of Jena Chaser in Hisport Town when he had resolved to invest thirty billion.
He hurried after her but couldn’t find her. After hiring a detective to investigate, he learned that she was Baron Oldman’s agent and the owner of a candy shop.
‘I need to find Jena and apologize to her.’
But how could he face her?
He had promised to protect her, yet failed to resolve the problem until she couldn’t endure it any longer and fled.

In Hisport Town, Lucian sat in a café that had recently become his regular haunt.
A rabbit drawn on the porcelain teacup unsettled his mind.
Then he felt the atmosphere inside the café shift. Lucian lifted his head. He could immediately discern the cause of the commotion.
“Is she some kind of noblewoman?”
“Wow. Look at that skin. Beauty really is different.”
It was because of the person who had entered the café.
The center of attention was a stunning beauty reminiscent of a Persian cat. Blue eyes and platinum-blonde hair nearly white in color. Her hair was styled in an elegant updo befitting a noblewoman, and white lace wrapped around her neck was tied with a blue ribbon adorned with jewels as an accent.
The white hem of her skirt that fell to her ankles moved gracefully with her steps as she crossed through the café.
“….”
And she sat down in front of Lucian. The café patrons who recognized Lucian’s face showed surprised reactions as they speculated about their relationship, but Lucian himself remained composed.
It was common for unfamiliar women to approach and sit across from him. Though it was rare for such a beautiful woman to do so.
The woman stared at Lucian with cool, feline blue eyes before opening her mouth.
“You’re Diplomat Lucian Alexis, aren’t you?”
There it was.
She had already discovered his identity and approached him. He could roughly anticipate what would come next.
She would ask for his contact information, or inquire whether they had met before and if he remembered.
But he had no choice but to refuse.
“I apologize, but I’m currently waiting for someone.”
“Why did you step on my employee?”
“…Pardon?”
At the sudden question, Lucian’s eyes widened. The woman smiled sweetly at him.

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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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