I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 125

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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 125

“Ah. This is the malingering salve I applied.”
I chuckled and pulled out the ointment from my pocket to show Theon.
“Ta-da. Burdbell’s special salve.”
“I’m anxious about what side effects might occur from something he made.”
Theon wiped the corner of my eye once more, then took the ointment from my hand.
“Why?”
“To check if it’s safe to apply near the eyes. Reddened skin means it’s causing irritation.”
His gaze upon the ointment held in his large hand was serious. Based on my accumulated experience, I could predict what would happen next—Theon was clearly about to apply that salve to his own eyes.
“…Theon.”
I set down my teacup and called to him in a grave voice.
Just as Theon’s hand moved toward the ointment jar’s lid and his gaze lowered toward me, I leaned forward using my arm on the table as support, and our eyes met directly. His Adam’s apple was positioned about two hand-spans away from my face, and I tilted my head back slightly, gazing up at him intently.
Theon’s dark eyes were like a clear night lake. My reflection shimmered across their pristine black surface.
“Are you worried about me right now?”
“…”
As I closed the distance between us and laughed playfully, a flustered Theon momentarily froze.
This was my chance. I removed my arm from the table and snatched the ointment from his hand, tucking it back into my pocket.
“Marshall Grandmother already confirmed it was safe~”
There was no way I could let him apply an irritating salve to that face without reason. It was simply unacceptable.
Savoring my small victory in protecting Theon’s skin, I picked up a snack from the table. It was a chestnut pie baked in bite-sized portions.
‘This tastes wonderful. It might sell well in the Hisport Town Shopping District. I wonder what price point would move units.’
I was indulging in my hobby of calculating consumer prices while considering material costs, labor, and flavor.
Perhaps his hand felt empty from losing the ointment, because Theon fiddled with his teacup for a while before speaking to me in a hushed tone.
“Berry, Sir Shylo came by last evening.”
“Really?”
I widened my eyes and looked at Theon. Sir Shylo was a knight who worked in the Imperial Guard.
“His Majesty said it was alright?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
Theon nodded, but his next words didn’t come easily. I feigned indifference, dropping a sugar cube into my teacup and stirring it briskly with a teaspoon.

Several months ago, the Emperor—pressed into a corner by the lack of an heir despite all efforts and by those around him vying for the position of successor—had finally begun searching for all the women he’d met during his crown prince days.
Uncle Demian, the vice-director of the Heishal Empire Central Investigation Bureau Division 1, was one of those who received that order.

“Demian! Father is in the wine cellar right now—. Oh, what are you doing in Theon’s room?”
“Berry, where was Theon from originally?”
“Leaf Village! But why are you asking that?”
“…It’s nothing.”

I had deliberately left Theon’s door slightly ajar on the day Demian visited Stone House, positioning a pocket watch so it would be visible through the gap.
The pocket watch’s design was one that had been fashionable among the imperial family before Theon was even born, and I was certain that Demian wouldn’t be able to resist the tempting bait visible through the crack in the door. After all, Demian had excellent eyesight and keen instincts.
My prediction and Theon’s were exactly right. Not long after Demian entered Theon’s room and examined the pocket watch intently before leaving.

“His Majesty the Emperor wishes to meet with you in secret.”

Sir Shylo came and took Theon to the Imperial Capital.
That had been a month ago. At that time, instead of becoming Crown Prince, Theon had presented one condition to His Majesty the Emperor, requesting that it be granted.
The response had come through Sir Shylo the previous evening.
“I see. So that’s what His Majesty the Emperor said.”
The sugar cube had already completely dissolved, but I couldn’t easily stop moving the teaspoon. Theon grasped the armrest of my chair with one hand and leaned toward me, whispering in my ear.
“Are you alright with this, Berry?”
Even though everything was merely a plan to go to Diamond House, Theon’s low voice against my ear sent a ticklish sensation through me.
“We’re getting engaged in a month and a half.”

***

It was right after the first Annex Succession War ended.
Though our purposes differed, our goals were the same. Father and I had both succeeded in maintaining the lowest ranking according to our respective plans. We were still at Stone House, and around that time, I had much to worry about.

“How do I build up my achievements?”

I had watched for years as Father turned all the achievements that Victor had worked so hard to build into negatives.
Father had no intention of rising above Stone House, and once Windis used their ability, years’ worth of achievements would vanish along with damage compensation.

“If there’s any sign of rising to Emerald House or higher, Father will definitely move. Ugh. It would be better if I just forgot about my achievements myself…. Wait? That could work?”

Rather than have Father lose 10 billion Cona, it was far better for me to lose 1 billion Cona.
I had heard that counterfeit recovery potions were causing harm to commoners in Hisport Town. I also learned that the Innkeeper Woman, who had tried to expose that the recovery potions were fake, had been captured by fake Alchemists.
Together with Theon and Jeffrey, I took Professor Burdbell’s small bombs and went to find the Alchemists’ headquarters. Though I was punished more severely than expected for acting on a sense of justice, my achievements were significantly reduced. Enough that damage compensation claims bearing Father’s name didn’t arrive for several months.

‘This is it…!’

After about three such accidents, Father finally noticed I was deliberately tanking my performance.
At first, he tried to stop me, saying it was dangerous, but once he realized I was determined to do it anyway, he made me solemnly promise to always go with Theon.

“If Berry gets hurt, I’ll get hurt too and come back.”
“…Yes. I’ll always go with Theon.”

Father knew exactly what frightened me most.
After that, deliberately tanking Father’s performance became almost entirely my responsibility, but the real problem was how to accumulate enough achievements to pull off a reversal victory.
My goal was to keep Father and the relatives off guard until the last day of performance evaluation, then produce achievements worthy of Diamond House.

‘Should I say I promised Father the iron mines under Baron Oldman’s name and send them all to the Trabel Estate? Hmm, but that won’t work if the Trabel Estate refuses to accept them.’

It was Theon who first proposed a solution to my dilemma.

“If you want to give the Estate a massive advantage, what about the Igselona Royal Family?”
“The Royal Family? How?”
“I’ll become Crown Prince.”

On the last day of performance evaluation—the day Theon becomes Crown Prince—His Majesty the Emperor would officially announce our engagement.
If we calculated the benefits to the Trabel Count Family from an engagement with the Igselona Crown Prince as achievements, it would be more than enough to reach Diamond House.
“Success is within reach.”
A fake engagement for the sake of achievements.
Both Theon and I were still minors, so we had time until adulthood. Breaking the engagement was part of our plan too.
So logically, it should be fine.
“…Why can’t I face Theon whenever I think about this?”
Ugh.
The voice Theon had whispered in my ear during the day still seemed to tickle my eardrums. I buried my face in the pillow.

***

“….”
Hevanth’s hobby was hunting.
Every time the seasons changed, he would spend several days at his villa in the mountains, and this winter was no exception.
“Where in the world did you learn such manners?”
Hevanth regarded Reytan, who had burst into the villa’s bedroom in the dead of night. Standing at the foot of the bed, Reytan had a large sack slung across his shoulder and was looking down at Hevanth with a cold gaze.
“It’s nothing special. I came because I have something to give you.”
As Reytan spoke, Hevanth’s eyes flicked toward the side of the bed. A hunting crossbow lay atop the dresser—within arm’s reach.
The moment Hevanth threw off his blanket and moved with all his strength—
Crash!
Something that had flown swiftly struck the display cabinet with a loud clatter and fell to the floor.
“…What are you doing!”
Hevanth shouted at Reytan. Reytan’s shoulder was now empty. The sack he had been carrying had struck the display cabinet and fallen to the floor.
“I told you.”
A cool voice flowed from Reytan’s lips.
“That I have something to give you.”
Cough.
A coughing sound came from somewhere. Hevanth turned his head. It came from within the sack writhing on the floor.

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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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