I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 129

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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 129

A fur coat buttoned all the way up, its collar reaching his jaw and hem extending to his calves. Sir Shylo stood before me in a thick, luxurious overcoat—not a hint of muscle visible beneath the voluminous fabric.
Why had he wrapped himself up so completely? It did look warm, though…
‘Isn’t that excessive?’
I watched Theon approach the sofa beside me. He spoke as though reading my very thoughts.
“He can’t afford to catch cold.”
“Ah.”
“Please, sit, Sir Shylo.”
“Thank you.”
Sir Shylo settled onto the sofa across from us with composure, the black fur draped over him making him resemble a raven-like beastman, but I held my tongue.
I knew the truth about that coat.

“I brought a gift!”

Last year, Jeffrey had stormed a designer’s home demanding compensation for modeling fees he’d never received, and instead of money, he’d brought back this coat. He’d tried giving it to Father, but Father had flatly refused, and it had somehow ended up hanging in Theon’s wardrobe without his knowledge.
Now that I thought about it, I’d never actually seen Theon wearing that coat.
‘Perhaps he was giving it to him as a new garment?’
I shrugged. I’d been momentarily confused, but as long as Sir Shylo stayed warm, that was what mattered.
Sir Shylo took a careful sip of the tea I’d prepared, then slowly opened his mouth.
“I’ve received your kindness sufficiently. May I now convey His Majesty’s words?”
I nodded. Sir Shylo had set a deadline of this week to meet with me, and this was the reason—to deliver the Emperor’s command.
“His Majesty has set one condition regarding the announcement of your betrothal on the day of the coronation.”
“A condition?”
Theon asked.
“That’s different from what we heard before. You said His Majesty approved the betrothal, but you never mentioned any conditions attached to it.”
“Yes. This is a matter I must discuss with the Young Lady of the Trabel Family, so I did not inform the Crown Prince.”
“With me?”
Sir Shylo nodded at my question.
“His Majesty is aware of the unique circumstances surrounding the Annex Succession War of the Trabel Family. Because of this, he approved keeping your betrothal announcement secret until the coronation day itself, so the Young Lady must also make one promise.”
“A promise?”
“Before the coronation begins, you must present His Majesty with a betrothal consent document bearing the seal of the head of the Trabel Family Estate.”
“So you’re saying I need to obtain Grandfather’s permission? To prevent the Trabel Family from lodging a protest after the betrothal announcement.”
“Yes… that is correct.”
It was something I had anticipated.
If the Trabel Family Estate lodged an immediate protest after the announcement, the Emperor’s dignity would be utterly compromised. For an Emperor built upon pride and self-consciousness, dignity was paramount.
However, if that happened, Grandfather as the family head would be providing substantial practical assistance in performance evaluations, and for fairness, the news would inevitably reach other direct descendants—and that was the problem.
“What if I cannot obtain it?”
“The engagement announcement for you both will be cancelled.”
Crack.
The moment Sir Shylo finished speaking, the locking mechanism of the glass jar containing sugar cubes shattered. It was the jar Theon had been holding to add sugar.
“Sorry, Berry.”
Theon spoke with a hint of irritation in his voice—a subtle shift in emotion that Sir Shylo failed to detect.
“The lid’s joint must have been weakened.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Scheduling the Crown Prince’s coronation and the engagement announcement simultaneously on the final day of performance evaluation had been Theon’s plan.
Even if the Trabel Family later protested and voided the engagement, the resulting losses would be deducted from the next Annex Succession War’s performance evaluation.
But if the engagement announcement itself never took place—
‘I won’t be able to enter Diamond House…!’
That was why Theon was angry.
Theon getting angry was something you’d see maybe once a year, and from experience, an angry Theon was unpredictable in what he might do.
“Don’t worry, Theon.”
I couldn’t let my best friend commit some fiery act of filial piety against the father he’d finally met!
I spoke to Theon with conviction and brightness.
“His Majesty the Emperor will definitely want to proceed with the engagement announcement.”
Even if I couldn’t get Count Trabel’s permission, there was plenty of room for negotiation. After all, the Emperor wanted something I had.
“Because he needs a Crown Princess candidate with excellent bloodline.”
I shifted my gaze from Theon to Sir Shylo, who was staring at me in astonishment. I met his eyes directly and curved my lips into a smile.
“Someone like me.”
Smirk.

***

Sir Shylo was taken aback.

“I need a daughter-in-law candidate with excellent bloodline. One who can offset my son’s unremarkable maternal family.”

I never expected to hear such words from a fifteen-year-old girl—the same words the Emperor himself had spoken.
Berry Quartz Trabel.
The youngest granddaughter of Count Trabel and the daughter of the Grand Master.
Setting aside her noble bloodline and beauty, she was hardly the type suited to be a crown princess.
‘Quite the opposite, in fact.’
A troublemaker without aristocratic grace, a hero idolized by foolish children, an Academy entrance exam failure, and countless other dishonorable epithets.
Sir Shylo gazed at the girl before him, burdened by such ignominious descriptions.
‘Not intelligent, they say?’
Her clear green eyes sparkled with brilliance. And the insight she’d just displayed.
One of Sir Shylo’s relatives had once said something about this.
That Reytan Quartz Trabel was not the minus hand people claimed him to be—that it was all an act.
At the time, he’d dismissed it as the delusion of one of Reytan’s followers, but now those words echoed back to him with new weight. If Reytan’s daughter, Berry Quartz Trabel, were also—
‘How troubling.’
A chill ran down his spine.
He’d assumed Prince Theon’s infatuation with her stemmed purely from her appearance.
That was how teenage romance worked, after all—passionate and shallow, drawn to beauty above all else. Berry Quartz Trabel certainly possessed the kind of looks that nine out of ten boys her age would admire.
But his instinct told him there was more to it than that. Like most Sword Masters, Sir Shylo possessed keen intuition.

“Betrothals can be broken at any time. Better marriage prospects than the Trabel Family can always emerge.”

Was this young lady truly as easily replaceable as the Emperor suggested—a puzzle piece that could be swapped out without consequence?
Though he’d uncovered nothing concrete about Berry Quartz yet, Sir Shylo sensed she might be a far more formidable piece than anticipated.
“So, Theon.”
Berry took the glass vial from Theon’s hand and touched his ring finger with her own—a subtle signal that she had a scheme in mind.
“Even if His Majesty imposed conditions, don’t worry too much. I’ll find a way to get Grandfather’s permission. Once the family head approves, His Majesty the Emperor wouldn’t dare break his word. Isn’t that right, Sir Shylo?”
“…That is correct.”
“See? Sir Shylo agrees. You think I’m right too, don’t you, Theon?”
“Yes.”
As Sir Shylo watched Theon nod obediently like a docile hound, Berry turned to address him.
“Sir Shylo, how will you leave when you go?”
“Ah, since Reytan isn’t here, I’ll have to climb over the wall when I—”
“You won’t be able to wear the clothes Theon gave you then, will you?”
Sir Shylo paused at her words. Now that she mentioned it, his current attire was hardly practical.
As warm as it was heavy, and as heavy as it was cumbersome. Scaling a wall wouldn’t be impossible, but the fabric would snag and tear on the surrounding terrain—a shame for garments bestowed by the Prince himself.
“289,000 Cona.”
Berry spoke up.
“…Pardon?”
“That’s the price of the coat.”
Sir Shylo blinked at the sudden price revelation, and Theon instinctively glanced at Berry to gauge her mood.
Was she displeased about giving away such an expensive item? But it was perfect—ideal for concealing Sir Shylo’s form.
“I have something good for you, don’t I?”
While the two men assessed the atmosphere, Berry retrieved a small box she had hidden beneath the table.
She opened the lid and placed the box on the table so that Sir Shylo could see its contents—a small glass vial filled with transparent liquid.
‘Oh.’

———-
Special Purpose Potion (2 hours)
Enables use of Chameleon Beastkin’s environmental assimilation ability
Price: 420,000 Cona (30% regular customer discount)
Thank you for your patronage.
– Camilla Research Institute
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The receipt attached to the bottom of the box slid out slightly as it rubbed against the table surface.
Berry quickly grabbed the receipt and crumpled it in her hand. Then, as if nothing had happened, she smiled at Sir Shylo with the practiced customer service smile she had learned during her external activities with Baron Oldman.
“I’ll give you a discount below market price! Just give me 500,000 Cona.”
“….”
“I still need to wait another month and a half before the dignity maintenance stipend comes through, you see.”

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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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