I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 132
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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 132
The illness that afflicted Count Trabel was a cruel disease that tormented its victim slowly over years, stretching across decades.
No clear cause had ever been identified. It began with numbness in the hands and feet, then progressed to weakness in the limbs. As the muscles failed to function properly, the body grew heavier, as though weighted down by massive stones. Eventually, it rendered the patient immobile, and they would pass away in their sleep, lying in bed.
‘A cure was developed later, but it only worked if administered in the early stages. By the time Grandfather’s condition was diagnosed, it was already too late for the treatment to be effective.’
The problem was that I didn’t know how to manufacture the cure, but knowing what would happen in the future, I couldn’t simply stand idle.
‘I will cure Grandfather’s illness!’
Once Baron Oldman’s accounts began generating stable income, I invested a substantial portion of those profits into developing a cure for the heavy lullaby disease.
It was conducted in secret through Lucian Alexis, a diplomat of the Edencia Kingdom. As a result, the cure—which would have taken seven more years to reach the world—came into Baron Oldman’s hands.
“For you to speak so confidently before me… you must be certain about my condition?”
Count Trabel asked cautiously. His illness wouldn’t become known to the direct line for another five years. Until the symptoms could no longer be hidden by willpower, he fought against the disease, working tirelessly to maintain the appearance of strength as head of the Trabel Family.
“Yes. I know that you suffer from the heavy lullaby disease, Grandfather.”
But the disease had to be caught early. I had no intention of backing down. As I nodded, Grandfather fell silent, his expression hardening.
“…Who told you?”
The atmosphere turned cold in an instant—far more so than when he’d acted stern before Calips.
“I’m not angry with you, Berry. But very few know of this, and those who do are people I believed I could trust.”
“I didn’t hear it from anyone. You needn’t suspect your close associates, Grandfather.”
“There’s no point in trying to soften it with such words.”
Grandfather’s jaw tightened. He too had claimed the position of family head after the Annex Succession War of the Trabel Family.
“Your time was far more intense, sir. There were eight separate houses among the direct line back then.”
“And the others?”
“They either passed away or emigrated to other nations.”
I recalled something Madam Frea had once told me. Count Trabel had survived fierce competition and constant scheming, which was precisely why he now held his position.
“Not a soul to trust.”
Skepticism, betrayal, and melancholy—those were the emotions I detected in his murmur, though I knew his inner turmoil ran far deeper. I remained composed and opened my mouth deliberately.
“This spring, when you descended from the carriage, I noticed your ankle gave way and you limped.”
….
“A week after that incident, you stopped using your knife at dinner. Yet half your roasted duck—your favorite—remained on the plate. Five days later, you were stroking my hair when your hand suddenly withdrew. And a week after that, during your garden walk….”
I began reciting from memory the “Grandfather Observation Journal” I had been keeping since spring. As my words flowed without pause, his hand, which had been stroking his chin, froze. His mouth fell open, and his golden eyes widened.
“Stop. You may stop speaking.”
“What? But there’s more! Your knees began weakening in early autumn—.”
“Enough! You’re desperate to prove how thoroughly you’ve observed me, aren’t you? Fine, I’ll trust your word that you heard this from no one. So you diagnosed my condition from the symptoms alone? Where in the world did you acquire such medical knowledge?”
“From Marshall Grandmother and Burdbell. I also studied medical texts! You can buy any specialized book if you have the money. And when I found symptoms in those books that matched yours exactly, I began observing you continuously. I was worried, you see.”
“Good heavens.”
“Actually, a few years ago, Baron Oldman was introduced by Lucian to a research institute in the Edencia Kingdom, and he purchased it. Among the medicines being developed there, some treat your condition. They’re nearly complete!”
“…Berry, you….”
Count Trabel’s eyes wavered for just a moment. He had a phrase he often used with me.
“How on earth did you know? Hmm?”
Whenever I accomplished something his intuition could not predict.
“How on earth….”
But this time felt different. No matter what reason I fabricated, there was something he simply could not accept.
Developing a cure for the rare disease “Heavy Lullaby.” It could take years, and with so few patients, the investment would never be recovered—that much was obvious.
“Berry.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t mean to say… you’ve seen the future….”
Count Trabel could not finish his thought. He fell silent, covering his mouth with his hand, then drew a deep breath and spoke. For a moment, I thought I saw moisture glistening in his eyes, but it must have been my imagination.
“One lives long enough to see all manner of things. Even a granddaughter determined to keep me alive.”
“It’s fortunate, even if by coincidence. I truly was worried about your health.”
“So a girl who worries like that sets conditions to have a wish granted? Saving Count Trabel’s life, no less?”
I smiled brightly and continued.
I continued speaking with a bright smile.
“And I wish for you to live long and healthy, Grandfather.”
Count Trabel’s lips twitched at my final words, and he finally burst into hearty laughter.
***
“Berry, big sis! I heard about it!”
It had been a few hours since we returned from the Main Estate. Jeffrey came bounding up the stairs to the second floor, arriving later than Theon.
“Jeffrey! Don’t run!”
“Y-yes!”
Anne’s startled cry echoed from the first floor, but Jeffrey gave her a hasty reply before dashing into the second-floor living room where Theon and I were.
“Berry, big sis! Theon, big brother!”
Theon and I lifted our eyes from the map spread across the table to look at Jeffrey. At our composed expressions, Jeffrey actually jumped back in surprise.
“Count Trabel was really angry with you, big sis! He said if you don’t do something to help the family, he’ll drive you out! What on earth happened while Theon and I were at Burdbell’s place?!”
“Well, about that—”
I scratched my cheek at Jeffrey’s words. I’d already fielded the same question three times—from Father, Theon, and Callet—so this was my fourth explanation.
It was tedious, but I had to tell Jeffrey. The story Grandfather and I had coordinated for the relatives’ sake.
“I protested to Grandfather about the house arrest, saying it was unfair. He got angry and asked what I was even doing. He said I shouldn’t return to the Trabel Estate until I resolved the mess Kane made. But if I solve it and come back, he’ll grant me any reward I ask for.”
“You’re really being kicked out?! …Ah, but I’m still far from finishing the bed.”
Jeffrey muttered with a troubled expression. I blinked.
“Wait, Jeffrey. Do you want a new bed? Should I get you one?”
“N-no…! More than that, wasn’t Reytan upset?”
“He was.”
Theon answered for Jeffrey.
“Master went to the Main Estate to speak with Count Trabel, and it seems he’s decided to follow the Count’s wishes. His anger seems to have subsided.”
“Follow his wishes? What does that mean?”
“Berry catching the swindlers.”
At Theon’s words, Jeffrey’s gaze turned to the map we’d been studying. Since we were in the middle of predicting the swindlers’ likely route, small flags were planted across the map.
“Let me come too!”
“No.”
Theon, sitting beside me, pulled me into his embrace from behind and rejected Jeffrey’s plea.
“Berry and I are going alone.”
“Why—!”
Jeffrey’s tail bristled straight up and his fur puffed out. Theon spoke matter-of-factly while holding me in his arms.
“You have a packed modeling schedule for the next week starting tomorrow.”
“That’s so unfair!”
“There’s nothing we can do about it.”
I sighed and shook my head. This quarrel seemed like it would drag on for a while.
They’re all still so young.
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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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