I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 148

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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 148

Theon’s expression suggested he disagreed, but he seemed willing to hear me out for now.
I spoke to Theon.
“The date of the medal ceremony being the same as the coronation—that must be the Emperor’s plan. He wanted to give us a reason to go to the Imperial Capital.”
“I thought so too.”
“But the reason is too perfect. A medal from the Emperor himself. Until now, whenever we traveled by carriage, our relatives didn’t have legitimate grounds to interfere, did they?”
“…That’s true.”
Father and I shared Julia Quartz’s bloodline. Because of that, we faced far harsher scrutiny than the interference between Aunt Mariane, Uncle, and the other Uncle.
“When Father was our age, he had a terrible carriage accident on his way back to the Trabel Estate from the Academy. No one else survived except Father.”
This was a story I’d learned from my other memories. After Father died, Aunt Mariane had told me this story many times when I was alone.
“Julia Quartz was supposed to be in that same carriage, but fortunately, Grandmother wasn’t in it that day.”
Theon’s interlaced hands tensed at the knuckles.
“You’re telling me this now because it wasn’t just an accident.”
“From the circumstances, it seems that way. Later, it turned out that before the carriage accident happened, land that was supposed to be inherited by Uncle was transferred to Julia Quartz’s name. But that’s not the main point of what I’m saying.”
The original plan was to use sightseeing as an excuse to reach the Imperial Palace, but my current situation made me a perfect target for my relatives’ interference.
“If I say I’m going to receive a medal, Father won’t allow me to travel to the Imperial Palace by carriage.”
And there was Father’s trauma on top of that.
“But Berry, if the Emperor is ordering you to come receive the medal, then even your teacher—”
Theon stopped mid-sentence. His expression showed he’d realized Father wasn’t the type to obey the Emperor’s orders unconditionally. I nodded.
“Unfortunately, our Father holds a position in the Aubaut Religion, so he can easily send a proxy to attend in his place.”
“I understand.”
Theon stood up from the sofa. I looked up at him. In his forward gaze, I could feel his firm resolve. With a reassuring expression, Theon spoke.
“I’ll get your father’s permission.”
“What? Permission for what?”
“To approve our engagement.”
Without a word, I pushed Theon back down onto the sofa.
“Berry?”
“Wait a moment, Theon.”
And I couldn’t lift my head.
‘How can he say something like that about engagement approval in such a serious voice.’
Theon was only trying to help me get to the Diamond House. When it came down to it, we were friends. That’s why Theon was willing to do this much.
So—
‘Reacting to every word like this would only hurt me.’
My entire face burned. If I lifted my head now, I’d definitely be looking at Theon with a face as red as a beet. Whether Theon knew my feelings or not, he gently removed my hand that had been gripping his arm and held it firmly in his grasp.
“Don’t worry. Berry. Going to the Imperial Palace is important, after all. I’ll find a way to get your father’s approval without getting killed by him.”
“No. Father won’t understand.”
Father had good intuition. If I brought up the engagement, all the facts we’d been hiding would spill out, and he might even discover my plan to go to the Diamond House.
‘First in line to become the family head. Only then can Father avoid going to war.’
I couldn’t allow anything that might derail my plan. Though it pained me to think it, I had never intended to ask Father for his consent regarding saving his life.
“So let’s not talk about the engagement. Instead, I can get his permission through another method.”
“How?”
“By showing Father that the enemy’s treasure is in our hands.”
I unfolded Theon’s hand that had been wrapped around mine, then placed my hand on his palm.
I’d thought so before, but Theon had remarkably beautiful hands. His fingers especially were straight without a single knuckle, and his joints were long. The calluses from wielding a sword made them firm to the touch, yet thanks to the healing salve he’d applied consistently since childhood, his skin was smooth without a single scar.
“….”
I gazed at the tips of my fingers touching Theon’s palm.
Hmm, as expected.
“Theon, your hands have grown.”

***

A week later.
Calips stood askew in front of Stone House, his brow furrowed. At the end of his gaze was an ornate carriage decorated with an eagle emblem and fourteen knights positioned as escorts.
“This isn’t quite right, is it?”
“Why?”
“I understand that you said you need me because you’ve never been to the Imperial Palace and you’re scared, and you’ve only caused trouble without ever receiving a medal or anything. That’s why I agreed to go with you.”
“Thank you.”
“…Do you actually feel grateful?”
“Yes.”
Calips, who had been grumbling, turned his body toward me standing beside him. Then he gestured at the carriage and huffed.
“But it’s not just you and me going, and four of us are taking one carriage! We’re not beggars!”
Calips’s angry gaze turned toward Theon and Jeffrey standing behind me. Calips was currently quite displeased about sharing the carriage.
I wasn’t particularly eager to ride together either. Jeffrey muttered in a voice only I could hear.
“Well, Calips is the most reliable one to have with us.”
But riding in the same carriage as Calips, who was Priscilla’s grandson and Aunt Mariane’s only son, was a condition for obtaining Father’s permission.
At my emphasis on his reliability, Calips’s eyes wavered for a moment. Not missing the opportunity, Theon spoke.
“Right, Calips is the only one who’s been to the Imperial Palace. We want to hear your advice on the way there too. Isn’t that right, Jeffrey?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. We can’t do without you, Calips.”
Jeffrey, who had been picking at his ear as if uninterested, answered Theon’s words halfheartedly. Even at such a perfunctory attitude, Calips’s lips twitched upward.
‘Praise tastes sweetest when it comes as rarely as beans in a drought.’
Theon and Jeffrey, who didn’t belong to the Trabel Family, were beyond Calips’s sphere of influence. Because of this, Theon and Jeffrey had no need to humor Calips. Calips, who had never heard a single compliment from these two in his entire life, shrugged his shoulders and moved toward the carriage.
“Look at you all. Only I can be relied upon.”
[He really is simple-minded.]
Calips boarded the carriage without complaint and hurried us along, and watching him, Akum slipped into my pocket and transformed into a stone.
Since it was a fine carriage even by Trabel Estate standards, the interior space was spacious enough for four people.
“Hey, Berry, you sit next to me.”
“Oh? Sure.”
“Don’t talk to me. I’m going to sleep.”
Calips folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes. I took the seat beside him, and Theon was about to sit across from me.
“Then I’ll sit across from Berry~”
Jeffrey, who had followed us in, quickly claimed the seat Theon was about to take. Theon was naturally pushed aside and ended up sitting across from Calips. Calips cracked one eye open at the commotion, looked at Theon, and furrowed his brow with a quiet murmur.
“Ha… he’s handsome too, isn’t he.”
Then he closed his eyes again as if the sight disgusted him. Theon and I, now sitting diagonally across from each other, exchanged bewildered glances and blinked. Jeffrey tapped my knee. Wondering what he wanted, I turned to look at him, and he grinned mischievously and called out.
“Everyone’s seated? Let’s depart!”

***

“Is it today?”
Demian asked Reytan, who was gazing at the mountain. Sorha—a frontier city of the Heishal Empire. Since arriving here, Reytan’s gaze had often turned toward the mountain in the distance. It was the direction where the Trabel Estate lay, though invisible from here.
“The day Berry departs for the Imperial Palace.”
“Right.”
Reytan nodded. Demian watched his friend, snapping his fingertips. He had been the first to inform the Emperor that Theon might be the Crown Prince. That information was classified, so he hadn’t even told Reytan… but.
Shouldn’t his mentor Reytan witness his disciple’s Crown Prince enthronement ceremony?
“You’re receiving a medal, aren’t you? Do you really not need to go?”
“…”
Reytan turned his gaze from the mountain and answered Demian.
“I’m not sure. I do want to see it.”
“But?”
“First, I need to see how Belesa Valenhardt plays her hand.”

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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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