I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 149

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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 149

It had been about an hour since we departed the Trabel Estate by carriage. Calips hadn’t opened his closed eyes even once, and Jeffrey had fallen asleep with his head tilted to the side.
The only ones awake in the quiet carriage were Theon and I.
Theon was reading a book. According to him, Sherry had recommended it—the title was “How to Become a Beloved Spouse.”
‘Of all things.’
Theon, who would normally not spare a glance at such a book, was reading it intently. I bit the inside of my lip to hide my emotions. When Theon turned the next page and our eyes met, I had to quickly release my lip, but—
Theon smiled with his eyes.
“Berry, are you uncomfortable?”
“I’m fine. What about you?”
“I’m fine too.”
After we exchanged whispered questions, I naturally shifted my gaze to the window. The carriage, lined with heated stones inside, was warm like a room with a fireplace even in winter, and the carriage window was fogged from the cold air outside.
I wiped the condensation on the window with the back of my hand. Beyond it stretched empty fields that had finished their harvest and were waiting for next year. It meant there was nothing worth seeing in the landscape.
‘After I return from the Imperial Palace, maybe I’ll develop some farming implements. With the Dwarves’ technological prowess, they could certainly bring my designs to life. And Baron Oldman’s reputation would improve even more.’
Because of the Belodia incident, Baron Oldman had risen to heroic status alongside Berry Quartz Trabel.
The story that he had tried to purchase a foreign national treasure for ten billion Cona—a tale that could have brought him infamy—had been overshadowed by the fact that numerous criminals had emerged from that building that day.
The rumor that “Baron Oldman, who detests crime, seized this opportunity to eliminate the criminals” had become accepted as fact.
Well, that wasn’t the problem right now.
“….”
Engagement.
Whenever that word surfaced in my mind, I couldn’t think of anything else. I was so anxious I couldn’t keep my body still—I felt like I was going mad. Was this what adolescence was normally like? Or did this happen when you liked someone?
‘This is strange. It’s definitely strange.’
Without thinking, I pouted my lips, then caught sight of my reflection in the glass window and hurriedly tucked them back in. Worried it might look awkward, I pretended to be calm and looked around at the surroundings reflected in the glass. There was a glimmer of light in the fogged area. Within it, something black wavered.
“Ahem, ahem.”
I gave a small, quiet cough and rubbed the dark spot with the tip of my index finger. It wasn’t entirely clear, but it was Theon.
As I gazed at his silhouette, Theon turned his gaze toward me. My heart sank in an instant. It was as if I’d been caught stealing a look.
“….”
I was done for.
My mind went completely blank—I couldn’t even think of an excuse. My usually sharp mind failed me precisely when I needed it most.
About ten seconds passed with my body frozen. The sound of Theon’s quiet chuckle spread through the silent carriage. Then, without saying anything, he turned his head back to the book he’d been reading.
“….”
I lowered the finger I’d been pressing against the glass window. I tried to act as normal as Theon did. I hooked my elbow on the window frame, leaned my head against the backrest, and eventually even shifted my sitting position by lifting my hips slightly.
No matter what position I took, it felt awkward.

***

I had finally gained my freedom. We had arrived at the Trabel Count’s Mansion, situated midway along the road to the Imperial Capital.
“You’re acting strange.”
The moment I scrambled down from the carriage, Calips, who had followed me out, spoke up.
“What? What do you mean?”
“You’ve been restless the entire journey.”
I quickly grabbed Calips’s hand and walked toward the mansion’s entrance. Behind Calips, Theon and Jeffrey were descending from the carriage.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Oh, no. I just wanted to get inside quickly.”
“Young Master Calips, Miss Berry. Welcome back. We have prepared everything inside—”
“Yes. I’ll head in. Thank you.”
“Hey, slow down a bit.”
I received greetings from the butler and servants who had come to welcome us at the entrance connected to the staircase, then hurried deeper into the mansion. Fortunately, the butler and servants were moving slowly as they unloaded the luggage. I stood in the empty lobby and released Calips’s hand.
“Didn’t you sleep in the carriage?”
“How could I sleep when you were fidgeting so much in the seat next to me? I woke up.”
“So you were pretending to sleep?”
“It wasn’t pretense—it was mental training. Closing my eyes and conditioning myself to sleep. People become what they believe. I am the best. I will graduate at the top of the Academy. I am—”
“I know my younger cousin was sitting quietly in the carriage.”
“…What are you talking about?”
I cut off Calips’s words and continued speaking.
Calips, who had been speaking seriously, furrowed his brow. I felt like a thief whose feet were itching. It didn’t matter that Calips had mentioned my restlessness, but it absolutely could not reach Theon’s ears. There was only one reason why.
‘If Theon finds out, I’ll be too embarrassed to show my face…’
Of course, Theon wouldn’t care. But I would. I saw Theon and Jeffrey entering through the entrance.
“Just remember it that way.”
I quickly urged Calips and waved my hand toward the two of them.
“You really are suspicious, you know.”
Calips muttered behind me.

***

Fortunately, Calips didn’t mention the carriage again after that. Though I suspected he thought he’d found leverage over me, because he did try to order me around a bit.
“Water.”
“Yes, young master. I’ll bring it right away.”
“No. Berry will get it.”
“…Miss Berry?”
It was dinner time. Calips stopped the maid who was about to fetch the water pitcher and smirked at me sitting across from him.
“Yeah. She’s closer to the pitcher anyway, right?”
“I’m closer.”
Theon, sitting beside me, set down his fork and knife on his plate and spoke. I didn’t even have a chance to respond before Calips said something displeased to Theon, who was rising from his seat.
“Dogs stay put. I’m playing with your master right now.”
“Theon isn’t a dog.”
How dare he touch Theon. I stared at Calips with a gleaming gaze, knife still in hand. Calips flinched.
“If Theon’s a dog, then what’s Calips hyung—something worse than a dog?”
“A dog? Worse? Hey, don’t make weird comparisons. And why am I worse than him?”
“Well, Theon is taller than Calips hyung, more handsome, better with a sword, more popular, and also….”
Thud. Thud. Thud.
With each word I spoke, I could hear Calips’s pride taking a hit. I whispered to Theon that it was fine, then fetched the water pitcher and poured water into Calips’s glass. When Calips looked at me with an indignant expression, having failed to recover his dignity, I stuck my tongue out at him. Serves him right.
“Ugh, I’m done eating. See you all tomorrow.”
Calips drank the water I’d poured and stood up, heading to his room. It seemed he intended to be alone until tomorrow morning. Not long after Calips left the Dining Hall and we exchanged goodnights, Jeffrey entered.
“Berry, did Calips find some leverage over you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. He found leverage himself, but he was grumbling that you seemed too confident about it.”
“Berry, did he find leverage?”
“No. Calips hyung just misunderstood on his own.”
In truth, it wasn’t even leverage. Calips only knew that I was restless inside the carriage—he had no idea it was because of Theon. Jeffrey and Theon seemed to lose interest in Calips after my answer.
I spoke to Jeffrey, who was standing in front of the table.
“You deliberately didn’t come out of your room, did you? I sent someone to call you to dinner several times.”
There was no one to scold me even if we ate together. So there was no reason we couldn’t share the same table. Jeffrey shrugged.
“I don’t get along with Calips, so eating together would give me indigestion. And I don’t want you to get blamed because of me.”
“I dislike you eating alone more.”
“It’s fine. I’ll eat out and do some market research in the Shopping District too. You have to know the trends to survive in business.”
“Let’s go together.”
“Wouldn’t it be easier alone?”
I was shocked by Jeffrey’s words and closed my mouth. Jeffrey looked back and forth between Theon and me sitting side by side, then laughed playfully as he spoke.
“I’ll be back late~”
Jeffrey said something nonsensical and left the Dining Hall. Theon, who had waved goodbye to Jeffrey, gently touched my hand.
‘Jeffrey said he’d be more comfortable alone.’
My mind was full of that shock. When I didn’t respond even as he touched my hand, Theon whispered near my ear.
“Berry.”
“Huh? What?”
“Sir Shylo is coming tonight.”
Sir Shylo—the Emperor’s knight I had met before. Theon leaned in close, mindful of the servants in the Dining Hall, and continued in a whisper.
“Shouldn’t we practice beforehand?”
His low voice sent a tickle through my eardrums.
“We’re closer than friends now, after all.”

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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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