I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 153

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 153

Watching Jeffrey’s playful grin, something clicked into place. I’d found the culprit who’d planted that sticky bomb in my bag.
“Jeffrey, you put something in my bag—”
“Sister, are you busy? Want to walk around the Imperial Palace with me?”
“Burdbell’s—”
“Is Burdbell’s back feeling better? Last time I saw him, he was crawling around.”
Jeffrey brazenly kept cutting me off. His intention not to answer was painfully obvious.
But such a reaction was as good as a confession. I fired off my next question without giving Jeffrey a chance to interrupt.
“Jeffrey, did you put Burdbell’s sticky bomb in my bag?”
“Wow. Berry, you just spoke incredibly fast. Want to take a walk with me?”
“Jeffrey.”
I whined at him to answer quickly. What came back instead was—
“Want to?”
“Are you a parrot?”
“Well, you won’t answer me either.”
As if he were the one not answering.
Jeffrey was stubborn about things he believed needed to be done.
Normally, if there was work to be done, he’d roll up his sleeves and get moving, but once he set his mind to something, he wouldn’t yield to any temptation.
Just like now.
…
I stared at Jeffrey in silence, then let out a short sigh.
I was beginning to understand Count Trabel’s feelings when he’d sigh because of my scheming.
Perhaps Jeffrey had his own reasons for this.
Having grown up together since childhood, Jeffrey was like my younger brother to me.
Besides, the sticky bomb had already fallen off, and I was always receiving help from Jeffrey anyway.
“I’ll go.”
I could let Jeffrey’s inexplicable prank slide without pressing him further.
“You’ll go? Great.”
“Let’s ask Theon if he wants to come too.”
“No. We’re leaving Theon behind.”
“Why?”
At my question, Jeffrey’s Wolf Tribe ears perked up.
“Some woman has been asking around about a man with black hair.”
“…A woman?”
“She’s supposedly a maid serving the Empress.”
A maid serving the Empress.
The moment I heard those words, something flashed through my mind—the wreath in the First Floor Lobby, sent at the Empress’s sudden command.
‘Was it a disguise? A search for a black-haired man among the event attendees?’
Information about a black-haired prince attending the event might have leaked out.
“You didn’t discuss anything else?”
“No. He just asked if the black-haired man was part of Count Trabel’s entourage. Why would he ask something like that?”
Jeffrey’s question, which had slipped out like a murmur, made me catch my breath, and my lips sealed shut.
Jeffrey interlaced his fingers and draped his hands behind his neck as he continued speaking.
“Perhaps because the Emperor has black hair.”
“What?”
At Jeffrey’s meaningful remark, I found myself echoing his words without thinking.
The thought that Jeffrey might already know what I’d been trying to hide all this time made my face flush with embarrassment.
Jeffrey chuckled as our eyes met, my gaze wavering.
“Why are you so surprised? The Secret Society has no secrets.”

***

Jeffrey knew far more than I’d anticipated.
Theon’s identity, Baron Oldman’s identity.
Even that our purpose was to reach Diamond House.
“I know why you came to the Imperial Palace too.”
The room in the Separate Palace I’d reserved for Jeffrey.
Jeffrey sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, tapping his right foot while keeping his arms folded.
My hands trembled slightly as I sat respectfully across from him.
Coming to the Imperial Palace was part of the plan to reach Diamond House, but now it was tainted with selfish motives I was ashamed to admit to others.
“Wow. Jeffrey. You even know the reason?”
“Yes.”
Jeffrey nodded.
My lips went dry under his penetrating gaze.
Surely not, Jeffrey.
“You’re trying to put Theon on the Crown Prince’s throne.”
“How did you know?”
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to know about the betrothal announcement yet.
‘I’ll tell him in two days.’
The problem was that with Jeffrey’s personality, I couldn’t predict his reaction.
I had no idea what would happen if I told him—like a sticky bomb detonating in my hands.
I felt considerably relieved as I rummaged through my bag. There was something Jeffrey had asked me to retrieve.
“So Jeffrey, what do you need?”
“A special-purpose potion that lets you move secretly through the Imperial Palace.”
At my question, Jeffrey uncrossed his legs and leaned his upper body toward me. His tail swished gently.
“Let’s follow the Empress’s Maid. Berry and I need to protect Theon.”
“Hmm… We’re supposed to protect Theon…?”
“Earlier, Sister apologized, so today I’ll do whatever you ask.”
“What about the Chameleon Beastkin potion? I have two left.”
In truth, this moment was my way of apologizing to Jeffrey.
When I pulled out the remaining potion from what I’d sold to Sir Shylo, Jeffrey grimaced.
“That one tastes awful. It tastes like melted reptile scales. What about a potion that transforms you into someone else?”
“That won’t work. The Imperial Palace randomly plucks hair to prevent the use of appearance-changing potions. If the hair doesn’t dissolve or react in the solution, it’s straight to prison.”
“…Is there nothing else?”
I shook my head. With a soft sound, Jeffrey folded his ears back and reached out with a dejected expression.
“I’ll try it….”

***

The drawback of using the assimilation potion was that I couldn’t locate Jeffrey.
“Sister Berry, over here.”
I moved using Jeffrey’s voice as my coordinates.
Jeffrey couldn’t see me either, but whenever I drifted too far, he’d come right to my side and speak to me.
‘Theon and Jeffrey must be quite remarkable.’
We were searching for the Empress’s maid. Along the way, we nearly encountered Imperial Palace knights several times, but they didn’t notice me—who had taken the potion like Theon and Jeffrey.
‘We’re near the Empress Palace.’
Before long, the Empress Palace came into view. Jeffrey whispered beside me.
“Sister Berry, there.”
At his words, I looked around and spotted a maid entering the Empress Palace.
Jeffrey spoke.
“That’s her. I’ll go in first, so come in after me, okay?”
“Got it.”
I nodded in response, and I heard the soft sound of footsteps beside me as a breeze stirred slightly.
From experience, Jeffrey’s running speed was impressive when he had a target. He must have dashed all the way to the Empress Palace to pursue the maid closely.
‘He seems to be enjoying this.’
Jeffrey appeared utterly delighted—like when we’d cause trouble to reduce our performance metrics.
‘I need to hurry too.’
I paused briefly before walking toward the Empress Palace.
“Who goes there.”
A chilling sensation focused on the nape of my neck. I held my breath and froze in place.
Cold sweat beaded on my scalp. Someone’s blade was aimed at my throat.
“I asked who you are.”
“….”
The sharp edge of the sword was terrifying. I’d never experienced anything like this before….

– One shouldn’t carelessly read another’s letters.

A sharp gasp escaped me.
My body lurched forward. That piercing voice—the accomplice who murdered my father. The vivid memory of him driving his blade through my back screamed through my mind, deafening all thought.

— Berry Quartz.

The voice that emerged was not from healthy vocal cords. A man’s voice, as if metal and bestial growls had been woven together.
A metallic scrape.
“….”
My knees buckled, my balance shattered, but someone caught me. It was the man who had pointed his blade at me.
Cold sweat drenched my entire body. I gasped for breath as though hyperventilating.
“…Miss Berry?”
Even as the potion’s effects lingered, I heard my name. I turned my head to the side.
“Sir Shylo.”
My voice trembled with ragged breathing, and Sir Shylo’s eyes widened in alarm.
“Are you all right? What on earth is happening here…?”
“Take me to Theon.”
“I beg your pardon…?”
“I think I’m about to lose consciousness.”
And then, darkness claimed me.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————