I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 159

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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 159

Because you’re beautiful.
Sir Shylo cleared his throat awkwardly at Theon’s words, but in truth, it didn’t mean Theon had fallen head over heels.
‘Father says things like that all the time, doesn’t he?’
Theon had grown up alongside me since childhood. He was my friend and my guardian—someone who’d learned how to act by watching Father’s example.
“Hmm. You really think so?”
“Yes.”
Theon answered with a gentle smile. An incorrigible face. He’d inherited Father’s incorrigible nature perfectly.
I resolved to have Theon. But for that to happen, I needed to see a change in how he treated me first.
“Still, Theon, this is the ceremony where you’ll receive a medal from the Emperor himself. Just because I’m beautiful doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to show up looking disheveled.”
Normally in moments like this, I’d feel good from Theon’s tender words and respond by saying he looked impressive too—a display of virtue—but.
I smiled brightly at Theon.
“You’re disheveled too, so get yourself ready. I’d like to have a handsome fiancé standing beside me.”
Upon hearing my words, Sir Shylo subtly turned his head away. He clearly wanted to escape this situation of being left alone between two lovers.
“….”
Theon looked down at me silently, then slowly raised the corners of his mouth.
“Got it. Berry. I just need to look like a handsome fiancé, right?”
“Y-yes.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“You… are?”
That was when I felt like I’d said something I shouldn’t have.
Theon leaned in close to my face and whispered.
“You get yourself ready too, Berry. You’re my fiancée, after all.”
“….”

***

I had confidence in predicting outcomes.
Taking Baron Oldman’s successful investment as an example—I’d search for investment opportunities, review performance over the past five years, investigate the market, and predict the likelihood of success.
Most of my predictions proved accurate, and when they were ambiguous, I relied on my other memories or intuition.
But today, that confidence had completely crumbled. More than crumbled—it had tangled into a knot.
‘What does Theon think of me?’
After parting with Theon, I walked toward the Separate Palace lost in thought. Jeffrey scurried after me from behind.
While Theon and I had met with Sir Shylo, Jeffrey had gathered a report from Jack Jack about the Wild Dog Tribe’s activities at my request.

“The Wild Dog Tribe met Reytan before arriving at the Batz Mountain Range.”

Father said he’d read the newspaper and immediately turned on his heel. Since he hadn’t revealed his destination, I didn’t know where he’d gone, but at least I could take comfort in knowing it wasn’t the Battlefield.
‘White Birch.’
It had to be a term referring to the identity of the accomplice. Belesa’s warning to be careful of that person.
The answer to that cryptic remark hovered at the edge of my mind, tantalizingly close yet maddeningly out of reach.
In moments like these, if I redirected my consciousness elsewhere, the answer would suddenly strike me later.
‘At least I don’t need to force myself to redirect my attention elsewhere.’
My mind was completely consumed by the engagement announcement with Theon that would happen in two hours.
Jeffrey, following behind me, had taken on the role of escort, so he wasn’t walking beside me or chatting as he usually did.
Thanks to that, I could focus entirely on my thoughts.
‘I thought Theon liked me too.’
The gaze we’d exchanged in the Separate Palace lobby, the flutter in my chest, the subtle thrill I’d felt in that strange atmosphere.
There was definitely a current flowing between us that went beyond friendship.
‘I can’t predict Theon’s feelings.’
I’d tried to probe his reaction, only to be stopped by Theon instead.
His actions just now were even more of a mystery than what Belesa had said.
How could he respond so composedly after being told to go out there and impress the person he likes?
‘And it’s Theon, of all people?’
I realized that the Theon I knew was merely the tip of the iceberg.
Theon Phil Voltman.
In two hours, Theon Phil Igselona.
The Emperor’s only son, grandson of Baron Voltman and his wife, disciple of the Grand Master, and a sword genius who’d already become a Sword Master at eighteen.
His appearance captivated people regardless of age or gender. Even non-human races, who pursued beauty differently from humans, naturally harbored goodwill toward Theon.
His lustrous hair and smooth skin were natural gifts, and his eyes were as clear and pristine as freshly polished black pearls.
There was a small mole on the inside of his right eyelid that only I knew about….
‘Ugh. What good does any of this do?’
Even if I could recite objective facts about Theon, it was utterly useless.
What I wanted to know was Theon’s true feelings.
What emotion he held when looking at me.
“Sigh.”
My shoulders drooped and a sigh escaped involuntarily. I was troubled. Was adolescent love always this full of worries?
“Berry.”
Jeffrey whispered from behind me.
“Hmm?”
“Ahead.”
Ahead? I lifted my lowered head and straightened my posture.
“….”
It was a walking path near the Separate Palace provided to the Trabel Estate.
A beautiful woman in an ornate dress was looking at me. Behind her, maids and escort knights were following.
“Your Majesty the Empress.”
Though it was my first time seeing her up close, I recognized her immediately. I’d seen her face countless times in newspaper photographs.
I hurried to bow respectfully to the Empress.
‘I’ve encountered the most terrifying person.’
Regina Kal Igselona.
Unlike the Emperor, who was kind to the citizens of the Empire for the sake of his reputation, the Empress was always expressionless.
A face that revealed nothing of her thoughts.
The Empress was a princess of a powerful kingdom whose military might could not be ignored, and because of this, she wielded considerable influence within the Heishal Empire.
‘They say you mustn’t displease her.’
In short, if I fell out of favor with the Empress, my life in the Imperial Palace would become difficult. As Theon’s future fiancée, she was someone I absolutely needed to impress.
‘Did I make any mistakes just now when I greeted her?’
When meeting the Empress, outside of formal occasions, one had to show respect through physical gesture rather than words.
Bowing so deeply that the crown of my head wasn’t visible, lifting my skirt slightly so my ankles didn’t show, positioning my elbows at the midpoint between heaven and earth….
‘Ugh. Why is my dress like this?’
Then I noticed wolf fur clinging here and there, and my boots caked with dirt.
Right. This was what I looked like.
‘I’m ruined.’
At least Theon had removed the twig stuck in my hair, for which I was grateful.
Since it was evening and dusk was falling, perhaps the Empress wouldn’t find my appearance too filthy—
“Filthy.”
“….”
I’m ruined. I squeezed my eyes shut.
I was racking my brain for a way to salvage this situation for Theon’s sake.
“I am currently taking an evening walk.”
“…?”
The Empress had said something utterly unexpected.
“I simply found myself here while walking. There is a banquet I must attend shortly, but my preparations are complete. It was merely tedious to remain in my chambers.”
Her words continued with unclear intent.
I didn’t dare speak, uncertain whether I should respond. After all, I might be blamed for addressing the Empress without permission.
“You are late. I understood you were to attend the banquet.”
“….”
“Can you not speak? And you won’t even show your face.”
“Raise your head and answer the Empress. Young Lady of the Trabel Estate.”
The Maid spoke to me. I lifted my head and looked at the Empress.
“I apologize. I shall complete my preparations and attend shortly.”
“Hmm.”
The Empress made a disapproving sound. As the sun disappeared, the surrounding pillars embedded with luminous stones began to glow softly.
The ornate diamond necklace around the Empress’s neck and the pink diamond earrings adorning her ears sparkled brilliantly.
The Empress spoke to me.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Yes…?”
“Follow me. I shall help you prepare for the banquet.”
“It’s fine—.”
“Let’s go, Miss.”
The Empress turned her body toward the direction of the Empress Palace, and the maids swarmed around me in a rush.
‘Jeffrey!’
I glanced back. Jeffrey, our eyes meeting, was about to bare his claws at the maids.
I spoke to Jeffrey in an urgent whisper. He’d hear me just fine from this distance.
“Jeffrey, Rule Number Two…!”
“…Ah.”
The safety rules for this journey.
Rule Number Two: Avoid conflict with the Imperial Palace’s power players.
At my words, Jeffrey retracted his claws and waved at me as I was pulled away.
“Come back looking beautiful, sister.”

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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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