I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 16

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

Chapter 16

Grandmother had summoned Father to the Main Estate, undoubtedly because of that wretched collective responsibility again. The lowest-ranking member always becomes the scapegoat.
I snorted dismissively.
“Theon, are you going to release it?”
Theon stood holding the sack the twins had abandoned, gazing toward the distant grass.
“Yes. I was planning to take it far from the Separate House and let it go.”
“Let’s go together.”
“I can go alone.”
“I know a wonderful pond. Let’s release it there.”
“Really? Understood.”
I suppressed a wicked smile.
It was such a wonderful pond that my aunt adored it so much she took the twins there for walks every single day.
‘A bullfrog might suddenly jump out during their stroll~’
Hehe. I hummed cheerfully as I led the way ahead of Theon.
But when I encountered a confusing fork in the path and paused, Theon, who was following behind, collided with me.
“…Berry.”
“Oh, I apologize for bumping into you.”
“Your head is remarkably round.”
“Huh?”
I’d braced myself for anger when he called my name so seriously, but instead he was commenting on the shape of my head.
“Is it? Father often says the same thing.”
Though I couldn’t see the top of my own head to verify if it was true.
Saying someone’s head was round was basically calling it ball-shaped, wasn’t it?
I looked up. Theon’s hand twitched in the air above me, then quickly disappeared.
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
Nothing, he says. Yet he’s clearly flustered enough to turn away.
I narrowed my eyes at Theon’s awkward cough. Something’s definitely there. If he’s that embarrassed, could it be—
“I have leaves or something stuck in my hair!”
It must have gotten tangled when I crawled through the Arborvitae Trees earlier while teasing the twins.
I might get scolded by Father. I respectfully offered my head to Theon and asked politely.
“Please remove it.”
“…It blew away in the wind. It’s gone now.”
Had the wind picked up just then?
I tilted my head in confusion, then suddenly came to my senses. This isn’t the time for this. I had plans to go out with Father.
“Let’s hurry and release the frog before Father arrives!”
I grasped Theon’s hand and walked briskly toward the Pond.

Splash.
The bullfrogs that had entered the Pond were quite large. After exchanging greetings and asking them to pass my regards to the twins, I returned to find Father already waiting at the Stone House.
“Father! Did you go see Grandmother? Are you in trouble?”
“Trouble? Hardly.”
Father, who had been heading toward his room, caught me as I rushed toward him and lifted me into his arms, meeting my eyes. After confirming that only Sherry was nearby, he whispered to me.
“You were already scolded yesterday by Berry. And you haven’t even written your reflection essay yet. Have you finished it? I gave you time alone.”
Since being competent was a secret, my writing ability had to remain hidden too. Only Sherry knew that I was supposed to write a reflection essay.
“I’ll write it tonight….”
I laughed awkwardly and dodged his sudden interrogation.
The reflection essay Father had told me to write—I’d completely forgotten about it while eavesdropping on the maids’ conversation yesterday.
It absolutely wasn’t because I didn’t want to write it.
“Write it tomorrow. Sleep tonight. We need to prepare for an outing. Where’s Theon?”
“Theon’s on the first floor! He went to wash his hands.”
“I see. Sherry, please help the children get ready to go out.”
“Yes, of course.”
Father set me down and went into his room, saying he’d change his clothes.
“See you later!”
I waved my hands excitedly, saying goodbye to Father, when I suddenly realized I’d been skillfully redirected.
‘He dodged the topic of my reflection essay…!’
He clearly didn’t want to tell me about meeting Grandmother. Would he have hidden it from the other me too?
I could guess well enough. The fact that Father returned so quickly meant he’d accepted whatever proposal Grandmother had made.
‘This is frustrating.’
Surely she hadn’t demanded compensation equal to the value of pearl earrings? If Father’s carefully accumulated fortune were handed over for such a trivial matter, I wouldn’t be able to bear it.
What could he possibly have agreed to give? I wouldn’t part with even 1 Cona easily.

***

The Punishment Room.
Confined there, Anne reflected on yesterday’s events.
She had been accused of stealing earrings without any explanation. They said earrings she’d never seen before had been discovered in her home.
It was Mariane, who had sent her as a spy to the Stone House, who revealed the truth of the matter to the bewildered Anne.

“From now on, you’ll be branded a thief. You’ll keep your life, but you’ll be cast out from the Trabel Estate.”
“M-Mariane, miss. I cannot leave the Trabel Estate.”

The servants of the Trabel Estate were provided with homes in the spaces between the walls where they could live together with their families.
Only the Trabel Family offered such benefits. It was something unimaginable in other noble houses.
Anne knelt before Mariane and pleaded.
I didn’t even know what wrong I had committed. I begged her not to cast me out, and a small pouch of gold coins was thrown before me.
My eyes wavered as I gauged the amount by the size of the pouch. It was enough to sustain myself without working as a maid any longer.
But—.

“You’ll need more money. Won’t you?”

Mariane spoke while gently waving her fan, as if she understood my circumstances perfectly.
I asked her.

“What is it that you desire from me…?”
“One of the doctrines the Aubaut Order holds dear is compassion. It is the heart to forgive those weaker than oneself.”
“….”
“I will arrange for you to attend a gathering where high-ranking nobles meet. There, you will confess what happened to you at Reytan’s hands. Then you will obtain the money you desire.”

I could not comprehend Mariane’s words.
What had happened to me because of Reytan, and what was I supposed to confess?
Mariane lowered her eyebrows and spoke to me with a tone of regret.

“It would truly be unfortunate if my brother cannot return to Grand Master because of such a scandal.”

***

We arrived at a shopping district in a town called Hisport, situated beside the Trabel Estate, by carriage.
After a light lunch, we stopped by the Clothing Shop.
“Splendid.”
“Perfect.”
Father and I sat on the sofa, nodding our heads and applauding. Before us stood Theon, who had just changed into new clothes.
Theon had always cut a striking figure, even in hand-me-downs.
But dressed in refined garments tailored perfectly to his frame and bearing, Theon was nothing short of flawless.
“How adorable you look! Just a moment—I think a ribbon necktie would suit you even better.”
“….”
The shop attendant caught Theon as he tried to approach us.
“Father, Theon’s embarrassed.”
I whispered to Father while keeping my gaze fixed on Theon, who was flustered by our applause.
Theon’s mouth was pressed into a thin line, but the tips of his ears had flushed crimson.
And when Father and I saw such a sight, we couldn’t help but feel the urge to tease him gently.
“Father, should we adopt Theon? What do you say?”
“That would be improper—Baron Voltman and his wife are still with us.”
“Then there’s another way. We could be adopted into the Voltman Family instead.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
As Father and I spoke with serious expressions, Theon, now finished with the ribbon necktie, approached us.
“…Should I ask Grandfather about this?”
Theon’s embarrassment had spread to his cheeks, and he’d taken our jest one step further.
Was he serious? If that was a joke, Theon possessed the talents of a true genius.
“Your sentiment is appreciated, but Baron Voltman would find himself in an awkward position, so let’s not pursue it.”
Father, satisfied with Theon’s navy and white ensemble, raised his hand to summon the shop manager.
“The outfit he’s wearing now is the finest. He’ll take it as is.”
“Thank you. Since you’ve purchased it for me, Master, I’ll treasure it and wear it carefully.”
Theon bowed deeply at the waist. Father, pleased by his first disciple’s gratitude, accepted the bow with a light laugh.
“By the way, Theon.”
“Yes?”
“You’ll need to treasure those clothes over there as well.”
I turned my head pointedly toward Theon. Shop attendants bustled about, carrying the garments we’d tried on.
They were all the clothes that Theon and I had worn here.
“Father’s already paid for everything.”
Theon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“One outfit would have been more than suffi-.”
“Reytan, would you mind signing the receipt?”
“Of course.”
The shop manager approached with a receipt and fountain pen on a golden tray.
Seeing Theon’s bewilderment, I seated him beside me and gestured toward the orange juice on the table.
“The juice is delicious.”
“Yeah.”
Theon picked up the juice glass and placed it in my hands.
…Why is he giving this to me?
He even put the straw in my mouth. It felt awkward to protest.
I silently sipped the juice through the straw, my gaze shifting toward Father and the shop manager.
“By the way, Reytan Quartz Trabel, Yosel’s Clothing Shop is also located within Hisport Town. Would it not be acceptable to visit there instead? Our shop is their competitor, after all….”
“Their style doesn’t suit me.”
“It is our honor that our Clothing Shop can match your preferences.”
Father handed the signed receipt to the shop manager along with the pen. Yet the manager, still holding the tray, remained standing as though he had unfinished business.
Unfinished business? This orange juice tastes delicious.
Father, I, and Theon all looked at the shop manager. Being at eye level, I was the first to spot the familiar paper.
Glub glub. I coughed through the straw, and tiny air bubbles rose and burst across the juice’s surface.
‘That… that’s….’
The shop manager was wiggling his fingers beneath the tray. A paper with a familiar handsome face was stuck to the underside, gradually revealing itself from the edges.
‘I don’t know what he’s trying to do, but it doesn’t seem like a good idea….’
I broke out in a cold sweat.
The blue eyes in the paper looked displeased, as though this situation was beneath him.
It was a wanted poster of Reytan Quartz Trabel.

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