I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 27

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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 27

The following morning.
Upon receiving Callet’s report of the auction incident at the Trabel Family Mansion in the Imperial Capital, Laxek burst into laughter so genuine that his facial muscles contorted with mirth.
“What a pity. Had it not been for His Majesty’s summons, I would not have missed such an entertaining spectacle.”
Callet could not fathom this amusement. The auction’s outcome was that Mariane had purchased the pearl earrings at twelve times their original price.
All because of Reytan Quartz Trabel’s capricious participation in the bidding!
‘I had hoped fatherhood would bring him maturity….’
Callet’s head throbbed.
His childhood friend—a man whose thoughts were utterly incomprehensible, yet one who would survive even if cast into hellfire itself.
‘I worry for Miss Berry.’
The maidservant who had been in the Punishment Room left the Trabel Estate with a pass bearing Reytan’s signature, while Mariane gained nothing and suffered only loss.
The repercussions might well reach Berry.
“Lady Mariane must be quite furious. And Her Ladyship as well—”
“Priscilla?”
Laxek, seated upon the sofa, rested his elbow upon the armrest and propped his forehead and chin in his hand. The wrinkled corners of his golden eyes gleamed with amusement. He was savoring this situation.
“Callet, the High Priest was also present when I met with His Majesty yesterday.”
“Indeed, sir.”
“He informed me in confidence that Reytan expressed his intention to return as Grand Master yesterday.”
“The young master said this?”
“Yes. It seems he was in good spirits as matters unfolded according to his desires. Judging by how he could not resist approaching me to speak, despite having done something outrageous.”
The High Priest, who had not ceased smiling, produced the ‘condition’ that Reytan had imposed, his expression turning disapproving.

“The young master Reytan requested a contract. Its contents stipulated that while he holds the position of Grand Master, we would provide the sacred power necessary for the blessings of the Trabel Family’s chosen candidates. However, I cannot fathom why it is Lord Hevanth’s name, rather than Lord Reytan’s, that appears in the signature line….”

The High Priest clearly disapproved, which was why he’d even disclosed the contract’s contents to me. He knew all too well how eagerly the Trabel Family scrutinized anyone’s accomplishments.
Laksek had also found Reytan’s actions disagreeable when he first heard about it. He’d thought the fool had simply discarded his own achievements again, doing whatever others asked of him.
But then—
“The contract was a transaction.”
“A transaction with Hevanth?”
“Tsk, tsk. At this point, what benefit would that fool gain by recruiting Hevanth?”
With Mariane orchestrating the scheme and Priscilla turning a blind eye, Reytan had seized victory.
Then, who would be the person most capable of wielding that contract efficiently?
‘Priscilla.’
Who else but my own wife, desperate to place my eldest son Hevanth in the position of family head?
The family head typically refrained from interfering in direct descendants’ affairs, but the Countess was different.
There was nowhere within the Trabel Family that Priscilla couldn’t reach.
I’d always wondered.
‘Whether Reytan truly possessed the touch of misfortune.’
When problems arose, he either drew his sword or abandoned his hand entirely—irresponsible behavior. Yet somehow, results always flowed according to Reytan’s desires.
There was a subtle gap, elusive yet palpable. Because of it, even with my golden eyes, I couldn’t be certain of Reytan’s intentions.
‘But this time, he used the very methods of the Trabel Family that he despises so much. In the old days, he would have spirited away a maid or sabotaged the auction, acting on impulse without regard for consequences. Now he’s joined hands with Priscilla for cleanup? Perhaps becoming a father meant he could no longer afford to play the fool.’
That’s why, upon receiving Callet’s report, I couldn’t help but laugh.
I was certain.
No matter how I looked at it, he was a man who knew how to wield his own hand as he wished.
The problem was that his intention amounted to maintaining the lowest rank.
“What a waste.”
I clicked my tongue.
“How much longer will he chase Brown’s ghost?”
Then I faltered at the name of my dead son that had escaped my lips unbidden. Callet did the same.
Silence descended. I cleared my throat and rose to my feet.
“Let’s go. Make sure to bring that as well in the carriage.”
“Yes. But, sir, what will you use that for?”
Callet asked, looking at the box I’d instructed him to take. Inside were items typically used when young children were learning their letters—there was no one in the Trabel Family who currently needed such things.
“Ahem, well. That small girl who resembles a puppy, you know? With those bright, sparkling eyes….”
“You mean Miss Berry?”
He didn’t understand why I was speaking in roundabout terms when I could simply say Miss Berry.
“Hmph. When did I ever say she was my youngest granddaughter? In any case, deliver it secretly to that house.”
….
At Callet’s questioning gaze, I spoke quietly.
“…She cannot read.”
Ah. A sigh escaped Callet’s lips.

***

This is no dream.
Hehehehe.
I opened my eyes early in the morning and slipped my hand into the pillow, retrieving a single sheet of paper.
Even though I’d watched it before falling asleep the night before, my lips still curved upward of their own accord.

———-
Thank you for keeping our secret.
In exchange, we pledge our allegiance to you.

Hati Rose Trabel
Mati Rose Trabel
———-

The Twins had written a pledge of allegiance with their own hands, and it was now in my possession!
It was the spoils of yesterday’s auction incident.
‘Well, it’s not actually binding, but—.’
I lay sprawled across the bed, swinging my legs, when Akum squeezed in beside me and settled into the space I’d made.
Splish. Splish.
The water-like protrusions along Akum’s back rippled gently.
‘It’s strange that I feel nothing when I touch them. When I reach out with my hand, it’s like my fingers pass right through water droplets.’
While I toyed with Akum, he read the pledge of allegiance with those massive blue eyes that consumed half his face.
[Quartz, you need to learn how to write a proper contract first. There’s no name, nothing. This is just a scrap of paper.]
“I did it on purpose. If I wrote my name, it would become evidence.”
[Evidence?]
“If the adults found out I’d become the Twins’ leader, it would turn into an adult conflict. Then Father would have a headache.”
There were three copies of the pledge.
Hati and Mati each kept one, and I kept one. Since there was no guarantee no one would discover them, it was best to be careful with what I wrote.
[Anyway. You Trabel people sure do things in a complicated way.]
Akum snorted dismissively.
“You have to complicate things if you want to survive~”
Maybe I’d learn how to write contracts properly around age eleven?
Until then, the Twins seemed like they could be kept quiet with this.
‘The problem is Calips, though….’
Calips was Aunt Mariane’s only son.
Once he found out that his mother, Aunt Mariane, had lost 1.2 billion, he wouldn’t stay still starting from today.
How could I get Calips to let me attend lessons peacefully?
In any case, it seemed best to hide the pledge of allegiance before anyone else came in.
‘I should leave it in the Room of Contemplation.’
As I hurried down from the bed, Akum naturally jumped up onto my shoulder.
[Little Quartz, you haven’t forgotten that you promised to help me with my manager duties, right?]
“Yes. So I just need to restore the water vein where the flow has weakened?”
I twisted the floral decoration on the fireplace pillar as I spoke. Creeeeak. The built-in cabinet slid sideways, revealing a hidden space. I stepped inside, closed the door, and continued my conversation with Akum.
[Exactly! When ancient language rises from the ground, you just need to read it! It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, just read it!]
According to Akum, beneath the Trabel Estate lay ancient languages that connected the water veins.
The ancient language underground rose at an extremely slow pace, and when it broke through the surface, water couldn’t flow smoothly, causing the water vein in that area to become blocked.
The caretaker’s role was to find the ancient language that had risen to ground level and push it back underground.
[Simply put, you give the ancient language nutrients to make it heavier. Humans gain weight when they eat a lot, right? Since ancient language is a type of language, you give it nutrients through speech!]
However, the Trabel Estate Grounds were too vast for the small Akum to patrol, which meant he had considerable difficulty finding the rising ancient language.
[It used to be easier when Quartz helped me. I must have slept too long this time. I can feel the water vein weakening, but I haven’t been able to find all the ancient language.]
“You said the letters have to glow for the ancient language to descend, right? Do you think I can do it?”
[Don’t worry. I still remember clearly when I first met your grandmother! The ancient language I hadn’t even read just started glowing. I was so startled! Quartz was the first human who could see and read ancient language.]
“Then I’m the second?”
[That’s right. I almost got startled when it happened with you too! It’s not a common occurrence! But you were Quartz’s granddaughter, and when I woke up, Quartz had….]
Recalling Grandmother’s death, Akum’s expression grew melancholy as if he might cry. I quickly tried to comfort him.
“Still, at least I was here when you woke up, right? Aren’t you sleepy now? You said you need to return to Stone House when you sleep.”
[Not really? It’s morning now. Let’s hurry to bed. We need to get out of here before the maid Sherry comes to wake you!]
Akum seemed to regard me as something like a friend’s granddaughter, often looking out for my circumstances.
A child being looked after by a lizard—it was peculiar, but his words made sense, so I left the memo behind and hurried out of the Room of Contemplation toward my bed.
Akum spoke excitedly from my shoulder.
[Since little Quartz can see me, you’ll be able to see the ancient language too!]
“Yes!”
I answered confidently, but this was precisely when danger lurked.
It was like someone saying: since your father was a Grand Master, you’ll become a Grand Master wielding Windis too.
Unrealistic things remain unknown until you experience them. What if I read the letters and nothing happens at all?
‘I hope the letters appear at least once when Akum isn’t around….’
Hoping for a chance to practice so I wouldn’t lose my partner’s trust, I heard a door open behind me as I sluggishly tried to climb into bed, and someone entered.
“Miss…!”
“…Huh?”
It wasn’t Sherry’s voice. My eyes widened as I slowly turned my head.
“Anne?”
“Yes!”
Why was Anne at Stone House?

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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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