I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 28

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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 28

Mornings at the Trabel Estate followed an immutable rhythm.
The direct family members would visit the Main Estate to share breakfast with the Count and Countess.
Though not strictly mandatory, it had become custom ever since Hevanth, the eldest son, began bringing his household for morning greetings after his marriage—and now Mariane and Yosel never missed a day, faithfully leading their own families to the Main Estate.
Today proved no exception to this routine.
Gathered at the table were the direct descendants, save for Count Trabel who had gone to the Imperial Capital, Quartz and her daughter who had never once visited, and Kane who remained at the Academy.
“….”
Mariane sliced a tomato with her knife, her mind drifting back to yesterday’s events.
The moment the auction concluded, she had sought out her mother.
What Mariane had requested of Priscilla was simple: ‘Watch over me, no matter what I do.’
She had sworn that Reytan would never return to the position of Grand Master—that she would ensure it herself. But since the plan had unraveled, didn’t she owe Priscilla an explanation?
She had swallowed her bitter loss of 1.2 billion cona and gone to Priscilla with a heavy heart.
Priscilla, who had been waiting briefly in the anteroom after overseeing the auction’s conclusion, embraced Mariane before she could even speak.

“How fortunate. That you won the bid, Mariane.”
“…Pardon?”
“The earring was counterfeit, wasn’t it? Reytan apparently knew beforehand and participated in the auction intending to win it himself—to conceal my shame. But since he couldn’t afford the price, it seems he yielded to you instead.”
“….”

Yielded. What a mockery of a word.
That wretch had toyed with her. Knowing full well the earring was counterfeit! How dare he!
Priscilla’s hand came to rest upon Mariane’s flushed cheek. She caressed her daughter’s face with maternal tenderness as she spoke.

“I’ve released the maid from the Punishment Room.”
“You released her?”
“If it’s counterfeit, how could I accuse her of theft?”
“Mother, you should have consulted me before releasing the maid—!”
“Did I not realize I needed to report such trivial matters to you?”

It felt as though Mariane had been struck hard on the back of her head. Her own mother had moved in concert with Reytan.
She had sought out Anne to vent her frustration, but the girl had vanished without a trace throughout the night.
Yet this morning, she received the most absurd news: Anne had been dismissed from her position for knocking Priscilla’s Attendant unconscious, and had been hired by Reytan instead.
Anne had slipped from her grasp.
Since Anne was no longer a maid of the Trabel Estate, she could impose no punishment. Since Anne remained within the Trabel Estate, she could not send assassins after her.
‘That reckless wretch.’
She had momentarily forgotten that Reytan possessed such keen instincts in these matters. His epithet, the Minus Hand, stemmed only from his inability to produce results. Yet his bestial sense for detecting enemies who threatened his life remained razor-sharp.
The image of sixteen-year-old Reytan flickered through Mariane’s mind—surviving the carriage accident, returning alone, those blue eyes fixed upon her with such severity.
‘How much does he know, and how far is he willing to act?’
Mariane ground her teeth.
“My dear.”
Her husband, seated beside her, called to her quietly.
Only then did Mariane emerge from her thoughts and become aware of her surroundings. Her hands, gripping fork and knife, had tensed considerably.
Juice spurted from the tomato she had hacked apart carelessly, staining the white tablecloth.
She had no appetite anyway. It was then that Mariane set down her utensils.
“These past few days, the Mansion has hardly been peaceful.”
Priscilla, seated beside Hevanth, the eldest son, opened her mouth. After instructing a maid to bring warm tea, she continued.
“Because of that, my head has been aching terribly of late. For the time being, I would prefer no disturbances within the Mansion. Especially, I would hope for no unseemly incidents among family members.”
Though she had couched it in the word “family,” it was clearly an instruction not to provoke Reytan.
A short, hollow laugh escaped Mariane’s lips, and her husband and the Yosel couple stared at Priscilla in surprise.
Only Hevanth immediately assented to his mother’s words.
“Of course. Family bonds must remain strong.”
‘Has that man lost his mind?’
Mariane regarded Hevanth, seated across from her. His wife, too, was nodding with a gentle smile in her eyes.
….
Unable to comprehend the behavior of the eldest couple, Mariane turned her head to the side.
With her husband between them, her eyes met Yosel’s.
Yosel held his breath, frightened by Mariane’s gaze, then shook his head briefly and rapidly to indicate he knew nothing of this situation either.
Priscilla turned to the opposite end of the table and spoke again in a gentle tone.
“Children.”
It was where Ciel, Calips, Mati, and Hati sat. The children were all watching the adults carefully, sensing the hostile atmosphere above the table.
“You heard what your uncle just said, didn’t you? You must all get along well too. Including Berry.”
As if telling them to befriend a stone that had rolled in.
“Ciel, you must lead them well. With Kane gone, you are the eldest among them, are you not?”
Though they did not wish to, these children had been raised from infancy hearing from their parents that they must never displease their grandmother and grandfather.
The children suppressed their reluctance and forced out their response.
…Yes.

***

I had hoped Anne would flee far from the Trabel Estate.
To live happily somewhere distant, with Jeffrey once he recovered.
Life in a foreign land would not be easy, but the Heishal Empire was a society where even commoners could earn money. Anne had skillful hands, so she could make a living without working as a maid.
But then.
‘Why is Anne still at the Trabel Estate?’
I sat on the bed, staring at Anne with a dumbfounded expression. Anne, who had entered my room with Sherry, showed no signs of injury anywhere.
Anne spoke with pride.
“The Countess said I’m not a thief!”
“Grandmother? Directly?”
[What? What?]
At this unexpected sound, I found myself asking for clarification. Akum perked up his ears with interest.
Sherry sighed as she spoke.
“Well, what can we do. She was dismissed.”
“Dismissed?”
“Yes. Last evening, the Countess sent someone to the Punishment Room to release Anne, but Anne knocked that attendant unconscious. Because of that, starting today, Anne is no longer a maid of the Trabel Family.”
“Sherry, how could you tell the young lady such an embarrassing story?”
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Her sick brother is a concern—who knows how long he’d be trapped in the Punishment Room? Jeffrey’s health is poor. A cornered rat will bite a cat, won’t it?”
Anne placed her hands confidently on her hips and spoke.
She felt like a completely different person from the Anne I’d seen days ago. Back then, she’d been constantly watching for information, trying to glean anything useful. Now, Anne seemed like someone with nothing to fear.
Was that because she’d lost her job?
‘Did the future change because Jeffrey survived?’
I had no memory of Anne being dismissed.
Still, this seemed better. I offered Anne a farewell.
“Sister Anne, you’re leaving? Go and live well.”
I wanted to mention not forgetting the ten thousand cona and hiding it at the Moonflower Inn, but I didn’t voice it. The note was a secret, after all. Fortunately, Anne had never mentioned anything about the note until now.
Anne stood motionless after receiving my farewell.
“Leaving? What a sad thing to say. I’m now a maid employed by Master Reytan.”
“Huh?”
“Finding a job right after losing one. Aren’t I quite capable?”
“Anne… Master Reytan saved your life.”
What was this?
I understood that Anne was dismissed from the Trabel Family, but she was hired by Father?
In a single night?
I couldn’t follow the flow of this conversation at all.
‘Wait, before that—’
Anne was a spy sent by Aunt Mariane.
My head filled with question marks. As I stood confused, Anne clenched her fist with a determined expression.
“That’s right, Sherry. Master Reytan saved me. So I will pledge my loyalty to Master Reytan! Even if he uses me without pay, I will stay by his side for life and repay his kindness.”
“Then do so.”
“You won’t betray us either, will you, Sherry? Not even if someone offered you a purse of gold coins.”
“That’s right. Advice born from experience—I’ll keep it in mind.”
Sherry smiled with words that carried weight, and Anne bid me farewell, asking for my lifelong support.
I awkwardly clasped Anne’s hand in return.

***

Father had definitely done something.
It was around the time I finished breakfast. Akum had left to search for ancient texts.
I stared intently at Father, who sat beside me eating. Our eyes met as he sensed my gaze.
“Berry, you’ve got jam on your sleeve.”
“Oh?”
Apricot jam from my plate had smeared onto my sleeve. Father reached over and wiped it clean with a napkin.
“Thank you.”
“Yes. Finish your meal.”
During breakfast, I tried to probe Father about last night’s events, but as expected, he skillfully dodged my leading questions.
The only information I managed to extract was that Father would be visiting the Grand Temple tomorrow.
He said we had to depart tomorrow before Windis went berserk, as we needed to arrive in time.
“Can I come with you?”
“…To the Grand Temple? It’s a two-day carriage ride, so we’d be away for at least five days. Wouldn’t that be difficult?”
“Come on, that’s nothing~ I’m seven years old now, after all.”
“Think about it until evening.”
“Okay! You want to go too, don’t you, Theon?”
“I… that’s fine. My master told me to stay with you.”
“See! So you should just come with me and Father! We’ll be able to see Windis at the Grand Temple, right?”
“Windis?”
Theon’s voice across the table suddenly brightened. Either way, Father was a dead end.
‘I’d feel better if I knew why Father hired Anne.’
At the Trabel Estate, I had to distinguish between today’s allies and enemies every single day.
There was no one who would spell out the adults’ hidden agendas in detail to a seven-year-old.
Where would I even find out about this?
I turned my head left and right, surveying my surroundings. My gaze settled on Theon, whose eyes gleamed brightly as he looked at Father.

“I’m going to run an errand for my master.”

Oho. One person found.

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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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