I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 29

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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 29

“I brought a maid to the Moonflower Inn.”
There was no need for subtle interrogation.
When I asked Theon what he’d done on Father’s errand yesterday, he told me everything that had happened without hesitation.
He said Anne had wept upon seeing Jeffrey alive and well. The Innkeeper Woman had told her that “Young Master Reytan saved your brother,” and from that moment, my father had become Anne’s benefactor.
‘So Father intended to help Anne from the start?’
It had to be Jeffrey’s situation that moved him. Father had always been weak when it came to children my age suffering.
‘Our father’s heart is far too tender—that’s his weakness.’
In any case, Theon had been so forthright in telling me that I found myself worrying about him instead.
Father must have instructed Theon to keep it secret. Theon had also said yesterday that he’d used training as an excuse when speaking to others.
“Is it really okay to tell me things like this?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Then why did you tell me?”
Theon fell silent at my question. We were holding hands as we walked toward the Education Hall, and Theon planned to leave me there before returning to his training.
Wake up and train, eat breakfast and train, eat lunch and train. Even after dinner, sometimes train.
Most of Theon’s days as Father’s disciple consisted of training.
Becoming a Grand Master was no trivial feat.
‘Theon Phil Igselona awakened as a Sword Master at twenty-two, didn’t he?’
Masterless Holy Swords are kept in the Grand Temple.
The Sword Masters of the Heishal Empire were obligated to wield a masterless Holy Sword at least once, and Theon Phil Igselona was no exception.
Windis chose Theon Phil Igselona as its next master.
It happened three years after Father’s death.
‘I’m sorry, Theon. In this life, I’ll have to wait until Father retires.’
It might be impossible. Once he became Emperor, he’d be exempt from the Holy Sword’s obligations.
…Am I trampling on Theon’s dreams?!
As that thought struck me suddenly, I was mentally apologizing to Theon about ten times over.
That was when Theon finally spoke.
“I don’t know.”
“Hm? I didn’t catch that.”
I turned my head to the side, and my eyes met Theon’s, who was looking at me.
Though it might be strange to compare a person to an animal, Theon’s dark eyes sometimes reminded me of a puppy’s.
“I shouldn’t have said it, so why did I?”
“…I don’t know either….”
It was a riddle.
“You probably know the answer, Theon. Tell me when you figure it out later.”
“Okay.”
Theon fell silent again at my words, his expression troubled.
So Father was involved in Anne’s escape after all, wasn’t he?
Anne being cleared of suspicion and getting dismissed—that meant Priscilla helped Father with his plan.
There was no way Priscilla would have been so cooperative out of mere goodwill, so it was safe to assume some kind of deal had been struck.
‘How much did Father pay her that Priscilla wielded enough influence to keep Aunt Mariane completely in check?’
I figured I’d learned enough about the adults’ affairs.
I couldn’t completely trust Anne, but she didn’t seem to harbor any ill will toward Father.
‘More importantly, though….’
There were the children’s circumstances to consider.
The words the Twins had spoken last evening while drafting their subordinate agreement echoed vividly in my mind.

“…I’ve written it all down.”
“Ugh. Do I really have to write this kind of thing?”
“I’m so happy that my sister and brother are my subordinates now. I’m counting on you!”
“Stop with the pleasantries. And don’t you ever do something like that again.”
“Do what?”
“A few days ago, you caught frogs and left them in front of our house! The sack was hopping all over the entrance! The servants said there were dozens of bullfrogs inside it…. The croaking sound—.”
“Eek. Mati, stop. It’s gross…!”

Mati’s voice wavered as he spoke, and Hati covered her ears and shook her head.
So the reason the Twins had been terrified when they saw me at the Education Hall was because they’d witnessed the sack containing dozens of bullfrogs.
A large sack hopping about as dozens of bullfrogs croaked in unison….
‘Ugh. Just imagining it gives me chills.’
I tried to figure out who could have done it, but there was only one person.
Theon.
Only I and Theon knew that the Twins had tried to throw bullfrogs at me.
‘Why did he do that?’
I was curious, but I didn’t ask Theon. It seemed better to keep the identity of Emerald House’s frog terrorist to myself.
‘Did he take my side?’
I felt inexplicably happy. Was this what it felt like to have an older brother?
Hehe. I shook Theon’s hand, which I’d been holding. Theon looked bewildered and asked.
“Do you have something to say?”
“No, I’m just happy~”
“About what?”
“About you, Theon!”
At those words, Theon fell silent again, his face lost in thought.

***

A heavy sigh escaped me.
I gazed at the closed classroom door and took a deep breath. To maintain my image as the lowest-ranked student, I always arrived five minutes before class began.
Which meant all my relatives were already inside the classroom. Especially Calips.
‘Aunt Mariane must have made quite a scene. Calips would know about it too.’
Ugh. Today might be the day something actually falls on my head.
I turned the doorknob and cracked the door open slightly, then stepped back and pushed it with my foot. I’d intended to push gently, but my shoe sole slipped, and my leg shot forward.
Ah, I’m tearing apart…!
“Uh, ah, ah.”
Thud!
My leg nearly extended a full 180 degrees, but my superior survival instinct kicked in—I bent my knee and planted my foot on the ground.
I steadied my racing heart and looked down. The doorframe was directly beneath me. If something had fallen from above, it would have hit me straight on. But nothing fell.
“Ahem, well.”
I cleared my throat awkwardly, but the silence around me was deafening.
When the door opened, I’d caught a glimpse of my relatives sitting in their seats.
‘The air feels heavy.’
I lifted my head. My relatives were staring at me.
Every single one wore a rigid expression. Even the gentle Ciel was expressionless.
Fallout from yesterday, perhaps. The atmosphere was ice-cold.
Normally in situations like this, I’d gauge my relatives’ moods and quietly take my seat—
But I grinned.
“Good morning, sisters and brothers!”
That was a different version of me.
I smiled brightly and waved my hand. Especially toward the two sitting directly behind me!
“Oh… good morning.”
“…Hello.”
When my subordinates returned my greeting, Ciel looked slightly surprised, and Calips kicked his desk with an audible thud.
“Hati, Mati. What are you doing?”
They must have coordinated to ignore me completely when I arrived.
“…We’re just greeting her.”
“Mother says we should always greet people.”
At the Twins’ excuse, Calips ground his teeth.
Soon enough, Madam Frea would arrive. I took my seat.
Through the window, I could see the blue sky. Beautiful weather today.
‘I want to visit the Grand Temple. They say it’s like stepping into another world entirely.’
The Aubaut Order’s symbolic color was white. When the Grand Temple was built, all visible exterior materials were white, creating the sensation of walking through a dream, or so they said.
But the Grand Temple was a place only authorized individuals and their companions could enter.
In my memories, Father had promised to take me to the Grand Temple once I was older, but he never kept that promise.
Now that Theon is here, perhaps the future will unfold differently!
Thud—!
“Ow.”
I was lost in thought, gazing out the window.
A sharp gust of wind swept past my face. I flinched, my eyes snapping open reflexively as I turned my head—and found someone leaning against my desk with one hand, their figure coming into focus.
“Hey.”
Copper-colored eyes with a piercing gaze fixed on me, sharp as the chestnut hair that fell loosely across their shoulders.
It was Calips.
Beneath the hand pressing against my desk lay a newspaper, apparently placed there with enough force by Calips to create that wind.
As I looked at Calips with my bangs blown back, he twisted his mouth into a sneer.
“What are you grinning about?”
“I’m not grinning.”
I truly wasn’t. Calips seemed surprised that I’d answered back, his brow furrowing.
“You didn’t even pay your respects this morning? Do you know what the Countess said?”
How would I know what the Countess said this morning? I wasn’t even there.
I shook my head to indicate I didn’t know, and Calips continued.
“She said to be nice to you.”
“Oh.”
Now I was even more curious about the deal between Father and the Countess.
How much had she been paid to say such a thing?
“Do you know why the Countess took your side? Why she told them not to touch someone like you?”
“No…?”
“Because you’re pitiful.”
“Stop it, Calips.”
Ciel, unable to bear it any longer, stood up and tried to stop him.
But at Calips’s next words, she froze mid-step.
“Because you’re an illiterate fool.”
Wow.
An astonished exclamation escaped from the Twins sitting behind me.

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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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