I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 31

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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 31

Madam Frea sought out Serber the moment she arrived at work. She needed to check on the assignment she had given Berry Quartz Trabel the day before.
Yet when the butler met her exacting gaze, he could only offer empty hands in embarrassment.
“Miss Berry hasn’t submitted the assignment?”
“Ah, well… I was occupied yesterday afternoon and wasn’t in the butler’s office. And today, the young lady—”
“She didn’t submit it.”
Serber’s attempt at making excuses on Berry’s behalf died on his lips, cut short by Madam Frea’s razor-sharp words.
There was nothing more to discuss. Madam Frea turned and left the butler’s office.
‘I expected at least a week of diligence. Already?’
Perhaps I had grown complacent after seeing such promise.
How many children of noble houses had I cultivated?
Berry Quartz Trabel. I could not allow her to remain at a level where she would fail the Academy entrance examination.
‘I need to push harder.’
Madam Frea walked down the corridor with her spine perfectly straight. Someone approached from the opposite direction, moving with equal composure.
Flawless gait and expression—the legendary figure who had held the Academy’s top rank for five consecutive years, and Count Trabel’s youngest aide, Callet Lambart.
“Good morning, Madam.”
“Good morning, Aide.”
It was only natural for Madam Frea to treat him favorably as an educator. They exchanged brief pleasantries in gentle tones, and she was about to continue on her way when—
Callet made an unexpected request.
“Baroness Hobant, if I may be so bold, might I ask you for a favor?”
“What is it?”
At her affirmative response, Callet withdrew a notebook and fountain pen from his inner pocket.
“Would you write down the Edward Equation for me?”
At the mention of that notoriously difficult equation, Madam Frea’s hand—now holding the fountain pen—froze in midair.
“Are you testing me?”
“Not at all. The Count asked about it in passing, but it’s been so long since I studied it that I can’t quite recall. Since you oversee the heir’s education, I thought you might know it better than I would.”
“I see…”
Madam Frea drew out her response as her hand moved slowly with the pen. Her mind raced. The two-line equation—composed of intricate formulas and obsessive combinations—flickered between clarity and obscurity in her thoughts.
But I had to remember. My pride depended on it.
At least he hadn’t asked me to solve it. I wasn’t confident I could manage that.
Madam Frea searched her memory and wrote out the equation.
“Is this correct?”
“…”
It was correct. It had to be. Madam Frea asked him with a satisfied feeling. Yet the corners of Callet’s mouth were pressed in a peculiar way.
As if the equation I had written displeased him somehow. Madam Frea pushed her glasses up with her fingertip and spoke.
“…Would you like me to provide the proof as well?”
“Would you like me to prove it for you?”
“No, thank you for your help, Baroness Hobant.”
Callet snapped his notebook shut with a crisp sound and tucked it into his inner pocket. Before he could take a step, his polite expression of gratitude made it abundantly clear that he was far from satisfied with my answer.
Madam Frea left the Main Estate with an unsettling feeling gnawing at her. She crossed over to the Education Hall and opened the classroom door.
And she found herself puzzled by the absence of someone who should have been there.

“Good morning! Madam Frea!”

The pink-haired young lady who cheerfully greeted her with such spirited disregard for every lesson in etiquette she had taught was nowhere to be found.
Madam Frea’s gaze drifted to the empty desk by the window in the first row. The familiar stack of papers was what she had given yesterday, and atop it lay a thick book. It appeared to be placed there to prevent the assignment from being blown away by the wind.
Had she completed her assignment and left it at her seat?
“It seems Miss Berry Quartz Trabel has not yet arrived.”
“She’s not coming today.”
Calips answered.
With his fingers interlaced behind his head and his body reclined at an angle against the backrest, he exuded an air of composure.
Ciel beside him glanced sideways at him before returning her attention to the book she had been studying.
The twins in the front row were no different. They were reading a history book. With the end-of-month evaluation two weeks away, this was a natural sight.
“She’s not coming? That’s not something one should say to the head butler—”
Something flickered through Madam Frea’s mind.
Was that what Serber the head butler had been trying to tell her earlier when he said, “Today, the young lady…”?
“Go look. She left something there.”
Calips gestured cheerfully toward Berry’s desk. Madam Frea moved closer and lifted the book that had been weighing down the assignment.
“….”
A single sheet of paper revealed itself atop the pristine assignment.

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Field Study Application Form
Applicant: Berry Quartz Trabel
Duration: One week starting today
Content: Grand Temple visit
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A sheet with the same sentences written twice.
The worm-like handwriting below was Berry’s, and the neat, precise script above was—
“Mati… Hati…?”
Madam Frea called out to the twins quietly, holding the paper.
‘Tch. We’re caught…!’
‘Mom…’
The twins bowed their heads even lower over the open history book.

11. The Savior of the Aubaut Order

‘Since I showed genuine sincerity at the temple, perhaps I’ve softened their opinion of me a bit.’
Besides, field studies were an activity that Count Trabel actively encouraged.
I swung my legs as I sat in the moving carriage.
About two hours had passed since leaving Count Trabel’s Residence. It was around the time Madam Frea would discover the application form.
“You look like you’re in a good mood.”
“I am! I’m so excited to see the Grand Temple.”
Father, sitting beside me, placed his hand on my forehead. It was already the nth time. After checking that nothing hurt, he lowered his hand and asked.
“You’re keeping the stone Count Trabel gave you safe, right?”
“It’s inside the cloth pouch Sherry made for me.”
I answered while touching the pouch that held Akum, now transformed into a stone.
Yesterday afternoon.
After returning from the Education Hall, I followed Father around, persuading him that I absolutely had to go to the Grand Temple.
It wasn’t easy, as expected. Father had already made up his mind to leave me and Theon behind.

“Do you really want to go?”
“I think I’ll regret it if I don’t.”

But I had also resolved to take Father with me to visit Theon’s grandfather.
After my persistent requests, Father stepped out briefly and returned with one condition.

“You can go, but make sure you bring what Count Trabel gave you.”
“…What is it?”
“Something small and pretty.”

It was easy enough to guess where Father had gone. He had visited Grandfather, who had just returned from the Imperial Capital.
In the end, Father also learned that Grandfather had given me Grandmother’s keepsake because of this incident.
When I finally understood what the small, beautiful object was, Father’s expression grew complicated for a moment, but he didn’t show it to me. He only said to keep it well since Grandfather had given it to me.
Sherry made a pouch that could be attached to my waist so I wouldn’t lose it.
At this point, there was no denying it. Grandfather and Father clearly believed that I wouldn’t fall ill as long as I carried Akum with me.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t been sick since coming to Trabel.’
It was strange. If I had still been living in Bonwell Village, I would have had a fever at least twice by now.
Was it really because of Akum that I wasn’t falling ill?
‘But the other me never had a private conversation with Grandfather, never received a stone, and never even saw Akum.’
Yet I grew up healthy until twenty-four. Perhaps Akum, the steward of Trabel, knew something about my chronic condition.
‘I’ll have to ask when I return.’
Akum had said he would be forced to sleep outside Count Trabel’s Residence.
But first, I needed to accomplish the purpose of this trip!
I turned my head toward Theon, who sat alone across from me. He had been staring out the window the whole time.
After passing through Hisport Town, it was all meadows, so the same scenery kept unfolding—it must be boring.
“Theon, are you having fun?”
“It’s fascinating.”
“Fascinating?”
“I came this way when I arrived at Trabel. I thought it would be a long time before I traveled this road again, but it’s fascinating to be going the same way.”
Theon continued to gaze out the window, and his eyes seemed tinged with longing. The timing was perfect. I casually asked Father.
“Father, don’t we need to visit Theon’s grandfather and grandmother? You said we’d be passing that way.”
“I was planning to visit them on the way back from the Grand Temple.”
Whoosh. Whoosh. Theon’s head turned toward me. My head also lifted toward Father.
“Really?”
“Really?”
At our hopeful gazes, Father paused for a moment, then smiled.
“Of course. I arbitrarily made my grandson my disciple, after all.”
What a windfall!
Theon’s face brightened. Facing his joy, I spoke cheerfully as well.
“Perfect. Show me around your village~”
“Okay.”
I had achieved one small goal. I leaned back against the seat comfortably, though perhaps I leaned back too far.
“Berry, should I open the window if you get carsick?”
“Mm.”
Seeing me in an almost horizontal position, Father opened the carriage window for me.
Through the open window, I could hear sounds from outside. Anne, sitting on the driver’s seat, was chatting with the coachman.
They were debating whether rice balls tasted better with a light sprinkle of sugar or with salt.
“Sugar, obviously.”
Father and I murmured the same thing at the same time, which startled Theon.
So he was on the salt side.

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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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