I Will Try to Save My Dad - Chapter 60

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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 60

With Reytan accompanying them, Berry and Theon set out to buy a cake.
Since the Moonflower Inn was located on the outskirts of Hisport Town, they had to walk toward the Commercial District.

“That’s the Igselona Royal Family’s carriage, isn’t it? How magnificent.”

Just as Theon was about to follow Berry and Reytan into the cake shop, he paused.
The conversation of nearby passersby caught his attention, and when Theon turned his head, he found himself doubting his own eyes.
A carriage in deep wine-red with ornate gold decorations was passing right in front of him. The golden lion emblem carved beneath its door came directly into Theon’s line of sight.

“It’s something your father left behind long ago. Until you can stand before your father on your own, don’t let anyone discover it.”

It was the same emblem that adorned the pocket watch my mother had given me just before she drew her last breath. That was the royal emblem? Why did Father’s possession bear the mark of the Igselona Royal Family?
In Leaf Village, there had been no opportunity to see the royal emblem. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say I hadn’t seen it despite the opportunity. My mother had prevented me from viewing any information media that might feature the Igselona Royal Family since childhood.
Because of that, even after my mother’s death, I had grown into a child who showed interest in nothing but the sword. But now—
My heart pounded violently.
The royal emblem was engraved on my father’s possession. Theon turned to ask a passerby. Though he had never seen this person before, they seemed to know more about the royal family than he did.

“Can anyone carry a pocket watch engraved with the royal emblem?”
“My goodness, young master. If just anyone did, they’d face severe punishment. Only members of the Igselona Royal Family can have the royal emblem engraved on their possessions.”

That answer only deepened Theon’s confusion.
‘Did Mother know? If he’s royalty, he must be wealthy. Then perhaps Mother could have had better medicine….’
Countless thoughts churned through Theon’s mind.
Theon was good at restraint. Because of that, even when unfamiliar situations stirred his emotions, he was slow to recognize what those emotions truly were.

“Theon! Father says he’ll add extra snack money as consolation for taking away your allowance! Huh? Oh my. Theon should eat two cakes. Right? Father?”
“Something sweet is best when you’re sad.”
“…I’m not sad at all though?”
“I see.”
“Right.”

It was strange. When Berry and Reytan saw me enter the shop, they said I looked sad. Yet my reflection in the display case glass looked exactly the same as always.
They didn’t ask anything further. That day, Theon’s cake came with two extra strawberries on top.
Sleep eluded me that night. The golden-maned lion emblem I’d glimpsed during the day kept churning through my mind.
After a sleepless night of contemplation, Theon had set his goal.
‘I must become strong enough to stand confidently before the royal family.’
If I became a Sword Master, I could stand before the Emperor. Once I reached that height, perhaps I could discover who my father was. When I met him, I had questions to ask.
Father.
Why didn’t you save Mother?
“….”
Theon shook his head, trying to dispel the emotion. One night of tears over this matter was enough.
‘How curious.’
How did Berry know I was sad just by looking at me?
Theon finished wiping away the sweat with his towel and entered the Training Hall.
Another unfamiliar emotion rippled through him.

***

Sigh.
I exhaled quietly as I arrived at the Main Estate. Grandfather’s Study was right ahead, but I couldn’t muster the courage to knock.
‘Ugh.’
If I go in, he’ll definitely lecture me about the Edward equation, won’t he? Should I strike first instead? What if he gives me such difficult problems?
‘Fine. Let’s do that!’
I raised my fist. Just as I was about to knock on the door, my hand dropped limply.
No, let me think a bit more about what to say.
“Why are you lurking outside someone’s room like a thief?”
“Eek!”
At the thunderous voice that suddenly came from above my head, my body sprang up like a coil. My forehead nearly hit the door, but a large hand slipped in and cradled my head.
It was Grandfather.
“Oh, hello!”
Grandfather’s hand covered half my face, blocking my view. Actually, that was better. His golden eyes were far too intimidating.
“Did you come to be scolded?”
“Pardon?”
“I heard your mathematics score was a complete disaster. Come in. And what’s with all these spectators you’ve brought along? Honestly.”
Spectators?
Grandfather removed his hand from my face as he opened the Study door.
Peeking around the corner of the corridor were the Twins and Calips, their heads craned to watch. The moment our eyes met, they quickly pulled back.
They’d come to witness me being scolded by Grandfather.
‘In that case….’
I should give them what they came for. That way, Aunt Mariane and Uncle Yosel would hear that I’d been properly reprimanded.
I put on a dejected expression, let my shoulders droop, and entered the Study as Grandfather held the door open.
“Get inside quickly. My hand hurts.”
“Yes….”
After closing the Study door, Count Trabel walked to the sofa and sat down, gesturing for me to take the seat across from him.
I toddled over and gripped the sofa’s edge with both hands.
‘Huh?’
I’d planned to climb up, but Grandfather’s Study sofa was higher than the one in the Commander’s Office. Was it custom-made for him?
“Are you still carrying that stone around?”
“Yes. I have it with me right now.”
I’d asked Akum beforehand to turn back into a stone, and I’d tucked it safely in my pocket. There was no risk of getting scolded for Akum being absent.
Either way, right now it was just Grandfather and me. That meant I had to climb onto the sofa by myself.
I gripped the sofa and jumped with all my might.
Bounce.
“….”
Bounce.
“…Heh….”
Was that laughter?
I spun around in surprise. Grandfather was watching me with an expression like stone. Had I misheard?
“…Um. I don’t need to sit on the sofa.”
“That’s because your legs are short.”
At such a blunt assessment directed at his seven-year-old granddaughter, my mouth fell open.
“They’re not short…!”
“Sure they aren’t. You’re even smaller than that wolf cub your father dragged in from somewhere.”
“I’m bigger than Jeffrey…?!”
“Not another word.”
Grandfather clicked his tongue and lifted me onto the sofa. As I sank deep into the backrest and blinked, I could see Grandfather settling back into the sofa across from me.
Those terrifying golden eyes. No matter how many times I faced them, I never grew accustomed to them.
I swallowed hard.
“Now then, let’s talk about your mathematics exam.”
Here it comes. Maybe I should have spoken first after all?
“G-Grandfather. The math exam paper was strange-.”
“You don’t want anyone to know you’re clever?”
At his sudden question, I gasped in shock.
Those eyes seemed to know everything. Still, I thought I should play dumb, so I barely managed to move my frozen lips to ask a question.
“W-what, hic, what do you-.”
Perhaps from breathing wrong, hiccups came pouring out in succession.
“What do you mean? I mean that you’ve been causing trouble for my aide.”
“Yes…? Hic.”
Grandfather poured water from a glass on the table between the sofas as he continued speaking.
“That clever girl. Do you know how hard Callet worked trying to find who solved the Edward equation problem? It’s impossible to find someone so small.”
“I’ve never heard of….”
“Don’t even think about playing innocent. Not before I throw out those people your father brought into my house.”
“Wow. That’s so unfair.”
Oh no. The moment Grandfather mentioned throwing out Theon, Anne, and Jeffrey, the words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.
Grandfather laughed at my outburst as if it were ridiculous.
“I am Count Trabel, am I not? If you’re so upset about it, then you sit in my seat instead.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Good.”
Then he rose to his feet and pressed a glass of water into my hands. Somewhere along the way, my hiccups had stopped.
“Are you naturally left-handed?”
Instead of answering, I fidgeted with the decorative pattern on the glass. I wasn’t sure how much Grandfather knew, but he seemed utterly convinced that I was the culprit who solved Calips’s mathematics book.
‘There’s no way out of this now.’
I lowered my head. My lips puffed out. I wanted to pull them back in, but my face wouldn’t obey.
“You’ve done such a good job pretending to be right-handed all this time. You solved the Edward equation with your left hand, didn’t you?”
“…”
Plink. Plonk.
As Grandfather pressed the question again, as if interrogating me, tears began to fall, splashing into the water in the glass.
“…Dad…”
Grandfather had discovered that I was competent.
“Are you… crying?”
I was a strange child who carried memories of being an adult, so I couldn’t cry like a seven-year-old. I needed to quickly tell Grandfather that I wasn’t the one who solved the math problems.
“Waahhh—”
Once the tears started, they wouldn’t stop easily.
I was terrified. Father couldn’t die. I had to be capable.
“Hic, hic.”
“Oh dear. What do I do? Hmm?”
Grandfather had come before me and was flustered, dabbing my cheeks with a handkerchief.
“Dad—”
“Does it hurt? I’ll be gentle. Ahem, I need to give that Callet a piece of my mind. Who made our youngest granddaughter cry like this? Callet!”
“Yes, you called for me.”
At Grandfather’s loud summons, Uncle Callet entered the Study and, finding me choking back sobs, sighed and asked.
“…Did I upset her?”
“Upset her, my foot!”
“Hic—”
“No, it’s not directed at you.”
“…”
Count Trabel, squatting before his weeping seven-year-old granddaughter, fumbling for words.
Uncle Callet quietly closed the Study door.

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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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