Raising the Grand Duke of the North as a Farmer Behind Dad’s Back - Chapter 62

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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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Episode 62
“Huh? Ruslan!”
The adults were waving at him.
“Come over here! Have some potatoes at least…… Wait, where did our Haniel go?”
They seemed to be taking a rest after finishing their work.
Ruslan’s wandering gaze swept quickly across the residents’ faces.
Paul and Hans, Rooster, Bark, Helen, and the others…….
All of them looked kind-hearted.
‘What was that look just now?’
Ruslan felt an inexplicable unease settle over him and pulled the hood up over his head.
“I’m fine, thanks.”
The boy answered curtly and left the Veil River Region.
One of the residents who had been watching the children rose abruptly.
“Huh? Where are you headed?”
“Oh, something just occurred to me…….”
* * *
I ran hard.
Crossing through the village after leaving the river region, I turned the situation over in my mind.
‘It seems the Emperor must have heard rumors from the Northern Region.’
But…… why confiscate our Rye all of a sudden?
How did they even know the Rye was coming our way in the first place?
The timing felt far too convenient.
My eyes narrowed.
‘……Someone tipped them off!’
I was beginning to piece together what had happened.
“Argh! My Rye!”
It was just as I was entering the narrow path that led to the Grand Duke’s Residence.
Peep!
“Ow!”
I skidded to an abrupt halt.
“I was about to…….”
I nearly stepped on something!
A bright yellow chick that had suddenly appeared was staring up at me.
I’d almost become a chick murderer!
“You little things!!!”
These were the chicks I’d been raising at the Grand Duke’s Residence. Four of them, no less!
It seemed the Grand Duke must have left in such a hurry that he’d flung open the courtyard gate wide.
I quickly gathered the chicks scattering in all directions. But one of them…….
Peep-peep!
Slipped from my hands and entered full rebellion mode……!
“Oh, come on.”
Just then, a large hand appeared from somewhere and caught the chick.
“Ah, thank you so much…….”
I opened my eyes wide.
“……sir.”
Well, in other words…….
‘He looks like someone who just moved here.’
A resident who’d decided to settle in the Veil River Region.
And…… the one who helped with the exploration of Veil Mountain
(*We’d decided to call it that — the mountain where the main stream of the Veil River begins)
where we obtained the Moss……!
“Master Bark?”
“……? Yes.”
I blinked several times rapidly.
‘Wasn’t he by the river just a moment ago?’
I hadn’t realized he was quite so tall.
With blue hair and a light long-sleeved tunic, the sleeves and pants legs were rolled up slightly — evidence that he’d been working in the river until just now.
Flap-flap-flap!
At that moment, one of the chicks in my arms made another escape attempt.
“Ah! Master Bark! You mustn’t step on it!”
“Hm? Ah, yes.”
I hastily bent low.
Bark’s shoe tip reflexively stepped backward.
“Hey, we don’t have time to play right now, you lot……!”
I needed to get home soon—wait.
Just then, my eyes blinked twice.
‘What is it?’
Bark’s shoe…….
“Looks like your arms are too full to hold everyone comfortably.”
In that instant, Bark took a single chick from my arms, its tiny voice chirping away.
“You’re heading home, aren’t you? I’ll carry it there for you.”
I tried to refuse, but Bark had already started walking, so there was nothing I could do.
I walked alongside him down a narrow path.
Step, step. An awkward silence fell between us.
“Oh, that reminds me……!”
“……?”
“Thank you so much for helping me get that Moss!”
I suddenly remembered and bowed respectfully.
“Because of you, I’ve been able to catch fish much faster now!”
“It was nothing, really.”
“I heard from Uncle Fel that when you went to the mountains together, you even caught a giant serpent as thick as a tree, didn’t you?”
“Snakes leave traces where they travel. If you’re careful beforehand, there’s nothing to fear.”
Bark added matter-of-factly.
“I’ve lived in the mountains for a long time.”
“I heard you were an herb gatherer?”
“That’s right. When you spend your whole life wandering from mountain to mountain, you adapt to any terrain soon enough.”
“I see—! Oh, here we are!”
We’d already reached the mansion.
As I herded the chick inside the fence of the Grand Duke’s Residence, the other chicks that had come home waddled eagerly out into the courtyard.
“……So you really do live at the Grand Duke’s Residence.”
Bark remarked casually, looking at the modest mansion.
“How did you end up becoming the Grand Duke’s adopted daughter?”
“Well, circumstances led me to make a living.”
“Are you perhaps…….”
Bark closed the distance. His shadow was falling over my head at precisely that moment.
“Bark!”
A voice called out from far down the path.
At the end of the narrow path stood a man with wheat-colored hair and a weary expression.
“Rooster.”
Another resident of the Veil River Region.
“Do you happen to have a moment? Could you lend me a hand? My carrying frame broke while I was moving lumber for a cabin, ha ha!”
Rooster gestured behind his back. There, a large pile of timber lay scattered in disorder.
‘……Hm?’
My eyes blinked again.
‘That’s not construction lumber—it’s firewood timber.’
“……You said you worked as a carpenter, but this is a mess. Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
Bark muttered to himself and strode off, growing distant.
I watched the two men’s figures retreating into the distance.
As I stood lost in thought, my body suddenly lifted into the air.
“What are you doing.”
“Your Grace!”
Seeing those indifferent crimson eyes, my true purpose suddenly came rushing back.
“My Rye!”
“Well then. It’s all yours now.”
“My plump, lovely Rye!”
“Right. About that…….”
Basil glanced down briefly, then turned and strode into the mansion with me still in his arms.
“Camilla’s bringing a letter, so calm yourself.”
“Yes, yes!”
As I headed toward the Reception Room with the Grand Duke, I was thinking.
‘There’s got to be…….’
Among the residents of the Veil River Region.
There’s someone lying, isn’t there?
* * *
A moment later.
Reception Room.
“Waaaahhhhh!”
Flail-flail-flail.
“Haa……!”
Thud-thud-thud.
Flail-flail. Thud.
‘Those useless pseudo-siblings.’
Camilla, unable to bear it any longer, spoke up.
“I understand you’re both sufficiently frustrated—now both of you, stop this at once.”
At that, Haniel, who’d been thrashing about on the sofa, went rigid.
And Basil, who’d been venting his rage by pounding the desk with his fist, froze as well.
Then they both cried out at once.
“This is seriously infuriating!!”
“No, it’s absolutely maddening.”
Camilla sighed.
‘They’re becoming more alike by the day.’
But…… there was good reason for their anger.
The Imperial Palace knights had seized the entire shipment of Rye Seeds headed north, citing some utterly preposterous justification.
“According to the letter sent by Duke Rowan…… it seems there was a surprise inspection around Endis Village, just after passing through the Eastern Gate.”
Camilla indicated the letter lying on the table.
It had been sent by Duke Rowan.
…According to their claim, the seed sacks bore the Temple Mark.
They judged it to be the unauthorized removal of the Holy Temple’s property, and so they confiscated the entire lot, or so they say.
It’s truly nonsensical. I have already filed a formal protest, but…(and so forth)
The Duke seemed equally appalled by the whole affair.
And rightfully so—Duke Rowan would never have committed such a careless blunder as sending seeds bearing the Temple Mark.
“Besides, the Holy Temple hardly has the leisure to track the whereabouts of every seed distributed to each domain.”
Basil muttered darkly.
Which meant…….
“The Imperial Palace deliberately seized our Rye as a pretext!”
Haniel exclaimed. He reached up to ruffle the child’s warm crown.
“Tch…….”
Basil forced down the obscenities rising in his throat.
With the kid around, he had to watch his tongue.
If that annoyingly clever little sprite absorbed his cheap cursing habits, that would be a disaster.
He’d have no face to show his father in the afterlife if he raised the boy to be a foul-mouthed hippo.
He composed himself and asked with deliberate calm and gravity.
“First of all, who’s the top official responsible over there? I need to hear about this.”
“Well, according to the letter…….”
Camilla shuffled through another letter. Then she spoke.
“It’s His Imperial Majesty himself.”
“You #@%@ son of a @#$@%@%…….”
“Oh no, my six-year-old’s ears.”
Haniel clapped his hands over his ears. Basil gritted his teeth.
“Those useless bastards…….”
He spat out the words.
“What the hell do they even want.”

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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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