The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 10

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 10

‘They said it was an accident that happened when I touched a sword imbued with magic while I wasn’t ready yet.’

Since no one witnessed that situation, all they could judge by was the broken body.

Even after that, other heirs came, but they all had to leave Paterre Castle in less than perfect condition.

It was the moment I got to see with my own eyes the ‘Living Underworld’ I had only heard about in words.

The nobles who had approached hoping for a possible rise in status were busy hiding their own children. Only street orphans remained, but they would burst into tears just hearing the name Stukkyia…

In the end, the Temple and the Imperial Palace could no longer pressure him about heirs.

‘Of course, that’s still a very distant future.’

Anyway, now was the time when the pressure had just started coming in, and since no one had come as an heir yet, his infamy hadn’t grown yet.

Paterre would need a suitable child to keep up appearances, and now was exactly that timing.

The reason I didn’t sneak in like these thieves but opened the door directly was also for that reason.

To meet Paterre face to face.

“So, you don’t know who your father is…”

Paterre, who had been muttering slowly, asked again.

“And?”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t there another reason?”

Paterre raised an eyebrow. As if telling me to speak my true intentions.

“Ah, that is.”

I hesitated for a moment.

Honestly, it didn’t have to be Stukkyia specifically. Since he abandoned me here anyway, Count Agnito would declare me dead or missing.

Even so, the reason I wanted to come to Stukkyia was because it was free.

As the owner of a pile of trash, he wouldn’t pay any attention to whatever I did.

Moreover…

“Princess.”

“What’s your name?”

“Right, Hanisha. I know my face is handsome enough to make even a bride-to-be lose her composure, but could you try to pull yourself together?”

Before my regression, Paterre Stukkyia showed an attitude as if he wanted to protect me.

I couldn’t understand why Paterre tried to protect me, an Agnito.

However, regardless of what reason there was, it was a fact that he tried to protect me.

The only adult who called me by my name even though I showed no special achievements.

Because it seemed like that adult would accept me being here.

Because it seemed like he would let me breathe.

‘Of course, I can’t say this…’

I should just tell him another fact.

So I said confidently.

“Your Grace.”

“Mm, me.”

“You seem to be the strongest and most handsome!”

Before my regression, I had directly seen Paterre’s face without the eyepatch.

Even in the midst of urgency, Paterre’s gorgeous appearance was striking enough to catch my eye at once.

This much was a fact without a single lie.

But something was strange.

The thieves behind Paterre had their mouths hanging wide open. So wide that the shadow covering their mouths looked small.

Only cold wind filled the space between us.

Did I make some mistake? Reading the atmosphere, I quietly added.

“A-and I also like cold things.”

I appealed with the only thing I had learned at Agnito.

“I like dark things too.”

Among children my age, there probably weren’t many as accustomed to darkness as I was.

Though I preferred brightness, enduring in dark spaces was what I did best.

However, Paterre still remained silent.

“I-it doesn’t have to be as a daughter. A s-servant would be fine too…”

“…”

“Or I could even become Your Grace’s eyes… Eek!”

When was I being so bold?

Unfortunately, while approaching Paterre, I got caught on the body of a thief who had already fallen in front of me.

At this rate, I would fall.

And onto the snow covered with glass shards!

Thinking that, I squeezed my eyes shut.

“…?”

I didn’t feel any sensation at all.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw were my two feet floating in the air.

Paterre had caught me as I was about to fall. More precisely, I was hanging like laundry across his shin.

“You’re quite high-maintenance.”

Paterre, who had grabbed my coat before I fell, let out a languid sigh.

“T-thank you. You’re really kind. I like kind fathers…”

“Mm, I just didn’t want corpses piling up.”

Paterre, who replied carelessly as if annoyed, extended his other hand. It meant for me to grab it and get up.

The moment I grabbed that hand, I would be kicked out of the Duke’s Mansion.

‘What should I do? I can’t tell him about the regression. Should I spill about Count Agnito’s secret vault?’

While my head was spinning, Paterre grabbed me by the scruff of my neck.

“Other thoughts.”

“Ah!”

“You’d better stop having them.”

My body was lifting up!

Startled, I reflexively reached behind my head and grabbed Paterre’s wrist. It was his bare wrist, exposed because his gloves were short.

And at that moment.

Paterre’s movement stopped abruptly.

I quietly opened my eyes.

Paterre was silently looking down at me. More precisely, at his own wrist that I was holding.

‘No wait, since he can’t see, he wouldn’t be looking down.’

Thinking he might be displeased, I hurriedly lowered my hand.

“…It’s been a while since this kind of method.”

Eventually, Paterre muttered in a voice as low as a cave.

However, it didn’t sound like a displeased voice. Rather… he seemed amused.

Before I could wonder about that.

“Not bad.”

“…”

“Eyes… Right. Let’s go with that.”

Along with languid muttering, Paterre extended his hand.

‘This is…?’

Looking at the gloved hand, I just blinked like an idiot. Then Paterre waved his hand again as if luring prey.

I should grab it.

I felt like I heard such a whisper.

I inadvertently took his hand.

Even so, Paterre still didn’t move an inch.

“…Is it still not working?”

“…?”

“Hmm… Should I take off my gloves like back then? I don’t want to do that though….”

He just muttered incomprehensible words.

Perhaps there was some noble etiquette I didn’t know about.

Reading the mood, I pulled the puppy’s (magical beast’s) paw over and placed it on top together.

“Ha.”

It was the moment a small chuckle escaped from Paterre Stukkyia’s lips.

“Your Grace!”

Someone’s voice was heard from afar. People in knight uniforms and a man wearing single-lens glasses approached this way.

At that moment, Paterre Stukkyia suddenly lifted me up in his arms.

‘Ah, he’s holding me…?’

Unlike me who opened my eyes wide in surprise, Paterre Stukkyia nonchalantly greeted the approaching figures.

The people in knight uniforms hesitated when they spotted me.

“You were here… Who is that child? Don’t tell me you’re planning to kill her?”

“Kill her? She should be treasured and served, not harmed.”

“Treasured…?”

“Just who is she that you say such things?”

“This child is… hmm.”

Paterre Stukkyia, who seemed to be thinking, looked back at me again.

“What was your name? I heard it but forgot.”

“Ah, I haven’t told you yet….”

“If you worry about such trivial things, you won’t become a great person. So, what’s your name?”

Paterre Stukkyia gestured as if telling me to speak quickly.

“Hanisha….”

“Right. Hanisha.”

He repeated my name and said with a bright smile.

“Let me introduce her. She’s my daughter.”

“…Daughter?”

“Yes, isn’t she pretty? I can’t see so I don’t know, but if she takes after me, she must be beautiful. I don’t know what the child’s mother looks like, but she gave her a pretty name.”

Paterre Stukkyia answered matter-of-factly.

“Ah, yes.”

“A daughter, I see. Yes.”

Then the knights’ expressions became indifferent.

They all had looks that said ‘There he goes again.’

It was understandable. It wasn’t the first or second time he joked about orphans abandoned in Stukkyia being his children.

Then Paterre Stukkyia tilted his head slowly with an “Hmm?”

“Your reactions are too lukewarm? You were all making a fuss about me adopting before.”

However, everyone hesitated at his next words.

“…Adoption?”

“Are you seriously planning to take her as your daughter?”

“Are there people who falsely adopt children? That won’t do.”

“That’s not what we meant…!”

A knight shouted as if frustrated.

In the midst of this, I just blinked my eyes blankly.

Really?

Not just taking me in, but actually planning to adopt me? This easily?

While I was just blinking my eyes.

Someone approached Paterre Stukkyia’s side.

“I knew you’d cause trouble somewhere, but I didn’t expect it to be this sudden.”

It was a man with a calm face wearing single-lens glasses.

“I’ll escort the young lady inside for now. Come, young lady.”

As I came down from Paterre Stukkyia’s arms to the ground, Bert naturally extended his hand.

It looked so natural that I unconsciously took his hand as if enchanted.

“Ah, but Your Grace.”

Bert, who was about to go inside, looked back at Paterre Stukkyia again.

“What should we do about those people?”

At that question, Paterre Stukkyia glanced over. Even though their eyes didn’t meet, the thieves flinched and trembled.

“Ah.”

As if remembering belatedly, Paterre Stukkyia spoke to Bert.

“Recover the stolen items.”

“Understood.”

“And.”

The thieves, who thought it would end with just recovery and were relieved, hesitated.

“Since they touched what’s ours, we should steal something from them too.”

“Should we take their eyes?”

“That would be good. That’s exactly what I’m lacking right now.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————