The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 14

The Empress was already the center of the Nobility Faction’s power. Therefore, not just anyone could become her vassal, even if they wanted to.

Yet someone from Stukkyia had come to side with the Empress.

When Count Agnito asked how that could be possible, Count Roman spoke as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

“That’s quite simple. We use the children that Paterre Stukkyia brought in as so-called heirs.”

“Use the children?”

“No matter how well-educated they are, they’re still just young children. If you praise them as if they’re someone great, they get so excited they don’t know what to do with themselves. Taking advantage of that gap, I put poison in the tea the Duke drinks.”

“Such poison wouldn’t even come close to working on him.”

“But it can sow discord and make them distrust each other.”

“You drove nails into an already cracked relationship? Haha, Her Majesty the Empress must have been absolutely delighted!”

“What are you saying. How could I compare to Agnito, who possesses a saint?”

-The memory of him rubbing his hands together obsequiously before Count Agnito, as if he’d wear away his fingerprints, was still vivid.

That same person was now standing before me.

And with such a kind and gentle smile at that.

‘Right. Come to think of it, when he sided with the Empress, no one criticized Count Roman either.’

Abandoning one’s original master to choose another was betrayal.

Yet no one criticized Count Roman.

People only wondered what could have driven him to turn to the Empress’s side.

It meant he was skilled at hiding his true nature.

As if to prove this, Anna and Hati, who were attending to me, didn’t seem to show any particular wariness either.

So I couldn’t openly regard Marcel Roman with suspicion yet.

Between me, who had just entered Stukkyia, and Count Roman, who had been a vassal for a long time.

It was obvious whom people would trust.

‘But that person must have come to drive me out.’

A situation where I could neither rashly be on guard against him nor let my guard down completely.

I narrowed my eyes.

‘In that case…’

* * *

“Hello, Count.”

The child who had been sitting jumped up from her seat.

“My name is Hanisha.”

Then she grabbed her skirt hem and lightly bowed her head.

While it didn’t greatly violate etiquette, her posture was still terrible.

‘Her appearance is quite cute, so perhaps she’s from fallen nobility.’

If that were the case, it would be rather fortunate.

Children who had lived on the streets or knew hunger would try to save money or food however they could when they got it. Because they knew how miserable it was to have nothing.

So she would work even harder. To return to her original position.

Count Roman smiled kindly and spoke.

“As the Duke told me, you truly are an adorable young lady.”

“Did the Duke really say that?”

“Yes. He’s not usually one to say such things.”

“Ah…”

It was when Hanisha was fidgeting with her fingers with an unfamiliar expression.

“Count Roman, I apologize, but the young lady is still in the middle of her meal. We cannot show you an unseemly sight, so perhaps you could greet her again later?”

Anna spoke in a careful voice. As if to prove this, the chef was waiting quietly with dessert in hand.

“Oh my, you were having a meal. This old man was so curious about the child the Duke personally took in as his daughter that I came without thinking.”

Even so, the Count spoke as if troubled.

“But I have an important matter to discuss with you. What should I do…”

“Um, excuse me.”

When he drew out his words as if pondering, Hanisha, who had been restless, shook her head vigorously.

“No! I’m finished eating. Please speak comfortably.”

“Are you really sure?”

“Yes!”

Hanisha answered clearly and whispered to the chef, “I’ll have dessert later.”

The chef’s shoulders visibly drooped, but no one paid attention.

With everyone gone, only Hanisha and Count Roman remained. Hanisha was fidgeting with her clothes while watching the Count’s expression.

“Well then.”

The Count continued.

“Have you ever greeted the vassals?”

“No, but I heard that a family meeting is being called today.”

“That’s right. Today it is. But to be honest, the people who welcome you as a princess… there won’t be many. No, I’d say there are none.”

At the Count’s words, Hanisha’s face visibly hardened.

“But you don’t need to worry too much. Here, please accept this.”

“This is…”

“Tea leaves from the Ramus Mountains, an herb that’s good for the eyes. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you?”

“Um… yes, I think I’ve heard of it.”

The Count inwardly sneered.

No tea leaves grew in the Ramus Mountains. Rather, harvesting anything from there was forbidden.

The mountain range itself was already contaminated, and all living plants there possessed strong toxicity.

At first glance, it resembled common tea leaves seen in the market, but from the moment one swallowed a sip, they would be poisoned and die immediately – it was extremely dangerous.

“I thought so. Well, it’s precious, so you couldn’t not know about it. I obtained this with great difficulty.”

The Count spoke with a kind smile.

“How about brewing this and serving it to the Duke?”

“Me, myself?”

“Yes. If you show that you care about the Duke, the vassals will view you favorably too.”

“Ah…”

Hanisha smiled faintly.

“Then I’ll gratefully put it to good use.”

“Think nothing of it. I’ll see you later.”

The Count who had pressed the tea leaves into her hands left the room.

‘To think she’s this naive.’

She truly didn’t suit Stukkyia.

“Once this is over, I’ll just throw her to the monsters as feed.”

The Count clicked his tongue and smiled with an arrogant expression.

* * *

Paterre Stukkyia’s Study.

The vassals were watching the assembly with wide eyes.

Although their request had been dismissed without results yesterday, no matter how they thought about it, this wasn’t right.

Therefore, they had requested a family meeting from early morning. Since it was held early, not as many people had gathered as yesterday, but Count Roman was with them.

Even if they couldn’t assert themselves strongly, they should be able to voice their opinions.

Despite their early visit, the Duke still wore a faint smile, whatever he might be thinking.

Count Roman, who had been quietly observing the Duke, suddenly asked Caron as if remembering something.

“Come to think of it, what time was the meeting?”

“Fifteen minutes remain until the start.”

“Ah, I see. We arrived so early that I thought it was already time.”

The count chuckled awkwardly as if embarrassed.

“For adults to arrive first and wait for a child…”

“She clearly has no manners whatsoever. Ahem.”

Someone muttered as if they had been waiting to say it.

“I apologize. This is my oversight.”

Then Caron placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head respectfully.

“Unlike the elderly gentlemen who don’t sleep in, the young lady is still a baby, so when you all arrived, she was still going ‘snore.'”

“E-elderly!”

“Are you mocking us right now?”

“I merely mentioned an objective age range, but I apologize if it made you uncomfortable.”

“This person…!”

Just as the retainers were about to burst into anger at Caron, who wouldn’t back down from a single word.

Paterre, who had remained silent the entire time, quietly raised his hand.

Then everyone closed their mouths as if they had been waiting for it.

Paterre lowered his hand again and spoke in a calm voice.

“It is true that this was held at an early hour, isn’t it. The meeting time hasn’t even arrived yet.”

“But the matter is so urgent…!”

“And, Caron.”

Then he curved his smooth lips upward.

“It’s rude to say such things to elderly people. From what I can see, they probably couldn’t sleep much and rushed here in haste.”

“Ah, I see. Compared to the elders, I’m still just a blood clot, so I didn’t think that far ahead.”

With that, Caron concluded, “I’ll reconsider. In 10 years… no, in 20 years.”

The retainers’ faces flushed red.

Count Roman, who was the oldest here, was beyond words.

‘Insolent bastard. He’s just a blind man who can’t even see.’

The count ground his teeth inwardly.

However, he composed his expression as if nothing had happened.

“Haha, you’re quite right. There’s still time left, so let’s wait a bit more.”

After all, he knew that smile wouldn’t last much longer.

That’s when it happened.

Knock knock.

Someone entered along with the knocking.

“Excuse me.”

The child who entered was a small girl with transparent silver hair and jewel-like blue eyes.

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