The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 17

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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 17

Actually, I agonized over it tremendously. Whether to tell him that I was from Agnito or not.

But it was better to reveal it directly with my own mouth beforehand rather than having it exposed by others later. Once trust is broken, it’s hard to restore.

The duke, who had been silent for a moment, slowly opened his mouth.

“Agnito… so you’re the child who broke the line of saintesses.”

“…”

“This is something I’ve never heard in all the countless confessions I’ve listened to…”

Though he was smiling as if hearing an unfunny joke, the duke’s aura instantly became sharp.

“What’s your reason for suddenly telling me this? Are you scared now and trying to back out and return to Agnito?”

“…No, that’s not it.”

“Then.”

“I’d like you to use me.”

“…What?”

The duke slightly furrowed his brow as if asking what I meant. I continued in a calm voice.

“I am Agnito’s illegitimate child. This is a fact that everyone in the world knows.”

“…”

“That’s why Count Agnito sent me to the Northern Region to kill me. This goes against the Temple’s doctrine that children must never be abandoned no matter what.”

I gradually put more strength into my voice.

“My existence will be Agnito’s weakness and Stukkyia’s gain. Since you’re raising a child that Agnito abandoned. So…”

“What if Agnito used you as a discarding card?”

The duke coldly cut off my words and replied.

“They might have sent you as a means to wage territorial war fairly. Using the excuse that a child was kidnapped.”

“…Yes. That’s possible too.”

I calmly agreed.

“But the Imperial Palace won’t tolerate that.”

“The Imperial Palace?”

“Yes. My existence is an opportunity to weaken the Temple’s power.”

On the surface, it seemed like the Temple and the Imperial Palace were pursuing the same goals, but this was all a misconception.

The Imperial Palace was trying to completely suppress the Temple’s power, taking advantage of the gap created by the disappearance of the saintess’s power.

An illegitimate daughter of a persecuted false saintess from Agnito, protected by Stukkyia. The Imperial Palace would naturally side with Stukkyia.

“If you take me in, the Imperial Palace won’t pressure you about an heir anymore either. They’ll think a family that took in an abandoned child couldn’t possibly function properly. So, Your Grace.”

I steadied my trembling breath and spoke in a clear voice.

“If you think I’m a spy sent from Agnito, you can think of me that way. Please use me as much as you want.”

“…”

“Then if the misunderstanding is cleared up, please adopt me as your daughter at that time.”

Please.

I bowed my head deeply.

“…”

The duke said nothing at all.

Was it because he thought taking in an illegitimate child was too much after all?

I waited anxiously for the answer that would follow.

Only after a long quiet silence did the duke slowly open his mouth.

“Let me ask one thing.”

The duke said.

“Was changing the Ramus tea leaves also part of that plan?”

I hesitated at the unexpected question.

Did he think this was also something I did to gain points with the duke?

I hesitated for a moment. If it seemed like I had a plan, I might have gained points with the duke.

But I shook my head.

“No. To be honest, that wasn’t part of the plan.”

I did want to gain points with the duke. It would be a lie to say I didn’t.

But more than that.

“I just didn’t want to see you in pain, Your Grace.”

There was something I felt deeply after returning to life once.

That just as my life is important, others’ lives are equally important.

That there are no worthless lives or beings to be used as mere tools.

That was why. The reason I changed the tea leaves.

Because I hoped no one would be in pain.

“…”

Even at my honest answer, the duke said nothing.

He just maintained quiet silence.

And after a very brief moment.

“Fine. Then one last question.”

The duke opened his mouth again. I clenched my fists tightly. I was confident I could answer any question honestly.

“Have you ever drunk tea from the Ramus Mountains?”

At that question, I involuntarily hesitated.

Because I had tried it before.

One day when Esther had manifested the saintess’s power, and my house arrest had been lifted as I gradually expanded my position within Paterre Castle.

Count Agnito suddenly suggested having tea time with me.

My very first time experiencing such a thing, a private meeting with just the duke and me. I attended with an excited heart.

“This tea is good for your health, so try it.”

“Your Grace, you’re not drinking first…”

“Over just some tea, really. Come now, don’t be modest and try it quickly.”

I drank it down without a shred of doubt…

“Cough…!”

And immediately shattered the cup.

I looked at the duke with disbelieving eyes.

“How is it, Hanisha. Does it hurt a lot? Any other feelings?”

“It, it hurts. My throat, my throat… P, please save me…”

Even as I clutched my burning throat, the duke pressed me asking “Are there no other changes?”

But as the pain gradually worsened, the duke clicked his tongue and stood up.

“I wondered if the saintess’s power would manifest in a moment of crisis, but that doesn’t seem to be the case either.”

I thought maybe we could have two saintesses.

After clicking his tongue like that, the duke ordered a butler to give me the antidote and left the room without looking back.

I only learned after lying sick for a full week that the tea leaves used then were Ramus tea leaves with strong toxicity.

‘Since I had already revealed your identity to the world, you couldn’t just die, so I only put in a very small amount.’

The sorrow and pain from that time were still vivid.

But I couldn’t tell the duke about it.

It would be strange for a young child to have tried poison.

So I lied to the duke for the first time.

“No. I’ve never tried it.”

My voice trembled just a little, but not enough to arouse suspicion. Definitely not.

“…I see.”

The duke muttered slowly. His voice was low, as if he had heard something distasteful or unpleasant.

‘Could he have caught me lying?’

Or maybe he thinks I’m not worthy of the Stukkyia name….

Sweat began to form in my palms.

“Really.”

The duke slowly opened his mouth.

“Do you really want to become my daughter?”

At this unexpected question, I could only blink, then hastily answered.

“Yes. I want to become your daughter, Your Grace.”

“Is that so?”

The duke, who had been quietly listening to my words, smiled faintly.

“What should I do about this? I’m an idle good-for-nothing, so I have many desires but do nothing.”

“….”

“If you want to become my daughter, you’ll have to deal with my laziness too. Ah, maybe I could even delegate work to you.”

“….”

“Very dangerous work, at that.”

The duke leaned back in his chair and tilted his head loosely.

As if proving his character, the robe he had carelessly thrown on slipped down, revealing his skin.

Anyone would think he looked dangerous.

But why was it that

he looked exactly like a threatening cat?

‘No, wait. If he’s a duke, wouldn’t he be more like a lion?’

In any case, I spoke energetically.

“That’s fine. I have good persistence, you know.”

I had already lived through one life and returned—if that wasn’t persistence, then what else could it be?

“Good.”

At my spirited answer, the duke smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.

“Then try your best. Make me want to personally sign this.”

The duke tapped the adoption consent form with his index finger.

“Then I’ll truly acknowledge you as my daughter. I swear on the name of Stukkyia.”

At those words, I drew in a short breath.

An oath sworn on the Stukkyia name was a testament from the first head of the Stukkyia family. A vow to definitely fulfill anything sworn upon one’s name.

The fact that he said this meant the duke wasn’t just speaking out of idle amusement either.

“Yes!”

“You’re good at answering, at least. Now, go on and leave.”

The duke waved his hand gently. I gave one last energetic “Farewell!” before leaving the office.

After the door closed, I quietly placed my hand over my chest.

“Then I’ll truly acknowledge you as my daughter.”

Even after revealing that I was the daughter of a corrupt saint, I had been given a chance.

There were no words looking down on me or treating me as insignificant.

Perhaps because of this, the feeling of not being criticized was somewhat unfamiliar, making my chest flutter.

It somehow felt a little warm too….

‘No, that’s not it!’

I quickly shook my head.

Family was just an excuse—what I wanted was Stukkyia’s castle. I couldn’t let myself be swayed by such emotions any longer.

‘Alright.’

I’m definitely going to get that adoption consent!

I returned to my room, steeling myself with determination.

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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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