The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 19

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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 19

It was the adoption documents I had seen yesterday.

“His Grace said you should keep these with you, Miss.”

“M-me?”

“Yes. He also said you’re free to get signatures from anyone you want.”

Then he added, “However, they must be people related to Stukkyia.”

I took the documents in a daze and scanned the dozens of remaining spaces.

There were about twenty blank spaces left—a number that was neither too many nor too few.

Actually, considering this is a ducal house, it might be fewer than expected.

‘This means he wants me to handle the rest myself. He wants me to earn recognition from Stukkyia’s people with my own hands.’

Still, it was better than having no opportunity at all.

Nothing would be more certain than having people I’d met personally acknowledge me as one of their own.

I jumped up from my seat.

And the first people I went to find were…

“What? Our signatures?”

Anna and Hati.

It would be better to get signatures from people close to the Duke, but those people wouldn’t even meet with me. Naturally, they wouldn’t sign for me either.

So my goal was ‘First, I’ll work my way up starting with people close to me, and eventually get the Duke’s signature too!’

Fortunately, the servants didn’t dislike me as much as the vassals did.

“That man acts all nice on the surface, but behind the scenes he looks down on people so much!”

“He was a very gloomy person who divided people by their rank!”

This was because Count Roman’s reputation among the servants was absolutely terrible.

Of course, that alone wouldn’t be enough to get their signatures.

“If there’s anything you need me to do, I’ll do whatever it takes.”

So I proposed a deal.

“I’m good at laundry, cleaning, and running errands. Since I’m small, I can get into tight and dark spaces too.”

“Oh my. Miss. We can’t ask you to do such things. Even without doing that, we would…”

Hati, who was about to say something with a troubled expression, made eye contact with Anna.

Anna asked in a calm voice.

“Would it really be okay even if it’s something difficult?”

When I nodded, Anna said “Alright” in a determined voice.

She must be planning to give me something really scary to do.

I waited for what would come next, prepared to accept anything.

“Then please let us touch your hair.”

“I’ll help you change your clothes.”

“Yes! I’ll work hard… Huh? My hair and clothes?”

Isn’t that just regular maid work?

I tilted my head, but these two wouldn’t have made a pointless proposal.

When I nodded in agreement, Anna and Hati approached me.

As Anna helped me put on clothes, Hati touched my hair and said.

“It’s a bit messy, so I’ll tie it up again.”

“Okay!”

When I answered energetically, Hati laughed saying how cute, and patted my head.

It seemed like an action that came out reflexively without her realizing it.

“Hmm?”

But soon she tilted her head and continued stroking my hair.

“Hati, what are you doing to the Miss right now?”

Anna, who had finished helping me change clothes, whispered reproachfully.

“But Anna. You should touch it too. The texture is…!”

“No matter how cute she is, she’s still the Miss. Touching her carelessly is…”

Hati, who had been whispering something, pulled Anna’s hand and placed it on top of my head.

“…!”

I could feel Anna’s hand hesitate as it was placed on top of my head.

Then soon, stroke stroke stroke.

She began patting my head as if entranced.

Then she startled and pulled her hand away.

“I’m sorry, Miss. The texture was so nice that I couldn’t help myself…”

“No. It’s okay.”

She seemed so sorry that I quickly waved my hands.

“And, um, actually… I was hoping someone would pat my head.”

Before my regression, very rarely when I achieved something, Count Agnito would pat my head.

It was just tapping the top of my head, but I particularly liked the feeling of him stroking my hair as he passed by.

‘I thought the Duke’s touch was only allowed for Esther.’

Of course, Esther would get annoyed every time the Duke patted her head. She’d complain that Dad’s hands were too rough and would mess up her carefully arranged hair.

So I thought it would hurt if someone properly stroked my head.

“It’s not painful, but actually much nicer than I thought…”

I muttered with this realization.

But somehow the surroundings had become quiet.

When I looked up again, Hati had her lips pressed tightly together with the corners of her mouth turned down. Anna had her usual expression, but her nose was a bit red.

As I wondered what I had said wrong, Anna spoke again.

“May I make one more proposal before signing?”

“Oh, what is it?”

“Please let us check your hair and outfit at least 5 times a day.”

“My hair?”

“Yes. His Grace likes having his hair combed, but our skills are terrible.”

“He also doesn’t like to dress up properly. As a ducal family, it was my dream to try various outfits on him, but since His Grace doesn’t dress up well, my dream disappeared.”

“Ah, you sisters like dressing people up.”

That’s right. The Duke didn’t seem interested in grooming. Rather, he tended to dress casually. Even that looked good on him because of his very glamorous appearance.

Anyway, it was a perfect proposal for me.

Having someone stroke my hair was a much better sensation than I had thought.

“I promise!”

When I answered energetically, Anna and Hati signed the agreement.

Getting signatures from the people who had treated me best here gave me a little courage.

I immediately moved on to my next target.

“My signature, you say?”

It was the head chef of Stukkyia Castle.

“I’ll do whatever you ask me to do. Peeling potatoes, chopping onions, eating papri… I mean, chopping paprika.”

“No, why would you, Miss, have to…”

The chef, who seemed flustered, soon answered.

“Very well. I’ll sign for you.”

“Thank you! What should I start with?”

“First, please eat your meals properly. And just eat the desserts I make.”

“Huh? That’s all?”

“Yes. Actually, His Grace has very childlike tastes. But since there are no children here, I need your help, Miss.”

“Wow… He looks like he’d just drink alcohol on an empty stomach. He’s different from his appearance.”

“People have many different sides to them.”

The Chef’s face was quite serious as he said this.

Everyone seems to have their own troubles.

I nodded, and only after my belly became as round as Namsan Mountain could I get the Chef’s signature.

After that, things went smoothly.

“This vine is a sprout vine. Rather than cutting it, you need to trim here, at the protruding bud, so it doesn’t get tangled.”

“How did you know that just from looking once?”

“I’ve seen something similar before.”

Since I’d given up the path of sainthood, I thought I’d try learning herbology instead. Using the information I’d gathered then, I got the gardener’s signature.

“These horses don’t eat their feed well, do they? If they won’t eat their feed, try giving them feed manufactured in the Northernmost South. There’s grass that horses like over there.”

“How could a small child like you know that…?”

“I’ve loved horses since I was little.”

The smelly stables were a place people rarely visited, so when I stayed there, Bert wouldn’t bother me. Naturally, I was able to learn about horses.

After solving the horses’ feed problem, I got the stable master’s signature.

“Here, it’s ‘that way,’ not ‘this way.'”

“Ah, looking again, you’re right. Have you learned ancient language before?”

“Not much, just studied it a little.”

The Temple’s common language was ancient language. However, since Esther found ancient language difficult, I had learned it to interpret for her, and I used that knowledge to help the librarian.

Going through the Castle’s servants one by one like this, I was able to collect 10 signatures.

I left the Library with a proud heart.

I’d heard that the librarian works frequently with the administrator. If I kept going in and out often, I’d be able to meet the administrator too, and gradually get closer to Paterre Stukkyia.

Good. I was nodding with a pleased smile when.

“…?”

Suddenly, it seemed like the surroundings were getting darker.

‘What?’

I looked up.

And without realizing it, I flinched.

Because Thugs with bulging muscles, wearing only black sleeveless shirts in this cold weather, were looking down at me.

“You’re the one? The child that Paterre Stukkyia personally brought in.”

Rough eyes. An overwhelming presence I could feel.

“Smaller than I thought. Not even a bite-sized morsel, huh?”

And rough speech with a crooked, looking-down gaze.

This was definitely hierarchy establishment. Something that always happens in the world of darkness!

‘Don’t get scared. First, greetings, say hello!’

Just as I was about to open my mouth to introduce myself.

Suddenly, the Thug at the very front walked toward me with heavy steps. He was a Thug with a bushy beard and an eyepatch covering one eye.

“Hey, kid.”

“Yes…?”

“You look just like…”

He frowned. At his clearly displeased expression, I unconsciously flinched and trembled.

Finally, he bluntly said.

“Just like a snowflake that would melt away immediately.”

…What?

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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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