The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 37

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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 37

 

“Following the will of the late Duke, I have come to visit for training. Though I may be lacking, I will strive not to cause any trouble for the Duke.”

 

After finishing his words, Ashirion pulled out a small document from his chest.

 

When the Duke gave a slight nod, Caron, who was standing behind him, stepped forward to receive the document instead.

 

“The seal and handwriting too. This was indeed written by Lord Enril.”

 

When Caron acknowledged it cleanly, the Duke let out a languid sigh.

 

“Ah, my… It seems my brother has played an amusing prank?”

 

“I heard that the late Duke was very worried. He said that since you showed no interest in women, let alone engagement, he wondered if you might actually bring home a Marsu as a bride.”

 

“A Marsu would be easier. I could just kill it and drive it out again.”

 

The Duke replied with a laugh.

 

Despite the atmosphere turning murderous, Ashirion only smiled brightly and said, “I see.”

 

Medina Duke cleared his throat and began to speak.

 

“In any case, we have an obligation to fulfill the will that Lord Enril left behind. So we would like you to permit our Ash to stay here.”

 

Though he called it a will, it was something that could simply be rejected.

 

To follow his dead brother’s will now, hadn’t the Duke already committed too great a sin? Besides, it wasn’t even left as a testament, so why bother.

 

“….”

 

However, the Duke said nothing at all. He simply kept his mouth firmly shut.

 

It would have been nice if I could at least see his eyes, but they were covered with cloth, so I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

 

But one thing was certain.

 

‘He looks troubled. Very much so.’

 

“Duke!”

 

So I quickly approached the Duke’s feet and clung to him tightly.

 

“Who is this child? Is he a new friend?”

 

Then Medina Duke snorted.

 

“Acting like you don’t know when you’ve already heard everything.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

I tilted my head, pretending not to know.

 

“About telling someone to guide the Duke to the Trash Dump?”

 

Then the Duke’s face turned red again.

 

Having to hear those humiliating words from a young child once more seemed to greatly wound his pride.

 

“This ill-mannered little….”

 

“Duke, you shouldn’t show such a sharp side. There are children present.”

 

“B-but that thing started it first-.”

 

“If we’re talking about who started it, I spoke first. I was the one who told them to guide the Duke to the Trash Dump.”

 

Though it was a soothing tone, in the end, the Trash Dump had been mentioned once more.

 

Not stopping there, the Duke looked at me.

 

“I’m sorry, daughter. Daddy should have been more careful with his words. I ended up telling an adult to be guided to the Trash Dump?”

 

“Mm-hmm, it’s okay. The Trash Dump isn’t a bad place.”

 

“I wonder who you take after to be so kind. But let’s not use words like Trash Dump anymore, okay? It hurts Daddy’s heart.”

 

“Yes! I won’t say Trash Dump anymore!”

 

Through the combined efforts of the Duke and me, Trash Dump was mentioned a total of eight times.

 

The Duke’s face was now completely red.

 

“I understand the Duke’s feelings, but….”

 

The Duke smiled faintly and spoke again.

 

“If we’re going by when they arrived, my daughter came first. So it would be better for him to become friends with the children who arrived earlier. My brother also considered friendships very important.”

 

“Oh. That’s a good idea. Max is also a child the Duke brought in, and Miss Hanisha is the first child to open the door and enter on her own, so there would be much to learn in many ways.”

 

The Duke and Caron exchanged conversation as if they had been waiting for this.

 

“But Duke. Our Ash is on a different level from those children. Though he may be half-blood, he still has the blood of a ducal family flowing through him…!”

 

Not wanting Ashirion to be treated the same as me, Medina Duke urgently opened his mouth.

 

“I’m fine with it, Duke.”

 

Then, Ashirion, who had been quiet the whole time, first approached my side.

 

“Hello. I’m Ashirion. Please call me Ash comfortably.”

 

The way he slightly bent his upper body to meet my gaze looked very gentle.

 

Enough to make me shy if I had been a clueless little kid.

 

As if to prove this, I could faintly hear Caron clapping from behind, saying, “You have another big brother, Miss Hanisha. Congratulations,” but I couldn’t respond.

 

“May I ask what your name is?”

 

From the moment I heard that I was the only child who opened the door and entered.

 

“…I want to remember it.”

 

Until now, as he extended his hand with his back to everyone, the smile had disappeared from his eyes.

 

‘He probably thinks of me as a rival to be wary of, or perhaps a bothersome burden….’

 

In the past, I would have avoided this, but not now.

 

‘This side is also quite desperate.’

 

I tried not to be intimidated and said.

 

“My name is Hanisha.”

 

“Hanisha. What a cute name. Let’s get along well from now on.”

 

Ashirion smiled brightly and extended his hand.

 

‘Since there are many watching eyes, it would be better to shake hands for now.’

 

The moment I grasped the extended hand with that thought, I unconsciously blinked.

 

‘That was…?’

 

But before I could feel what it was, Ashirion’s hand fell away.

 

‘Did I see it wrong?’

 

As I was thinking, the Duke’s voice was heard.

 

“Moving the luggage should be the priority. Move with the servants. Duke. How about we go inside separately and have a talk?”

 

At the Duke’s words, the Duke silently turned around. Instead of him, Caron led them, saying, “Please come this way.”

 

“See you later.”

 

Ashirion left a gentle farewell, turned around, and disappeared from my side.

 

* * *

 

“What kind of work does the Medina family mainly do?”

 

At my question, Anna and Hati, who were tying up my disheveled hair, said.

 

“The Duke’s specialty is animal training. If the Duke made military supplies, the Duke trained animals to create armies. He achieved great accomplishments in the religious war that occurred a few years ago.”

 

“His Majesty the Emperor widely praised that ability, and thanks to that, I heard he took a seat as a Stukkyia Elder this time.”

 

The religious war was a war that broke out in the name of god. If the Temple and the Royal Family acknowledged Medina Duke’s contributions, even the Duke couldn’t have stopped his promotion to Elder.

 

“Then is Ashirion the Duke’s grandson?”

 

“No. Lord Ashirion is the Duke’s very distant relative nephew. I understand that the Duke took in Lord Ashirion when he became an orphan.”

 

This was information I had never heard from ‘that child.’

 

‘Unlike Ashirion who is a beastman hybrid, Medina Duke was human.’

 

Then the animal training and the Duke’s achievements in war were all possible because Ashirion was there.

 

I unconsciously got goosebumps.

 

To use animal friends in war. He was scarier than I thought….

 

When my expression darkened, Hati added comfortingly.

 

“Though we said that, you probably won’t have occasion to meet Lord Ashirion. He said he’s busy preparing for the Elder meeting that will be convened soon.”

 

“Do you really think so?”

 

“Yes. Of course, Miss Hanisha is as cute as a small animal, so anyone would want to get along with you, but….”

 

“Hati.”

 

At Anna’s stern voice, Hati clapped her mouth shut.

 

She said “Oh my. I’m sorry,” and dejectedly patted my head gently.

 

Anyway, this was the maximum information I could gather.

 

“I wonder if I could find out more…”

 

I let out a sigh.

 

“…”

 

“Sigh. There’s not enough information. Just a little. It would be nice if I could know even just a tiny bit more…”

 

“…Daughter.”

 

That’s when it happened. I heard a gloomy voice from beside me, so I turned my head.

 

“Do you still have more sighs left to let out?”

 

The Duke, who had to eat breakfast early in the morning because of me again today, was looking at me with a grim expression.

 

I snapped back to attention.

 

“You’re already finished eating? You should have said something!”

 

“Your sighing was so loud that you probably didn’t hear me. I definitely said it over a hundred times.”

 

“Oh my, I was so focused on other thoughts that I didn’t notice.”

 

“I know. That’s why I’m going to say it a hundred and one more times.”

 

The Duke spoke with a sigh, as if he was being patient with me.

 

“Anyway, I’m done eating. Now go back to being a daughter candidate.”

 

“But you haven’t had dessert yet.”

 

“You eat it. I don’t like sweet things.”

 

“Oh. I don’t like them either. We’re alike in this too. Hehe.”

 

When I laughed like an innocent child, the Duke, who had been moving his lips as if to say ‘what kind of kid is this?’, chuckled. He seemed to think that not liking dessert was a lie.

 

He leaned back against his chair as if he was being indulgent.

 

“What’s troubling you so much? There wasn’t anything suspicious.”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

“Or should I have him kicked out?”

 

Certainly, with just one word from the Duke, Ashirion would have no choice but to leave.

 

“No!”

 

But even if he did that, it would only increase the opposition from Count Agnito’s people.

 

“Don’t drive him away. I can handle it.”

 

“How confident. That’s an attitude befitting my daughter.”

 

“Of course. Who do you think I am?”

 

Having spoken confidently, I began clearing the dishes again neatly.

 

Then I asked something I was curious about.

 

“Um, Duke. May I ask you something?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Why did you accept Ashirion?”

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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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