The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 45

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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 45

 

“What do you mean… Are you crazy?”

 

Ashirion, who had muttered without realizing it, urgently grabbed Hanisha’s arm.

 

“…You said you didn’t want to go back.”

 

Ashirion whispered in a low voice so only Hanisha could hear. Worried that the Duke might overhear, he deliberately avoided mentioning the name Agnito.

 

“Tell him to cut ties with that place. That’s your wish, isn’t it?”

 

For Duke Stukkyia, such a thing would be nothing. Just as Ashirion was about to continue his persuasion.

 

“But that’s too great a price compared to the compensation.”

 

“Who else doesn’t know that Ash was close to the Marquis?”

 

The retainers continued speaking.

 

“Well… It might be different if you offered something of similar value.”

 

Ashirion involuntarily gasped.

 

Though they spoke vaguely, that meant they would spare Ashirion’s life if she gave up the adoption and handed over the adoption agreement.

 

It was absurd. Hanisha would know best that she couldn’t give up all her efforts for something like this.

 

However…

 

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

 

Hanisha accepted everything.

 

With a calm attitude that showed neither fear nor resentment.

 

“So please spare Ashirion’s life, Your Grace. That’s the reward I desire.”

 

At those words, everyone’s gaze turned to the Duke.

 

“…”

 

The Duke didn’t answer. Even Caron, who would normally have pestered for a quick response to the Duke’s silence, only quietly glanced at the Duke.

 

In the deep silence that settled, the Duke finally opened his mouth slowly.

 

* * *

 

Thud.

 

The meeting hall door closed.

 

As soon as we confirmed no one was around, Max and I simultaneously felt our legs give out.

 

“We’re still alive, right…?”

 

“Seeing that my brilliant mind is still working, it seems so…”

 

We both muttered in soulless voices.

 

‘Honestly, it was a gamble.’

 

He could have ignored my request entirely. Rather, from Duke Stukkyia’s perspective, it wouldn’t have been strange to consider Ashirion and me accomplices.

 

However, the Duke.

 

“Fine.”

 

-Only gave that brief response.

 

Then he got up and left as if he wasn’t curious about the reasons and had nothing more to add.

 

I was the one who was flustered by that…

 

In any case, the Duke was someone who kept his word once given. So Ashirion’s safety was practically guaranteed.

 

Just as I was trembling like a newborn fawn, thinking we’d overcome a major hurdle.

 

“…Why did you do that?”

 

Ashirion was looking at me with an incomprehensible expression.

 

“Why did you do such a pointless thing? Throwing away the adoption agreement to save me. Are you stupid?”

 

“What about you, Ash. Why didn’t you say what we planned beforehand?”

 

“Because they wouldn’t have believed it anyway. So…”

 

“Because you were planning to die anyway?”

 

Ashirion flinched at the words that followed as if I’d been waiting.

 

It was the face of someone whose vital point had been struck.

 

Hanisha clenched her fists tightly.

 

‘…I hoped I was wrong.’

 

So he really was planning to take his own life. Just like in his life before regression.

 

I didn’t intend to scold him for being foolish.

 

I just felt heartbroken. That he had no choice but to think such thoughts.

 

Ashirion spoke in a suppressed voice.

 

“I thought that was right.”

 

“…”

 

“Because many animals died because of me, I thought I should die too to pay for those sins…”

 

“I know.”

 

“…”

 

“That’s why I made that request too.”

 

I spoke in a quiet voice.

 

“Like the injured and fallen animals, Ash must have been wounded too. I just wanted to heal those wounds.”

 

“…!”

 

Ashirion’s breathing stopped for a moment.

 

He remained frozen with his slightly parted lips unable to close.

 

He seemed to realize only now that blood had been flowing from his open wounds.

 

Ashirion continued stammering.

 

“But, you, what are you going to do. Without that, you’ll be kicked out…”

 

“It’s okay. I never intended to become a real daughter anyway.”

 

“What?”

 

“What I want is just to safely reach adulthood without being kicked out. As long as I can do that, I don’t mind staying as a servant.”

 

Knowing this, the Duke probably didn’t say much when I returned the adoption agreement.

 

Then Max said.

 

“Still, His Grace is a bit too much. He knows how hard you’ve worked.”

 

“No. His Grace seems like a good person.”

 

“What? Why?”

 

“Because he didn’t mention that I’m from Agnito in front of the retainers.”

 

Actually, it was a bit strange.

 

If the fact that I was from Agnito had been revealed, the retainers would have unanimously demanded my expulsion. That’s also why I was particularly nervous during the family council.

 

However, no one mentioned anything about Agnito.

 

‘The Duke kept it secret.’

 

Being from Agnito. The label of being the corrupt saint’s daughter was my greatest weakness and complex.

 

But the Duke didn’t expose my weakness in front of everyone. Even though hiding this would only harm the Duke.

 

I don’t know his intentions, but in any case, it was the greatest consideration for me.

 

“And… though it might seem like a strange thought.”

 

I continued carefully.

 

“His Grace seemed to want to save you, Ash.”

 

“His Grace, me? Why? Did he say something like that?”

 

“Not exactly, but… that’s just how it felt.”

 

The Duke had never directly instructed me to do anything. I just figured everything out myself.

 

“Try getting along with Ashirion. Who knows? You might become good siblings.”

 

“I can’t let even the children’s relationship turn to dust. Bring him here. I’ll scold him, as his father.”

 

But Ash was the exception.

 

So I formed a hypothesis.

 

‘Maybe the Duke knew about the Marquis’s abuse? So he wants to use me to save Ash.’

 

Others would scoff if they heard this thought.

 

But my thinking was a bit different. The Duke… didn’t seem to be as bad a person as the rumors suggested.

 

‘Well, I was still a tiny bit, just a tiny bit disappointed when he actually took the adoption papers though.’

 

Thinking about it, it was natural. Rather than me, a complete stranger, it made sense to save Ash who had ability and at least some blood connection.

 

‘Anyway, it’s not a bad opportunity.’

 

If they knew I stepped back obediently, the other retainers wouldn’t think of me as a troublesome existence anymore.

 

The Duke would also realize that I wasn’t really after his daughter’s position.

 

‘If they try to kick me out, I can just stay under the pretext of being Caron’s successor.’

 

Unlike me who thought lightly of it, Ashirion still had a serious expression.

 

So I said with a bright face.

 

“Besides, I didn’t ask you to save Ash for purely innocent reasons.”

 

“…You had a purpose?”

 

“Yeah. I think Ash will do something really amazing.”

 

This world’s medicine and science weren’t well developed.

 

The former was because of the Temple that valued nature’s order, and the latter was because of the Imperial Palace.

 

Most people could only use one ability.

 

But the Imperial Palace was different.

 

The Imperial Palace, that is, the Emperor could use various abilities.

 

More precisely, only those who became Emperor could possess many abilities.

 

So princes and princesses grew up without abilities, then inherited the previous Emperor’s abilities the moment they ascended the throne.

 

In other words, the Emperor’s children who didn’t become Emperor had to live their entire lives without abilities, so the succession competition was fierce.

 

‘This was also why technology couldn’t advance.’

 

Creating something better than the Imperial family’s abilities itself became an act of opposing the Imperial Palace.

 

But there was one loophole in that unspoken rule.

 

‘As long as it wasn’t an ability, it was fine.’

 

Being good at foreign languages or skilled at making machines. Those were personal skills, not abilities. Even the Imperial Palace couldn’t do anything about that.

 

Ashirion’s capability was in the same category. He was just a bit better than others.

 

In other words, he wouldn’t become a thorn in the Imperial Palace’s side or face criticism from the Temple!

 

‘If things go well, maybe later when the Rebel Forces lead the Beastfolk to attack, negotiation might be possible…!’

 

“…What if I can’t do it?”

 

“Huh?”

 

I was smiling wickedly inside when suddenly Ashirion asked back in a sunken voice.

 

“Contrary to your expectations… if I achieve nothing, what will you do then?”

 

“…”

 

“I don’t want to use animals as my tools anymore.”

 

In Ashirion’s eyes as he said this, familiar despair and resignation were chaotically mixed together.

 

A child whose fear was greater than hope. Looking at him, I slowly opened my mouth.

 

“Then…”

 

“…”

 

I could feel Ashirion’s chest slowly swelling with tension.

 

“Let’s find another dream.”

 

“…What?”

 

But at my following answer, Ashirion let out the breath he had been holding in vain.

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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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