The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 47

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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 47

 

The guard unconsciously made a “hiik” sound and stepped back.

 

“I, I just read what was written…!”

 

However, what the young boy reached for wasn’t him.

 

It was the recovery potion that had fallen right beneath the iron bars.

 

The young boy opened the cap and drank the potion straight down.

 

Making all his previous indifference seem meaningless, the young boy who had downed it in one gulp stared intently at the guard.

 

“Why, why are you looking at me like… Ah.”

 

The guard immediately understood what he meant.

 

Chess pieces that don’t participate in matches get disposed of.

 

In other words, as long as they participate in matches, they won’t be disposed of.

 

Moreover, when chess pieces achieved excellent results, the operators would sometimes directly invite the chess pieces’ patrons using their authority.

 

Which meant…?

 

Just as he was following this train of thought, the young boy slightly frowned. It was just a small crease between his brows, but he unconsciously flinched.

 

“Uh, I’ll, I’ll bring the participation list. Just wait…!”

 

The guard hurriedly rushed out of the prison cell.

 

Left alone, the young boy looked down at the empty potion bottle in his hand.

 

For the first time, his golden eyes, which had lost their light since he’d walked into this place on his own feet, flashed.

 

* * *

 

Deep in the night.

 

“Paterre.”

 

From somewhere, he heard a voice calling his name. It was a familiar voice. But a voice he couldn’t remember. That voice kept calling his name repeatedly.

 

“Paterre.”

 

The voice changed to another voice. It was his older brother Enril’s voice.

 

Enril’s voice, always confident and gentle, full of mischief, was gradually growing weaker.

 

“Paterre, you know what I’m trying to say.”

 

“That’s exactly why it can’t happen. Damn it, tell me to roll around on the battlefield again instead! That would be easier.”

 

“…Please, Paterre.”

 

The voice that had been speaking forcefully stopped at Enril’s single plea.

 

“This is my last request. Please, you at least…”

 

The voice gradually grew fainter. The scene before his eyes mixed together dizzily, and the situation changed in an instant.

 

A wide-open window, the blue moon illuminating them, and himself grabbing someone’s wrist.

 

“Paterre.”

 

That someone spoke. It was the voice he’d heard at the beginning. Though they were clearly facing each other, he couldn’t see the other person’s face, as if someone had forcibly erased it. One thing was certain: he was forcibly holding that person back.

 

“…I’m sorry, Paterre.”

 

That person’s lips moved. They reached out their hand toward him. At that moment, everything before his eyes turned black. And then…

 

“This is the best we can do.”

 

Paterre opened his eyes. Unlike his roughly heaving breath, it was still dark before his eyes.

 

‘…Did I doze off?’

 

Paterre sighed and roughly ran his hand through his hair.

 

Though it was a familiar nightmare, it had been more vivid than usual, so he wasn’t feeling very good.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Knock knock.

 

He heard knocking.

 

The only person who knocked so politely was Hanisha.

 

What was she planning to say today?

 

Though his condition wasn’t very good, thinking about the child’s chatter and the sulking that would follow from his teasing made his mood, which had sunk to the floor, slowly begin to rise.

 

“No. Don’t come in.”

 

He said that, but.

 

Click—

 

The door opened.

 

The person who entered was…

 

“I apologize, I’ve already opened it.”

 

A polite voice.

 

It was Caron, who had more legitimate qualifications than Hanisha.

 

Even knowing this, Paterre unconsciously asked.

 

“Why did you come?”

 

“Is there some reason I shouldn’t come?”

 

Caron, who had been answering slowly, let out an “Ah” exclamation and politely placed his hand on his chest.

 

“If you happen to be secretly hiding someone else, please let me know. I’ll enter more carefully next time.”

 

“That’s not it…”

 

Paterre, who had hesitated, asked a different question.

 

“What time is it now?”

 

“It’s 9 PM. It’s time for the growing sprouts to slowly prepare to fly off to dreamland. Since today was particularly hard work, they might have fallen asleep even earlier.”

 

Hearing Caron’s calm words reminded him of today’s events that he had forgotten.

 

The family council, Hanisha asking him to save Ash, and Count Agnito’s people telling her to offer something equivalent.

 

And Hanisha returning the adoption agreement.

 

The child wouldn’t give up so obediently. She must have other plans. Though he was a bit surprised, he had stayed in his office to hear what she had to say.

 

But it was already night.

 

No matter how much he had nightmares, he was sensitive about his sleeping arrangements. If he had sensed any other presence, he would have woken up long ago.

 

However, he hadn’t woken up once until Caron came.

 

This meant Hanisha hadn’t come looking for him even once.

 

The child would know better than anyone. If she didn’t make another proposal like this, he might kick her out of the castle.

 

‘But she’s sleeping. Does she really mean to leave?’

 

He couldn’t believe it.

 

Paterre recalled the conversation he had accidentally overheard that day.

 

He had granted her request thinking that Hanisha wouldn’t give up her position so easily.

 

“People don’t really need a particular reason to live.”

 

“So I don’t care if you don’t have any other special abilities. If you don’t want to do it, you don’t have to. That doesn’t make Ash an unnecessary existence.”

 

“Let’s live together, Ash. We can do it.”

 

However, instead of stating other demands, she had talked about living together.

 

“And… though it might be a strange thought.”

 

“The Duke seemed to want to keep you alive, Ash.”

 

Perhaps from playing father for a few days, she even spoke highly of him.

 

Of course, Hanisha’s thoughts weren’t wrong.

 

This ‘garbage dump’ was no place for a child’s future. He couldn’t become a child’s guardian with half-hearted feelings.

 

That’s why he had placed him by Hanisha’s side. If anything happened, Hanisha would come report to him immediately, and he could separate the Marquis and Ashirion.

 

And it had turned out as he wished.

 

Ashirion had gained his freedom, and Hanisha had given up on becoming his daughter.

 

Though she had been amusing to tease, it was good that such a troublesome opponent would disappear anyway.

 

Yes, that’s certainly how it should be.

 

‘So why… does my heart feel so uncomfortable?’

 

While he was lost in deep thought.

 

Caron, who had been keeping his eyes closed while pretending to be respectful, quietly opened one eye.

 

“How about canceling it even now?”

 

“Cancel what.”

 

“You know it was the Elders’ interference, don’t you? You also know that most of the Elders coveted Lord Ashirion’s abilities. You called the Family Council to prevent that, and placed Miss Hanisha by his side too, didn’t you?”

 

“How honored I am that you see me as such a virtuous person?”

 

Paterre chuckled softly. It was just a small laugh, but it exuded an endlessly languid and dissolute atmosphere.

 

As if trying to become someone befitting the rumors surrounding him: scoundrel, trash, shame of Stukkyia.

 

‘There he goes again.’

 

It had been infuriating at first, but after ten years, it had become as familiar as his true nature.

 

‘Then there’s nothing to be done.’

 

Having finished his thoughts, Caron spoke again with an impassive expression.

 

“Then won’t you give that to me?”

 

“Give what?”

 

“The adoption consent form that never seems to leave your hands, my lord. Since you cannot see, someone might steal it, couldn’t they? It could be misused, so I’ll dispose of it.”

 

At that, Paterre hesitated.

 

More precisely, his moving lips simply closed.

 

However, to Caron’s eyes, having watched over him for so long, it was clearly visible.

 

His master’s appearance, instantly erasing his dissolute smile and showing a flustered expression.

 

It was a change that had emerged since Hanisha’s arrival.

 

This alone was reason enough for Caron to like Hanisha.

 

So, as a loyal butler, Hanisha’s senior, and prospective older brother, he had no choice but to step forward. It would be troublesome if the same thing as before happened again.

 

Just as he was about to speak with such thoughts.

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Paterre was faster.

 

“She left it out on purpose. To get my attention.”

 

“…Why on earth? Couldn’t she just tell you directly?”

 

“Well. It must be something that needs to be discussed secretly, just as father and daughter.”

 

“…”

 

“Or perhaps there were several who coveted Hanisha.”

 

Though most of Count Agnito’s people had made displeased remarks, some among them had muttered in surprise while looking at the clever Hanisha.

 

Intelligent and unyielding character.

 

Moreover, she had asked to save Ashirion before herself. It wouldn’t be strange for adoption proposals to come to Hanisha, who was quick-witted and handled herself well.

 

“But Hanisha must have disliked that. Hanisha wanted to become my daughter. But she couldn’t possibly tell the adults she disliked it.”

 

“Hmm. If I may be presumptuous, my lord. That seems like too positive an interpretation.”

 

At Caron’s following words, Paterre rose from his seat.

 

“Anyway, since she achieved excellent results as my eyes as desired, I should give her some praise.”

 

“You’re going now?”

 

“Praise and scolding should be given immediately. It’s the basic attitude of a guardian raising a child—don’t you know that?”

 

How would I know that?

 

—The words circled in his mouth, but knowing what attitude he should have as an aide, Caron remained silent.

 

Then Paterre spoke in a voice that seemed almost confident.

 

“Guide me to the child’s room.”

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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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