The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 49

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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 49

 

When I tilted my head, the maids said.

 

“The Duke probably threw it away. He’s not someone who pays attention to trivial things.”

 

“Ah. I see. Then I should go return it to him…”

 

“No!”

 

I flinched at the suddenly loud voice.

 

Then Anna cleared her throat with a cough.

 

“He might hate it even more if you bring back something he threw away.”

 

“Ah. Then I should just throw it away again.”

 

“But he might need it again someday, so it would be better not to throw it away.”

 

“…?”

 

Are you saying he threw it away or didn’t throw it away?

 

It was confusing, but it also made sense. The Duke was quite a fickle person after all.

 

And… honestly, I felt a bit reluctant too. Having to throw away the names of people who had agreed to let me stay.

 

“Then… should I keep it?”

 

So I cautiously broached the subject.

 

“I don’t mean anything by it. Just in case the Duke looks for it again…”

 

“Would you do that?”

 

“No, that would be good.”

 

“Please take care of it, miss.”

 

Before I could even finish speaking, the adoption consent form came back into my possession.

 

I hadn’t expected to get it back like this, but I was smiling softly, feeling good about it.

 

“Oh right. And the Duke has given you a task, miss.”

 

“Really? Is that true?”

 

My eyes widened.

 

Not only did I get the adoption consent form back, but he even gave me work.

 

‘That means I can stay here, right?’

 

I clasped my hands together with an overwhelming heart. If I could work, and if I could just avoid being kicked out of here, I’d do anything…!

 

“He said to eat everything here.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

I blinked and looked down.

 

Then I saw desserts that would melt sweetly in my mouth.

 

Really… this is considered ‘work’?

 

“Um, is there any other work…?”

 

“No.”

 

I asked hopefully, but Anna just shook her head firmly.

 

“Eating all of that is your work for today, miss.”

 

If even Hati was saying this much, it must be true.

 

I had hoped for something more substantial. This should be fine, right?

 

‘At least he didn’t tell me to leave…’

 

I put aside my dejected feelings and picked up a chocolate that was nearby. When I unwrapped it and put it in my mouth, Anna asked.

 

“…How does it taste?”

 

“It’s delicious.”

 

For some reason, both of their expressions seemed to relax at those words.

 

Since it really was delicious, I obediently began eating what was in the basket.

 

* * *

 

I thought the eating task would end that day, but I was mistaken.

 

After that, sweet things arrived in front of me every day.

 

“He threw these away today too.”

 

“Today too…?”

 

“Yes. It happens to include the cookies you particularly enjoyed eating, miss.”

 

“What a fortunate coincidence, isn’t it?”

 

And I had to eat them bit by bit under Anna and Hati’s strangely terrifying supervision.

 

Anyway, they were delicious, and thinking I shouldn’t eat alone, when I tried to give some to people at Paterre Castle.

 

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t possibly take something so precious…”

 

“Thank you, but I really can’t accept it, *gulp*.”

 

They would quietly slip away from the scene.

 

That wasn’t the only strange thing.

 

“Hasn’t the room been a bit warm lately?”

 

Unlike usual, the room temperature had risen a bit more.

 

Since I had come to the Northern Region from the originally warm Agnito, this warmth was nice, but it seemed like it would be hot for Anna and Hati, who were from the north.

 

“I’m not sure. I feel it’s just the right temperature.”

 

“Anna, you’ve been sweating since earlier…”

 

“It’s cold sweat. I caught a cold from Caron.”

 

“I happened to catch it too. *Cough*!”

 

Since they spoke so definitively, there was nothing more to say. I wasn’t sure about Caron, but these two didn’t seem like the type to lie.

 

‘Then they really did catch a cold.’

 

As everyone knows, vitamin C is good for colds. I gave both of them what I assumed were lemon-flavored candies from the basket.

 

“Please have these.”

 

“But as we mentioned before, this is a gift from the Duke, no, work given by the Duke…”

 

“The Duke’s work is important, but it’s also important that you two don’t get sick.”

 

“…!”

 

“…!”

 

When I spoke with emphasis in my eyes, Anna clenched her fist tightly, and Hati gasped and covered her mouth.

 

“To think you would give us such a precious gift, miss…!”

 

“Really… really, thank you so much, miss.”

 

While I was receiving grateful words and gentle pats.

 

“Are you awake, Miss Hanisha?”

 

I quickly raised my head at the familiar voice. It was Caron. I hurriedly bowed my head.

 

“Hello, Caron.”

 

“Good morning, Miss Hanisha. I see you’re still struggling with the Duke’s work today as well.”

 

“There’s so much work… Speaking of which, would you like to have one too, Caron?”

 

“Oh, I’m moved to tears by your gratitude, but I’m fine. I still want to live, you see.”

 

Caron politely declined with words I couldn’t understand.

 

“I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy with work, but I’d like to ask you for one favor, Miss Hanisha.”

 

“A favor? What is it?”

 

“Actually… I’ve caught a cold again.”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

“Yes. I passed it to the two maids behind you.”

 

Saying that, Caron began coughing loudly, “Cough cough!”

 

“Huh, but Anna and Hati said they caught it from you, Caron…”

 

“So, Miss Hanisha.”

 

Before I could even voice my doubts, Caron continued speaking.

 

“Would you please perform the deputy butler duties in my place, like last time?”

 

Saying that, he subtly checked the time.

 

“Let’s see… it’s not morning yet. It would be better if you dined with the Duke.”

 

“Me? Would that really be okay?”

 

The task the Duke had given me was to eat desserts.

 

So I interpreted that as him drawing a line, meaning ‘I acknowledge your contribution in catching the Marquis’s abuse, but that’s as far as it goes.’ I was grateful just not to be kicked out.

 

Then Caron smiled brightly. Still holding the handkerchief he’d been using to cover his coughing.

 

“It should be possible right now. I’ll stake my 40 years as a butler on it.”

 

* * *

 

And so.

 

I found myself standing in front of the Duke’s door with a tray of food.

 

‘I don’t think I was this nervous even when I first stood before the Duke.’

 

Now that I’d given up on submitting the adoption agreement, I tensed up unconsciously, worried about what I’d do if he really told me to leave.

 

‘No, wait. Even a well-fed ghost looks better. If I’m going to be a ghost anyway, might as well be one that eats sweets, eats meals, and gets scolded!’

 

I took a deep breath and slowly knocked on the office door.

 

“…Who is it?”

 

However, my resolve crumbled at the sound of the voice that answered.

 

It was a truly menacing voice that seemed shrouded in darkness.

 

‘He seems to be in worse condition than usual?’

 

After hesitating, I gathered my courage again and spoke.

 

“It’s, it’s Hanisha. Caron is away with a cold, so I came instead. So, um…”

 

“…”

 

“May I… come in?”

 

There was no answer from inside for a moment. That instant felt like a lifetime.

 

“…Come in.”

 

It was a short reply. But the ominous tone in his voice still hadn’t disappeared, so I carefully opened the door.

 

The room was darker than usual. Even though the curtains weren’t drawn.

 

‘Right. The blue moon isn’t far off.’

 

It was a time when all those with magic and abilities were affected. The Duke, who possessed exceptionally strong magic compared to others, would be suffering even more.

 

But it was more dangerous to just give up and do nothing because it was difficult. Magic could devour one’s reason.

 

So during the blue moon period, one had to be even more careful about each day than usual, or rather, more than usual.

 

The Stukkyia people knew this too, but probably couldn’t bring themselves to say it.

 

“What brings you here? Have you finished all the tasks I gave you?”

 

“Well…”

 

“Looks like you haven’t eaten everything yet.”

 

The Duke chuckled as if he’d expected as much.

 

“Then just finish that task. Until you’ve eaten all of that stuff, there’s no other work for you.”

 

Though it was his usual languid voice, his tone was rigid as if drawing a line.

 

‘Well, it was delicious, of course!’

 

Still, I wanted to do something a bit more meaningful. Something other than eating desserts, something that would actually help the Duke.

 

‘Huh, but wait a minute.’

 

“How did you know there was a lot?”

 

When I voiced this sudden question, the Duke, who had been responding sharply, clamped his mouth shut. Like someone who had belatedly realized they’d said something they shouldn’t have.

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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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