The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 50

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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 50

 

Paterre Stukkyia only moved his lips slightly.

 

“Well…”

 

He was about to say something but suddenly closed his mouth.

 

His head, which had been turned toward me, slowly turned away.

 

Where the Duke’s hidden gaze landed was the tray filled with food.

 

‘Right. The food will get cold!’

 

Pushing the thought aside, I quickly placed the food in front of Paterre Stukkyia. Then Paterre Stukkyia said.

 

“It looks like a lot.”

 

“Oh, yes. That’s right. I asked them to make a lot.”

 

I said confidently.

 

“It’s going to be really delicious. Especially this carrot soup.”

 

It’s a menu that Chef and I worked hard to devise. I made it because I wanted to eat it together with Paterre Stukkyia.

 

So, if it’s alright with you, could we eat together?

 

That’s what I was going to say.

 

But my mouth wouldn’t open easily, as if gum was stuck to it.

 

‘Esther used to do this well.’

 

Whenever she made other mistakes or fell out of favor with Count Agnito, Esther always dined with the Count. Then she would soothe Count Agnito’s mood with sweet words and get what she wanted.

 

So I should be able to do it too if I just close my eyes and do it, but why is it so difficult? Is it because I’m not his real daughter?

 

But then.

 

Paterre Stukkyia frowned slightly.

 

“The smell is strange.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Are you sure it’s edible?”

 

“That can’t be…! Wait a moment.”

 

I was startled and checked the food.

 

Sniff sniff, I put my nose close and smelled it, but there was only a mouth-watering aroma.

 

“It’s not strange. It only smells really delicious… And Max’s socks aren’t here today either.”

 

“So you’re saying I’m lying?”

 

“That’s not what I meant, but…”

 

“Then that’s settled.”

 

Paterre Stukkyia, with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, pushed the plate toward me.

 

“You check it once.”

 

“Me, me?”

 

“You’ll taste it better than I will. I’d like you to taste it first.”

 

“Ah… Gimi Sanggung.”

 

“Gimi, what?”

 

“Nothing. Just a moment.”

 

I used the spare utensils to taste a little bit of each food.

 

As expected, the taste was good, and there was no strange smell.

 

“It’s fine. There’s no smell, and it tastes good. You can eat it comfortably.”

 

“I can’t trust it.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

What does that mean now?

 

“It still smells to me.”

 

“Oh, then shall I bring you some clips to block your nose?”

 

“I think there’s a psychological problem from the Marquis’s incident. A very fatal one.”

 

Paterre Stukkyia said with an unwavering face.

 

…But is it just my imagination?

 

That Paterre Stukkyia seems to be making unreasonable demands.

 

But Paterre Stukkyia wouldn’t say such things for no reason.

 

Above all, I couldn’t just throw away all this food…

 

Thinking that far, I suddenly came to my senses.

 

“Then, would you like to eat with me?”

 

“…What?”

 

“It would be a waste to throw it away. Let’s eat together. If there are any smelly parts, I’ll check them for you right away.”

 

“…”

 

“Then we won’t have to throw it away and it’ll be good. Hehe…”

 

I spoke pretending to be shameless while watching Paterre Stukkyia’s reaction. I had never shared a meal with Paterre Stukkyia while working as Caron’s replacement.

 

‘He might tell me to leave.’

 

I swallowed dry saliva and waited for the answer to come.

 

Finally, the answer Paterre Stukkyia gave was…

 

“Fine, do that.”

 

It was consent.

 

‘Really? Really, I can eat together?’

 

I had asked, but when consent actually came, I couldn’t help but be flustered.

 

Then I came to my senses again. If I kept spacing out, I might really get kicked out.

 

I quickly grabbed the spare utensils I had brought and quietly took my portion, sitting across from Paterre Stukkyia.

 

“Please, please enjoy your meal…”

 

“You eat well too, with your perfectly fine nose.”

 

He muttered and picked up his utensils. Even then, I couldn’t relax.

 

However, even while taking a surly attitude, Paterre Stukkyia didn’t throw down his utensils.

 

He was really eating. Together with me, at that.

 

‘…It really worked?’

 

Even while eating together, I couldn’t believe it. As I ate half-heartedly while glancing at Paterre Stukkyia.

 

“I know I’m handsome enough that you can’t take your eyes off me, but how about looking away and eating your food?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

I was caught immediately. He can’t even see, but his eyes are really good… Muttering nonsense, I obediently lowered my eyes to my plate and focused on eating.

 

Maybe it’s because I’ve always eaten with the Blacksmiths.

 

With the quiet surroundings, my thoughts kept flowing one after another.

 

The bird that Marquis Medena had taken returned safely to Ashirion’s arms. Now all that remained was to hope that the baby bird would be born safely.

 

To Ashirion, who said thank you, I made one request.

 

It was to sponsor ‘that child’ who would still be at the Underground Auction House.

 

And Ashirion did as I wanted.

 

“What name did you use?”

 

“Yeah, I thought it might help when we meet again later.”

 

“Oh, that…”

 

But when I asked about the patron’s name, like Max had done, Ashirion also blushed and avoided my gaze. And didn’t tell me until the end.

 

I was curious, but I wanted to help more than I wanted to reveal my identity, so I didn’t ask further. It was fortunate if it was safely delivered to my friend.

 

‘I wonder if she wasn’t disappointed when I said I couldn’t come for a while?’

 

But it couldn’t be helped. The blue moon would start soon. Since it was a time when Paterre Stukkyia became weak, someone might try to attack him, so I had to stick close by his side and keep watch with my eyes wide open.

 

I couldn’t explain all that in detail, so I told her I probably couldn’t contact her for a while. I was planning to contact her again after the blue moon passed anyway.

 

‘And, well, she didn’t visit me often either. There were many times she didn’t reply when she didn’t want to answer…’

 

It’s not like I had it on my mind particularly.

 

Rather than revenge, I also have similar circumstances to that child, something like that.

 

Once the floodgates of thought opened, they didn’t stop easily.

 

That’s why. Even though I had finished eating, I moved my utensils.

 

A sharp, nerve-grating sound reached my ears, and only then did I snap back to attention.

 

Instead of eating, I was just wasting time. Thinking I’d get scolded, I raised my head, but…

 

‘Huh?’

 

I blinked blankly.

 

Paterre Stukkyia’s plate was already empty.

 

I stopped moving at the unthinkable thought. When the clinking sounds disappeared, Paterre Stukkyia chuckled softly.

 

“I thought you were performing music, but apparently not.”

 

“…”

 

“If you’re done eating, get up now. We have other work to finish.”

 

Paterre Stukkyia said this as he rose from his seat.

 

Only then did I realize that Paterre Stukkyia had been waiting for me to finish my meal.

 

“…”

 

It was my stubbornness that insisted we eat together. He could have gotten up alone after finishing his meal, and I would have had nothing to say about it.

 

Yet Paterre Stukkyia had waited. For troublesome me.

 

“Um, Your Grace…!”

 

Perhaps that’s why. My mouth opened without my knowing.

 

Paterre Stukkyia, who had stopped moving, turned his head slightly toward where I was.

 

“I don’t know much about it, but I’ve heard that during the blue moon, you need to take extra care of your body. Chef and the other adults are very worried about this too.”

 

“…”

 

“And… this might sound presumptuous, but I actually know quite a bit about medicinal herbs.”

 

I had studied hard, trying somehow to break free from the stigma of being a false saint.

 

It wouldn’t be as helpful as divine power, but it wouldn’t be completely useless either.

 

“If there are strange smells or anything unusual like today, I’ll tell you right away.”

 

“…”

 

“Oh, and… you mentioned trauma earlier, but you can talk to me about anything. I have light ears but a heavy mouth. I don’t have anyone to tell anyway…”

 

“…”

 

“Um, so…”

 

After rambling on and on, I swallowed nervously.

 

“May I… continue to take care of your meals from now on?”

 

* * *

 

A few days later.

 

“Carrots, please add carrots too.”

 

“Understood. Do you know how many carrots I always prepare because of you, Miss Hanisha?”

 

Despite saying that, Chef smiled warmly with a good-natured expression. I remembered him saying how enjoyable it was to work making three meals a day.

 

“So, does he eat it deliciously?”

 

“He finished everything without leaving a single bite. Of course, so did I.”

 

“Sob sob. It was worth continuing to work without quitting… I never thought such a day would come in my life…”

 

Chef’s eyes grew red with emotion.

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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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