The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 51

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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 51

 

Well, I understood that feeling too.

 

Even as I shouted to the Duke that I would come again tomorrow, I worried whether harsh words might come back in return.

 

‘At that time, the Duke didn’t say anything.’

 

He didn’t say to do so, but he also didn’t say not to.

 

So the next day, I quietly visited the Duke’s room again.

 

“Um, Caron took sick leave today.”

 

“Really? I’m sure I heard training sounds from outside.”

 

“Yes. But he left right after that. He seems to have caught a cold.”

 

The next day too.

 

“Caron took sick leave again today…”

 

“I heard him shouting because he liked his newly made sword. Am I hearing things?”

 

“It was probably screaming. He got hurt by the sword afterward.”

 

“It’s a miracle he’s alive. Should I process his resignation at this point?”

 

The day after that, and the next day too.

 

“Today he said his condition had improved, but unfortunately he encountered a Marsu and took sick leave.”

 

“Oh my, how pitiful… I should hold a funeral for him soon.”

 

“Oh, but he said he’d be back soon. He asked for help just for today.”

 

“Really? I should hold a resurrection ceremony along with it.”

 

Though it was a lie, this was all something agreed upon with Caron.

 

“If I can get that lazy Duke moving, I’ll do anything. Please take care of it, Miss Hanisha.”

 

-That’s what he had said.

 

So today too, I stood in front of the Duke’s office with a spirited heart.

 

“Hello, Your Grace!”

 

* * *

 

“Hello, Your Grace! It’s another beautiful morning today!”

 

Hanisha entered with a bright voice.

 

The warm smell of food wafted in as if it had been waiting. The sound of wheels rolling as she pushed the tray and her footsteps pattering as she came inside.

 

Paterre asked.

 

“Did Caron take sick leave again today?”

 

“Yes. Today his legs hurt.”

 

“Tomorrow his limbs will be severed. It’s shocking, so I should keep my eyes closed a little longer.”

 

Deceiving and being deceived.

 

It was a strange situation where they played along with each other’s deception, but no one pointed it out.

 

Meanwhile, Hanisha efficiently placed food in front of Paterre. Then she naturally sat across from him.

 

“Please enjoy your meal.”

 

Paterre nodded to acknowledge her greeting and concentrated on the sounds while pretending to eat.

 

Soon came the clinking sound of utensils. The child’s chewing movements. He could clearly hear her whisper “wow” softly, as if the food suited her taste quite well.

 

Then the child hesitated.

 

“Um, Your Grace. Your eyes hurt today too, don’t they?”

 

“Mm, probably?”

 

“Then I’ll give you this.”

 

Following a dragging sound, something landed on Paterre’s plate with a soft thud.

 

It was the sound of Hanisha climbing onto her chair and transferring something onto his plate.

 

“It’s grilled paprika. It’ll be very good for your eyes.”

 

“How grateful, my eyes are sparkling open. Should I take off my eyepatch?”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

“Mmm, just kidding-.”

 

Even though she knew it was a joke, the child pouted saying “Geez, what’s that about.” But even that seemed fun to her as she giggled.

 

Even knowing she was a picky eater, hearing that laughter made Paterre unconsciously chuckle.

 

Then he suddenly stopped.

 

Originally, he hadn’t intended for this.

 

He had simply planned to ask why she gave up on becoming his daughter. Whether she would really leave here.

 

But he couldn’t do that.

 

“I don’t want to melt…”

 

It was because of Hanisha’s sleep talk he had heard that day.

 

When Paterre heard those words, he doubted his ears.

 

Hanisha was a child who lied well. In fact, when they investigated Agnito’s registry, wasn’t the child’s name absent?

 

So this child’s words could also be lies.

 

“Water is better. At least it can fill my stomach for a while…”

 

But because those murmurs kept haunting him.

 

Paterre ordered a more thorough investigation into the child.

 

Things like which family she belonged to, whether that family knew the child had disappeared.

 

“…We found Miss Hanisha’s name. It was in the Temple’s registry.”

 

If it was the Temple’s registry, it was natural that Stukkyia’s people couldn’t find it. What he had ordered investigated was only Agnito’s registry.

 

“Does that mean she’s an orphan?”

 

“The records indicate so. However… we didn’t find Miss Hanisha’s name in the Temple’s survivor registry.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

The hesitating subordinate opened his mouth.

 

“We were able to find Miss Hanisha’s name in the deceased list. The date was not long after Miss Hanisha entered Paterre Stukkyia’s Manor.”

 

“…”

 

“And the person who recorded it… was someone from Agnito’s side.”

 

The subordinate carefully added that they probably never put Hanisha on the family registry from the beginning, but Paterre couldn’t say anything.

 

Only then did everything make sense.

 

“That was strange. I thought I would hate it if I were you.”

 

“Hate what?”

 

“My existence.”

 

The words that she disliked herself.

 

“I… want to live.”

 

“….”

 

“That’s all, that’s everything….”

 

The words that she wanted to live.

 

“I didn’t want to see you in pain, Your Grace.”

 

The words that she didn’t want to see him in pain. And….

 

“Yes. I want to become Your Grace’s daughter.”

 

The child had known from the beginning.

 

That her name wasn’t in Agnito.

 

Furthermore, that her name would be on the list of the deceased.

 

Her blood-related family had abandoned her in this barren place and even processed her death.

 

They had done it knowing she would die—no, hoping she would die.

 

Even knowing this, the child smiled resolutely. She clung to his side, hoping to live.

 

Once he learned this, he absolutely couldn’t send the child away.

 

Because it seemed like the child who smiled well even at those harsh words would cry for the first time the moment she left this castle.

 

And that seemed like it would be more unpleasant than he could imagine.

 

Then he suddenly became curious.

 

What kind of face would the child make when she made that “hehe” sound like a squirrel eating acorns?

 

And who had abandoned her here?

 

Had it hurt?

 

Despite all that, what kind of heart did she have that allowed her to smile—things like that.

 

Unaware of Paterre’s thoughts, Hanisha smiled and said,

 

“Your Grace seems to really enjoy teasing. I can’t tell when you’re being sincere.”

 

“I’ve never been insincere for even a moment. So were you hurt?”

 

“Of course not. To become Your Grace’s daughter, this much is—.”

 

Hanisha, who had been speaking primly, suddenly gasped.

 

‘I made a mistake.’

 

Just because she had gotten a little comfortable, she had crossed the line again by saying “Your Grace’s daughter.”

 

‘What if he tells me to leave again?’

 

Hanisha looked at the Duke with trembling eyes. In that brief moment, her heart beat frantically.

 

“Then you’d better eat well.”

 

“…What?”

 

“I can’t stand daughters who don’t eat properly.”

 

At that, Hanisha’s lips quivered.

 

The Duke was always a playful person. Seeming sincere yet not, confusing people and enjoying their reactions.

 

But why was it? Why did those words feel sincere?

 

“Your Grace.”

 

Hanisha slowly opened her mouth. It felt like if not now, then never.

 

“…Why don’t you bring in The Girl?”

 

The Duke already had a daughter. And in the tremendous magical kingdom of Trishia Duchy, no less.

 

Though it was called a scandal, history sided with the strong.

 

If the Duke’s power met with Trishia Duchy’s technology, even the Temple wouldn’t be able to ignore him.

 

‘So if he just closed his eyes and brought in his real daughter, he wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble.’

 

Of course, she couldn’t say such things directly, so she had tried to phrase it as indirectly as possible.

 

Perhaps noticing Hanisha’s intention, the Duke chuckled.

 

“Isn’t that a question beyond a meal assistant’s scope?”

 

“That… is true, but I thought knowing my employer’s psychology would make it easier for me to assist you.”

 

“To think you’d consider my thoughts to that extent. I’m almost moved to tears.”

 

Finding Hanisha’s excuse amusing, the Duke chuckled again. However, he didn’t seem displeased as he leaned back comfortably against his chair.

 

“It’s not something to tell a young child.”

 

“…But in 8 years, I’ll be a tremendously grown adult, so how about then?”

 

“A baby giant. How frightening.”

 

The Duke responded playfully, then made a languid “mm…” sound.

 

Hanisha swallowed nervously.

 

This story might be something he had never told anyone before.

 

Eventually, the Duke opened his mouth.

 

“Just.”

 

“…What?”

 

“I just didn’t want to bring her in. That’s all.”

 

His voice was monotone as he spoke curtly.

 

‘He means he doesn’t want to talk about it.’

 

Then she shouldn’t ask any more. Just as she was thinking that, the Duke continued.

 

“I failed at first love, you see.”

 

“Ah, I see. You failed at first love so… What?”

 

Hanisha’s mouth fell open involuntarily.

 

First love!

 

The Duke had a first love?

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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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