The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 53

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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 53

 

It was a familiar face.

 

Palren Arendla.

 

A person who made a fortune from the tobacco business he started during the religious war, and among Paterre Stukkyia’s vassals who were mostly older, he belonged to the relatively younger side.

 

Since he was a self-made man who rose from commoner to noble, people sometimes called him ‘a nouveau riche who has nothing but money.’

 

He tried to fill his shortcomings by even sponsoring one of the few academies in the Northern Region, but that knowledge couldn’t enter his own head.

 

Perhaps that’s why. He seemed very displeased that I, who had nothing, was staying by the Duke’s side.

 

“Palren, your words are harsh. It’s not like that child has no achievements.”

 

“Wasn’t it that child who saved Ashirion?”

 

“That’s true, but, ahem. Isn’t she still a child who doesn’t match the Duke’s stature?”

 

Palren glared at me with fierce eyes.

 

“If the Duke had a real daughter, the Temple would have taken measures long ago. But why is she still clinging to the castle…”

 

This person also seemed to be on the side that we should accept Trisha Klain.

 

If there was one thing I felt sorry about, it was that the fact that not being his real daughter wouldn’t work included him too. So I answered calmly.

 

“That’s right. I’m not his real daughter.”

 

“Hmph. You seem to know your place well…”

 

“But you’re not either, are you, Sir Palren?”

 

“…What?”

 

“Sir Palren, you’re not the Duke’s real daughter either. Even if you had been by his side instead of me, the Duke’s condition would have been the same.”

 

It might have sounded impudent, but this was the truth.

 

The Duke’s rampage being brought forward might have been my fault, but his conflict with the Temple wasn’t my fault.

 

“Seeing how she shuts him up in one go, she seems perfectly suited to be the Duke’s daughter…”

 

“I think so too. The Duke would have said the same thing.”

 

At one vassal’s murmur, Caron quietly agreed.

 

Palren kept letting out hollow laughs like “Ha! Ha!” as if he was dumbfounded. Even so, he seemed unable to find any words to refute, only turning his face bright red.

 

“Still, I can’t agree to accepting you…!”

 

“Enough.”

 

Then, Griezmann quietly raised his hand to stop him.

 

“What kind of commotion is this while the Duke is suffering?”

 

“But that thing started it first…!”

 

“She didn’t say anything wrong. Not receiving the Temple’s help is the Duke’s will. That has nothing to do with Hanisha.”

 

He glared at Palren as if telling him not to act childishly.

 

“Above all, didn’t the Duke say it directly? Since the bullet idea came from Hanisha, if you want it manufactured, get Hanisha’s permission.”

 

This time I was more surprised.

 

Since he hadn’t said anything, I thought he was just letting it pass, but he had told them that the idea was mine.

 

“Since you follow the Duke’s will so much, you’ll politely request it from Hanisha too, right?”

 

“That’s…”

 

At the words of the eldest vassal, Palren shut his mouth tight. Perhaps his pride was hurt, as he mumbled, “Sorry. I’d like you to allow the manufacturing.”

 

It was like bowing down to receive worship, but since the adults had created this situation, I shouldn’t act equally childishly.

 

“Yes. I’ll let you know. That’s what the Duke would want.”

 

When I readily agreed while mentioning the Duke, the other vassals smiled kindly, saying how mature I was.

 

As we were adjusting the schedule and coming out, I saw Palren glaring at me again.

 

“Hmph.”

 

Then he snorted and walked right past me.

 

‘How childishly annoying. How old is this mister…?’

 

I shook my head from side to side.

 

“Hanisha.”

 

Then, I turned my head at a voice from beside me.

 

It was Ashirion and Max. They seemed to have come looking for me out of worry after hearing that I had joined the vassals’ meeting.

 

“Are you okay? Nothing else happened?”

 

“Yeah. It was better than I thought. Oh, it seems the Duke gave me the authority to permit bullet manufacturing. I think I’ll be meeting with adults a lot more often.”

 

“That’s fortunate. At least they won’t show that they dislike you on the surface.”

 

Max spoke in a relieved tone, but Ashirion’s thoughts were a bit different.

 

“But Palren, that person will really dislike you. I heard he was the one who opposed most strongly when the Duke took you in.”

 

“That did seem to be the case. He wasn’t trying to hide it.”

 

“Should I be with that person instead? Since I’ve seen him often coming and going, he’ll treat me more comfortably.”

 

“Thanks for worrying, Ash. But it’s okay. Oh, but since you two are smarter, I’d like Ashirion and Max to handle the other two gentlemen.”

 

“That’s not a difficult task. This body is a genius after all.”

 

“…If that’s what you want, I’ll do that.”

 

Good. I nodded with a smile.

 

The reason I had just wanted to attend the meeting wasn’t to assert my authority, but to find out who had attacked the Duke.

 

‘Palren was the only one who mentioned the Temple.’

 

The Duke’s conflict with the Temple is a story well known even to Northerners. But he, as a vassal, specifically mentioned the Temple.

 

‘Maybe the Temple might be involved in this matter.’

 

If so, I need to observe more closely.

 

I quietly lit up my eyes.

 

* * *

 

Several days passed like that.

 

During the manufacturing process, I frequently visited Stukkyia’s Armory.

 

Most attacks on Stukkyia were born from being too wary of their strength.

 

So I thought they might attack the armory along with attacking the Duke. Or maybe among those three people, there was someone who deliberately wanted to cause fatal damage to weapon manufacturing.

 

However, the manufacturing proceeded without any problems, and there was no attack on the armory.

 

Ashirion and Max also said they didn’t see any suspicious circumstances from the two vassals.

 

‘But it was exactly this time. When someone attacked the Duke.’

 

What did I miss? Is there some other story I don’t know about?

 

I was thinking like that when I turned the corner.

 

Something that suddenly popped out collided with my face.

 

‘Ow!’

 

I grabbed my throbbing nose and looked up.

 

And I blinked in disbelief.

 

“You should watch where you’re going.”

 

The person who collided with me was Palren. He spoke with a face that showed no sign of apology.

 

“What would you do if the Duke, who can’t even see ahead, bumped into you?”

 

Then he started snickering. This place was far from the main castle, and there were no other adults around. It was definitely a laugh he was making because he thought the situation was more advantageous to him.

 

“What. Are you going to cry since you have nothing to say?”

 

“…”

 

“I have a handkerchief ready, so feel free to cry…”

 

“Haah.”

 

I let out a deep sigh.

 

“Mister.”

 

“Mis… what?”

 

“How long are you going to keep this up? You know I haven’t done anything.”

 

At that, Palren’s shoulders flinched.

 

I had been staying close thinking he might be the Duke’s betrayer.

 

But conversely, Palren had also been watching me. To catch me immediately if I did anything suspicious.

 

However, even without saying it, we both felt something.

 

That we both cared for the Duke more deeply than we had imagined.

 

That was probably why he mentioned the Temple. He hoped the Duke wouldn’t be hurt, even if it meant doing that.

 

‘A kind of excessive respect and loyalty, I suppose.’

 

“The Duke kept me by his side because I had that much value. If you’re jealous of my position, I hope you’ll work to increase your own value, Palren.”

 

“I also….”

 

Then, Palren, who had been silent the whole time, opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

 

“You think I haven’t been trying!”

 

His face, flushed with emotion as he shouted, looked like it would burst into tears at any moment.

 

“No matter how many professors who excelled at the Academy they put beside me, nothing goes into my head! What am I supposed to do!”

 

“Um… what kind of studies did you do?”

 

“Political science, administrative studies, even magic—I learned everything without exception. But I can’t think of anything except making money!”

 

“That sounds like you’re doing really well though….”

 

“But you can’t buy hearts with money! No, even if you could, if there’s a child who’s as cute and charming and clever as you, of course he’d prefer that side! Any human with eyes would naturally feel that way!”

 

“…?”

 

It seemed like some strange words were mixed in with his talk about being bad at studying.

 

But he was so serious and I could feel some kind of spirit from him, so I quietly kept my mouth shut.

 

“And….”

 

Having let out some of what was inside him and feeling somewhat relieved, he spoke in a much lighter tone.

 

“I don’t dislike you because you’re not really the Duke’s biological daughter. Actually, I thought you were a bit reckless but cute.”

 

“…Then? Why do you dislike me?”

 

“There was a similar incident before. Someone like you who opened the door and walked in boldly.”

 

I sucked in a sharp breath.

 

That was something no one had ever told me about.

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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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