The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 61

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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 61

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Your Grace.”

 

Ashirion, who had come with him and realized Hanisha had disappeared, approached.

 

“There’s a mask here. It seems Hanisha dropped it before leaving.”

 

“Are you certain it belongs to the child?”

 

“Yes. We’ve c-c-c-confirmed it.”

 

The answer came from Max.

 

At the feet of the trembling Max, the gatekeeper Marsu and Ashirion’s bird were sniffing at Hanisha’s sock placed alongside the puppy mask.

 

Max had brought it. Both creatures barked “Woof!” with certainty and flapped their wings.

 

“I see. The child went to the Forbidden Land…”

 

At Paterre’s low murmur, the Event Organizer inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

 

He didn’t know who this child was to cause such a commotion, but there was no way Paterre Stukkyia would get involved with the Forbidden Land, so this would surely pass…

 

“We’re going to the Forbidden Land.”

 

The Duke turned around with a brief declaration. It was a conclusion so clear it was refreshing.

 

The startled Event Organizer looked up.

 

He’s really going? To that Abandoned Land?

 

But why? What exactly is that child to him?

 

“Oh.”

 

The Duke, who had suddenly stopped, asked his aide beside him.

 

“I heard they call the people competing here Chess Pieces.”

 

“Yes. The naming is rather crude, but they seem to have given it that name to try to look stylish. It’s a strategy to appear sophisticated.”

 

“Then they must be Chess Pieces too.”

 

The Duke said, gesturing toward the organizers and staff on stage.

 

“Come back in first place, Caron. In the name of Stukkyia.”

 

With those words, the Duke turned around.

 

First place? Chess Pieces? What does that mean?

 

The moment he blinked, his eyes met with Caron’s, who had turned toward him.

 

The bespectacled man, who had maintained an expressionless face throughout, was smiling.

 

…Even brighter than Paterre Stukkyia.

 

It was the beginning of true pandemonium.

 

* * *

 

To cut to the conclusion, I didn’t die.

 

To be precise, I haven’t died yet.

 

Because Rene was carrying me and continuing to run.

 

‘A princess carry… Isn’t this usually done at weddings?’

 

Just as I thought that, I suddenly felt my back aching and shifted my body.

 

“…”

 

As soon as I did, Rene glanced down at me. An expressionless face and cool gaze. Wondering if I had upset him, I quickly straightened my posture.

 

“No, it was just a bit uncomfortable. It’s nothing, um…”

 

I found myself muttering excuses without realizing it, but I actually knew the truth.

 

Rene couldn’t understand these words anyway. Rene, who had lived mixed with beasts, was known to have been unable to speak human language until he was 15. He only began learning language in earnest when he formed the Rebel Forces.

 

‘He lived more than half his life as a beast, so Count Agnito looked down on him, saying he was exactly that lowly.’

 

Since Rene and I are exactly two years apart, Rene is currently 12 years old, still at a time when he hasn’t learned language yet.

 

As if proving this, Rene turned his gaze away from me again.

 

I can fix my posture myself. As long as he keeps me alive, I can endure this kind of posture as much as needed…

 

‘Huh?’

 

Then, suddenly, Rene adjusted his hold on me. My posture became much more comfortable. He couldn’t have understood my words, so he just readjusted his grip, but it was still much more comfortable.

 

After running like that for a while.

 

Before we knew it, we were in a dark forest.

 

In the ruins that seemed to have become a battlefield at one point, new trees had grown. Even though there was a full moon, Rene moved forward without hesitation through the dark places.

 

Eventually, Rene slowly stopped walking. And what came into view… was a pack of Black Panthers.

 

The Black Panthers, sensing human presence, rose from their positions.

 

I was startled.

 

D-don’t tell me he brought me here as food for them?

 

“I-I don’t taste good! I haven’t been eating particularly nutritious things…”

 

“…”

 

“W-well, I have been eating pretty well lately, but I ate a lot of sweets. My blood color must be murky, so it would be unpleasant to eat. They say blood that’s good to eat tastes good too… I-I’m on the verge of a blood sugar spike, so I taste bad…!”

 

I heard a soft chuckle from above my head, but I continued pleading. Because Rene kept walking forward during all this.

 

Eventually, Rene set me down somewhere.

 

“Kyaang, no…!”

 

I curled up, thinking of the pain that would follow. But I felt nothing.

 

I cautiously opened my eyes.

 

‘Wh-where is this…?’

 

And I couldn’t help but be surprised.

 

A Black Panther that looked like the largest in this pack at first glance.

 

Numerous medicine bottles placed beneath that panther.

 

They were the same as what I had given to my friend.

 

‘Why does Rene have these…? Does he think they’re the same as the potion I won at auction? Is he trying to give these to that panther?’

 

Just as I approached as if enchanted by that thought, I instinctively stopped at something I suddenly felt.

 

The panther that appeared to be the leader was quietly closing its eyes. So I thought the panther had fallen asleep or was resting.

 

But that wasn’t it.

 

Rough breathing, a nose turning pale, a limp body.

 

I instinctively realized.

 

That this panther didn’t have much life left.

 

I swallowed dry saliva and gripped the potion I had brought tightly.

 

It wasn’t because the potion was precious. I could obtain potions anytime. But this wasn’t a recovery potion.

 

The problem was the situation.

 

The reason these Black Panthers came to this Abandoned Land was because of the religious war jointly waged by the Temple and Royal Family. Because the territory where they lived had disappeared.

 

So after this panther dies, Rene would make his resolution as a rebel.

 

…In other words, this panther’s death was necessary for Rene’s revenge. Only if Rene rebelled could this rotten Empire and Temple be brought down.

 

Moreover, if I truly became Paterre Stukkyia’s daughter and succeeded in opening his eyes, there would be no need to listen to the Temple. The rebellion would become someone else’s business, and we would no longer clash.

 

‘But…’

 

This panther is the only family who raised and fed the abandoned Rene until now. If the panther pack hadn’t taken him in, Rene would have died immediately.

 

A rebellion only possible through the death of one life.

 

Could I… just watch that happen?

 

‘…Of course not.’

 

Happiness given through someone’s sacrifice was no longer happiness. Especially now that I knew about it.

 

I raised my hand. I opened the medicine bottle and forced open the panther’s mouth. As I poured the medicine between its teeth, I squeezed my eyes shut.

 

‘Please.’

 

Even if it’s just a little bit.

 

Please don’t let the life before my eyes suffer.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

The panther slowly opened its eyes. Within those clear golden eyes, narrowed pupils stared at me in surprise.

 

【You are…】

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Rene, who had been beside me, strongly embraced the panther.

 

Under the blindingly brilliant moonlight, Rene’s shoulders trembled finely.

 

I looked at him and stepped back a little.

 

How much time had passed?

 

The Black Panther who appeared to be the Panther Leader closed its eyes again.

 

Its breathing seemed calmer than before, suggesting it had fallen asleep, but Rene didn’t leave its side.

 

What did I do during that time…?

 

“Sit! Shake! Nose! Turn around! Bang!”

 

I played with the Young Panthers.

 

It felt awkward to say I was going back in this situation. More than anything, I didn’t know how to return without Rene.

 

I was scared the Jaguars might eat me, but fortunately, thanks to Rene, they seemed accustomed to humans.

 

Some of them showed wariness, but they became much more relaxed once the Panther Leader fell asleep again.

 

It was around the time I was gently stroking the belly of a young panther lying on its back and fiddling with chocolate jelly.

 

I glanced around cautiously. Rene still hadn’t left the Black Panther’s side.

 

After subduing the panther that was nibbling on my hair with another gun-shooting gesture, I stood up from my spot.

 

“Um…”

 

When I approached, Rene glanced this way.

 

“May I take a look for a moment?”

 

“…”

 

“I’m absolutely not trying to attack. I’ll just look.”

 

I raised my hands high to express my intentions as clearly as possible. While I approached sideways like a crab, Rene said nothing.

 

I carefully placed my hand over the Black Panther’s body.

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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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