The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 65

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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 65

 

I blinked my eyes in bewilderment and stammered out a response.

 

“Uh, there’s nothing wrong…?”

 

“Then why is your voice trembling like this? And why is your face so cold? This dampness. Isn’t this blood?”

 

“That’s because I was scared just now… The coldness is because I’m cold… Th-this is sweat.”

 

At that, Paterre Stukkyia let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous.

 

“Then what about suddenly leaving? What’s your reason for going to the Underground Auction House?”

 

“Ah, that’s…”

 

I hesitated for a moment.

 

The medicine I had intended to give Paterre Stukkyia had already been used up.

 

Having caused such a big incident with nothing in my hands, I had nothing to say even if Paterre Stukkyia was greatly disappointed.

 

However, I decided to speak honestly.

 

“I went to get a stabilizer.”

 

“A stabilizer?”

 

“…Yes. Since my ability awakening wasn’t long ago, it’s difficult to use my power well. I heard there was medicine that helps with mental and physical stability.”

 

“…”

 

“I thought if I had that, my purification might work better on you… I’m sorry, Your Grace. I did something unnecessary…”

 

“Do I.”

 

Paterre Stukkyia firmly cut off my words.

 

“Do I really seem like I’m asking with that intention right now?”

 

At those words, I froze.

 

‘He’s not asking because he’s angry?’

 

Then? Then what?

 

If he’s not scolding me, then this is…

 

That’s when it happened. Things I hadn’t noticed before became visible to my eyes.

 

His still rough breathing, his heaving chest, his slightly disheveled hair, and his hands that gripped carefully knowing I was a child.

 

But trembling faintly, the hands holding my shoulders.

 

I slowly moved my lips.

 

Asking where I went and why I went wasn’t to scold me, but…

 

“…Were you worried about me?”

 

“You’re just realizing that now? How perceptive of you.”

 

Paterre Stukkyia chuckled as if incredulous.

 

“If I really wanted purification, I would have used clerics. The reason I want to take you as my daughter isn’t just for something like that.”

 

Saying that, he let out a sigh.

 

“They say you can’t even drink cold water in front of a child, and it’s really true.”

 

Normally I would have been very tense at that sigh, but strangely I didn’t feel that way.

 

Just relief that we met again.

 

Because I felt a great heart I had never received before in that short sigh.

 

“I’m sure I told you. I’m going to raise my daughter as a princess who doesn’t get a single drop of water on her fingers.”

 

Paterre Stukkyia crossed his arms in front of his chest and spoke arrogantly.

 

“But instead of water, she’s holding a gun and even has soot on her face. How should I accept this?”

 

“…If I go wash up right now, will you forgive me?”

 

“Well.”

 

Paterre Stukkyia tilted his head.

 

“If you become fluffy and smell like soap, and restore that weight you keep losing, I’ll think about it.”

 

Saying that, he gently poked the area around my cheek without hurting me.

 

I knew that was Paterre Stukkyia’s forgiveness.

 

“I’ll restore it!”

 

So I raised both arms high and shouted.

 

“At Stukkyia Castle!”

 

I didn’t forget to subtly express that I wanted to go together.

 

Paterre Stukkyia smiled faintly and said “You’re good at answering anyway,” tapping my cheek and playfully ruffling my hair.

 

Thanks to that, my curly hair became completely messy, but I didn’t feel bad.

 

Rather, my heart swelled as if I had received the best gift in the world.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Younger Boy!”

 

“Hanisha!”

 

After that, Max and Ashirion approached this way.

 

“You, why do you really cause such trouble! Huh?!”

 

“It’s not strange. Sometimes humans do more ridiculous things than animals… But this was too much, Hanisha.”

 

Max and Ashirion each gave worried lectures. It was natural that my face would spin around again like it had with Paterre Stukkyia.

 

Behind them, the Marsu gatekeeper and Ashirion’s bird that had followed along were sulkily biting the hem of my skirt.

 

“Anyway.”

 

As if the situation became clear after feeling relieved, Paterre Stukkyia pinched my cheek reproachfully without hurting me.

 

“Oww!”

 

“Because of you, I feel like I’ve aged 30 years. I never thought I’d learn about parental feelings this way.”

 

“Ugh, s-sorry…”

 

“If you end it with just saying sorry, why do laws exist? I can’t be satisfied with something so trivial. As punishment, when we return to the castle, you’ll eat 100 desserts and two extra bowls for dinner… Wait a minute.”

 

That’s when it happened. Paterre Stukkyia’s head turned to my side. It was exactly where Rene was.

 

I realized then that I hadn’t talked about Rene.

 

“Um, Your Grace. You know…”

 

But before I could open my mouth.

 

“I felt a sharp gaze, so I wondered if it was one of those pieces of trash…”

 

Paterre Stukkyia, who had been examining me while kneeling, slowly stood up.

 

“Come to think of it, they said some scoundrel took my daughter away without permission.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t tell me that scoundrel is you, kid?”

 

Paterre Stukkyia asked in an icy voice. It was the complete opposite of his voice when talking to me.

 

The cold sweat that I thought had stopped flowed down again.

 

‘H-how should I explain this?’

 

From what Paterre Stukkyia just said, he seemed to know the circumstances of Rene taking me.

 

In other words, it wouldn’t be strange at all if he misunderstood that Rene kidnapped me and tried to sell me to grave robbers.

 

Of course it was a situation that could cause misunderstanding, but it wouldn’t be good for Rene and him to become enemies. I quickly shouted.

 

“Fr-friend!”

 

“What?”

 

“Rene is my friend.”

 

It wasn’t completely a lie. It was true that I had sponsored ‘that child’ at the Underground Auction House all this time.

 

‘Of course there might have been some delivery error, and those sponsored items went to Rene instead.’

 

Anyway, if Rene had really tried to attack me, the jaguars wouldn’t have left me alone in the first place.

 

Besides, seeing how he was following me from behind, it seemed like he was checking if I was doing well, and he got hurt trying to save me. So he’s not entirely a bad kid…

 

‘Wait a minute.’

 

Then, suddenly a good idea flashed through my mind.

 

I came to Stukkyia to avoid the rebellion that would happen in the future. As long as I was an Agnito, I couldn’t be removed from the Rebel Forces’ purge list.

 

However, I had already met Rene. The water was already spilled.

 

Then since it’s come to this…

 

‘Why don’t I just become close friends and make him my ally?’

 

It seemed like a good idea. Actually, didn’t the Lead Jaguar tell me to take Rene with me?

 

‘Besides, considering our connection from my past life, he was originally supposed to be my husband…?’

 

While the puzzle pieces were fitting together in my head, Paterre Stukkyia asked again in a displeased tone.

 

“You sponsored that little brat?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because he looked strong.”

 

In fact, Rene’s ranking had been first place until today. It wasn’t a lie.

 

“When it comes to strength, the people of Stukkyia are no less capable.”

 

Paterre Stukkyia drew a line as if it was out of the question. That meant it wasn’t a valid reason.

 

“There’s another reason.”

 

“What on earth could it be…?”

 

“He’s handsome!”

 

I shouted with all my might.

 

My cousin and saint, Esther, had taken interest in the leader of the Rebel Forces based solely on rumors of his good looks.

 

It wouldn’t be strange for a young me to use handsomeness as a reason.

 

At that moment, everyone watching us fell silent.

 

It was unlikely, but I thought I heard Rene, who was beside me, let out a small chuckle.

 

“…My sons, who have better eyesight than I do.”

 

Suddenly, Paterre Stukkyia spoke in a friendly yet somehow chilling voice.

 

“What does the kidnapper’s face look like? I’d like you to tell me with your personal feelings rather than objective judgment.”

 

“Not much.”

 

“His eyes look scary, so he’s not my type.”

 

Max and Ashirion answered as if they had been waiting.

 

“But…”

 

Max reluctantly continued.

 

“It’s not a bad face. Of course, he looks so frail that he’d probably strain himself lifting a wrench. Even if he became Hanisha’s friend, he’d probably end up just running sock errands… Anyway, he is handsome.”

 

“His eyes turn up at the corners like a cat, but he’s too pretty for my taste. He looks like he’d be perfect prey for snow beasts… Still, he’s handsome.”

 

Though their tone was disapproving to the end, there was no opinion that he was ugly.

 

“Come to think of it… the reason the young lady wanted to make the Duke her father was also because of his face, probably?”

 

“That’s right. She was so confident about it that I still remember.”

 

Count Agnito’s people who had followed nodded in agreement.

 

‘They probably think I’m a crazy face-obsessed fool…’

 

Since these were helpful comments, I decided to just be a face-obsessed fool.

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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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