The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 67
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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 67
Upper arm.
So on the inside of my shoulder, in a place that wouldn’t be revealed unless I raised my hand high or showed it directly, an old scar had settled.
This was a wound I had inflicted on myself.
When I was much younger than now, I desperately wanted to have divine power.
However, Lisa was by my side, and if such a large wound appeared on my body when I was alone, it would be obvious that I had made it myself.
So I secretly wounded myself in a place that couldn’t be noticed unless looked at closely, and watched the healing process.
But with ordinary wounds, I couldn’t tell if this was a manifestation of divine power or if it was naturally healing over time.
So I secretly snuck out of my room and brought a knife that was placed on Count Agnito’s desk. It wasn’t easy to find a knife just lying around anywhere.
So naturally, I didn’t know.
That Count Agnito happened to be dealing with grave robbers at the time, and that knife was something the grave robbers had carelessly left behind.
Whether fortunately or unfortunately, though I had boldly brought the knife, I was still quite timid and could only make a very small wound.
“Ah, it hurts… It’s hard. It’s painful…”
The small amount of poison that got in didn’t kill me. It only gave me agony right up until the point of death.
So when the poison was completely detoxified.
“…I, I survived. Hehe.”
I was a little happy.
“I had it too. Hihi…”
Because I thought I had truly awakened divine power.
It was a foolish thought.
‘That wasn’t divine power or anything like that, it was my body protecting me.’
Rene’s eyes wavered briefly upon seeing the hidden scar. I pulled down my sleeve again and said.
“I’m not exactly someone who only lived in heaven either. I haven’t been long since escaping from hell.”
“…”
“So I understand your feelings. You don’t have to eat, and though I prefer clean people, you don’t have to wash if you don’t want to.”
I took a step closer to Rene and reached out my hand to him.
When Rene flinched and tried to back away, I showed him my palm and continued firmly.
“But wounds must be treated. Otherwise, your family will be sad too.”
“…”
“You don’t want to see the Baby Jaguars sad, do you? You’re becoming their big brother, so you can’t show them such a pitiful sight. You need to set an example.”
Rene right now certainly doesn’t understand my words. Yet I was rambling on like this to distract Rene’s attention.
‘It’s like when approaching stray cats, going on and on about how harmless I am.’
Perhaps my efforts worked.
“…”
Little by little.
But certainly, Rene’s hostility subsided.
“Thank you, I’ll finish up.”
I smiled brightly and took out the medicine I had brought in advance. Then I applied the medicine over the wound on his cheek.
“…”
Perhaps understanding that I was treating his wound, Rene flinched as if it stung but obediently accepted my touch.
I finished applying the medicine. When I spread both hands beside my head again to signal that I was done, Rene pulled his body back.
“I know you want to leave, but it would be better to rest a bit more. How about leaving tomorrow? It gets really warm here when it’s time to sleep.”
“…”
“Wow, look at that bed over there! It looks really warm and soft!”
I bounced around excessively pointing at the bed, but Rene didn’t even pretend to listen.
‘If he doesn’t want to, there’s nothing I can do.’
“Alright. Then I’ll be over there.”
“…”
“Oh, it’s not for any other reason, just in case you have other injuries, so don’t misunderstand.”
I said that and went to sit on a chair by the table placed to one side.
“Well, I guess I should read a book~”
I deliberately spoke loudly as if for him to hear, then buried my head in a book.
Then after a moment, I sneakily lifted my gaze.
Rene seemed to want to leave immediately, but perhaps realizing his physical condition wasn’t good, he gave up and sat back down on the floor.
His golden eyes, which had been quietly gazing at the moonlight in the darkness, slowly closed.
How much time had passed like that?
The sound of steady breathing came from the quiet room.
‘He’ll catch a cold sleeping like that.’
I knew he had lived in the wild, but still, with a blanket right there, it bothered me not to do anything for him.
I quietly picked up a blanket and got up from my seat.
Even though I had approached very close, Rene didn’t move at all.
‘He’s sleeping soundly. He must have been very tired.’
Well, starting from the auction house, then the Jaguars, and then the Stukkyia people. Even I was exhausted, so how much more so for Rene?
I carefully covered Rene with the blanket so as not to wake him, then crouched down and stared intently at Rene.
If not now, when would I get to see him this close again?
‘It was dark outside so I couldn’t tell well. Seeing him up close, he has such a pretty face.’
Calm black hair with a deep green tint.
His eyes were slightly pointed upward, but he had long eyelashes both above and below.
A straight nose and full lips.
And a jawline that was still soft and graceful, not yet angular.
No wonder the grave robbers had mistaken Rene for a girl.
Then suddenly I found it amusing.
In my previous life, I died without even properly seeing my ex-husband’s face at the wedding. Rene had been covering his mouth at that time.
But who would have known that not only would I meet him again so absurdly, but I’d get to see my former (life’s) husband’s childhood?
Of course, I was living a second life now, and Paterre Stukkyia had accepted me as his daughter, so there would be no more occasion to marry Rene…
“Still, it’s a bit regrettable.”
“…”
“Actually, I… wanted to marry you.”
Was it because this was a memory only I knew? Or was it because I was seeing again the last face I had seen in my previous life?
My mouth opened without my knowing.
In the life I remembered, and also in my previous life.
I was always alone. There were people connected by blood, but no one I could confidently call family.
So when Count Agnito ordered my marriage to Rene, though I was scared, I was also secretly hopeful.
Finally, I too would have someone I could proudly call family.
“Of course, you really hated me, but still, I didn’t completely dislike you.”
“…”
“There are beings you can call family, but there’s an unavoidable distance that can never be closed. I had that kind of thing too.”
For Rene, that was the Jaguars, and for me, it was Agnito.
Family, yet unable to be complete family.
Therefore, eternally destined to be lonely.
“Since we were alike, I thought maybe we might suit each other well. Having cute babies, comforting each other’s old wounds while relying on each other, living prettily and harmoniously as a family.”
So, so I.
“…I wanted to marry you.”
But that’s all a story from the past now.
Swallowing the rest of my words, I smiled quietly. Rene was asleep anyway, and even if he had heard, these weren’t words he could understand right now.
“Still, now that we’ve met like this, couldn’t we at least become friends? I’d like that. You wouldn’t want to, would you?”
“….”
“It’s a little sad, but I’ll understand. I’m your ‘senior’ after all.”
Biologically, Rene was two years older than me, but mentally, I was more mature.
After speaking as if putting on airs, I added quietly.
“Sleep well tonight, at least, Rene.”
I’ll chase away the nightmares for you.
I gave a small greeting and returned to sit in the chair. I was worried that Rene might experience side effects from the medicine while sleeping.
I tried not to fall asleep by reading a book I had brought and studying ancient languages.
However, it seemed I had also gone through a difficult day. My eyelids began to grow heavier and heavier.
Ugh, this won’t do….
‘Maybe I’ll sleep just a little. Really just a little….’
Before I could even make that decision, I dozed off.
* * *
Steady breathing could be heard.
Rene slowly opened his eyes.
He sat up and approached where the sound was coming from.
Hanisha was slumped over the table, sleeping while breathing heavily.
Rene frowned slightly.
He hadn’t come to Stukkyia obediently to detoxify the poison. No matter how strong a poison humans could create, it couldn’t be stronger than the nameless poisons of the Wilderness.
Even if there was an antidote, Rene had no intention of trusting medicine given by humans.
Yet there was one reason he had come to This Place.
This child who had closed her eyes and fallen asleep, oblivious to the world.
This child was definitely the one who had sponsored him.
Of course, he hadn’t recognized her from the beginning. He had simply found it strange that someone would bring a child to such an Underground Arena.
However, the moment the child wearing the dog mask won the Potion of Peace he had been searching for so desperately, and the moment that strange Patron name was called out, he was certain.
The person who had carefully selected and sent him only what he needed.
His first Patron who had suddenly cut off sponsorship, saying it would be difficult to stay in contact anymore—that was this child.
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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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