The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 68
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 68
That was why. Why he had brought Hanisha to his group.
Since she knew he was in pain, perhaps she could save his family too.
If she wanted him to become the sole Chess Piece in exchange, as others had desired, he was prepared to gladly do so.
“I should get going now. My family… no, the people might be worried… or rather, they might be waiting.”
However, Hanisha desired nothing. She simply gave him what he wanted and left.
That was strange. All the humans Rene had encountered so far were nothing but filthy, greedy beings. Creatures who giggled while watching a life suffer and agonize—beings that were worse than beasts.
But not only did she want nothing.
“Fr-friend! Rene is my friend.”
She even added such an absurd statement.
She was indeed a strange child. She pretended not to know him, yet said strange things like calling him a friend. And then she even treated his wounds.
‘Why exactly?’
What does she want from me?
At that moment.
Beep—
“…Ugh.”
Pain came with the ringing in his ears. It was pain he had experienced since he could think—he didn’t know when it started.
Physical pain was something he could endure indefinitely.
However, this pain that came with the ringing was somewhat different.
Though his eyes were clearly open, his vision blurred. And through his brightening sight, various situations flashed by rapidly.
Battles, conflicts, hostility. Within them, trust shared with someone and determination to definitely bring down enemies…
All of it was things he had never experienced.
But the greatest nightmare was separate.
A woman in torn, ruined white clothes.
That woman looked at him with startled eyes. As if she had expected death itself.
Meeting those eyes, his chest tightened as if caught in someone’s grasp.
But before he could understand what that sensation was… the ceiling collapsed. Over that woman’s head.
The nightmare ended with himself unable to do anything.
Rene slowly caught his breath and opened his eyes.
The ringing had subsided, and his vision returned to normal. All he could see was Hanisha sleeping soundly.
A little girl who looked remarkably similar to that woman from his dream.
‘What are you?’
How do you know my name?
Who exactly are you?
Rene frowned. He wanted to shake those small shoulders and wake her to ask about her true intentions.
However…
Something entered Rene’s field of vision.
A hand carelessly sprawled on the table due to falling asleep.
That small hand had a scar.
It was similar to Rene’s own, but appeared to be older.
“And that’s called ‘new flesh growing.'”
Had new flesh already grown over this child’s wound?
If so, who was the person who had inflicted the wound?
“…”
The questions he had intended to demand answers to gradually changed into curiosity about the child.
Thinking that far, he felt it was enough. She probably wouldn’t tell him anyway.
However…
Rene looked at Hanisha’s face as she slept soundly and thought briefly.
One thing was certain.
Humans really couldn’t be trusted.
“Sleep well tonight, Rene. I’ll chase away the nightmares.”
Hadn’t he avoided nightmares right after she said those words?
A child who knew a name he had never told anyone. A child who had wanted to marry him.
Therefore, a child full of secrets, no different from humans who were all lies.
However, Rene decided not to disturb the child’s quiet night.
Her slightly flushed cheeks illuminated by the faintly filtering moonlight, her round nose. Her steady breathing as she slept peacefully, as if she had never once had a nightmare, looked so serene.
Perhaps this moment was what he had been hoping for.
And…
“I… wanted to marry you.”
Thanks to that, he learned that for today at least, his nightmares could become someone else’s dreams.
* * *
I heard a faint sound.
A quiet atmosphere as if all the air in the world had entered a vacuum state, yet strangely floating. And through it, faint bird songs and a cozy sensation. Even a mysteriously refreshed physical condition…
‘Wait, refreshed?’
I bolted upright.
This wasn’t my room.
Precisely, it was the bed in Rene’s room!
‘I’m sure I just dozed off at the desk, when did I come to the bed?’
No, more importantly, where was Rene?
I hurriedly got up and looked around.
But Rene was nowhere to be seen.
I could only tell of his absence from the blanket I had covered him with lying carelessly underneath.
‘Did he return to where he originally was… to the Forbidden Land?’
Perhaps it was because of the sense of kinship I felt while watching Rene yesterday.
Though I had thought this might happen, I felt a little disappointed.
Of course, my primary goal was to become close enough to survive even if he plotted rebellion in the future.
But seeing his distrust toward humans and Rene’s physical condition made me think differently.
Just as I met ‘that child’ and gradually came out of my room.
If Rene had met good people sooner, wouldn’t he have gotten better than he is now?
‘Then at least he would have been able to understand human speech.’
I felt a little sorry for Rene, who had been abandoned in the Forbidden Land due to the empress’s scheme and lived a life that was neither human nor beast.
‘Of course, I’m not in a position to worry about others either.’
Anyway, I needed to think about what comes next.
Since Paterre Stukkyia had acknowledged me as his daughter.
Just as I was thinking that and about to get up from my seat.
Knock knock.
Suddenly, I heard a knocking sound.
“Good morning, Hanisha… no, Miss.”
The person who appeared was Caron.
He looked the same as usual, but there was one difference today.
“You look as cute as always today, but you seem particularly grown-up.”
He wasn’t wearing his glasses.
“Lord Caron. Where did you put your glasses?”
“Ah, they broke.”
“They broke? Why?”
“Thanks to you, Miss, I got so absorbed in the game that my glasses ended up breaking.”
“Because of me…? What game?”
I tilted my head, but he just smiled broadly and cracked his knuckles with a crunch.
Indeed, his cheeks were slightly flushed and his face had more color than usual.
By the way, seeing that Caron didn’t say anything even after seeing me wake up here, it seemed the maids were the ones who moved me to the bed.
“Oh, Miss Hanisha. It’s early morning, but do you have time? The Count is looking for you.”
“Ah, yes. It’s fine. Just a moment!”
I quickly hurried inside and finished getting ready.
The place I headed to with Caron was the Count’s office.
After knocking and entering, what I saw was…
The Count sitting at the head seat.
And Count Agnito’s people sitting in a row on both sides around the Count. Among them was Palren, and there was also Griezmann, who I had become close with while discussing manufacturing methods.
They seemed to have been having a serious conversation from early in the morning, as everyone stopped talking when I entered.
Eek. I came right away when called, but it seems I picked the wrong timing.
“I’m sorry. I’ll come back later…”
I glanced and tried to close the door again, pretending I hadn’t seen anything.
“Mm, no. It’s fine.”
The Count waved his hand as if it was okay. It seemed like he had called me knowing this would happen.
As I was reading the room, Caron mouthed ‘Please go ahead.’ I gathered my courage and approached the Count.
“Not there, Hanisha. Over here.”
The Count tapped the seat next to him.
“Here, come this way.”
I sat down next to him after reading the room.
The Count, resting his chin on his hand and turning his head toward me, asked.
“What time is it now?”
“Uh, it’s 9 AM.”
“Really? It’s later than I thought.”
The Count answered briefly and raised his head again, looking at Caron in front of the door.
Then Caron opened the door again. The people who entered were the chef and his staff.
At the same time, clack, clack, clack.
Food began to be placed in front of me. Finally, with a dessert that looked sweet at first glance, the food arrangement was complete.
“Count, this is…?”
One retainer asked in a bewildered voice.
“Ah, I’m giving punishment.”
The Count replied without even looking, still facing my direction as he spoke.
“I told you, didn’t I? As punishment for causing trouble, you’d have to eat 100 desserts when you got back.”
“That was…”
“You’ll remember, my daughter is smart.”
“…Yes. You did say that.”
“Then that’s settled. Go ahead and eat~”
The Count encouraged my meal in a gentle tone.
But even so…
To have to eat alone in front of all these adults.
‘I feel like I’ll get indigestion if I eat in this situation…’
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————