The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 71

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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 71

 

‘He’s probably greatly disappointed in the duke’s dissolute lifestyle.’

 

Ashirion seemed worried that Julian, Count Karbendi’s disciple, might have spoken about the princess. Perhaps subtly keeping me in check, or treating me harshly as an unhelpful child.

 

But nothing like that happened. Rather…

 

“Could I perhaps pat her head just once…”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Ah, that wouldn’t be appropriate, would it… I’m sorry…”

 

He would often leave with his shoulders drooping dejectedly.

 

He was cautious if anything, but not a bad person. Contrary to my worries, he didn’t seem to think I was a hindrance to Stukkyia.

 

So I tried to very carefully ask about Count Karbendi’s whereabouts through Julian, but got the answer ‘I don’t really know.’ So I didn’t press further.

 

“Really, nothing happened at all, so don’t worry. More importantly, how’s Ashirion?”

 

“Me?”

 

“What I asked you about back then. That baby bird…”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

The bird that had been sitting quietly on Ashirion’s palm suddenly fluttered up into the air.

 

“Oh…!”

 

Startled, Ashirion urgently reached out his hand.

 

Fortunately, the bird didn’t fly away.

 

It simply landed somewhere gently.

 

On Rene’s shoulder.

 

“-Hello, hello.”

 

The bird chirped happily as if greeting him.

 

Ashirion’s bird was a species mixed with both monster and animal blood, and unlike ordinary parrots, it continuously remembered words it had learned once.

 

It wasn’t just mimicking words, but was smart enough to remember and repeat what words were said in which situations.

 

So I had asked Ashirion.

 

Whether it would be alright to let the baby bird stay with Rene.

 

Though I was directly teaching Rene letters myself, since he was learning to read at a late age, repetitive learning was important.

 

However, I was receiving education from Julian, and Rene was receiving training after joining Stukkyia’s Knights, so we didn’t have much time to be together.

 

“I don’t like the look in his eyes, but… it’s true that you were safe thanks to that kid.”

 

Though Ashirion looked dubious, he thankfully granted my request.

 

“Ah, Rene!”

 

I quickly approached Rene.

 

“Did your training go well?”

 

“-go well?”

 

“You’re sweating a lot. Wasn’t it hard?”

 

“-wasn’t it?”

 

Then the bird started repeating my words.

 

Rene glanced at me and then quickly turned his gaze away again. But he didn’t brush off the bird perched on his shoulder either. It seemed he was more comfortable with animals than humans.

 

‘Of course, he doesn’t seem to have opened up yet… but still, this is something.’

 

Rene had decided to stay at Paterre Castle. Though he was a prince, he couldn’t reveal his identity, so for now he was a knight trainee.

 

I wondered if Rene would obediently follow this arrangement, but from what the knights said, he seemed to be adapting better than expected. He didn’t try to run away either.

 

‘For me, it’s great to become friends with a future enemy!’

 

So I paid attention to Rene’s condition more than anything else.

 

Rewardingly, Rene’s face had improved beyond recognition.

 

His previously pale cheeks now had color, and his hair, which had been unkempt and rough, had become much softer.

 

Perhaps due to his height being taller than his peers, he looked worthy of being called a knight when wearing training clothes.

 

Feeling proud for no reason, I unconsciously muttered to myself.

 

“Pretty and handsome, he has it all. He could get married right now.”

 

“-could get married.”

 

“Who should it be with this time?”

 

“-who should it beee?”

 

While the bird was tilting its head and repeating my words.

 

I felt my shoulders being pulled, and Max and Ashirion positioned themselves on either side of me.

 

“Keep your distance, Hanisha.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Right, that weakling is correct.”

 

“Wh-why are you suddenly like this? Rene is my friend!”

 

“No, your big brothers think differently.”

 

Max said firmly.

 

…Of course, it’s true that he’s older than me.

 

I’ve been thinking lately that Max and Ashirion seem to use the big brother title a lot more often. Is it just my imagination?

 

Max, who had entrusted me to Ashirion, took a step toward Rene.

 

“Hey, listen carefully.”

 

Max said in an ominous voice.

 

“To become Hanisha’s big brother, you need to receive proper education.”

 

“…”

 

Perhaps because he had been hearing the word education constantly at the training grounds, Rene looked at Max.

 

It was a reaction he hadn’t shown even to me. Max seemed a bit pleased too, straightening his shoulders.

 

“Well, if you want it, I suppose I could teach you. It’s not that difficult.”

 

“…”

 

“If you really want to become Hanisha’s big brother like us.”

 

Max opened his mouth confidently.

 

“First, you have to wash socks.”

 

“…”

 

“All success comes from perseverance. That’s a lesson I learned at the blacksmith. The reason you can’t speak is because you haven’t suffered enough yet. Once you wash socks first and then work hard at the workshop, you’ll burst out saying ‘Wow, please save me!’ Me and that weakling, Ashirion are living proof…”

 

The more Max spoke, the colder Rene’s expression seemed to become for some reason.

 

I wasn’t the only one who thought so, as Ashirion sighed and muttered “Is he really an idiot…”

 

The bird, which hadn’t been repeating Max’s words, started shouting “Idiot! Idiot!” along with him.

 

‘Should I call this getting along or not?’

 

While I was holding my hand to my forehead.

 

The surroundings became quite chaotic.

 

Looking around, I saw knights from the knight order moving busily while dressed in full uniform. Julian was with them too, his face extremely pale.

 

‘What’s going on?’

 

I quickly approached them.

 

“Hello, Sir Julian.”

 

“Ah, hello, Princess.”

 

“Is something wrong? The lesson location is over there…”

 

“Ah, I’m sorry. Could we perhaps postpone today’s lesson to another day? Something urgent has come up.”

 

“Is it very urgent?”

 

Then Julian shook his head.

 

“It’s nothing serious. You don’t need to worry about it, Princess.”

 

Julian said this and left with the other knights.

 

“That seems like… a lie, doesn’t it?”

 

Max, who had overheard our conversation while staying with us, said casually.

 

“Yes. Very much so.”

 

If it really wasn’t a big deal, this many knights wouldn’t have been mobilized.

 

I busily wandered around the castle to gather information.

 

Meanwhile, Rene had to be sent off first after being summoned by the knights. If they needed even the help of Rene, who was still at the bottom rank, it was definitely no ordinary matter.

 

“Ah, it’s because of an avalanche.”

 

And that information was easier to find out than I thought. Caron answered me casually.

 

“Too much snow fell in the mountains, causing severe damage to the residential areas as well.”

 

“What about the Temple? Haven’t they said anything?”

 

The Northern Region, with its harsh weather, frequently experienced earthquakes and monster waves. Avalanches were the same.

 

It should be routine for them, but if even Paterre Stukkyia’s Knights were mobilized, it meant the scale was quite large.

 

That’s why it was even more puzzling.

 

Handling damage from natural disasters was usually the Temple’s responsibility. No matter how bad their relationship with Stukkyia was, they had to step in for such matters.

 

“It seems the Temple was contacted as well…”

 

Caron continued.

 

“The problem is that the village where multiple avalanches occurred spans the border between Agnito and Stukkyia. On paper, it clearly belongs to Agnito, but in terms of actual scale, there’s a larger population on the Stukkyia side.”

 

“That means, surely…”

 

As if delivering the final blow, Caron said.

 

“The Agnito side said that since the damaged area is on the northern side, they’ll leave the solution to Stukkyia. They said they can’t do anything about it.”

 

I clenched my fists tightly.

 

Even if it was land imbued with magical power, it was relatively quiet if no conflicting forces occurred.

 

However, opposing forces.

 

That is, at the border between the Eastern Region imbued with divine power and the Northern Region, such collisions frequently occurred.

 

Therefore, when the Previous Paterre Stukkyia made resource protection agreements, they wanted the lands belonging to the border to be included on the Agnito side.

 

They thought it would be more beneficial for the estate residents if the prosperous and wealthy Agnito managed them rather than the barren Northern Region. The Temple’s protection would naturally follow as well.

 

‘So while they belonged to Agnito, most people’s main income was from coal mines like Stukkyia.’

 

However, in the current generation, the relationship between the Northern and Eastern Regions had noticeably worsened.

 

Naturally, the Agnito side would consider that estate a nuisance.

 

Saying they won’t take responsibility because major damage occurred on the northern side is just an excuse.

 

‘Moreover, if my thoughts are correct…’

 

“Um, Sir Caron.”

 

I looked at Caron and spoke.

 

“By any chance, is that estate’s name ‘Biroche’?”

 

At my words, Caron’s eyes widened slightly.

 

“How did you know that, Lady Hanisha?”

 

As expected. My thoughts were correct.

 

Clenching my fists tightly, instead of answering his question, I said something else.

 

“If it wouldn’t be rude, could I go to that estate as well?”

 

This was an opportunity. A chance to give Count Agnito a hard time!

 

I clenched my fists with blazing eyes.

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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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