The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 83

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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 83

* * *

After the adoption process was completed.

Hanisha left the room first with Count Karbendi and Rene.

Now they would have to flee from Agnito, but just as the cleric was about to sit down heavily to catch his breath for a moment.

“Hup?!”

Suddenly his body was lifted up.

For some reason, Paterre Stukkyia, who had not yet left the room, had lifted the cleric up with his magic power.

“Why, why are you doing this! Didn’t you promise to spare me if I just safely handled the adoption process!”

“Do you work alone?”

An unexpected question came back. The tone was so light that if someone heard this conversation from outside, it would sound like ordinary daily conversation.

Though flustered, the cleric obediently answered.

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Then it must have been you.”

Paterre smiled.

“The one who processed a perfectly healthy child as deceased.”

“…!”

The cleric’s face turned deathly pale. Paterre leisurely listened to the heartbeat that was beating more roughly than ever before, as if enjoying music, and spoke slowly.

“But now that I’ve become a father, I guess I’ve become a little more generous.”

“….”

“If you nullify the death record, I think I might change my mind.”

“How… how could I possibly do that…! Urgh.”

“Can’t do it?”

Squeeze.

“That can’t be right… still can’t do it?”

The magic power constricting the cleric’s body grew stronger.

“I’ll, I’ll do it! Somehow! Somehow!”

Only then did the magic power weaken slightly.

Watching the cleric who had lost strength and collapsed heavily into his seat, Paterre sighed as if feeling sorry.

“You work so hard day and night for this damn country. Well then, good luck?”

Then he left the temple leisurely, humming a tune.

* * *

As soon as the carriage arrived at the Duke’s Mansion, the castle gates opened.

“Miss!”

“My goodness, it’s Miss!”

Then the servants who appeared in droves approached Hanisha.

“The result! How did the result turn out!”

At their urging, Hanisha silently made a V sign with her hand.

“From now on, she’s a princess!”

Then she smiled proudly with a grin.

The servants’ faces were also colored with emotion.

“Congratulations, Miss!”

“Miss? We should call her Princess now!”

“Congratulations! Princess!”

Unable to suppress their overwhelming feelings, their gazes were all focused on Hanisha.

Only Caron, who had his clothes taken by Paterre but still didn’t forget his duty as a butler, bowed his head toward the person who had followed behind.

“Welcome back, Count.”

Count Karbendi smiled kindly.

“Your posture has improved a lot since I last saw you, Caron. You’ve become a proper butler now.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Count, for teaching me that when taking notes, I should use a pen, not blood.”

The count chuckled at the familiar banter that remained unchanged even after 10 years.

“You must be tired from the journey, so I’ll guide you inside first.”

“No, that’s fine. I need to talk with Paterre first.”

Paterre seemed to have the same thought and headed straight into Paterre Castle without hesitation.

The last time he had seen Paterre Castle, it had looked no different from a ruined house.

However, the broken windows had somehow become new, and the outer walls that had been covered with moss were now much more neatly arranged.

That wasn’t all.

“…What are those baskets and flower pots?”

The count asked about the identity of what had caught his attention from the moment he entered Paterre’s office.

“Dessert baskets. The kid really likes small and sweet things just like herself.”

Perhaps finding the ill-fitting butler uniform stuffy, Paterre answered while taking off his clothes.

“Those flower pots have flowers that Hanisha likes. I planted them in the garden, but the growth seemed slow, so I moved some seedlings to keep watch over them.”

“…You did this yourself, Paterre?”

“Is that a problem? My eyes may be like this, but my hands are fine.”

Paterre, who had already put on his final robe, raised his hands as if to prove his point.

Paterre, who had given up on himself after losing his eyes, was now caring more about others than himself.

“You really… are serious.”

Therefore, the count couldn’t help but mutter unconsciously.

Then Paterre shrugged as if asking what was so surprising.

“Wasn’t this something you already knew through Julian?”

“…Still, I didn’t know it would be to this extent. By the way, you knew.”

“Julian is quite timid, you know. He was subtly asking about the mansion’s situation, but his heartbeat was louder than his voice. So I told him about more of the chaotic situation.”

“….”

“That way our teacher would come back. Right?”

He was saying he had used innocent Julian like a spy.

However, the count wasn’t surprised or reproachful. There was a more important topic at hand.

“That child.”

“Hanisha.”

Paterre corrected him as if telling him to speak properly. The count nodded in understanding and continued.

“Do you trust Hanisha?”

“….”

“I heard from Julian. That Hanisha partially purified the power of ‘that one’ dwelling in your body.”

A child who might become Stukkyia’s successor due to Paterre’s whim.

He had watched the child with that thought.

However, when he met the child directly, his thoughts changed.

‘She knows something. Something I don’t know.’

And perhaps that might be related to why his disciple had ended up in this state.

Regardless of the fact that Hanisha fundamentally had a good heart, this was something that needed to be addressed.

A moment of silence passed.

“I do think she has secrets.”

After a brief silence, Paterre answered slowly.

“But I’m just not going to ask about them.”

“Why not?”

“She’s reaching adolescence. A father needs to understand that. More than anything….”

Paterre, who had answered playfully, turned his head out of habit.

His gaze, hidden behind the eyepatch, reached something placed on one side of the work table.

“I also have one big secret.”

Though invisible, it was ingrained in his body, and the image on the table was clearly drawn.

It was a portrait of himself and his older brother Enril.

“Let’s get a portrait painted, Paterre.”

“A portrait? Why all of a sudden?”

“Why? I’m getting married soon. Before our family grows, we should leave behind memories of just the two of us.”

Paterre didn’t want to do such a bothersome thing. After all, if Enril got married, they’d have to paint another new portrait anyway.

But perhaps it was because their parents had passed away early.

Enril, who was particularly concerned about family relationships, wanted to leave behind a portrait of the brothers before his marriage. He even went so far as to hire a painter and bring him over.

“Your future sister-in-law might get jealous if she finds out. She’ll say you left her out completely.”

“Trisha isn’t that kind of person, Paterre.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Of course. She’ll understand with a generous heart. Even if she doesn’t seem like it, she appeared to like you quite a bit.”

Paterre chuckled as if he’d heard something amusing.

“That’s surprising. People who like me are very rare.”

“You just don’t know. There are so many people who like you. You just don’t notice because you’re oblivious to such things and have even less interest in them.”

Even though it was a small joke, Enril always made sure to address anything about his younger brother.

His older brother was that kind of person.

Someone who knew how to give love. Someone who loved with his whole heart, with his entire soul.

“Still, Trisha is really someone who suits Stukkyia. I told you, right? That we met on the battlefield. Everyone says we were lucky to meet the Princess of the Principality, but I don’t think so. We’re definitely destined…”

The story of the destined first meeting between the two was beginning once again.

Though he had already heard this story dozens of times, Paterre listened quietly because Enril’s face looked so happy whenever he told it.

Enril didn’t know, but just as he did, Paterre also loved his older brother dearly. He could do anything for his brother.

Anything.

“Paterre, this is my last request as your brother.”

“Brother.”

“Please, I’m begging you.”

“…”

“Even though she committed such acts, I truly love her. So, you alone, no matter what happens, please her…”

Even if his own future would fall into deep darkness.

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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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