The Duke Dad I Chose Can’t (Really) See Well - Chapter 89

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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 89

* * *

When I hurried out toward the castle gates, I saw a truly familiar face.

“Li… Lisa? Is it really you, Lisa?”

“Miss!”

Lisa, who had set down all her luggage, rushed over and pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Have you been well all this time? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

“Yeah. I wasn’t. But what about you, Lisa… No, wait. But what brings you here? What happened?”

Though I was happy to see her, I was even more surprised. I never imagined I’d see Lisa again, especially here in Stukkyia.

“I… actually, even after leaving like that, I came to the castle several times.”

“You did, Lisa?”

“Yes. No matter how I thought about it, I felt it wasn’t right to leave you in such a dangerous place.”

Lisa, who kept apologizing, held my hand tightly.

“If it’s alright with you, please come with me. I’ve found suitable work, and there shouldn’t be any problem living together with you, Miss.”

“Huh?”

“If you would just make the decision, Miss, I would…”

“Lisa, Lisa. Wait a moment.”

I held Lisa’s hands tightly and said.

“First, calm down. And I’m fine.”

“Miss…”

“Nothing happened to me. I wasn’t hurt either.”

“…”

“And I like it here, Lisa. I have no intention of leaving.”

At my words, I could see the worry that had been clouding Lisa’s eyes slowly fade away.

“…I understand.”

Lisa slowly straightened up.

“I apologize for the late introduction, Your Grace. I am Lisa Tesreto. I was the maid who served the young miss at Agnito.”

Then she bowed deeply to Paterre Stukkyia, who had been walking toward us.

Paterre Stukkyia, standing beside me, tilted his head lazily with an “Mmm?”

“It seems like something’s missing from your introduction?”

“…I came here with the young miss under Count Agnito’s orders, but I escaped alone.”

At those words, the servants who had followed behind let out shocked gasps.

“To leave such a young miss in this pile of trash?”

“That’s unthinkable…!”

The retainers of the trash pile began to get angry.

Then Lisa quickly continued.

“I know it was cowardly. Even if it was what the young miss wanted, I shouldn’t have done that… My life is as good as saved by the young miss. So…”

Lisa looked at me with tear-filled eyes.

“Please let me work here, Your Grace.”

“Huh?”

I was the one who was surprised by that.

“What do you mean, Lisa? What about your siblings!”

“My siblings were already living with relatives from the beginning. I just need to send them money like before. Nothing will change.”

Lisa answered as if to reassure me, then bowed her head once again.

“…Please, Your Grace.”

“Hmm.”

Paterre Stukkyia paused for a moment.

“That’s not a decision for me to make.”

Then he turned his head to look at me.

* * *

“So this is the young miss’s room.”

Lisa, who had been looking around my room, let out a small exclamation of admiration.

“The light comes in well, and it’s nicely organized too.”

“I told you it was a good place. The people are really kind too.”

I pulled Lisa’s hand as if to reassure her.

“But Lisa. Is it really okay for you to stay here? Are you sure it’s fine not to go back?”

“I told you, Miss. From the moment you opened the gates of this castle that day, my life belonged to Miss Hanisha.”

“…”

“I’ll do anything. I’ll humbly accept whatever comes.”

Lisa, who said that, stroked my cheek.

“Your cheeks have gotten plumper than before. You must have eaten a lot of delicious food.”

“Ah, I really did gain weight. His Grace has a hobby of feeding me sweets.”

“He has such a… hobby? That’s the opposite of the rumors.”

Lisa tilted her head with a bewildered expression. Still, she gently stroked my cheek, saying I looked cute having gotten plumper.

But only for a moment.

“…Miss.”

Lisa took my hand again.

“Actually, I investigated before coming here. You know too, don’t you, Miss? That all children in the Empire must be under the belonging of a guardian. So about family…”

Lisa hesitated for a long time. She even knelt down to meet my eye level but avoided my gaze. Then she met my eyes again with an awkward smile.

“…If you chose Stukkyia because you needed a guardian, you don’t have to do that. I’m an adult too, so I can become your guardian, Miss.”

“…”

“So if you ever, really ever want to escape from here, please tell me anytime.”

Her eyes were still as kind and upright as always.

I didn’t answer, and Lisa quietly embraced me like that.

* * *

A few days later.

Lisa really became a servant of Stukkyia Castle.

Since she entered without going through the formal application process, honestly it was nepotism, but it didn’t matter in Stukkyia. This place accepted anything.

“I don’t like her.”

Except for a few people.

“Hati, you need to watch your words.”

At Anna’s scolding, Hati made a wronged expression.

“But she left such a young princess here alone and departed by herself. Why would such a person come looking for this place again? You think so too.”

“That’s… true.”

Even Anna, who usually stopped Hati at times like this, eventually nodded with a sigh.

“I can’t like her. Because she’s someone who left the princess behind.”

“Right? I don’t like her from one to ten. Even though she’s new, she keeps going on about how the young miss likes this, or prefers soft towels over rough ones, which is uncomfortable. As if our Stukkyia’s things aren’t good enough…”

My eyes met directly with Hati, who was venting her complaints. Having lost her composure and momentarily forgotten my presence, she snapped back to attention with a “Hah!”

“I’m sorry, Princess. We were too presumptuous.”

“No, don’t worry about it too much.”

I shook my head.

Actually, it wasn’t something I should receive an apology for. From the perspective of Paterre Stukkyia’s servants, they had to accept some suspicious person because of me.

But precisely because she was suspicious, I had to accept Lisa even more.

Lisa and I both survived despite Count Agnito’s machinations. When we parted, I clearly told her she needed to hide herself well, and Lisa said she understood.

And now, I had Paterre Stukkyia as my guardian, but Lisa didn’t. Moreover, she had many siblings depending on her. Rather than stepping forward, she needed to hide herself.

‘That’s why I was going to ask His Grace to investigate Lisa’s situation.’

Lisa appeared at just the right timing.

All of this couldn’t possibly be mere coincidence.

‘The fact that things turned out this way… it’s probably Count Agnito’s scheme.’

I had sensed that he would target me. What happened in Biroche Territory and the Northern Temple would have reached their ears too.

The Temple would have been furious, and Count Agnito would definitely try to eliminate me to make it all disappear.

In that regard, finding Lisa was a wise choice.

‘Because Lisa is… the first person I ever gave my heart to.’

Lisa was also the first person to give me such generous affection.

Perhaps that’s why.

When Lisa looked at me with those gentle eyes, when she asked me to come with her, my heart couldn’t help but waver.

But to expose Count Agnito’s backing and completely sever ties with them, I needed Lisa. Her evil deeds would become Agnito’s will.

‘Please.’

I prayed desperately in my heart.

‘Please let it not be that, Lisa…’

* * *

Late at night.

The magical device hidden in her pocket vibrated briefly.

Lisa, who had been checking her surroundings, picked up the communication stone.

“Yes.”

-Is the work proceeding smoothly?

“I succeeded in getting in as a maid.”

-Not that. I mean drawing that thing outside.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t rashly make such a request…”

-Are their lives more important than your siblings’ lives?

“That’s…!”

Lisa’s breath stopped for a moment.

Then, as if pulling her wavering heart together, she pressed her lips tightly shut.

-Count Agnito has specially requested even divine power. You just need to handle this job well. Do you understand?

“Yes. I understand.”

-Good. I’ll tell you the location and time. No matter what happens, bring that child out.

If you want to save your four siblings.

With those words, the communication cut off abruptly.

Left alone, Lisa collapsed to the floor.

“Miss, please…”

An apology that could never reach her leaked out painfully.

“Please don’t forgive me…”

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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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