The Golden-Handed Baby Fixes Everything! - Chapter 16

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 16
I was hesitating, too busy reading his face to speak, and the duke let out a small sigh and smiled faintly.
“Don’t bother reading the room. Just say it. No one in this household would dare give my daughter a hard time.”
…He called me his daughter.
Something about the firmness in the duke’s voice made my chest flutter.
That’s strange. Did I eat too many snacks?
I pressed a hand against my fluttering chest and cleared my throat.
“Well, um. There’s a really big problem, you see.”
“A big problem? That’s not a word that goes with the Panteibe Young Lady.”
No.
This problem exists precisely because I’ve become the Panteibe Young Lady.
“Daughter… how do I, uh, do that?”
Just moments ago I’d puffed myself up, promising the duke I had everything under control, and now, laughably, I realized I knew nothing about how a father and daughter were supposed to be with each other.
What kind of relationship do a father and daughter have, anyway?
What would I have to do to look like the duke’s real daughter?
No matter how hard I thought about it, no answer came.
‘How would I know, having never had one?’
This was the first time I’d ever had a dad, after all.
At this rate, I’d get fired before I even signed the contract.
“I’m supposed to play the part of a perfect daughter, but I have no idea what to do… What if people get suspicious?”
“Hmm. I don’t think that’ll happen.”
“Do you think so…?”
“Yes. Still, if it worries you, just bring anyone who looks suspicious straight to me. That’ll settle everything.”
With that, the duke gave a cheerful smile.
How exactly does he plan to settle it…?
I swallowed the curiosity I couldn’t bring myself to voice and let out an awkward “Heh-heh.”
‘Right. I’ll just handle this problem myself!’
…Anyway.
I slurped up my orange juice through a straw, stealthily sneaking glances at his face.
There was actually one more thing I wanted to bring up.
‘I wonder if Brambshua was handled properly…?’
I couldn’t help wondering what had become of Brambshua, the place I’d left behind.
Of course, based on what I remember from before the regression, my older siblings would receive compensation and housing and get along just fine.
‘But I’m still curious about what’s happening right now.’
Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.
I’d only just moved into Panteibe, and I was afraid it would look like I was clinging to my past.
‘…Yeah. I’ll just not ask!’
Sniff.
I was giving up, sniffling as I pulled my runny nose back in, when—
“You do have a knack for giving up far too quickly, don’t you?”
“Huh?”
A long index finger tapped my forehead, gently enough not to hurt.
“N-no, not at all. Melloni is super persistent.”
“Liar. You were just about to ask something and then stopped yourself.”
Hwuuuk.
“I hear you asked the maids to bring you a newspaper. The ‘Saturday Gossip,’ was it? You wanted to know something, didn’t you?”
Hyeuuk!
‘…Sharp as ever.’
I suppose geniuses really do have sharp eyes for everything.
Every word out of his mouth struck dead center, and then kept on stinging.
Unable to deny it, I just looked away, and a soft chuckle reached my ears.
Then—
“Here, take this.”
He held out a newspaper.
“It isn’t the gossip rag you were hoping for, but I’m sure the news you wanted is in there.”
He was right, just as he’d said.
On the front page of the neatly folded paper, a huge article about Brambshua was splashed across the top.
The true horrors of Brambshua, and the stories of the wronged people who’d been trapped inside it.
And the news that Panteibe had decided to protect their identities while also providing compensation and housing.
“Hhk.”
Just as I drew in a breath, swelling with relief and joy—
Thud.
“Huh?”
Something came tumbling down from the folded newspaper.
“This is…”
“Ta-da. It’s a surprise gift, sweetheart.”
“A surprise… gift?”
I picked it up carefully.
The gift turned out to be an envelope.
As I turned it over and over, my eyes went wide as saucers.
‘To my beloved Melloni, from Jeanne and Ricky.’
Jeanne, big sis.
Ricky, big bro!
“So? Do you like it, Marshmallow?”
Did I like it? Was he really asking that?
At the Duke’s question, I pressed my lips together and nodded so hard my head bobbed.
Honestly, it was the best gift ever.
* * *
<Brambshua’s Shocking Truth! The Duke of Panteibe’s Exploits!>
Front page of the newspaper.
The gaze she fixed on the blaring article was cold.
“Panteibe again. Not a single quiet day with that family…!”
The woman who spat this out crumpled the newspaper and flung it aside.
“Your Highness the First Consort, please calm yourself.”
The one who spoke was a high priest who had just stepped through the door.
His deeply pulled hood revealed nothing but a faintly smiling mouth.
“Oh my. I’ve shown you an embarrassing side of myself.”
The Consort, her cheeks flushed, covered her mouth and spoke.
“How is my prince faring? Is there any trouble?”
“Yes, His Highness the Prince is perfectly well.”
“Phew, thank goodness. I can only keep thanking you, High Priest.”
“Not at all. I’m merely doing what I can.”
The priest answered with humility, then turned his head toward the newspaper she had thrown.
From beneath that pitch-black shadow, his eyes skimmed the paper and came back.
“Brambshua, is it? Looks like Panteibe has stirred up something interesting once again.”
“Ugh, don’t even get me started. Because of him, His Majesty’s temper is beyond foul.”
From the Emperor’s standpoint, who had long envied Power, Conti Panteibe—hailed as the strongest figure in the Empire’s history—was nothing short of a thorn in his eye.
Because of that, every time his name climbed into the papers, the Emperor’s mood sank to the floor.
Whether the news was good or bad, made no difference.
Any attention drawn to Panteibe was the Emperor’s very own scale of wrath, turned against him.
And the ones who suffered for it were those standing at his side.
“They say Panteibe found some bizarre prison where people were locked up for money and dealt with it. He didn’t report a word to the Imperial Household, and even infiltrated the place himself, no less! I can’t fathom how he could be so insolent.”
“Quite so. Then and now, Panteibe remains as arrogant as ever.”
“Arrogant and headstrong beyond words. On top of that, they say he took in a child from Brambshua who claims to be of his blood and wields a peculiar power.”
“…A child of the Duke’s blood, who wields a peculiar power?”
The high priest asked in an odd tone.
“Yes. From what I hear, the child can supposedly repair broken objects… though nothing is certain. I can hardly believe a new kind of power has surfaced that never existed before. If the Duke would only report something to the Imperial Household, I might feel sure of it, but he won’t do even that!”
As she went on, the Consort’s voice rose higher and higher.
Rough breaths crept in alongside the anger she could no longer hide.
But the priest across from her didn’t seem to care in the least.
“A child with the power to mend broken things…”
And a child the Duke insists is his own blood.
‘Could there be anything more tempting?’
The face hidden beneath his hood was as chillingly doll-like as ever.
“Your Highness the Consort.”
“Yes? What is it, High Priest?”
“It seems I’ll have to station some people at the Ducal Family’s residence.”
Clink.
Setting down his teacup, the man spoke with the eagerness of a delighted child.
“Suddenly, I find myself wanting to learn more about that child.”
A man’s empty hand fidgeted with the ring on his finger.
A strange ring engraved with a serpent pierced through the head by a sword.
* * *
The back garden of Panteibe Duke’s Residence.
The noon sun climbed overhead and cast a massive shadow over the back of the mansion.
Beneath that dark shadow, people stood gathered in twos and threes.
They were the maids of Panteibe Duke’s Residence.
Eina was among them.
“Everyone… you were all asked that question by the Young Lady, right?”
At Eina’s grim expression, the other three nodded.
“Yeah, she did.”
“She asked me too.”
“…Me too.”
The three answered in unison and let out a deep sigh.
Eina sighed right along with them.
Haaaah.
About three days ago, the Young Lady had started quietly asking a few of the servants questions.
These four were the ones who had been asked those secret questions.
“Kalix. Should a daddy and his daughter… do something together?”
“Um, what, really? What should a real daughter do?”
“Daddy and daughter… I wonder.”
“…How can a family even be? What’s the right way to be one?”
The questions differed slightly in wording, but they all circled the same subject.
A father and daughter.
Family.
“I suppose she’s worried about her own standing. The Duke suddenly brought her home as an illegitimate child, so the staff have been split over it. Is she his real daughter or not.”
“Well, I’ll admit I first thought the Duke had gone mad—no, had taken up some strange hobby. Honestly, the Duke has only ever had eyes for Lady Ravella. He hasn’t even looked at another woman since.”
“Yeah, exactly. Honestly, I never thought the Young Lady could be the Duke’s true blood, but…”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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