Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 124

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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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Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life

Chapter 124

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Count Valoz’s Office.

Anton felt his facial muscles involuntarily relaxing in the long-awaited peace.

“So you see, human relationships aren’t that easy in the first place, right?”

Tiya’s ‘Father Nurturing Project’ had resumed after being on hold while she dealt with the drug’s side effects.

Having prepared tea at the tea table for the Count, himself, and Winter’s portion as an imaginary friend, Tiya gave a brief explanation of how she had been doing.

Then she immediately began a lengthy speech, engaging in an untimely contemplation of human relationships.

“They smiled and greeted me nicely! But actually, they might hate me so much that they want me to stub my little toe when I accidentally kick a stone while walking, and hope it rains on days I don’t bring an umbrella. It’s sad but…”

Tiya rattled off how wicked and petty people could be, and by the end, she looked completely hurt.

The Count looked at the hands of his pocket watch with his usual disinterested expression, but Anton knew.

That Shurkha wasn’t exactly the same as before.

For example…

“That’s not all. There are people in this world who secretly place stones in others’ paths.”

【That’s nothing. There are plenty of bastards who would make it rain on a clear day just to soak you through.】

“Ah, but even so, isn’t that too mean…?”

He would occasionally respond to Tiya’s words.

“Sniff, the cocoa tastes bitter today.”

【My tea has gone cold, so pour me a fresh cup.】

“Father, Winter says he wants to drink his tea warm.”

“What’s the point of tea he can’t even drink.”

“Father, that’s too harsh! In front of Winter!”

【That’s right, I have ears to hear too.】

Though his words were indifferent as if they had no effect, his hands were pouring fresh tea into the empty cup.

‘He must have realized it’s better to quietly comply rather than argue back and forth with the young lady.’

Anton was nodding at this harmonious father-daughter scene when he tilted his head curiously.

Hmm? Something seems strange though.

‘Well, good things are good things.’

While Anton failed to realize what was strange, Tiya glanced at Shurkha.

Though he wore his usual expressionless face, this time she felt relieved.

Because what she was about to say might cause Father great pain.

Spending time with Father and dropping hints about human relationships was all for this purpose.

To warn Father about what would happen in the future—about Count Montes.

Ahem, after clearing her throat several times, Tiya carefully opened her mouth.

“Father, do you know Count Montes?”

“I know him.”

Ugh, so he really was Father’s friend!

【I’ve told you countless times that knowing someone’s face doesn’t make them all friends.】

Though Winter nagged earnestly from the side, there was no changing Tiya’s values that making eye contact, smiling, and exchanging greetings was as good as becoming friends.

Winter had said Count Montes was extremely skilled at managing his reputation.

True to those words, unlike the Prince who showed his feelings whether he liked someone or not, Count Montes was an incredible schemer.

Even Winter wouldn’t have noticed Count Montes’s hatred if he hadn’t directly experienced what would happen in the future.

Finally, Tiya swallowed her dry saliva and carefully voiced the words she hadn’t been able to say.

“You know, that Count, isn’t he suspicious?”

“In what way suspicious.”

“Um, well, what if he actually really, really hates Father…?”

“I don’t have time to worry about others’ feelings.”

Due to the constraint of not being able to reveal future events, she couldn’t just say ‘Count Montes is the culprit!’

So Tiya tried to speak indirectly somehow.

“What if that Count hates Father and me and our whole family so much that he secretly, secretly places tons of stones in Father’s path?”

“Mere pebbles.”

Behind Shurkha who snorted, Anton peeked out and interjected. It was his way of defending how capable his superior was.

“It’s not just stones. If someone gave the Count a chance to put thorn bushes in his path, the line would be long enough to circle this entire manor, wouldn’t it?”

Anton said proudly on Shurkha’s behalf.

Outstanding people naturally receive criticism from those around them. In that sense, Shurkha had many enemies. Because he was so capable. Well, setting aside his suddenly screwed-up personality.

He hoped the young lady would understand this point.

“…People hate Father that much?”

Tiya’s eyes trembled violently.

“Our Father is already being bullied at work too…?”

At Tiya’s pale complexion, Anton immediately sensed his mistake.

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

But before Anton could make excuses.

“Time’s up.”

Click. Shurkha, who had been checking the time intermittently, closed his pocket watch.

The one-hour Father time had been completely used up.

It was when Tiya, greatly shocked by Father’s shocking human relationships, was trudging out of the study.

“Astiya.”

Anton was more surprised than Tiya and turned to look at the Count. He wondered if the Count might make some defense for himself.

But Anton’s expectation was wrong again this time. Shurkha handed Tiya a piece of paper.

Tiya examined the document’s contents intently, unaware that Anton was peeking over her shoulder.

Numbers and dates written densely.

Not knowing what it meant, Tiya’s head tilted sideways.

“This is…!”

【What was bound to come has finally arrived.】

Anton and Winter muttered simultaneously.

When Tiya glanced at Winter, the answer slipped from Winter’s mouth.

【It’s a bill.】

A bill.

【The Father time you were talking about—there’s not much left now.】

As soon as Winter said that, Shurkha also opened his mouth.

“Spending time with you will end after just one more session.”

Tiya felt like lightning had struck her head.

There were so many zeros!

Not confident with numbers, after receiving the document, Tiya asked Winter to check the remaining balance for several days.

Each time, though annoyed, Winter dutifully calculated the document’s details.

And the result never changed.

“Winter. What do you think, Winter? Does Father seem different somehow?”

【Of course not—】

“No, don’t say it. I don’t want to hear it!”

【Just admit it already. This bet is my victory.】

Tiya immediately understood what Winter was referring to.

【To make the Count our ally, you’ll try your way, and I’ll move in mine. And when we need the Count’s help, we’ll see whose method he responds to.】

“Fine. I’ll accept that bet!”

She had believed she could change Father with her method.

“Th-then has Winter figured out Father’s weakness?”

At some point, Winter had stopped observing Father’s study. So I thought he had acknowledged that his method was wrong.

【Right… As expected, there’s no human who doesn’t have skeletons in their closet.】

A secret space hidden in the Count’s study at the Imperial Palace.

Through the traces of his efforts to cure his wife’s hereditary disease, Winter had already confirmed that the Count had gathered medicinal materials through corruption and illegal means.

That would be enough to hold over the Count and shake him.

The only reason he couldn’t speak of it at the time… was because Tiya needed time.

Time to accept that there are things in this world that cannot be changed even with effort.

And eventually, that time had arrived.

Now Tiya would only have one chance to spend time with Father. There was no way the Count could regain his emotions in just that one chance.

Winter thought that now Tiya would realize the reality.

However, as always, the words that came from Tiya’s mouth shattered Winter’s common sense.

“Not yet. With things like this, I’ll make Father owe me even more!”

【…How cowardly, unable to accept the results. Moreover, you’re saying it’s bad for me to find weaknesses, but it’s okay to make the Count indebted to you?】

“Ugh, ah, I can’t hear you, I can’t hear!”

Tiya covered her ears and shook her head.

Though she had resorted to uncharacteristically cowardly tactics, the situation where Tiya would make Shurkha indebted to her never came to pass.

“Shurkha Valoz. There is evidence supporting charges of spreading infectious disease, and as of this moment, you are under arrest.”

That night, Imperial Investigators stormed into the Vladijef Estate and took Count Valoz away.

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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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