How to Replace Dad 25
Of course, I had prepared an excuse.
“I need to use some herb, but it’s poisonous. I’ll have to adjust it while observing the Duke’s condition.”
The Duke stared at me intently.
I had to swallow hard.
'If I say I need to hire a specialist and just hand over the herb, what then.'
But the Duke soon let out a chuckle.
“Give me a room in the main building.”
With that, the Duke left the room.
It seemed like he was granting permission.
My face lit up as I followed him.
Viscount Sintes frowned.
'What on earth is this?'
This Yustea girl.
When she first asked for three days, I thought she was up to something.
But from last night to today, what has she done...
“There was a translation error, so I fixed it.”
“The air isn’t stuffy, is it? Shall I open the window?”
“If it’s a gift for the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration, I recommend raw gemstones. She prefers to collect raw stones rather than processed gems.”
...Just those things.
Moreover, she did well.
The documents on the Duke’s desk were more than usual.
She had provided perfect materials at the perfect timing to make the work easier.
'A worker sent from heaven...!'
Viscount Sintes forgot his suspicions and asked.
“Did you help with the Duke’s work at Andres too?”
“No? Father didn’t like having me by his side very much, so I could only have meals with him as a reward.”
“Why?”
Where on earth is there something wrong with this daughter!
She doesn’t work well.
When she was the Andres daughter, the Empress Dowager praised her as the best lady.
She didn’t think of having meals with her father as a reward.
Yustea had become chilly, so she left saying she would bring tea.
Viscount Sintes was upset and said to the Duke.
“How much did the Duke’s belly swell?”
If my daughter Astor resembled Yustea even a little, he wouldn’t have been eating laxatives like candy.
“There was a daughter who stole from the warehouse and ran away saying she wouldn’t send her to the training camp...!”
“Did your daughter do that?”
Only then did Viscount Sintes regain his composure and cleared his throat.
He handed over the documents with an embarrassed expression.
“This is the investigation report for the Camellia poisoning incident you ordered.”
The investigation content was as expected.
“The culprit is Ayabel from the Valboa Viscount family.”
“It wasn’t aimed at the Duke. After poisoning him, she intended to treat him to gain his favor.”
“The purpose is to become the Crown Princess.”
“That’s right.”
“Impressive.”
“Yes, blinded by greed, she dared to do such a thing...”
“No, it’s that girl.”
Even though the Duke’s direct intelligence unit specified the target and investigated, they couldn’t find information on the poison Ayabel used.
'But she figured it out.'
She was properly decoding it there.
The Duke’s condition was visibly improving.
There was even confirmation from the doctor and the shaman that the poisoning had improved.
“So the Duke’s belly really swelled.”
With such a daughter, he wouldn’t have let her go.
Just as I was thinking that.
A knock sounded.
“I’ve brought tea and sweets.”
Yustea entered with the tea.
It was for the Duke as well as for Viscount Sintes.
“Today’s sweets are Magerst preserves.”
The Duke and Viscount Sintes put the Magerst preserves in their mouths without thinking.
“...!”
“...!!”
Their expressions changed in an instant.
What kind of taste is this?
The preserves, which I thought would be sweet, were a taste that made their eyes widen.
The appropriate sugar level pulled up the bitter flavor of Magerst.
A perfect texture that is chewy but not hard to chew.
Each time I chewed, a fragrant aroma was pushed into my nose.
But it didn’t ruin the tea’s aroma.
Instead, it made the original aroma more three-dimensional.
Viscount Sintes, forgetting his manners, opened his mouth wide.
The Duke really must have had a swollen belly.
What a fool!
It was only when the sun was setting that I came out of the Duke’s room.
With Viscount Sintes.
The Viscount cleared his throat and said.
“The... tea and the thing I gave you.”
“Magerst preserves?”
“Yes, that preserve thing. ...Is there any left?”
“No.”
“Really...?”
The Viscount’s shoulders slumped.
Did he like the Magerst preserves?
Thinking about it, every time I went out, the Viscount glared at me and looked at my hands.
And when he confirmed they were empty, he turned his head dejectedly.
“There’s none left, but I can make more. Shall I make some?”
“That would be...!”
The Viscount’s face lit up as he shouted, then flinched.
After clearing his throat a few more times, he said.
“It would be troublesome.”
“It’s not that difficult.”
“Well, then...”
“Yes.”
“And from now on, what I’m saying is not a thank you for the preserves, but... I struggled to decode it. It’s really not because of the preserves... I really didn’t open my eyes to things like sweets at my age... not really...”
“...?”
Viscount Sintes repeated that it wasn’t because of the preserves three times before saying.
“...Is there nothing you need?”
Need something?
Of course there is.
“I want to communicate!”
“Communication? Then in the communication room, after getting permission, you can do it anytime... Ah. Communication with a secret partner.”
As expected, the Duke’s first subordinate.
It seemed he knew about the existence of the Duke’s subordinate.
And he quickly noticed that I wanted to communicate with the Duke’s subordinate.
“Then go to the garden where the poisoned Camellias are.”
“Camellias?”
“The Duke’s territory has banned entry to the garden. In that place, no one would hear you communicating. I’ll temporarily lift the barrier nearby so that communication tracking won’t be possible.”
“Thank you. I’ll make two boxes of Magerst preserves.”
“I’m saying this again, this is not a thank you for the preserves.”
“Of course. Absolutely.”
I greeted the Viscount who was smiling happily saying “two boxes...” and quickly left the place.
And from the room the Duke gave me, I found the communication device and quickly headed to the garden with the Camellias.
As the Viscount said, there was not a single ant in the garden.
Still, just in case, I squatted under the vine and connected the communication.
[Miss!]
[Miss? Miss?]
The voices of the Duke’s subordinate and Antonio couldn’t have been happier.
“How have you been?”
[We’ve been fine, but we heard that Miss has been through a lot.]
[Really! I heard you were locked in the prison!]
[Move! While I was looking for the Duke’s territory access methods from all directions, I heard that you were released from the prison. Are you okay?]
[Fingers! All fingers are there?!]
[Did you not hear me say to get out?!]
[Is it Miss?! Duke’s subordinate, Antonio-nim! Me too...! Miss, are your organs safe?!]
[Me too, me too...!]
Even the passing Irregular guild members joined in worrying about the damage to my body.
“I’m fine. But I won’t be doing chores anymore.”
[You were chased out?! Duke’s subordinate, I should go get you. How much do you think the kid is heartbroken!]
[It’s okay, Miss! I also once screwed up the mission the Duke’s subordinate gave me, and it ended with getting hit on the head twice...!]
[Joseph, bring my sword!]
The Duke’s subordinate was so angry that he was looking for weapons.
I quickly answered before the Duke’s subordinate could pull out his sword.
“I wasn’t chased out. I just transferred jobs. To the Duke’s side.”
[...Eh?]
The Duke’s subordinate’s voice dropped instantly.
He seemed to have realized what it meant.
“Yes. I contacted the Duke. But it seems I’ll have to wait for a private audience with the Duke’s subordinate.”
[I see.]
“I’ll finish the work as soon as possible to complete the mission...”
At that moment.
A presence was felt nearby.
“I’ll contact you next time.”
I immediately ended the communication and crouched low.
After the mana depletion was resolved, my senses returned.
This was definitely someone approaching from this side.
'Banned entry to the Duke’s territory, but who?'
It was me who got permission from Viscount Sintes, and no one else could approach.
Moreover, there were more than one set of footsteps.
Someone familiar with peeking through the vine gaps.
“Sister, please...!”
“Let go!”
It was Ayabel and Astor.
Astor was glaring at Ayabel with a face full of anger.
“You used poison after all? Father is investigating that poison. It’s only a matter of time before your actions are discovered!”
“...!”
Ayabel’s expression paled.
'Ah.'
As soon as I heard their conversation, I realized what was happening.
'Because Ayabel used Ingu, Astor is angry.'
From the beginning, I knew that Ingu was related to Ayabel.
Ingu was a poison made by the Valboa family, Ayabel’s family.
To obtain Ingu in the game, you had to sneak into the Valboa family.
'I thought it was between the Valboa Viscount and Ayabel, and it was Ayabel.'
So, after poisoning the Duke and treating him to gain favor.
The purpose was to become the Crown Princess with the Duke’s help.
'Ayabel originally wanted to become the Crown Princess.'
But in the game, she didn’t use Ingu.
Did she like Luciano that much?
Well, since the prince who came from the game liked Ayabel, she didn’t need the Duke’s support.
'But why did that prince suddenly turn his eyes to Ayabel? I heard that the one he was initially interested in was another girl.'
Just as I was thinking that far, I flinched.
In the original game, the person who came to Esgard was Nicola.
If the prince’s initial interest was Nicola, then?
For Ayabel, Nicola would have been a thorn in her side.
There was enough reason to poison him.
'But in the game, Astor confessed to poisoning Nicola...'
Just as I was thinking that far, Ayabel hugged Astor’s waist.
“Sister.”
“I can’t let go of this...!”
“Do you remember, sister? You were my prince, weren’t you.”
“...”
“When I was crying because I couldn’t come down from the tree, you took me in. I remember what you said, sister. Trust me. Have I ever failed to protect you? That’s what you said.”
“...”
“So, protect me this time too...”
Ayabel looked up at Astor, her voice trembling.
Astor was biting her lip, recalling the precious memories with Ayabel.
Ayabel said.
“Tell sister that. The Duke can’t abandon Viscount Sintes, who is his father. So, if it’s your doing, he’ll have no choice but to cover it up.”
What?
What is this crazy girl saying.
'So, in the game too, Astor took the blame for Ayabel.'
Astor looked at Ayabel with a hardened face.
“You...”
“Are you just going to watch me die?”
“...”
Astor couldn’t say anything.
Ayabel’s expression brightened.
Like she was sure Astor would take the blame for her.
At that moment, I stood up from my seat.
“...!”
“...!!”
Ayabel and Astor flinched at the sudden appearance.
I strode over to the two of them.
And grabbed Astor’s wrist.
“Let’s go.”
When I tried to pull Astor away, Ayabel pushed me roughly.
“What do you have to do with it!”
“I have something to do with it.”
“What do you know about sister...!”
“I had meals with you. You made sure I didn’t bully her.”
And if Astor becomes the culprit, the Duke will be busy.
It would disrupt the private audience with the Duke’s subordinate.
Ayabel let out a hollow laugh.
“Just for something like that...”
“Even I, who is just like that, am worried about Astor. But you, who calls Astor sister, are only worried about your own well-being.”
“Because my life is at stake...!”
“If you knew it was a life-or-death crime and still committed it, you should take responsibility.”
Only after saying that did I look at Astor.
“Astor didn’t abandon you; it’s all because of that girl.”
“...”
“So, go. To someone who truly deserves to be embraced and loved.”
“...”
Ayabel’s lips curved upward.
“Even if you say that, sister...”
At that moment, Astor took a step towards me.
“Wha... what are you...”
“Goodbye, Ayabel. My dear younger sister whom I truly loved.”
“Ne...?”
“Those are the only words I can say now.”
“Sister!”
Ayabel called out in a scream, but Astor just held my hand and walked silently.
Behind me, Ayabel slumped down.
After leaving the garden, Astor asked.
“Was my heart not valuable?”
“No. It was just that the person I sent my valuable heart to was wrong.”
“...Thank you.”
I sat on a bench with Astor, staring blankly into space with a dazed expression.
People’s gazes were prickly.
...Because Astor sitting next to me was shedding a waterfall of tears.
Anyone could see that it was a story with a reason, and passersby kept glancing at us.
I quickly pulled out my handkerchief.
The handkerchief was already soaked.
Astor wiped her tears with my handkerchief.
But at that moment.
“...What are you doing?”
Viscount Sintes, who was on his way home, stopped when he saw me and Astor.
Astor turned her head with a start.
“What does it have to do with you?”
“You’re my child, aren’t you?”
“There is privacy even for children.”
“When you stole the father’s emergency fund, did you think of the word privacy?”
Viscount Sintes approached with a displeased expression.
And asked me.
“What accident did this cause?”
“Eh, that’s...”
If Viscount Sintes heard that Astor knew about Ayabel bringing Ingu into the territory, he would have exploded.
When I hesitated, Astor opened her mouth while turning her head.
“Ayabel brought poison into the territory.”
“How did you know? I only received the report today.”
“...From the day I entered as the Duke’s subordinate.”
“What?!”
'Oh no.'
As expected, Viscount Sintes shouted.
“What a foolish...! If you knew, you should have told me! No, do you know the nature of that poison? What the hell is that!”
“Canaria.”
What?
I flinched and looked at Astor.
'That's Ingu?'
Since I dug the ground and confirmed the turquoise liquid-soaked pouch, it's definite.
“Canaria?”
“I don’t know well. I just heard the explanation as if passing by at Ayabel’s mansion. But I remember it clearly. Because it really resembled a Canaria bird.”
'Not Ingu, but another poison.'
Why did she have another poison besides Ingu?
Canaria is a poison, but it's not an item to use by poisoning.
'Could it be...'
I stood up in a hurry and grabbed Viscount Sintes.
“What about the Duke? Where is the Duke?”
“Thirty minutes ago, I pursued the Valboa Viscount and Ayabel. I’m probably meeting them who were captured. At the Tartarus Tower.”
“...!”
I immediately ran.
Behind me, Astor and the others called “Yustea?!” but I couldn’t stop.
I just shouted.
“Bring a magician!”
Canaria is a chlorine-based poison with strong explosiveness.
It’s used when it explodes.
It’s likely that she had it as a means to cause explosions in emergencies to escape.
This means that the Duke might get caught in the explosion.