How to Replace Dad
The weather was nice, and my mood was good too.
As I tended to the garden, humming a tune, I heard a chuckle.
It was the steward.
Behind him were Antonio and Yuis.
I took off the gardening gloves and went to him.
“Hello.”
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“The crime cartels have been wiped out, so there are fewer candidates trying to seize the Valboah relic, right?”
I smiled brightly, and he nodded.
“It’s all thanks to you, miss.”
The Irregulars thought I had caused trouble in Sintes territory to clean up the crime cartels.
That was because Yuis and I had decided to do it that way.
“By the way, please take a look at this.”
“What is it?”
I wondered if he was going to ask about the management.
Thinking that, I received the document.
But this is…
“Storage? In my name?”
“We have cashed in the items taken from Andres’s secret warehouse. This is for you, miss.”
This much?
Of course, I had given them information, but the Irregulars had attacked the warehouse and looted it.
It was too much money, so I quickly waved my hand.
“We don’t need this much.”
“From now on, you’ll be going out more often, miss. Especially once you receive recognition from the duke.”
“Well, but…”
“So, don’t be stingy and buy what you need.”
It was my hesitation.
Antonio and Yuis added their words.
“Yeah, miss. Chari said that. She said she was mistaken for a maid by the nobles in Sintes territory.”
“Your outfit will become the reputation of San Miguel.”
That’s true.
I carefully took the document.
“Then I’ll take it.”
The steward smiled broadly and handed over another box.
“This is the seal of San Miguel.”
“Ah…”
“While you’re at it, go visit.”
Then Antonio slapped his chest and said.
“I’ll take care of it. Clothes and accessories.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Yuis, the steward, and I stared at Antonio, who was smiling brightly.
No, more precisely, at the clothes Antonio was wearing.
With his tall stature and model-like physique, he looked good, but his fashion sense was a bit…
“Where do you think you’re going in that rag?”
Yuis clicked his tongue and pushed Antonio’s face.
“I’ll go.”
“Take care.”
The steward answered quickly, thinking Antonio would interfere.
Antonio pouted.
“Why me!”
“Shut up and stay put quietly. If you cause trouble, you’ll die.”
Yuis glared and turned my shoulder.
I waved at Antonio in a daze and followed Yuis.
* * *
The place Yuis took me to was the direct territory of Duke Esgard.
“Kalarato fashion studio is the best.”
“Kalarato? It’s in the empire too.”
“The top disciple got permission from his master to open it. His skill is better than his master’s prime.”
I followed Yuis to the Kalarato fashion studio.
And I saw the catalog. Of course, the price list in it too.
As I stared at it, Yuis, sitting next to me with legs crossed, said.
“Go buy some supplies. I’ll take the seal and buy from here to there.”
I gave him a gentle smile and said.
“You didn’t say you sell more expensively than your master.”
“Because his skill is better than his master’s. Go pick.”
I lowered my voice and was fidgeting.
Yuis suddenly looked at the door.
“Why?”
“The sound of soldiers’ footsteps.”
“Security guards?”
They might be coming to catch thieves or pickpockets.
Seeing my expression, Yuis shook his head.
“It’s not security guard level. They’re highly trained. At least imperial army level.”
“Imperial army…?”
“There are more than just one or two capitals.”
Yuis immediately stood up and stood in front of me, grabbing his sword sheath.
And before long, real soldiers rushed in.
“Control order. Guards, disarm your weapons. Duke Esgard is coming.”
What?
I nodded to Yuis to disarm.
When he placed the sword on the floor with the sheath, the other guests’ guards also put down their weapons.
The guests had excited faces.
“Amazing. The duke himself.”
“Why would he come out of the castle?”
The guests quickly stuck to the showroom window.
I also peeked out the window and looked outside.
Soon, a tall old man about half a span taller than the dense soldiers appeared.
And where he was heading was…
'Huh?'
Clang.
With the sound of a bell, the door of the fashion studio opened.
It was the duke entering the studio.
“This is a coincidence.”
“…”
“…”
Yuis and I exchanged glances.
'Are there such coincidences?'
'Probably.'
The conversation went through eye contact.
Even so, the duke was laughing heartily.
* * *
Two hours earlier.
In the study, the duke, who was reading documents, let out a small laugh.
“We’ve caught all the catfish.”
The criminals who didn’t know fear because of their good parents were all caught one by one.
Viscount Sintes nodded with a shiny face.
“It feels good.”
“Who’s credit is this?”
“This is the fourth question…”
“Then just answer the fourth.”
“… It’s Yustea-nim’s credit.”
The duke hit his knee and burst into a happy laugh.
Everywhere was full of pride.
Viscount Sintes also smiled and said.
“We brought the empire’s mages to inspect, but we couldn’t find any issue with the barrier. So I guessed that you had already brought a knight bound by Geum-sul.”
“You wanted to remove the group that would interfere when my father absorbs the Valboah relic.”
“Geum-sul is amazing. It’s Herbology.”
“Where did you find such a miraculous thing? The one who gave it to you was probably that guy.”
“Even the Ingu antidote is one person, so how could you not say it’s Herbology.”
The two laughed facing each other.
“That guy has no time to get bored since coming to Esgard.”
“Every time you make the duke feel refreshed, you can’t help but be cute.”
“No. That guy is naturally cute.”
“When the elders say ‘put it in your eyes even if it hurts’, you say ‘put it in’, and now you understand, right?”
It was true.
When the old people talk about the fun of grandchildren, I thought they had nothing to brag about and went crazy.
When they were young, they only envied me,
“Our Esgard duke doesn’t know this fun, it’s a pity.”
“Whatever!”
The sight of boasting about a grandchild was ridiculous.
They don’t have nutritious stories because of the excuse of retirement, only child bragging and grandchild bragging, and it’s been a while since they stopped going.
“Now you can share the joy.”
The duke muttered with a smile.
“Are you talking about the elders? Then come out. Aren’t you on a picnic nearby? Besides, the Navarro duke sent a letter.”
It was a letter I hadn’t opened because it was annoying.
It was the oldest among the old who was most enthusiastic about grandchildren.
The Navarro duke considered Duke Esgard his rival alone.
When young, he couldn’t compete, but his descendants were quite talented.
They were burning with desire to brag about children and grandchildren and found Duke Esgard.
Viscount Sintes handed over the letter from the Navarro duke.
Viscount Sintes laughed.
“The Navarro family has had a grudge against the Esgard family for generations.”
“Generations?”
“Yes. Navarro’s young lady and Yustea-nim are classmates. They competed for the top spot at the academy.”
“Is that so.”
The duke unfolded the letter from the Navarro duke and replied.
Viscount Sintes nodded.
“In fact, it was Yustea-nim’s victory. 14 matches, 13 wins. The final match couldn’t be held because Yustea-nim graduated early.”
“…”
“Duke?”
“… It’s not bad to go out occasionally. Since you’re going, how about taking Yustea?”
Viscount Sintes showed a puzzled expression.
The duke stood up from his seat.
“Contact San Miguel. I have to go out with Yustea for a while and come back.”
“Yes? Ah… yes.”
Viscount Sintes left the room to contact San Miguel with a puzzled expression.
Behind the duke looking at the window, there was a letter from the Navarro duke.
Our granddaughter did it again! She got first place at the academy.
Thinking about it, I remember our young days.
The times when I was envious of you and felt frustrated were like yesterday, but now both of us have white hair.
When recalling the past, I feel like laughing.
Why did I try so hard?
The winner is determined by history.
And history is not recorded by descendants?
Interpreting it like this.
You should stop pretending to be good when you’re young, kid.
There’s no descendant luck. Hahaha.
A cold smile appeared on the corner of Duke Esgard’s mouth.
“Despite 14 matches 13 losses.”
This side is 14 matches 13 wins.
Back to the present.
“Since we met like this, can we just send you? How about taking a short 4-hour walk?”
Does 4 hours match walking?
Yustea tilted her head.
* * *
I don’t know what, but since the duke came, I couldn’t refuse.
He’s the top judge for the Valboah relic absorption proposal.
So, we decided to take a short 4-hour walk.
But there was a problem.
“By carriage for walking…?”
“Yeah.”
“By black path carriage (carriage that moves at high speed by inserting magic tools) for 4 hours…?”
“Yeah!”
4 hours by black path carriage means we can cross Esgard in no time.
“Round trip 4 hours, right?”
“Then.”
Ah, good.
If one way, we would leave the north.
But the duke continued with a laugh.
“We’ll take a portal in the middle.”
“…”
Isn’t it supposed to be called a trip rather than a walk?
Well, since we decided to go, I didn’t say anything.
I quietly got on the carriage.
We left the shopping district.
Longer than expected….
We ran for an hour to the portal, and then another hour through the portal.
The place we arrived was a luxurious inn with tremendous grandeur.
No, it was almost like a large hotel.
And I know this place.
“… Luna Hardin?”
Muttering, the duke turned to me.
“Do you know? It was said to be in pre-opening, a preview.”
“Ah, inns of this scale are of interest to all empire people.”
“It won’t be bad. It seems to pass the old people’s picky eyes.”
With that, the duke entered first.
'Old people?'
I thought what he meant, and Yuis came behind me and whispered.
“Do you know this place?”
“Yeah. It’s in the game.”
“Is it important?”
“It’s not, but it’s built on holy ground, so priests or shamans stay here for training.”
“Have you been here often?”
“Occasionally when playing shaman? But there wasn’t much to it. It was so much that I wonder why they put so much effort in the game.”
Yuis nodded and stepped back.
The duke was waiting for me by opening the door.
I walked briskly to him.
A person who looked like a manager ran to us panting.
“What an honor to host you, what an honor.”
The duke was amazing.
He was trembling with excitement.
We walked through the inn following his guidance.
And the place we arrived was one with a huge and grand door.
Guards opened the door.
Inside, there was a large round table, and most of the seated were old men.
But some looked around my age.
Upon checking their faces, I froze.
'This inn wasn’t a special place.'
The really special ones were those people.
They were people who had served as heads of major noble families ruling the empire.
There was also the honorable head of the 7 families.
A handsome old man stood up laughing.
“You’ve come a long way. Duke Esgard.”
It was that old man.
The Navarro duke.
A powerful person with lingering influence.
“I wanted to introduce this kid to you anyway. Guinevere, greet him. She’s a close friend of my wife.”
A girl with jet-black hair walked out from behind the duke.
“I greet Duke Esgard. Guinevere of Navarro family…”
As Guinevere was speaking, she stopped.
She had spotted me.
Her eyes stiffened slightly.
'Whoa, Guinevere was here.'
Guinevere forced a smile and finished the greeting.
“Guinevere…”
Even so, her gaze didn’t leave me.
Yuis looked at me as if asking what was happening.
I smiled awkwardly.
Guinevere.
A classmate from the empire’s academy.
'… That guy really hated me a lot…'
The duke nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Welcome.”
Guinevere said that to the duke and looked at me.
“What are you doing. You should receive the duke’s coat.”
She thought I was a maid.
Yuis’s expression twitched for a moment.
Because there was contempt in her gaze.
'It’s not unreasonable.'
Before, I was also the young lady of Andres family from the 7 families, but now she probably thinks I’m a maid who was kicked out of the family.
But the duke lightly raised his hand.
“You seem to have misunderstood because I didn’t introduce you. Yustea.”
I flinched and looked at him.
Guinevere and her grandfather, the Navarro duke, looked at the duke as if asking what he meant.
“This kid I especially cherish.”
“…”
“!!”
Not only Guinevere’s grandson was surprised.
Even the old men at the table looked at me with interesting expressions.
The kid I cherish enough to introduce to them.
What does that mean…
“You, do you have a secret child?!”
The old man with thinning hair at the table shouted.
“No, how is he so strong!”
The duke said with a smile.
“Shut up.”
Hmm, it seems better this way.
* * *
The duke took Yustea to the round table.
The Navarro duke asked Guinevere in a small voice.
“Is it a secret child?”
“There’s no way. She’s the daughter of Andres duke.”
“She looks like Andres duke, so it’s natural.”
Why did he bring her all the way here and talk about the cherished kid.
Guinevere frowned and glared at Yustea.
She thought she was gone from the empire and glad about it, but she appeared here?
And Duke Esgard was taking care of her like a grandchild.
Guinevere narrowed her eyes as if asking what was happening, but the Navarro duke said “Ah.”
“You want to adopt my child.”
“What?”
“That guy’s son is over 30 and still has no children, right?”
“Really…!”
The Navarro duke snorted.
“She showed some promise when she was Andres’s young lady. But even so, would she be a match for you? She would have forgotten everything she learned on the streets over the years.”
He smiled and approached the table.