Chapter 23
“Yes. That’s what I said.”
“You do know that even attempting to forge a noble family’s seal is punishable by death, right?”
“I stamped it properly with the one in my office.”
Calix stared at me for a long time before awkwardly clearing his throat.
“…Really?”
“Really.”
“…Then, does that mean I’ve been insulting a noble this whole time?”
“Yup. That’s defamation of nobility.”
I beamed at him and nodded enthusiastically.
Drip drip.
Cold sweat started to bead on Calix’s cheek, slowly at first, then gushed like a waterfall—
“Young Duke!”
Thud!
He dropped to his knees with a dramatic crash.
“……”
Whoa. I thought he was about to hit me.
“Please let it slide. Just once… please.”
“……”
This overpowered protagonist was quick on the uptake.
Honestly, considering everything Calix had done to me so far, it was a wise decision.
“Seriously, who in this town would ever believe a kid like you is a Duke?”
“Still counts as defamation.”
“…C’mon, between us.”
“And what kind of relationship do we have exactly? A conman and a victim?”
“Conman? That’s a bit harsh… sir.”
“You didn’t even stamp the contract but already took and ate the item. That’s theft, isn’t it…?”
I let out a deep sigh, drooping my eyes downward.
“If Grandpa hears about this, he won’t just let it go. You see, my grandfather is suffering from an incurable disease…”
At least, up until recently.
I swallowed the rest of that sentence.
“……”
“By the way, this item is priceless. So you, your son, and your son’s children will probably spend your entire lives repaying the debt… But it’s okay. Because of our ‘special’ bond, I’ll go easy. Minimal interest, and the value based only on an appraiser’s estimate. Just… a few hundred billion Rads.”
“……”
As I continued, Calix looked more and more like a drenched mouse.
I quietly pulled a pen out of the inside pocket of my bag.
“Of course, if you write your name and stamp this, you’ll be my dad, so it’s not fraud or theft anymore… Because a family’s property is shared, right?”
Before I even finished, Calix sprang into action, writing his name, signing it, and stabbing his thumb into the ink pad as if trying to punch a hole in it. He then stamped it with gusto.
It was a historic moment completed in just five seconds.
“Here, daughter!”
I took the paper he handed me and stuffed it deep into my bag, then ran up and hugged him.
“Dad!”
“Yes, I’m your dad now!”
“Looking forward to it, Dad!”
We embraced each other dramatically.
“…Yeah!”
The order was a bit jumbled, but the first step of my plan was a massive success.
‘Once he gets used to being a dad, I’ll send him to the territory war.’
Honestly, the moment he’s named Duke, people will start gossiping like crazy.
‘They’ll all be talking about it…’
To silence those rumors, we need accomplishments.
In short, he needs to build up merit.
‘And the protagonist’s true power shines brightest on the battlefield.’
I hugged Calix—no, Dad’s neck and grinned wickedly.
* * *
“Welcome back, Your Grace!”
“Yeah.”
“We were worried since you were gone for so long. Are you hurt anywhe—good heavens, your hand! Who dared…!”
As soon as I returned in that cheap carriage, Albus ran over, spouting words like rapid fire.
‘He really hasn’t changed at all.’
He lifted me up and looked me over anxiously before gently putting me down.
So embarrassing…
“I followed what the pretty lady in my dream told me to do.”
Ugh, cringe overload.
Still, Albus nodded with a look of relief.
“It must’ve been thanks to Lady Evelyn’s divine protection that you returned safely.”
Not exactly. It was the result of Lady Evelyn herself rolling around on the ground.
‘But I did come back a day earlier than the promised ten days…’
Albus went on for a while, expressing his worries in all kinds of ways before standing up.
“So, the people behind you are…?”
“Oh, remember I told you I was looking for someone to be my dad? I found him.”
“Oh… So these are the ones chosen by Lady Evelyn…”
Calix and the boy next to him looked confused.
Looking at their faces, they resembled each other so much I wanted to ask where the mom’s genes went.
‘They’re both handsome, though.’
“I’ll take them to their rooms.”
“No need, I’ll do it. Did you move my room like I asked?”
“Yes, everything is ready.”
“Thanks.”
“Not at all. Also, Lord Wood has moved into the annex.”
“Huh? Why suddenly?”
“Now that his replacement is back, he said he’ll focus on recovery for a while. But he’ll still report to work for handovers.”
Didn’t expect Uncle to voluntarily take time off.
I asked Albus to prepare a meal and then parted ways with him to lead the way.
Just as I was about to guide them to their rooms—
“Wow… Dad, are we really going to live here?”
The boy whispered to Calix in awe, his mouth agape at the grand estate.
“Uh… Yeah, looks like it, son.”
“…So we’re really a family now?”
“I explained that earlier. That’s what it’s come to. But if you’re not happy…”
Their whispers were clearly audible from behind.
Just now, I heard the rustle of fabric.
Did he shake his head, or nod?
Which one was it?
“Then is she my little sister?”
I couldn’t even turn around to check.
I didn’t know what kind of face he was making, but at least I knew they were talking about me.
“I guess…?”
“I see.”
His voice sounded oddly flat.
Understandable, I guess. From his perspective, a stranger rolled in and suddenly claimed to be his dad’s daughter.
‘I’d better act with some tact and distance.’
I resolved to make it very clear through my actions that I wasn’t trying to be a real family member.
While I was thinking that, Dad sidled up next to me.
“…So you were telling the truth about being a Duke… sir.”
As soon as Albus was out of sight, Calix asked quietly.
“Yup, I told you. And you can drop the honorifics. We’re family now.”
I winked.
“…That cutesy act doesn’t suit you at all.”
Calix looked horrified.
“You really shouldn’t pull that kind of thing with a face that cute.”
“Well, not doing it with this face feels like a waste too.”
“That’s… fair, I guess…”
Calix scratched the back of his head as he looked around the massive room I’d shown him.
“But seriously, shouldn’t you find someone else while you still can?”
“…?”
“A wandering merc like me, becoming a Duke? Does that make sense? Why me? All I know is fighting.”
“I know.”
My agreement left Calix speechless.
“Shouldn’t you be saying something like, ‘No, Dad! You can do it!’ right about now?”
“You should probably study.”
I stepped into the room.
“No, but really. Why me? Why?”
“Dad…”
I sighed and sniffled dramatically, pulling out the contract from my bag and fluttering it.
“Are you someone who goes back on his word…? Right here it says, ‘In the event of contract violation, Calix forfeits all personal rights and must repay the appraised value of the fruit, emotional damages, and a breach penalty, totaling 100 billion, to be repaid by his descendants as well.’”
“What?!”
Calix stuck his face close to the contract.
His jaw dropped at the fine print at the very bottom.
“Hey!”
Calix, freshly conned by a sausage-fingered little girl, yelled out.
“‘Hey’…?”
I let out another sigh and pointed to the tiny print with my short fingers.
“Clause 2: Use of inappropriate language toward the child shall be considered a breach of contract.”
The text was so tiny he had to squint hard to read it…
Ugh, ugh…
Calix clutched the back of his neck and nearly collapsed.
“In that case… breach of contract—”
“Daughter!”
“Yes, Dad.”
“What should I do first?”
He rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists.
A motivated dad—wonderful.
I smiled with satisfaction.
