Translator: Nox

Chapter 18

I Will Save My Father

I Will Save My Father, Episode 19

Episode 19

It was last year when Jeffrey fell ill.

After spending the few assets their parents had left them on medical expenses, Anne did everything in her power.

“Noona will do whatever it takes to make you better.”

Jeffrey hated it when Anne said things like that.

Even though he was only six years old, Jeffrey knew why Anne had to suffer so much.

It was because they had no money.

An illness of unknown origin was tormenting Anne. Even when he bared his fangs and told her not to worry, Anne would simply smile and head out to earn money.

Then one day, not long after the Countess’s pearl earrings were found in their home, the knights arrived. They told him he could no longer live there.

Jeffrey resisted as the knights’ hands dragged him out from under his blanket.

“Let go! I’ll bite you!”

Anne was coming back. He had to protect the house.

Even in his delirium from the worsening illness, Jeffrey unsheathed his claws and clung to the bed.

Rrrrrip. Rrrrrip. The worn-out mattress was shredded by his claws. Unable to withstand the brutal strength of the knight grabbing his ankle, his body was hoisted into the air. Jeffrey bared his fangs and growled.

“Let go! Where is Noona?!”

“This little brat’s got a temper. Ears? Wait. Are you a Wolf Clan half-blood? I happen to know exactly how to handle beasts.”

The knight was a bigot who discriminated against other races.

Grip! He squeezed Jeffrey’s slender scruff with one hand.

Then, as if showing off to the other knights, he shook the limp, weakened Jeffrey. The knight gave a mean-spirited laugh.

“The young ones shut up real quick when you do this.”

Jeffrey’s body trembled violently. He didn’t know if it was from his dropping body temperature or the fear that something terrible might have happened to Anne.

The knight threw Jeffrey outside the gate of the outer wall as if he were discarding an animal. The innkeeper, shocked by the sight, took the child into the inn.

The chills grew worse and worse.

‘It’s all because of me.’

He thought that amidst the pain where he could no longer distinguish reality.

The fact that we have no money, and that Noona was framed as a thief. It’s all because of me. It would be better if I were gone. If I die like this, Noona will—

Urgh!

Jeffrey’s brow furrowed.

A bitterness so strong it made him want to gag. That sensation brought the child’s mind back to reality.

Someone was feeding him something.

He reflexively swallowed the liquid flowing into his mouth. He thought it was medicine, but this was different. It was bitter and hot.

The heat traveled down his esophagus and settled in his chest, so intense he felt as if he had swallowed fire.

What did they feed me?

“Grrr…”

“Gasp. Theon, be careful. I think he’s mad because it tastes bad.”

It was the voice of a girl. Then, a boy’s voice followed.

“Should we feed him more?”

“No, about a spoonful is just right.”

Jeffrey knitted his brows at the sounds coming from his bedside.

His head ached. No, the pain was gone.

‘It’s warm?’

It was strange. Since his symptoms had been severe since yesterday, he could tell immediately.

For the past few days, Jeffrey had felt as if his entire body were submerged in a frozen lake.

But now, a warm energy was spreading from his chest to his entire body. It felt just like when he drank the warm soup Noona used to make for him.

Feeling the tension leave his body, Jeffrey slowly lifted his eyelids.

“Oh. Are you awake? Can you see my face clearly?”

Something pink was moving in his blurred vision.

He knew from the voice that it was a girl. Jeffrey shook his head.

“Oops. That’s because the medicine is taking effect. It’s a phenomenon that happens when muscles that were constantly contracted begin to relax. It’ll return to normal in a bit. You can’t speak either, right?”

He couldn’t understand all the difficult words. Jeffrey felt relieved that his vision would return to normal, and nodded at the mention of being unable to speak.

“I’m glad you woke up right away, though. I needed to tell you how to take the medicine.”

‘How to take the medicine…?’

“Should I put this here?”

“Yeah! That’s a good spot.”

At the girl’s words, the boy placed something like a basket on the nightstand next to the head of the bed.

The girl spoke again.

“Those are the leaves of a two-year-old Moonflower. Put a handful in your mouth every day and chew until the juice comes out, then swallow. Once you’re able to move, you can harvest them from the backyard of the inn. If you eat them for a year, your illness will be cured. Oh, I’ll leave some candy too! You can have one after you take your medicine.”

After rattling off the instructions like someone in a hurry, the girl turned as if she were about to leave.

‘My illness will be cured?’

Jeffrey wanted to know who the owner of the voice was.

But the child, after leaving him with one final piece of advice, exited through the window with the boy who had come with her.

“You have to make sure to take your medicine! If you’re sick, it’s your family, not you, who suffers the most.”

---

That evening.

After leaving the inn, we returned home with the spoils we had obtained in exchange for Dad’s wallet.

Clothes filled the carriage’s luggage compartment, and it was shocking that there were still more clothes left to be delivered.

Sherry seemed just as surprised when she saw the carriage.

“Did you buy the entire clothing store? I’m telling you, the young master has been like this since he was a boy. He has no interest in anything else, but whenever he goes to a clothing store—”

“Sherry. You don’t need to tell that story.”

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I’ve said too much.”

Sherry said she needed to organize the clothes and called people over. Her face looked joyful.

“If I had known Lady Berry and Sir Theon would look so cute in these clothes, I would have asked to go along too.”

She seemed especially happy that Theon’s wardrobe had grown. Theon only had two outfits, and Sherry had been worried about his comment regarding his allowance yesterday.

“Ah, Sir Theon, shall we go up and organize your clothes together? I need to divide the wardrobe by use, and I’d like to hear your opinion.”

“I don’t mind how you divide it…”

“What do you mean you don’t mind! It’s your wardrobe, isn’t it? Come along. Quickly now.”

Sherry grabbed Theon’s hand. Theon was dragged into Pebble House as if he were being kidnapped by her.

My eyes met Theon’s flustered gaze.

“Berry…”

“Organize them well~!”

I waved until Theon disappeared. When I was left alone with Dad in front of the empty carriage, I tentatively asked him.

“Dad, will we be okay in the future?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Our household spending suddenly spiked.”

I acted like I enjoyed it in front of Theon, but I’ve lived my whole life as a commoner.

This kind of overspending was a first for me. It’s so nerve-wracking.

“We might have to eat only 100-kona bread from now on…”

The 100-kona bread sold as loss leaders at shops was hard and crumbly. It was hard to tell if you were chewing bread or newspaper.

Of course, we’d never have to eat bread like that at Travel, but that’s how much the spending worried me.

Ugh. As I shuddered at the memory of the bread’s taste, Dad said to me.

“Berry Berry.”

“Yes?”

“Direct descendants of the Count Travel family receive something called a ‘dignity maintenance fund’ every time the season changes starting from the age of sixteen. It’s money given to buy clothes or accessories.”

I looked up at Dad.

I thought the source of today’s spending was just Dad’s emergency fund. Don’t tell me…

“…Six years’ worth of dignity maintenance funds?”

“You’ve already caught on.”

“Total win.”

“Where did you learn such words?”

Oops. That’s the sign of a lecture coming.

Just then, Sherry called for Dad. Apparently, an item of clothing had come out of Theon’s pile that she had no idea how to put on, and she wanted him to come check.

“Since it’s evening, I’ll be in my room—”

I ducked into my second-floor room to protect my allowance. The maids were organizing clothes here too.

‘Hmm. I wonder when Anne will be able to come out.’

If she were here, I’d tell her to go see her brother. It was a shame Anne couldn’t see the miracle of zero kona right away.

“Lady Berry.”

A maid called out to me as I walked toward the sofa.

“A button on your sleeve is undone. I’ll fasten it for you.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

I held out my arm without a second thought, but the maid placed something in my hand and made me close my fist.

“Uh…?”

The smooth texture of paper and the corners slightly poking my palm. I turned my gaze to the maid.

The maid was fastening the button as if nothing were happening. But her fingertips were trembling.

Seeing her nervous state, all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind. She’s a maid who’s close with Anne. Could Aunt Marian have planted another spy? What did she hand me?

“She said to read it in secret.”

After fastening the button, the maid whispered to me covertly and left, saying she would finish organizing the clothes.

It was extremely suspicious behavior.

I slightly opened my clenched left hand. It was a small, folded piece of paper. …A letter?

My heart hammered. While I was debating whether to open it now or not, Dad walked into my room.

“Berry, about the clothes—”

“I-I’m going to the bathroom!”

I dashed into the bathroom and shut the door. Just in case, I even stepped up on a low stool and locked the door.

This maid is probably just a hardworking maid. Why would she give me a note…

It was when I unfolded the note with busy hands.

---

Do you still have what I gave you?

I’ll be checking unannounced, so you’d better carry it with you at all times.

---

Ack. It’s a threatening letter.

I crumpled the paper and shoved it into my pocket.

---

I tossed and turned all night.

The pebble wasn’t in my possession, but I felt like Grandfather could open my door and come looking for it at any moment.

In the end, I went into the Contemplation Room and wrote ten pages of a reflection paper, and came up with ten plans to prank Aunt Marian.

When I went to the main house with dark circles under my eyes, Servair was waiting for me with a satisfied smile covering his face.

“You shall begin your lessons as a direct descendant of the Travel family starting today. Our Lady Berry.”

“…Pardon?”

Did I hear that right?

…Our Lady Berry?