Translator: Nox

Chapter 9

I’ll Save My Dad

I’ll Save My Dad, Episode 10

Episode 10

“I’m scared…”

I tried to feign innocence, but Grandfather didn’t look like he intended to believe a word I said.

Eventually, he took a seat on the sofa right next to me, pressing me to come clean.

“Wait. Was that crying yesterday an act too?”

“I really cried yesterday because I was scared…!”

“Yesterday?”

“Today too…!”

“You certainly know how to use your particles correctly.”

Grandfather’s hand came down onto the crown of my head, just as it had on the stairs. His patting wasn’t painful, but not knowing his intentions made it uncomfortable.

‘Ugh. I’m on pins and needles.’

My plan was to get on good terms with Theon, not to be sitting side-by-side with Grandfather.

“When does this little one start her lessons? Callet.”

“In two days, My Lord.”

Sir Callet answered Grandfather’s question.

The lessons referred to the mandatory education that young direct descendants of the Travel family had to receive.

Kane, the eldest uncle’s firstborn, had entered the Academy this year.

The relatives of my age remaining at the estate were Ciel from the eldest uncle’s side, Calips from my aunt’s side, and the twins, Hati and Mati, from the second uncle’s side.

The twins and Calips, in particular, were a pack of mischievous troublemakers.

Whew. My heart was already heavy with worry, thinking about how I’d have to endure them bullying me for being ‘talentless.’

“Two days? That’s soon.”

The worry vanished the moment I heard Grandfather’s voice. I have to resolve this crisis first…!

Should I say I was so scared of him that I couldn’t move? Would he believe me if I started trembling right now?

Or should I make a pitiful face like I did with Anne—

“Then I should give you a gift to commemorate your arrival. You tell me. Is there anything in this room you want?”

“Pardon?”

Oops, my eyes sparkled before I could stop them.

Moreover, because I whipped my head around so quickly, I made direct eye contact with him…!

“Oho.”

One of Count Travel’s specialties was striking a deal.

It meant he was exceptionally skilled at discerning just how tempted an opponent was by his offer.

“It seems there is something you want. I suppose those candies weren’t enough to satisfy you? What do you want?”

“I… what I want is…”

“Choose anything.”

“What I want…”

“Choose quickly. Shall this grandfather choose for you? Wait, over there is a box of chocolates—”

“That, that one!”

I instinctively pointed my finger.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had arrived—the Head of the Count Travel family telling me to pick anything I wanted.

‘Not chocolates!’

The Head Commander’s Office contained many items from Grandfather’s personal collection.

For instance, the dagger displayed delicately in a thick frame on the wall. It was too blunt for actual use, but the proportions of the handle and blade were beautiful, and its artistic value was high—

‘Auction price: about 50 million Kona?’

Hehe. I could probably hide something that size under my clothes. As long as the relatives didn’t find out, it should be fine to pick something expensive, right?

Funds were useful. Even if I didn’t need them right now, having them meant they’d be ready when I did.

“Not that one. Pick something else.”

Was it too expensive? I was rejected flatly.

Then, the fountain pen in the walnut bookshelf! Estimated auction price: 35 million!

“Something else.”

The horse-shaped objet d’art on the table! Estimated auction price: 20 million!

“Ahem.”

Grandfather’s index finger gently nudged mine away from the horse-shaped objet.

My fingertip passed the horse and pointed toward something else.

A common cube toy, the kind displayed on the floor near the entrance of a general store.

‘Estimated retail price…’

3,500 Kona.

I blinked at Grandfather. He looked elsewhere, ignoring my gaze.

For reference, the monthly allowance I received from Dad in Bonwell Village was 10,000 Kona.

“……”

Grandfather curled his lips into a smirk as he looked at the cube toy.

“Is that what you want?”

Unbelievable. To think Count Travel’s generosity was smaller than my allowance.

“Grandfather.”

“Yes?”

“I want…”

I smiled brightly at him and moved my finger a bit further in the direction he had been pushing it.

“I want that!”

A jewelry box with a music box function.

Estimated auction price: about 15 million Kona!

“……How can a seven-year-old have such high tastes?! I won’t give it to you!”

“Pfft.”

Behind the horrified Grandfather, Sir Callet burst into laughter.

“My apologies.”

At Grandfather’s glare, Sir Callet quickly straightened his expression.

I pouted.

“…You asked if there was anything I wanted.”

“I asked if there was anything you wanted; I didn’t say I’d give it to you.”

“Hmph. Then you don’t have to give me anything.”

I had pointed out expensive things out of excitement at first, but from the second time on, I’d realized my mistake.

This was a space used by other relatives as well.

If a high-priced item went missing, someone was bound to wonder where it went.

‘Phew, that was dangerous.’

If word got out that the youngest granddaughter, who had just rolled in, received a gift from the Family Head…

Bullying would be guaranteed starting from the lessons the day after tomorrow.

I aimed for a peaceful and quiet classroom atmosphere. I had no desire to smell rotten eggs or see dead rats from the very first day of class.

“Good grief.”

Grandfather patted my head again, speaking in a tone of disbelief.

“Don’t you possess the Golden Eyes? Every single thing you point at is worth at least ten million Kona.”

“What a coincidence…”

“Coincidence, my foot. What were you going to do with those if you got them?”

“…Decorate my room?”

Actually, it was because Grandfather’s reaction was fun…

“The more I look at you, the more it feels like you’re teasing this old man.”

Flinch. He wasn’t the Travel Family Head for nothing. I felt like he was seeing right through me.

I fidgeted with my fingers and looked away. After watching me in silence for a moment, Grandfather pulled a small drawstring pouch from his coat.

“Take this, then.”

“My Lord…! That is…!”

Sir Callet spoke up in surprise. If it was enough to make him show his shock, it meant it was no ordinary item.

My heart raced for no reason as I toyed with the pouch I’d received. I could feel a hard, round object inside.

“What is this?”

“You don’t like it? Then I’ll send a gift to your annex later. Something so big and expensive that everyone will see it.”

“I-I like this!”

I didn’t know what it was, but I was against a gift being sent to the annex! I’d be grateful for a gift that didn’t look like I’d received anything at all!

“If you lose it, you’ll be in big trouble.”

How stingy. And it’s a gift, too.

“I will cherish it as much as my own body.”

Grandfather pointed at the pouch I was fiddling with and asked casually.

“Is it good? Since it’s small.”

“…Pardon?”

Was it good because it was small?

The passing question struck my eardrums like an arrow.

Just as I was about to look up, Grandfather’s hand lightly shook my head.

Then, with a click of his tongue, he stood up.

“She acts just like her father. The others can’t wait to show off.”

“Show off what…?”

“Just take the candy and go. Let’s go, Callet.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

It was then, just as Sir Callet opened the door to match Grandfather’s stride.

As Grandfather stepped outside, he let out a thunderous roar.

“What gives you the right to cry?!”

Startled by the shout, I scrambled down from the sofa.

‘I wasn’t crying?!’

Sir Callet raised his index finger in a gesture to stay quiet. Even out in the hallway, Grandfather continued his shouting.

“Stop crying and don’t come out until you’ve reflected on your actions! Why are you lot still here?! Get back to your posts and work!”

It seemed the knights were still in the hallway.

The sound of footsteps moving in perfect order followed a chorus of loud, disciplined responses.

To anyone listening, it would sound like Grandfather was deathly angry with me.

That’s right, to anyone listening, that’s exactly what they’d think…

“Anyone… listening…? Oh?”

Watching Grandfather through the closing door, I blinked.

---

I didn’t know why, but Grandfather had helped me.

An act that followed perfectly from the situation where I’d begged for forgiveness like someone about to be scolded, with Anne in mind.

It seemed my scheme had been read perfectly.

‘The experience of Count Travel is terrifying.’

Tick. Tock.

I stared at the hands of the desk clock.

Since I’d received help, I had to play my part.

“Stop crying and don’t come out until you’ve reflected on your actions!”

The time it takes for a young granddaughter scolded by her grandfather to stop crying and reflect…

I didn’t know because I’d never been scolded by Dad enough to cry… Ugh. This is hard.

“Maybe about fifteen minutes?”

That felt about right.

If I stayed too long, people might come looking for me.

“Let’s go out in fifteen minutes!”

Having decided on the time, I struggled back up onto the sofa and sat down.

It was to check what was inside the pouch Grandfather had given me.

“I wonder what it is that made Sir Callet so flustered~”

Even though Grandfather had shouted that he couldn’t even give me a 15-million Kona jewelry box, Sir Callet had been shocked.

It might be something incredible!

I untied the drawstring of the pouch and took out the object inside. It was a stone about the size of my thumb.

“Is it really a stone? It must be a gem, right?”

Since one of Travel’s main businesses was mining, even I—the old me—could do a decent job of appraising most gems.

And the current me could do it to some extent too!

As time passed, I could feel the experiences in my memories melting into my body as if they were my own.

Even during dinner yesterday, everyone was shocked because I used the noble silverware so skillfully.

I held up the stone and examined it with the naked eye.

“Let’s see. If it’s an opaque, sky-blue gem, then Larimar, Amazonite, or…”

Several gems came to mind, but I wasn’t certain it was one of them.

I closed my eyes and concentrated the sensation in my fingertips as I felt the stone.

A smooth surface with nothing to catch on, shaped like a bean.

Splash.

As if I could even hear the sound of clear water from somewhere—

“This is…!”

Having finished the appraisal, I snapped my eyes open, unable to hide my astonishment.