Chapter 53: Chapter 53

A fool for his daughter. A fool for his sister. A fool, period.

Translated by MissmeEdited by Missme

“……”

Even after I greeted him, he remained frozen and unresponsive.

I glanced at my father and asked him to help me resolve the matter since Marquis Zelude had the expression of someone who wants to pull us apart. Well,

“Oh my goodness! Marquis, you must be taken aback, don’t you? As usual, I inadvertently greeted my father. Please excuse me, Marquis. My father loves me so much that he spoils me like this even when I am lacking.”

“I see……”

It seemed that Louis, Marquis Zelude, was not aware of my relationship with my father, as he seemed to have an astute look on his face.

Even I felt embarrassed when my father showed me the skinship the first time I remembered my previous life.

“How can you be so lovely, my daughter?”

My father still caressed my hair with a loving gaze.

It’s a good thing he just caressed my head.

“Daddy, the marquis has arrived, and I am embarrassed……”

“Please bear with me, Marquis. This child is the only thing precious to me that I can’t stop adoring.”

My father still held me while pleading for Marquis’ tolerance.

While I was enveloped in my father’s large arm, I saw Marquis Zelude’s demeanor was gloomy.

“Ah, yes. Duke, I understand.”

And it was then that I realized something new.

Although Marquis is the same age as Karpel, eighteen, he appeared to be a bit smaller.

Karpel has no option but to have a large physique because he wields swords, but a boy Louis’ age should be comparable to a boy who has already graduated from high school in my previous life.

Then Louis has almost reached adulthood.

My father is well over 180 centimeters tall, and Karpel is around 180 centimeters tall, a little shorter than my father, so I assumed I should be around that height as well.

Then maybe I’m bigger than I thought I was.

‘Because I am thirteen years old, I always assumed I was like an elementary school student, but the truth is that I am already like a middle school student?’

Then it’s obvious that Louis finds my close relationship with my father unusual and awkward.

A parent who loves his elementary student daughter has an entirely different standard than a father who loves his middle student daughter.

This is not going to happen. I need to take action.

“Daddy?”

“What’s the matter, my baby?”

“I know you’re doing it because you adore me, but there’s someone else here. As a consequence, I may not be acknowledged as Krenberia’s ducal princess. Is my position as Krenberia’s ducal princess lacking? Am I just an immature child who has been overly spoiled?”

I glanced at my father, taking full advantage of my cute and adorable looks.

Perhaps because my father had prepared and expected me to ask something cute, he only stared at me blankly.

My father’s hold on me began to loosen. Then he gave me a warm smile.

“My child, there is no way you could ever be immature. However, if you choose to act with dignity as Krenberia’s lady, I will allow you to do so.”

My father, who had let go of me but still held my hand, kissed the back of my hand softly.

As I looked at my father’s eyes, staring at me back, I became embarrassed because in his eyes I could feel him saying ‘honey, our daughter has already grown up.’

“Thank you very much, father.”

I could notice my father’s eyebrow wriggling.

Before my father inquired why I changed the way I addressed him, I focused my attention on the marquis.

“Please accept my apologies, Marquis. Nonetheless, I appreciate your patience. My father is this way because he unfortunately lost his beloved people, and I am the only one left for him.”

“It’s fine, lady. I understand.”

After gazing at me once, the marquis spoke in a lifeless tone and went to my father.

My father then invited me to have a seat.

“Ina, please take a seat here.”

That caught the marquis off guard.

I was perplexed as to why he was acting so strangely. As if I were interfering with an important conversation.

“Thank you for being so patient. You must feel the same way, Marquis, because you only have your sister left. The sense of being dependent on the only family member left to you.”

The marquis shook his head, maybe because he felt ashamed or nervous.

“My sister isn’t someone I can rely on, therefore I couldn’t comprehend your sentiments, lady.”

After speaking, he looked gloomy.

I had never heard Marquis Zelude talk so much before.

It was Louis who held the title of the head of Marquis Zelude, but Marchioness Zelude always treated him only as decoration so that he couldn’t speak a word.

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Even when someone speaks to him, he just agrees and never gives his own perspective.

But, when I asked him about his sister, I was bewildered because he had really told someone from another family what his sister lacked.

Clara, evidently, was not the type to be relied on.

From what I heard from Clara’s story, it was clear that Thalia was the one who took care of Louis who was weak when he was young.

Thalia is, indeed, dependable, the sort of person on whom one can rely. Her personality is likewise pleasant, and she is educated.

‘Um, how do I go about it?’

I wanted to talk to him about a childhood memory of his that reminded him of Thalia rather than Clara.

“But haven’t you separated from Lady Zelude since five years old, Marquis? Don’t you find her precious?”

Marquis Zelude furrows his brow slightly.

He didn’t appear to think she was precious, but rather that a story about his sister made him uncomfortable.

“It’s no different than siblings from another family.”

“I heard Lady Zelude used to look after you when you were little.”

“I didn’t remember my childhood very much.”

“But don’t you want to keep seeing her?”

“Once……”

Marquis Zelude, who was peering into the air with his jade-colored eyes, as if remembering a moment when he missed his sister, froze.

It wasn’t because of the question I posed.

I can’t believe it. His face resembles someone who had been drenched in cold water as he recalled his memories.

I suppose he remembers how he felt the first time he met Clara.

His expression was grim, as if dread, despair, and misery were all mingled together.

His expression made me realize one thing.

It wasn’t that Louis had forgotten everything about Thalia.

Maybe he still recalls her vividly.

He had hoped to live with his sister, on whom he could depend, after living as a doll for nearly 10 years and being unable to express himself freely.

However, the person he encountered was not what he had imagined.

There’s no way his countenance could have been that astonished if it wasn’t for that reason.

What did he think when he saw Clara with the necklace that Talia had?

Even if he said that Clara was not his sister but rather a stranger, no one would believe him.

Because Louis was separated from his twin sister at the age of five.

Even if Marchioness Zelude suspected Clara was a forger, she would still accept her to the marquis family.

Marchioness Zelude’s aim in making Clara the crown princess candidate was to establish a relationship with the royal family, thus it didn’t matter to her whether the girl she picked up on the street was her husband’s child or not.

Clara’s possession of a necklace in the design of the Duke Ceres’ family was sufficient enough for her to accept Clara as Lady Zelude.

“Please forgive me, my lady, but let us stop talking about my sister. I never intended to hide it from the beginning, but my relationship with my sister is not so good. I’d never comprehend the affection that exists amongst family members. So I’m not sure I understand your relationship with your Excellency.”

The marquis ended his sentence without hiding his hesitation.

Even when he urged me not to bring it up again, I couldn’t bring it up again.

He seems to know that Clara was not someone from his childhood, with whom he shared blood. But I wasn’t sure if he recognized Thalia as his twin sister.

The marquis reappeared with his doll-like expressionless face, increasing my uneasiness.

Even if he knew Thalia, there’s a chance he won’t welcome her owing to the effect of Marchioness Zelude’s training.

I glanced at my father, who was looking at the marquis with a peculiar expression.

My father’s reaction indicated that he understood what the marquis was feeling.

Is he somehow feeling related to the marquis?

I suddenly remembered a moment when my father had left me alone.

The time he left after his beloved wife passed away and didn’t have any confidence to love the child the woman left.

My father then turned to face me. A smile appeared on his face as soon as my figure filled his purple eyes.

Whatever his concerns, it is evident that he is pleased to have me now.

‘Even for my father, the life we have today must be the bliss he has experienced…… Can I protect this moment?’

If my grandpa had not participated in the treachery, my father may not have suffered from my mother’s death, he might also have given his approval for my love to Karpel, Krenberia’s position would not have been shaken, and our territory would not have been invaded by the forest elves.

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My poor father.

A knock was heard when I was drowning in my thoughts.

“Your Excellency, this is Rhaya Siehn.”

Thalia had shown up.

Marquis Zelude sprang up as soon as my father gave his permission for Thalia to enter.