Rather Than The Son, I’ll Take The Father

Translator and Editor: Effe and Elnie

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Chapter 84

“Even if Your Grace isn’t sick and you’re well, I can receive the love of the Lord at the same time… Wait a minute! Please don’t kick me out!”

I’ll put him on a rope if he says nonsense again.

Tollyman coughed.

“Hmm, hmm. Actually, there is something I would like to ask Your Grace personally.”

“I don’t have any obligation to answer, do I?”

“Uh…, you don’t…”

He was in tears.

Why are there only people like this around me?

No, around Aedis.

As long as Tollyman Elliott was a close aide to Grand Duke Kalakis in 〈Esmeralda’s Crescent Moon〉 and was loyal to Aedis likewise here and now, I had no choice but to weaken my heart.

“…..Don’t cry and tell me.”

Immediately, Tollyman’s face brightened.

“It’s about the spirit. Is that okay?”

For a while, I was stressed out even when I only heard the word ‘spirit’, so Tollyman carefully spoke despite getting permission.

“What’s with the spirit?”

“That. You said that the spirit that made a contract with the Grand Duchess looked like a dragon? I was wondering if there were other spirits living in the forest. A spirit that resembles a fairy.”

He truly had a love for cats.

He kept saying, ‘A cat is a fairy,’. The formula of ‘No objection’ was ingrained in my head.

Was this guy a cat in his previous life?

Or was he being controlled by a cat right now?

I trembled, but I told him the answer.

“I can’t see other spirits. I’ve seen Paimon materialized, but I can’t even summon it properly.”

“Paimon? Is that the spirit’s name?”

“Have you ever heard of it?”

“No. I think that name is really bad.”

“…If Paimon was here, you would have been struck by lightning. It’s a pity.”

“Hmm hmm.”

Tollyman began to pick up the papers he had laid out for the estate management report.

I asked before he wandered away.

“It seems like Aedis is doing something in the bell tower these days. Does the Count know?”

He dropped the papers he had arranged.

“Yes? I-I-I-I do not know?”

Then, he tried really hard not to make eye contact with me.

“…”

I went silent. In the end, he lifted his head, which he had almost broken when he turned to the side, and wept.

“I don’t know anything! Please help me! I don’t want to die yet! Of course, if the Lord tells me to give it up, I would have to give it up right away, but I want to live for one more day!”

If I ask a little bit more, he would have laid down and begged.

“Okay. I’m not going to ask, so stop crying.”

I pretended to give up, but my curiosity grew stronger.

What was Aedis doing there?

***

The day was long. Maybe it was because I couldn’t see Aedis’s face.

I was worried about his hands that had got burned by the tea. I also had things to say to him, but I didn’t know why he’s so busy.

I went to read a book to Regen, thinking of my husband, who was about to sleep through the night in the bell tower.

I was going to put Regen to sleep two or three times a week.

But today, Regen’s eyes lit up particularly well.

“Your Grace, would you like to have anything?”

“Anything I want?”

“Yes! Anything!”

Anything. I said that there was something I had always thought about.

“Not a palace built of rubies and diamonds… but the heart of the Lord.”

…While talking, I saw Regen’s eyes wandering around, but his lost expression was quickly replaced with one that was full of dreams and hopes.

Regen shrugged.

“Oh no! Not my heart! It has to be in shape.”

“As expected, the palace… No, anything that the Lord has touched is good.”

I lied in good faith.

Regen wiggled his small hands.

“You can choose an expensive one…… even if it costs a lot of money! Th-the palace somehow… Uh, I’ll borrow it!”

I tilted my head towards Regen, who was already thinking about taking out a loan.

“Are you asking me to give me a present?”

“Yes? Yes?! No! Absolutely not!”

Regen waved his head and hands at the same time in denial.

Huh…… Suspicious, Suspicious.

After putting Regen to sleep, I confided my concerns to Sarah.

“Why does the Lord suddenly want to give me a present?”

“That… well?”

In the end, even Sarah stuttered.

Sarah also seemed to be an accomplice.

Maybe it has something to do with the reason why Aedis was locked in the bell tower?

What was it? What?

Why does Regen want to give me a present? What was Aedis doing in the first bell tower all day, when there are only stone statues there?

If I waited for Aedis to explain, it felt as if I would die of frustration.

First, I thought about the word ‘present’, a hint I just got.

Even in the Empire, there was a festival where people exchange gifts.

At the beginning of the end of the year. It was still a long way off.

However, I had to admit that the only day I receive a gift is on my birthday…

“Ah, I don’t think so.”

“What, what?”

Sarah asked in a slightly nervous tone.

“There is only one day to receive a gift, but it’s still a month away. There’s no way someone would start preparing already.”

“Ahaha, haha.”

Suddenly, Sarah let out an unnatural laugh. Her eyelashes were trembling.

“…Really?”

No, what kind of birthday present is it for you to have prepared a month in advance?!

Wait, what about Aedis? Does it have anything to do with this or not?

“Sarah.”

“P-please, please don’t ask me. I have to surprise Your Grace…”

Sarah stuttered until the moment I entered the bedroom.

Uh, what should I do?

I didn’t know it was a problem, but when I found out, it became a bigger problem.

First of all, in front of Regen, I desperately have to pretend that I didn’t notice or that I was surprised.

…Can I do this well for a month?

You asked me too quickly, the Lord…

I groaned and walked into the bedroom.

It was empty.

I sat on the sofa and dozed off repeatedly, but no matter how much time passed, Aedis did not come back.

Why isn’t he coming back today?

As I yawned, I rubbed my eyes. Sleepy. The sleep monster has come…

But I didn’t want to lie in bed alone again because I had got used to sleeping in Aedis’s arms.

I kept remembering what happened during the day.

In the end, I couldn’t relax, so I headed to the bell tower at just past two in the morning.

Ooooh, it’s cold. The morning wind was also unbearable.

I hurried and entered the first bell tower.

The interior of the bell tower was the same as last time, except that pretty powders were scattered on the stairs.

Would it be quicker for me to get to the top, or would Aedis notice me first?

Ugh, of course it’s the latter.

Still, to pretend to be looking for him, I climbed up the stairs.

I went up to the first flight with ease.

It was a bit difficult to climb the second flight.

I barely climbed the third flight, and as soon as I reached the fourth, I sat down and stretched.

It-it’s hard…..

I also enjoyed horseback riding in the capital, but morning exercise was really hard.

It isn’t suitable for my body and the difficulty level is too high……

Besides, I was recovering little by little from an extremely weakened state in the aftermath of the broken contract with the Beast.

It was difficult to sit down, so I spread a cloak and lay down on the floor. As I stared at the ceiling, my pounding heart slowly calmed down.

I was alone in a space that was devoured by darkness.

But knowing that Aedis was up there, I wasn’t afraid at all.

In fact, it was much better than waiting alone in the bedroom.

Whoo. It’s cold, but I’m sweating.

I adjusted my posture to get a little more comfortable on the hard floor.

Then, my eyes met the stone statue that seemed to have reduced in size.

The spirit must be sealed inside that stone statue, so we might have really met.

I did not know the true form of the spirit, but I felt a little familiar with the form of a horse.

By the way, is Alyssa doing well?

When I think of Alyssa, my teeth clench even when I’m asleep.

Alyssa was a horse I had raised since I was a child.

It grew up under my care the most and we had the closest bond.

Before I got used to horseback riding, I fell a lot, but when I got hurt, Alyssa would put on a pained expression.

My parents were going to visit the North for my birthday, but it must have been difficult to bring Alyssa then.

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