Chapter 47

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 47

Chapter Title: Cookie Crumbs Like Dirt

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Viscount Roman's gaze toward the Chairman was far from kind.

'What on earth is he thinking?'

He had heard that earlier today, the Chairman had strolled through the castle with the Child of Destiny, looking surprisingly affectionate.

People said the Chairman walking alongside the Child of Destiny had appeared unusually relaxed and gentle.

'Impossible. That man's Jean Marc Nuanoch.'

A man who had been brutally cold even to his own son.

Some even gossiped that his son Louis Nuanoch's death might have been suicide.

A father who had driven his son so mercilessly wouldn't suddenly soften toward the Child of Destiny just because of her title.

'Is he scheming to use the Child of Destiny for something?'

Viscount Roman's lips twisted into a smirk.

If so, perfect.

He desperately hoped for a rift between the Chairman and Duke Duvered.

Back in the late Chairman's day, the Senate had wielded immense power within House Duvered.

The Chairman before his son's death had boldly championed the Senate's interests.

But after his son died and Theodor Duvered claimed the ducal seat, the Chairman became like a tiger without fangs.

He wasn't entirely indifferent to the Senate's gains, but he had no intention of confronting Theodor head-on to reclaim their former glory.

"Chairman."

At Roman's call, the Chairman turned to him with a blank expression.

"If Your Excellency plans to step up this time, I'll back you from the shadows."

"Out with it straight."

Roman smirked inwardly at the feigned ignorance.

"Spinel won't just be for battles against Krueger. In any fight, armor laced with spinel is essential for our troops. If the temple withholds spinel from Duvered, the duke's forces will weaken inevitably."

"And?"

"Your Excellency has ties to the temple, doesn't he?"

"..."

"If we smuggle in spinel without the duke knowing, our military might will eclipse his."

"Suggesting civil war?"

Roman shrugged with a sly grin.

"The Senate needs strength to counter the duke's lunacy. And if he pushes too far, teaching him a lesson wouldn't hurt."

Silence from the Chairman prompted Roman to lean in close.

"How long do we bow to that duke?"

"I do have temple connections, but they won't hand us aid on a platter."

"We have the Child of Destiny."

Roman chuckled, glancing at Duvered Castle beyond the window.

"Her divine power's been reevaluated. The Holy See wants her back desperately. Leverage that girl in a deal, and who knows what we could pull off."

Roman rattled on excitedly.

"Here's my plan. Kidnap the girl, dump her with a slave trader, then tip off the temple. They retrieve her, the duke—who slacked on watching her—loses her right under his nose, and the temple gets their prize—"

That was when it happened.

Knock, knock. The sound of knocking rang out, and the Nuanoch family butler entered.

"Master, a letter from the castle."

"From the duke?"

"The seal isn't the ducal house's."

A letter from the castle, but not bearing the ducal seal.

The Chairman's eyes narrowed to slits for a moment before he took the letter from the butler.

He tore open the envelope to reveal childish, crooked handwriting.

No date, no location. The Chairman's eyes trembled violently.

[Father, cookie crumbs look like dirt. But why aren't they as mysterious as dirt?]

How did she...

How could the Child of Destiny know words his dead son had spoken as a child?

"Chairman?"

Roman craned his neck, puzzled.

But the Chairman wordlessly shoved the letter into his jacket pocket and rose.

"Prepare the carriage!"

Viscount Roman stared in bewilderment as the Chairman bolted from the study.

I gave ten kisses to maid Uni.

Payment for secretly delivering my invitation to the Chairman.

"Here too, and here!"

"Ten kisses, that's the deal."

"Gotta pay interest!"

True to her usurer roots, she never missed the extra.

I pecked her other cheek where she pointed.

"Good now?"

"Yes~!"

Uni hugged me tight with a beaming smile, then skipped out humming.

'Alright, now just wait.'

To chat easily when he arrived, I waited in the gazebo tucked in the garden corner.

Shaking a bottle of poured drink to play at tea party.

As dusk fell, the Chairman found me.

He panted hard, like he'd wandered the grounds forever.

"How... how do you know that tale?"

Straight to it, no hello. He was frantic.

I hopped down from the gazebo chair and peered up at him.

"First, I gotta ask somethin'."

"Speak."

"Gramps misses his boy how much?"

"...You call that a question."

"If you could see Louis again, pay any price?"

His face rigid, he met my eyes.

"I'd sell my soul."

Perfect. That's what I wanted.

I gripped Etwal lightly. He scowled at the sight.

"Now answer me. How do you know that—!"

"Don't yell at the child..."

The timid voice from behind the arbor froze him solid, head unturned.

Pupils blown wide, his angry glare wavered.

In utter disbelief.

He turned slowly.

"Father..."

Louis Nuanoch gave his ashen-faced father a pained smile.

The Chairman simply stared, speechless. Eyes locked on his son, he demanded.

"What ploy is this? Who've you disguised as my son? Is the duke mocking me, or you yourself, Little One?"

His voice chilled with disbelief, but his gaze quivered.

Louis's throat bobbed. Lips bitten to stifle tears, he gazed at his father.

"I begged you to share pancakes first... sorry I couldn't keep it."

That secret only they shared from Louis's lips twisted the Chairman's face.

His imposing shoulders slumped; wrinkles carved deeper.

No longer the Senate's iron leader. Just a grieving old father.

"..."

I tugged his sleeve insistently.

"Say somethin'! Hurry!"

"..."

"Know how tough holdin' a soul is? It'll vanish soon!"

Power drained since Bunne left, but the Chairman's longing kept me forcing it.

As Louis edged closer warily, the Chairman ground his teeth.

"...Worthless fool."

'Huh? Wait, no!'

Eyes wide, I watched him pummel Louis's shoulders and chest with fists.

"Worthless fool! Worthless... you worthless...!"

"..."

"Lived worthless your whole life, disappointing me to the end! Worthless fool! Why'd you leave me behind!"

Tears soaked the Chairman's face.

Louis endured silently, rooted in place.

Grief surging, the Chairman groaned like he might break, then crumpled to the ground.

"Did you... take your own life?"

"..."

"Like the rumors—couldn't find the landfill, mad with fear of me, suicided?"

Louis knelt, staring at his father.

"Always messin' up... so for your birthday, I wanted to gift spinel."

"You..."

"Accident from rushin'. Feared you sometimes, but more respect, thanks... love."

The Chairman sobbed like a babe. Until Louis faded.

I peeked at the Chairman, slumped drained in the gazebo.

'What do ya say now?'

No real dad, so I dunno.

Fists to temples, groaning, his voice broke through.

"What are you, Little One?"

"Huh?"

"Knew you weren't ordinary."

His parched eyes fixed on me.

I held his stare.

"What makes me tell Gramps that?"

"Offering my soul was sincere."

I know.

Those eyes rang true.

That's why I risked showing Louis.

'No one'd believe anyway.'

Plus, Louis warned firm before vanishing.

Not a spitting image, but pure son—threat the Chairman's style.

Louis used his own soul as leverage, though.

Grateful beyond words for reuniting with Dad. Knows to repay kindness.

Glancing his way.

'Need his help most now.'

Kid me can't hold spinel variants.

And he's ideal for it.

Greedy just right, puts self first over house or empire, unscathed by my flight.

'Still, hedge bets...'

"Jacket off."

"Pardon?"

"Pants pockets too, inside out."

"What..."

Back-of-head bashes taught me well—I frisked him clean. No magitools, no holy gear.

Then I spoke.

"Regressed three times. Summoned demon this life."

Shock flooded the Chairman's face.