Rather Than The Son, I’ll Take The Father

TL/N:

There will be a new change (again) in this chapter and this is for Procyon, previously Prokeon.

I know some of the readers misread him as ‘pokemon’ at times XD

But it turns out it has a COOL meaning!

Procyon and Vega (the other Knight) are both names of stars, part of constellations. How cool is that! Both of them are among the brightest stars in the sky.

Thank you to [beldaran] for pointing this out <>

Aedis' reaction was not good.

"Who was weaving a coffin of my size?"

"Oops. That was because I want to support Castellan like a parent."

The count was quite peculiar. He wasn’t afraid even after seeing Aedis.

The count quickly looked away from Aedis to courteously greet me.

“Greetings, grand duchess, the light and treasure of the Kallakis family and whose nobility will never be lacking in comparison to the heavens where the Grand Duke resides. This man has pledged to devote his life to the Grand Duke of Kallakis. Please help yourself. Haha…”

‘Why the hell are you laughing?’

The count looked normal, but his mental state was a bit…

The count’s eyes sparkled as he bowed to me.

Anyway, I still said what I had to say.

"It's nice to meet you, count. Please take good care of me from now on and take the cats out.”

(T/N: Short, direct, to the point!)

The count opened his mouth.

"That is too much, Your Highness!"

Well, I hadn’t expected him to listen to me. Since he decorated his boss’s house in such a manner, he definitely was not normal.

"Why are you saying that already? I haven't even started doing anything yet."

Aedis would be by my side, too.

The count was in very bad shape.

He sank to his seat and started wailing. It was honestly very ugly to see a man with a glistening beard and mustache wriggling on the floor.

"The fairies are like my alter ego! If you want to throw them out, take me out as well!"

Fa…Fairy…

"Of course, I will,” I said as naturally as possible. I almost stuttered.

"Huh."

The Count turned to Aedis.

"Have you no eyes?" Aedis said to the desperate count.

The Count had a disease that made it impossible for him to distinguish between a fairy and a cat, but the situation was quickly understood.

“…I must trust the great duchess! Light of the Kallakis family! Bless you! Bless you! The dreams and hopes of raising children…"

"Stop. "

‘Cut it short, you madman.’

I had a headache, but it wasn't very profitable. The count cared for the cats with all his heart.

By the way…

"Why do you have to put the cats in the grand duke’s home and not yours?"

“The fairies said this place was comfortable," the count replied, flopping himself down.

"Did they talk directly to the count?"

"They don't even need to say it, I just know…Please save me!"

My patience was limited, and even before I gave the order, the count screamed hastily, "The fairies are giving the castle good luck!"

“Even without such luck, the Kallakis family is great.”

"Well, yes, but…"

The count, who was at a loss for words, collapsed for a moment. He glanced at me and asked in a small voice, "Is there any reason why you can't keep the cats close to you?"

“…”

I had a cat allergy in my previous life.

Although the symptoms were not very severe, my runny nose continued to persist when I was in the same room with my cat.

The count apologized for interpreting my silence differently.

"I asked a presumptuous question. Please forgive me. But, can you please reconsider my loyalty?"

The count was firmly convinced that the cats were really the fairies that brought good luck.

I leaned on the chair.

"Then, let’s make a deal."

"I'm going to live in the Grand Duke’s!"

I smiled at him and called my temporary guards. "Sir Vega, Sir Procyon, please see the count’s clothes off. Take off his shoes and let him walk barefoot. No, just rip all of his clothes.”

"I'm sorry! I was wrong!"

The count prayed until his hands were worn out.

‘Aedis, is this the only person you can use in the North?’

I massaged my temples.

The cats seem to love Regen, and they seemed to be wholly absorbed in the Cyclamen Castle, so I didn't think about kicking them out.

I had a cat allergy in my previous life, but now I didn’t.

Also, the Count was probably competent. Yes, if he couldn't even manage the estate, he would be damned.

He was still alive, proving his use.

"Your Highness, please have mercy on me. I will do whatever I can to gain the confidence of Your Highness."

"Is it okay if there are a lot of requirements?"

"Please just give me the orders."

"First, get rid of all the cat designs in the castle: cat-shaped doorknobs, cat statues, cheese-colored carpets, everything. However, it's okay to leave the cat stuff as it is," I said right away.

"Yes…"

"Second…Is there anything Aedis wants?"

"Nothing."

The count wailed at the cold response. "Your Highness! I'm proud to have lived a perfect and innocent life, this Tolyman Elliot. I have been serving the Grand Duke even before the title was inherited. I am honored to have served not even a speck of dust here.”

No wonder he didn't pass out even after making eye contact with Aedis. They had a long history, but it was hard to believe this place didn’t have a speck of dust in it.

‘Wait, could the count be Aedis' close friend? Eh, ah. Nonsense.’

He didn't even want to meet the count often.

I composed my expression before making my second request. "I heard that the count was acting on behalf of the landowner. What's the situation?"

"It's running moderately well. There are some moderately greedy ones. Of course, the tribes that crossed the line had been cut off without mercy."

Cut off without mercy?

I looked at Aedis for confirmation.

The count explained briefly, “Doesn’t he look like someone who would kill his parents?"

‘Wait, but didn't you say you wanted to support Aedis like a parent?’

Aedis added as if reading my thoughts. "I'm going to die in his hands sooner or later."

He didn’t seem like Aedis’ close friend.

‘Um, well, that's good.’

(T/N: Are you missing the point here?! XD)

Back to the main point.

The count, who listened to me and Aedis's words, smiled. “Hahaha, well, no one dares to speak out their complaints. But when you come back from the traditional ceremony. I will show you the accounting books, the estate management report, and complaints.”

‘Huh? Traditional ceremony? I'll have to ask Aedis later.’

"If you give permission, I would like to continue to report to the Grand Duchess. It’s different from the Castellan, right? Will you take a few days to organize the documents? Oh no, no, I'm not expecting a lot! Just look at it for 10 seconds! Just count at least a few."

Suddenly, the count raised his voice as if he was overwhelmed with sorrow.

The count just seemed to be happy to have a superior who could report properly, but…

He tilted his head.

"I know it’s hard to keep track of the papers, but would it be okay if you trust me?"

Then Tollyman Elliott spoke solemnly.

"The Grand Duchess is the hero who has already saved the North."

***

The count, who was just about to die by Aedis’s hands, ran away, leaving only Aedis and me in the room.

‘Gosh, I’m exhausted.’

However, Tollyman Elliot seemed unusual.

Of course, his mental state was peculiar as well, but he walked normally after being kicked by Aedis.

Killing your parents with your own hands wasn't something to ignore.

However, the name Tolyman Elliott was never mentioned in the novel, either directly or indirectly.

All I could guess was that he might be "Aedis's aide.”

In the end, I couldn't even say the second requirement. The goal was to clean up all cat-related decor.

‘Ugh, I think my head will break.’

Count Elliott had the ability to make people troubled just by thinking of his face.

I sighed so much that I was going to lose my mind.

‘Well, let's stop thinking. There are many other problems now.’

"Aedis, what is the traditional ritual?" I asked, drumming my fingers against the table.

"I'm sorry, I should have explained it first. I forgot it because it was so long ago that the Kallakis family had a Grand Duchess,” Aedis said guiltily.

He pointed out the window.

"The ritual itself is simple. On a moon-shrouded night, you just have to go to the 1st bell tower, which is not currently in use, and ask for a blessing from the spirit. You can make a wish."

I tilted my head. "Is there a spirit?"