CHAPTER 79…………………..
“Why is this all there is? I told you to bring me something better!”
“My lord Count, we’ve already summoned all those who are said to be well-known, but…”
“I don’t need excuses! Do you know what kind of family ours is?”
The Count snapped at his butler, scattering papers across his desk.
Just then, Adele entered her father’s office. Sensing the heavy atmosphere, she frowned, and the Count quickly dismissed the butler.
“What brings my daughter here today? You found the time to visit me?”
“Father, what’s going on? Did something happen? Something serious?”
A sense of dread welled up in Adele, and she rushed toward her father’s desk.
Had she neglected business matters for too long, being caught up in solidifying her position as successor and worrying about marriage?
Still, she never missed the daily reports, and just now Zerox hadn’t said a word about trouble.
What could make her father this furious?
Without thinking, Adele snatched one of the papers from the desk.
“What are you looking at from this morning… what is this?”
“Hm? What’s what?”
“Mercedes, Steira, Fiat… Aren’t these people’s names?”
“Names? Hardly.”
Snatch.
The Count muttered evasively as he took the sheet back, which made Adele narrow her eyes.
Better than it being some crisis for the business or the family—but still strange to see only a list of names.
“Father, don’t tell me…”
“Don’t tell you what?”
“You’re not planning to give me another sibling, are you?! Quickly say that’s not it!”
“…Good grief.”
What does this girl take her father for?
The Count rubbed his neck as Adele glared at him, fiery-eyed. He’d never once reflected on his behavior, but with his eldest daughter confronting him like this, he couldn’t help feeling sour.
“I already have a splitting headache with you three as it is. At my age, do you think I’d bring another child into the world? Not a chance.”
“…Phew.”
Adele pressed a hand to her chest in relief.
I can barely handle the siblings I already have.
She let go of her breath, then shot her father a sharp look again.
“Then what is that? I don’t know a single one of those names… Is it some kind of death list?”
“A death list?! Don’t say such ill-omened things!”
“Why are you yelling at me then?”
Her father behaving strangely wasn’t unusual, and digging deeper never did her any good.
As long as it wasn’t about a new sibling, she wasn’t going to push her luck.
The Count scowled.
“Anyway, why are you here at this hour? What about my son-in-law?”
“Father, why do you keep asking that… Can’t I come here as your daughter?”
“If you have time to be here, then…”
So, is my son-in-law keeping his promises or not?
The Count’s gaze drifted toward Adele’s belly before he quickly turned away, not wanting her to notice. Adele, frustrated, planted both hands firmly on the desk.
“Actually, I came because I think it’s time I checked in with the trading company again.”
“Already?”
The Count tapped his fingers on the desk, displeased.
Is it happening, or not happening?
With his daughter, he couldn’t ask outright, and that grated against his nature.
“I mean, what is the company head doing, letting you show up here alone?”
“T-the company head…”
Just as he suspected.
Seeing his daughter’s face flush red told him enough.
At least they hadn’t been idling about.
After all, he had worked Adele so hard, then granted her ample time off under his “agreement with the son-in-law.” He hadn’t expected her to complain about that.
No—his real complaint was that Adele, of all things, hadn’t inherited that one trait from him.
Your father only ever needed once!
He shook his head, crossing his legs. What irked him most was the world’s mistaken view that he was some wanton libertine.
Not entirely false, but not nearly as bad as the rumors said. He had never strayed while his wife lived, and after her death, he simply didn’t chase women who came nor cling to those who left.
But not all “once”s are alike—yet somehow, his “once”s had borne fruit far too easily.
“…Father, why are you looking at me like that?”
What’s with those eyes, like I’m lacking somehow?
Adele scoffed at his disapproving look. She guessed it was just his way of giving her space as a newlywed.
Newlywed…
Her cheeks warmed as last night’s memory resurfaced. Since the wedding night, circumstances had gotten in the way, and that had been the only time they’d shared such passion.
…Honestly, body of mine, could you be any more oblivious?
The mood had deflated completely. She’d had Jacqueline deliver her excuses and prepare a separate room, but Killian had stubbornly opened her door anyway.
“Wh-why are you here? I told them to warn you…”
“And if they had?”
“Still… still…”
“Still, you are my wife, are you not?”
The gentle touch as he brushed aside her bangs still lingered on her forehead.
Even without physical passion, that night had been somehow even more intense. Just sitting on the bed holding hands made her cheeks burn.
Had their little wager taken place yesterday, Adele knew exactly what she would have answered—
…Without a doubt, that I loved it more.
“Judging by your face, my son-in-law treats you well.”
“…Fairly well.”
Satisfied with her coy answer, the Count regained his smile.
Soon, those names would come into use, he thought, pulling out a black velvet file from beneath the papers.
Adele, who had been avoiding her father’s gaze, finally grew curious.
“And this? If it’s just another list of ridiculous names, then…”
“See for yourself before speaking.”
Suspicious of his smug expression, Adele opened the file. If he was toying with her again, she’d give him a piece of her mind.
But then, her eyes wavered.
“Father, this is…”
“At last, that property is going up for sale.”
“No way!”
She checked the address, gasping.
The only land the Sergio family did not own—prime property at the very heart of the southern district.
The very spot she’d always thought would make the perfect base for the Yuden Trading Company.
“If we got that, we could expand in every direction! It’s the most iconic site in the South!”
“And just right for a new heir to make her grand beginning.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Will my daughter be content forever with a half-hearted title of successor?”
“Oh… oh my.”
The Count’s sly words made Adele cover her face with the documents, unable to contain her overflowing joy.
“You know, the true protagonist always makes a late entrance. That way, people remember.”
“So that’s why you kept me cooped up in the estate all this time…”
“Well, partly.”
He tilted his head. In truth, it was mostly his own ambition, but seeing her so moved, he left it at that.
As a father, he was rather pleased too.
“From here on, I step back. You’ll handle this yourself. That way, everyone will see you properly for who you are.”
“When’s the first bidding day?”
“In less than a week. The owner held out and held out, but now thanks to his children’s gambling debts, it’s all slipping away. The court’s already seized the deed, so there’s no going back.”
“And there mustn’t be!”
Clutching the papers to her chest, Adele steeled herself. As her father said, land like this would never come again.
Her mind was already busy planning how each office floor would be arranged.
The Count delighted in watching his eldest daughter’s rare, open happiness.
“…I’ll be watching closely. In more ways than one.”
“Yes, Father.”
Their meanings were different, but for once, they were in harmony.
Is this a dream?
Glowing, Adele turned to leave, but the Count stopped her.
“Wait. One more thing.”
“Yes? What is it?”
His hesitation was unusual, but Adele only smiled.
Experience told her such moments often led to shocking declarations. Still, in her mood now, she felt ready for anything.
“Go on!”
“Well… if you come to possess that land…”
The more he spoke, the more Adele’s expression soured. Even when he finished, she only frowned.
“What is it? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, it’s just…”
“…?”
“For the first time, you actually sounded like a father.”
Adele gave a small laugh at her own half-insult, half-compliment.
Are you really my father?
She narrowed her eyes, and he waved her off irritably.
“Why are you still here? I thought you’d be rushing off to throw yourself into my son-in-law’s arms.”
“Who said I’d do such a thing!”
Adele crossed her arms, staring back at his teasing grin.
Even if she was happy, she had to maintain the dignity of a future head of the trading company.
He doesn’t know—there’s more to love between a man and woman than fiery displays.
If only she could show him Killian’s tender, worried eyes each night…
No, she would keep that locked away. That gentleness was hers alone.
“Father, not every man in the world is like you, you know?”
“…Care to bet on that?”
In this family, everything became a wager.
What more does he want to take from me? Adele leaned against the door, twirling the rolled-up file with a confident smile.
“You’ll regret it.”
