Chapter 8

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Hot

water flows down endlessly from a statue of a goddess holding a jar.

The

luxurious bathhouse is filled with white steam. The walls are framed in gold,

the floor in porcelain, and the bathtub in marble.

The

bathtub's size was twice as large as that of Lucas's private room.

"How

do you feel, my son-in-law? Doesn't it feel good?"

"...Hmm"

The hot

water surely felt good, but it did not relax him.

Because

when he glanced at the man right next to him, he saw his muscular body.

However, Valerie's father is humming in a good mood.

**a

"Umm...

Duke-sama?"

"Why

are you being so impolite? Why do you call me "Duke" at this point?

You and I are already father and son."

"H-Huh..."

"You

can call me Papa or whatever you like. But I recommend Papi!"

"I

can't call you Papi!"

Lucas

realized that he had suddenly returned to his normal state of mind and raised

his voice, and he shrank back.

"...I-I'm

sorry!"

"Hahaha,

it's all right. It's okay. I'm taking you as my son-in-law based on my

daughter's words that you are a trash, incompetent and useless. After all, I

won't feel good if you keep wearing a mask."

Although

the words "trash, incompetent, and useless" are a bit harsh, Lucas

shrugs his shoulders as if he has come to terms with the situation.

"Ah,

please.... To tell the truth, our family is rather carefree even though we are

nobles, and our language is quite foul. In fact, we are a poor aristocrat.

Please don't complain about it later."

"I

said I don't mind."

The

father nodded his head in agreement, and Lucas asked with a sigh.

"But

why me? I'm sure there are many more suitable offers for the Commander."

"Because

most of what she said was about you."

"What?"

"A

god of poverty who had been abandoned by luck, a low-life trash, a garbage with

no talent... well, that's what she tells me every time she comes home, but

she's never talked about men to that extent before. You see, in spite of her

appearance, my daughter is a shy girl and she is also a shy person. So I think

she is hiding her shyness and actually likes the man in the story. If that's

the case, I think it's my duty as a parent to understand my daughter's

feelings, don't you?"

"No...

I don't think she is being shy... I think she is being completely honest.

Besides, from the Duke-sama's point of view, a Viscount is a low rank. To give

his daughter to such a family, I think anyone would think Duke-sama's a bit

disturbed."

"Let

them think so if they want to. If it's a love between different statuses, it's

a path I've taken too."

"Is

that so?"

"Yes,

we even promised to run away together. But in the end, I couldn't abandon the

Savignacs. I have no excuse now. I can apologize to her more than I should, but

there's nothing I can do now. That's why. I can't possibly object to my

daughter's love for someone of a different status."

Valerie's

is not love, so the premise is wrong, but of course there is no way she can say

such a thing.

**b

"Besides.

I've had my eye on you as a candidate for a son-in-law for almost ten years

now. It wasn't yesterday or today. In fact, I was really surprised when your

name came out of my daughter's mouth."

"...Ten

years, why me?"

"In

fact, I once crossed swords with your father in a tournament when I was a

fighter. The result was my victory, an overwhelming victory, but my eyes are

not blind. I assure you. Your father lost on purpose. Perhaps there's a difference

in strength between me and him. It seems, no one but an overwhelmingly strong

man could have defeated him so brilliantly. I don't know what his reasons are,

but he hid his ability. And I suspect that you are the same."

(Father,

stop screwing up! He knows!)

Lucas

shrugs his shoulders in a gesture of exasperation as he scolds his father in

his heart.

"Well,

if you don't mind my saying, I think your eyes are a little blind..."

"Well,

that's all right. If it's a blind eye, I don't mind that."

"Huh?"

"I

myself have lived my life with loyalty to the royal family as my highest

priority and I've taught it to my daughter. But... You can laugh if you like.

It wasn't until she became a knight on her own that I began to wonder if I was

right."

"What?"

"As

her father, I suddenly became afraid that she might die in battle. I can't

stand it. That's what I thought. I don't care if it's cowardly, I don't care if

it's shameful, I want my daughter to live. That's why I thought the only man I

couldn't beat, son, would protect her. You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

"I

don't think you're crazy. I just think you're a big guy who worries about

trivial things. It's natural. No father would be happy about his daughter's

death."

The

father smiled quietly without seeming to pay any attention to Lucas' words,

even though they were quite impolite.

"Of

course.... You are different from me and my daughter. Your father was the same

way. He seems to live by a different set of values. That's why I'm asking you.

As my daughter will continue to sacrifice herself for the royal family, please

protect her, my daughter, your wife, all the way."

Then he

bowed so low that his nose touched the hot water.

"Duke-sama,

you're being unreasonable. And I don't have to protect the Commander..."

"Please."

Lucas

did not know how to respond to the father's continued bowing, and his brow

wrinkled deeply.

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