It's Not A Childcare But A Contract Marriage - Chapter 17 Part 1

“I guess Father must be quite angry too.”

Watching her mother pretend not to see him, Chiaville observed her father, who was breathing heavily, with a hint of sympathy.

“I’ve asked the head of this family to bring her back multiple times.”

Chiaville understood her father’s sentiments as he spoke with a hint of exasperation.

As the eldest son, he had composed and rewritten the letters, so he knew how the contents had shifted..

‘If they knew where our wayward daughter was, they’d send her back immediately. Isn’t it a bit too much to demand it so harshly?’

Anyway, Father’s head must’ve been throbbing to the point he couldn’t think straight. After all, he had received a dozen or so of these demands in this short period.

Of course, Ivernum had ignored all of these letters.

“They’re blatantly disregarding my words… Those ivernums are taking us lightly!”

Count Sinkere’s shoulders shook violently, as if his anger did not subside even after he shouted.

‘For Father, who rarely loses his composure, to even raise his voice like this.’

Watching him, Chiaville silently nodded to himself.

‘It’s understandable. After all, people from the same faction have been mocking us like that.’

For how much money have we been dancing at the Second Prince’s tune all this time!

They gladly accepted our offerings, but when they caught a single prey, they washed their hands of us and betrayed us.

Well, switching sides, are they? Don’t you know that I had been considering siding with the First Prince secretly?

Do you not see the situation our family is in, considering that those who clearly understand our circumstances mock us like this? Isn’t that why Father is so furious?

With a thoughtful demeanor befitting a responsible eldest son, Chiavillegauged his father’s mood and spoke up.

“Father, although there are those irritating us now, please ignore them.”

“Chiaville.”

Chiaville put on a firm expression, refusing to give in to the cold stare, as if telling him to be prepared if he’s going to say nonsense.

“Can’t you see the current situation our family is in?”

“I can.”

“Ha! If you can see it—”

“People who envy us, Sinkere, are gossiping about us, Father.”

“Hmm.”

Chiaville confidently raised the corners of his mouth as he watched his father’s mouth, which had been spewing vicious words, close, as if he liked the words.

“That means that our position as Sinkere has expanded. Isn’t that why they are barking at us? Even within the faction that protects the second prince, a good position has been decided.”

“… …”

Whether he liked that statement or not, the torrent of venomous remarks from his father ceased as he bit his tongue and opened his mouth.

“Useless things.”

“Those who can’t even be stumbling blocks are jesting with their mouths.”

“There will always be people like pebbles everywhere.”

Count Sinkere’s tone of voice returned to normal, as if his anger had calmed down considerably now.

‘How did we raise the family to this point? We can’t leave this muddied water as it is.’

Calming his gaze coldly, the count thought.

There’s no need to cast pearls before swine anymore. What’s important is to reach the core. And for that, as always, gold is necessary.

Anyway, due to that foolish daughter, misunderstandings have arisen, so he needs even more gold to cover it up.

“Chiaville.”

“Yes, Father.”

The count, with his perennially cool expression, addressed his eldest son.

“You know what needs to be done today, don’t you?”

Chiaville displayed the poise of an heir apparent and replied, “Of course.”

“Even though ignorant pups might yap about how the youngest of the house is taking something the heir set up, it’s different now.”

As the atmosphere seemed to lighten, Doulian, who had been watching, chimed in to his older brother.

As not much time had passed since wiping away his tears, the Countess, folding the handkerchief she had used to dry them, also spoke up while unfolding her fan.

“It’s only natural that this kind of punishment is given to a child who insists on marrying, which is strictly prohibited by the family.”

With a united understanding, the Count’s family soon left the mansion.