The Money-Obssessed Archmage's Second Life As A Broke Duke-Chapter 75 - That’s What Dads Do

Chapter Seventy Five

"Take care, Lune."

I sighed as I watched the two lovers holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes.

Do I really have to use the old approach of coaching?

[Ping!]

[That’s what dads do.]

Ugh! I don’t wanna. I makes me feel old.

[Ping!]

[Host is old.]

You’re making me feel bad.

[Ping!]

[Host is suggested to hurry up. You need to take care of things at castle too.]

Yeah. Yeah. I got it.

I sighed as the blue screen as I looked up at the couple again. Can anyone guess what they were doing?

Suprise! Suprise!

They were still looking into each other’s eyes. Ugh!

"Cough! Cough! Lune, come here. Let Sylvester activate the teleportation circle. He’s getting late. Right, Sylvester?"

"I’ll see you soon, Lune. I promise."

"Krssh!"

Sylvester kissed her hand one last time before letting her walk to the teleportation circle where Miss Thorne, Lukas and me were standing.

The space rippled, as the teleportation magic flared. With a final, lingering look at Sylvester, Lune stepped into the circle, closer. Her hand was still pressed against her heart, right where he’d kissed it.

Honestly, the youth these days. They act like a week apart is a lifetime sentence in the abyss.

Sylvester had a weak smile on his face as he waved at Lune.

However, Lune did not return his smile. She simply turned away from him, hiding away her tears.

Ah... Why do I feel so sad?

Woooshh!

----

"Master! You’re back!"

My eyes opened as I looked at the big gate of the castle. At the entrance, Hans, Vizen, Lady Selia, Lady Elena, Eatassh, Garrow, Lily and Zein were standing while Kaelen was running in my direction.

For some reason, my gut told me to shift right.

And, for the first time I listened straight to it without question.

I pivoted on my heel, stepping right with a fluid grace I usually only possessed in my previous life when avoiding work.

THWACK!

Kaelen shot past me like a literal cannonball, his momentum so great that he couldn’t stop until he’d plowed straight into a snowbank. He disappeared entirely, leaving only a pair of boots kicking feebly in the air.

Crunch! Crunch!

"Five out of ten for effort," I called out, pulling my cloak tighter against the chill. "Zero for execution."

"It’s... it’s good to see you’re still yourself, Master," Vizen said, shivering as he walked toward us followed by others. He looked exhausted, his face red from the frostbite.

"How was the trip?" I asked while my eyes stared at Lune and Lily hugging each other and crying.

Vizen stepped forward, his breath hitching in the frigid air. "As you predicted, Your Grace. Just when the main gate was closed a group of merchants tried to force their way in, saying they won’t go back unless they’re given a reason why the gates are being closed."

"What about you, Hans?" I shifted my gaze to the right side of Vizen.

"The same, Your Grace. However, they were a group of knights." Hans replied, his hand knstinctively went behind his back as he stood in an attentive pose.

How nice... I don’t regret bringing Hans one bit to the castle.

"Wonderful. Let’s go inside and eat breakfast as we talk. Kaelen, come out of the snow."

"Mmph! Coming, Master!"

A muffled explosion of snow erupted as Kaelen hauled himself out of the drift. He looked like a powdered donut with legs, shivering violently but still wearing that over-energetic grin, making me sigh.

He scrambled to his feet, shaking himself off like a wet dog and sending a spray of ice crystals toward Vizen, who sighed with the weary patience of a man who hadn’t slept in three days.

"Kaelen, stop it. Or, you’ll get scolded by Vizen." I warned, hiding a sigh behind my collar.

Kaelen froze, a clump of snow still sliding down his nose. He looked toward Vizen with wide, blinking eyes. "...Butler?"

Here we go again.

"Let’s just go inside. I have to tell you all something." I sighed, gesturing to the heavy main door.

----

"Ugh! Thank you, Lady Selia. I can’t tell you how hungry I am."

I leaned back as Lady Selia placed a steaming bowl of porridge laced with honey and dried winter berries in front of me. The warmth of the Dinner Hall was slowly seeping through my clothes, but the tension in the room remained thick enough to cut with a dull butter knife.

"Calm down, everyone. Eat first. I don’t have anything serious to say."

[Ping!]

[Is Host crazy? No... Is your definition of nothing serious getting almost murdered in your own territory?]

Let them eat, Sysi. Look how tired they all look. On that note, I should eat lots too. I don’t know what kind of food there is in Spirit Realm.

I shoveled a spoonful of the warm porridge into my mouth, the honey coating my tongue and momentarily silencing my inner grumbles.

Clink. Clink.

Around the table, the sound of clinking silverware began to rise, though the atmosphere remained brittle. Vizen was nursing a cup of tea as if it were a holy relic, while Hans sat with a posture so straight he looked like he’d swallowed a yardstick.

"Your Grace, there’s something I must tell you." My eyes shifted to an uncomfortable Elena then to Hans.

Looks like Lady Selia hasn’t told Hans yet.

A sigh passed my lips as I looked up at her again. "Yes, Lady Elena?"

Let’s play along for now. It’s not my headache to shoulder anyway.

"Umm... Your Grace," Elena began, her voice barely a whisper as she wrung her silk napkin between trembling fingers. "There are rumors across the fief. The people of the fief... they believe you have been seduced. They say the fox-kin has woven a spell over your heart."

She swallowed hard, unable to meet my eyes. "They are saying that to free your soul, the fox kin must be burnt at the stake."

The spoon in my hand stopped halfway to my mouth. The warmth of the porridge suddenly felt sickeningly sweet. I leaned back, my chair scraping against the stone floor with a harsh screech.

Hah... Looks like I’ve been far too lenient, haven’t I?

The silence that followed was shattered by a low, guttural vibration.

"Krrrhhh..."

Lune had gone rigid. Her ears were pinned back flat against her skull, and her tail was bristling like a bottle brush.

"It’s okay, Lune. Can you go with Lily to her room?"

"Krrrrrhhhh!"

"Please, love."

"Ack!"

"Thank you."

"Let’s go, Big Sis! I really missed you."

Haah... My money bank is truly amazing.

[Ping!]

[Host can understand growls?]

No? It was her expressions, Sysi. Anyway, let’s deal with this.

"Kaelen, do you want to know why I ordered the gates to be closed?"

"...Why, Master?"