I’Ll Protect My Tyrant Dad! [EN]: Chapter 34

The Tyrant Father is in My Care! 34. A Lovely Pink Cotton Candy Kid (34/140)

34. A Lovely Pink Cotton Candy Kid

2023.03.28.

Tedd trailed off.

Even as a paladin, he didn’t know how to talk to a child who was loved by God and could be chosen by the Pope.

Gabriele frowned.

“Was it Cien of the Mirmod family?”

“…Yes, that’s her.”

Gabriele scoffed at Tedd’s honest answer.

“I heard she’s a child who grew up rolling around in the dirt.”

Then, she elegantly whispered.

“She and I are as different as fake pearls and real ones.”

Gabriele thought that Tedd would drop his arrogant attitude and yield to her at this point.

However, Tedd narrowed his eyes at Gabriele’s words and retorted.

“Lady Cien is not like that.”

“…What?”

Gabriele’s dumbfounded gaze was fixed on Tedd. But Tedd’s expression was as stern as a mountain. What was with that attitude, as if he had chosen Cien as the lady he would protect?

“What did you just say?”

“I said Lady Cien is not like that.”

A resolute yet gentle paladin.

Gabriele’s face turned bright red at the sight.

Until now, not a single person had opposed her opinion. But why… how dare a paladin…?

Gabriele bit her lip.

She felt displeasure, anger, and humiliation all at once.

“Then, are you saying that I am lying?”

She was quite confident.

She didn’t think he would refute even these words.

Having lived a little over ten years, Gabriele had grown up arrogant. It was possible because she was in a position where she could be arrogant enough.

Her divine power was among the best in all temples, surpassing even the Senoa Temple. She was the most favored by the Pope among all the priests here.

But…

“Yes. Lady Cien is a good person.”

…She was refuted once again.

Gabriele was stunned. Until now, no one had ever spoken to her so firmly…!

“…Don’t ever defend that child in front of me again!”

She was angry, but the anger was not directed at Tedd.

Gabriele’s sharp anger was directed towards Cien.

‘It’s all because of Cien, that strange girl. Tedd was almost decided to be my knight…!’

Before Cien appeared, the Senoa Temple was peaceful. It was a place that revolved solely around Gabriele.

Gabriele went around the temple, offering prayers to God. And that’s not all. She also performed many good deeds, such as using her divine power to lovingly heal visitors.

But…

The order of the Senoa Temple was broken when Cien appeared.

Just for teasing Cien Mirmod, the children lost their chance to become priests. Gabriele also lost the children who had been her hands and feet.

‘That child is ruining everything.’

Gabriele’s expression changed to a vicious one, not befitting a child.

She wanted to punish that hateful girl who was trying to take away the knight she had chosen.

A faint, whitish energy spread from her fingertips.

‘…Tedd is mine. The Senoa Temple, and the affection of the people, are also mine.’

Gabriele’s divine power often manifested as a weak precognitive ability.

The anxiety that she would lose everything, starting with Tedd, began to flood her heart.

Watching her, Tedd ran a hand down his face.

Strangely, the more Gabriele showed possessiveness towards him, the more he missed Acid and Cien.

***

Meanwhile, I was facing Acid head-on, who had entered my room.

“Th, that is…”

Where did all the spirit he had when he knocked on the door go?

Acid carefully opened his mouth.

With the maids and Dad here, he seemed a little intimidated. Still, he had become quite brave for his age.

I had to encourage him at times like this!

Before Dad could stop me, I quickly jumped down from my knees. And I walked towards Acid, who was still standing at the door.

“Ung, what is it? I wanna hear!”

“Yes, yes?”

Could it be that no one had ever properly listened to Acid’s words, which were even slightly clumsy until now? Acid’s eyelashes fluttered delicately.

I patiently looked up at his eyes. Acid carefully opened his mouth with difficulty.

“I…”

“Ung, baby.”

“I want to… meet my brother.”

“…Eung?”

I carefully stared at Acid.

I understood the desire to become stronger, but the feeling of wanting to meet his brother felt a bit sudden.

“I, I’m not going to forgive him.”

There was still a faint anger lingering.

Then why?

I tilted my head and held Acid’s arm tightly. He was trembling slightly, clearly nervous.

I patted his arm and said.

“Baby, I’m listening. You can tell me.”

“…Yes.”

Acid carefully continued his next words.

“I want to meet him… and see how much divine power I, I have…”

His voice was definitely getting quieter, but it was clear enough to hear.

“I want to find out. Can I?”

I stared intently at Acid.

At this point, it seemed certain that Acid had scraped up even the courage from the bottom of his heart.

I should definitely reward that courage.

“…Ung. Baby, you worked hard.”

Acid added in a bewildered tone.

“I… I didn’t do anything…”

“No. You said you wanted to get stronger, and you even found a way.”

I patted Acid, praising him like a puppy. Come to think of it, his round eyes looked like a puppy’s… I slightly parted my lips and let out a shallow sigh.

“…How cute.”

He’s older than me in actual age, but he’s still like a baby.

I patted Acid on the shoulder and said again with emphasis,

“You were brave, good job!”

“…….”

Acid blushed as if he was embarrassed by the unexpected praise.

“It’s enough.”

“Ah…….”

Acid fidgeted with his hands and bowed his head towards me.

“Th, thank you…….”

His face was very red, and his fingers kept fidgeting; it seemed that that was the most courage Acid could muster.

Perhaps he thought he had received too much praise. Acid, whose face had turned into a burning red carrot, bowed his head 90 degrees.

He carefully said, “Then, when you have ti, time, to the Se, Senoa Temple… le, let’s go together,” and left.

After the brave Acid left, I was left alone at the door.

Perhaps they had heard all of my conversation with Acid, the maids and Dad were staring intently at me.

‘This is embarrassing!’

The maids’ eyes were very dazed, and their lips were slightly open. That appearance was something…

‘The maids seem to be way too invested!’

Their attitude made me feel burdened, so I ran to Dad.

“Daddy, Acid did well, right? Isn’t he cool?”

Dad wrapped his arms around my waist, lifted me up, and stared at me. Dad’s clear eyes captivated my gaze.

“…Yes, he did well.”

“Hehe.”

“Our daughter did well too.”

Dad coaxed me gently.

I smiled brightly at Dad. Then, Dad quietly lowered his eyes as if he was speechless.

“Our daughter has already grown up so much.”

Here we go again.

Whenever I speak a little maturely, Dad’s eyes get teary like that.

I shrugged my shoulders and said as if it were nothing.

“Yup, I’m an adult!”

The conversation with Dad was roughly over…

‘More than that, the muscular maids are strange. They’ve looked like they’ve dislocated their jaws since earlier…’

No matter how I look at it, these maids glanced at Dad and seemed shocked.

It shouldn’t be surprising that my dad is sentimental, so why are they like that?

Is it a side effect of protein…?

‘Let’s only think about good things! Ted and Acid will meet, and Acid will also get a divine power test!’

Anyway, it was a really fortunate thing.

I held Dad’s big hand tightly with my small hand and thought.

My family and friends were gradually getting closer to happiness.

***

At the same time, inside the Senoa Temple.

As soon as the Mirmod family’s visit was announced, the temple atmosphere was turned upside down.

That’s because the temple and the Mirmod Duchy were in a state of complete opposition.

Not a splendid temple located in the center of the empire, but the Senoa Temple on the outskirts. It was also a unilateral visit appointment.

Of course, due to the temple’s characteristic of ’embracing all people,’ it could not be officially sanctioned.

“Sienne, why is that girl visiting the temple again?”

“I heard that Ted has a younger sibling. That sibling is currently a servant in the Mirmod family. I think it’s because of that child.”

Why, of all things…! Without noticing that Gabrielle’s face was distorted, the priest eagerly continued his words.

“She said that Ted’s sibling might also have divine power, so she requested a divine power test at the temple. The divine power test is the main reason, and she also wants to meet Ted before and after the test.”

A sibling is clearly a superficial reason, and that little devil Sienne Mirmod is definitely coming to steal Ted.

She’s probably going to harass Ted, using her villainous father as a front, and then take him out of the temple.

Of course, paladins didn’t necessarily have to be ennobled in the temple.

But just as caterpillars live on pine needles, shouldn’t those with divine power be primarily ennobled in the temple?

Indeed, Sienne Mirmod was clearly a demon who appeared to seduce Ted. Ted is clearly being seduced by that demon’s temptation!

‘How can I overcome this difficulty?’

Gabrielle swept back her hair and pondered. It was definitely an elegant movement befitting a saintess. But the thoughts she held in her heart were evil.

I will never show Ted to someone like you. Ted is a knight who will protect me.

I will never lose to a demon’s daughter like you.

I am a priestess full of divine power.

Gabrielle’s elegant face was distorted.

“I’m going to take Ted with me.”

“Yes? Lady Gabrielle, but…….”

“It’s my will.”

The girl who is deeply loved by the Pope, Gabrielle, was virtually the ruler of the Senoa Temple. No one could object to her words.

As expected, the young priest, who was twice as old as Gabrielle, stammered and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

“The Mirmod family also sent a message to Ted.”

“……To Ted too?”

“Yes. They said that Ted’s sibling will be coming, so please stay at the temple that day.”

Gabrielle’s eyes narrowed.

“Hmm, is that so?”

Gabrielle’s mind raced.

“Did Ted receive the message himself?”

“Ted is currently in fasting training, so he hasn’t heard the news yet.”

“Is that so?”

“It’s a good thing, that he found his sibling.”

What does that sibling matter?

Frankly speaking, even if he heard that his sibling was coming, he would think that protecting himself is more important.

But you never know.

Ted was a knight with a lot of affection. He might cherish Ted’s foolish commoner sibling a little.

But definitely not as much as he loves Gabrielle herself, whom he has cherished all along.

“Then hide it. Ted shouldn’t know that his sibling is coming.”

“……Yes?”

The clueless priest wore a bewildered expression.

Sienne Mirmod might threaten Ted with Ted’s foolish beggar sibling and covet him as her escort knight.

I had to prevent such a thing from happening.

But I don’t need to tell that to that priest.

Gabrielle rose to her feet.

“I don’t like the atmosphere getting messy for no reason. That day, I’m going to take Ted out of the temple all day.”

Those words were like a formal declaration of hostility towards Sienne Mirmod.