I’Ll Protect My Tyrant Dad! [EN]: Chapter 139

139. Side Story 3: Sien and Acid’s Chaotic Engagement Ceremony (2)

2024.03.29.

I hugged each of the aunties tightly, feeling a warm sensation, like returning to my hometown.

The greetings of reunion ended with light hugs.

One of the aunties looked at Dad and Acid, who came in behind me, and said,

“Oh, Marty’s here too, and that young man who’s Sien’s subordinate is here again!”

I was taken aback and widened my eyes in surprise.

‘……What, did he introduce Acid as my subordinate?!’

I glanced at Dad, who was avoiding my gaze, and then said seriously,

“Acid isn’t my subordinate; he’s my boyfriend!”

The aunties, no, the grandmothers, widened their eyes at the same time.

“Huh?”

“What, what did you say?”

“The baby has a boyfriend? At five years old?”

‘……Five years old, it’s not that much!’

I was flustered and laughed awkwardly, haha.

But the atmosphere of the aunties was, in a word, very serious.

‘What should I do with this eventful situation?’

Literally, there were aunties who flipped over. There were aunties who collapsed on the floor…….

Even the aunties who seemed to barely maintain their sanity had expressions as if this world had turned upside down.

But I couldn’t just leave Acid as my subordinate.

When they calmed down, I said once more firmly.

“I’ll say it again. He’s not my subordinate, he’s my boyfriend! And we’ll get married too, um, if I get Dad’s permission.”

“Oh my, that little bean is already getting married!”

“Marriage is the tomb of life, honey!”

“But I’m an adult now, too. Right, Acid?”

“You have to be careful in verifying your husband!”

“Of course!”

At the words ‘husband verification,’ I instinctively looked towards Dad.

Dad……. seemed uncomfortable with the situation where I had to introduce Acid as my boyfriend. But he didn’t step forward to deny it like before.

‘As expected, my dad is inherently cute.’

I just thought that Dad’s appearance was good to see.

In the end, Acid seemed to have become quite a precious person to Dad.

At that time, a sentence that could touch Dad’s uncomfortable mood came out.

“Marri… that will be in the very, very distant future.”

……Marriage talk also seems very uncomfortable.

For Dad to say ‘marry in the distant future’.

I smiled with satisfaction.

It seemed that Acid had charmed Dad very well.

I chuckled and plopped down in the middle of the village hall.

“Let’s eat something delicious!”

It felt like I had returned to my hometown in triumph.

“I’ll pay today!”

I shouted, taking out the pouch that was dangling inside the practical dress I was wearing today.

“Choose whatever you want to eat! I’ll buy it all!”

***

The boisterous meeting in the rural village came to an end.

The aunties still adored me and felt happy talking to me.

After promising to come to the rural village at least once a year from now on, I took Acid and Dad’s hands and left the village.

And on the way back to Mirmord Mansion.

Dad called me to the drawing room, leaving Acid behind.

‘Is he going to talk about what happened today? Or about the trip with Acid?’

I couldn’t grasp Dad’s mind; it was elusive.

I sat facing Dad in the drawing room with a slightly nervous feeling.

Dad made me a cup of black tea and said,

“Drink, it’s warm.”

“Okay.”

As I was drinking the warm tea, Dad pressed his eyes as if he was tired.

‘Dad’s acting strangely, so I’m a little uneasy?’

Still, I stared at Dad.

In any case, this kind of anxiety wasn’t good.

Especially in front of someone with animal-like senses like Dad, it was difficult to show that I was nervous.

Because then Dad would see that I was nervous and get more nervous and stressed.

I tried to straighten my shoulders and sat up straight, then looked at Dad.

“Did you call me because you have something to say?”

“Yes, Dad thought about it while traveling with Acid.”

As a person who prefers to get straight to the point, Dad didn’t seem to have any intention of beating around the bush.

I made a comfortable expression, drank the black tea, and said,

“Okay, what did you think about?”

“Acid and Sien’s that.”

“If that’s marriage.”

“……Yes, that marri… that.”

I chuckled and nodded.

“So, what about that?”

“Acid, he didn’t meet all ten thousand conditions.”

I gave strength to the hand holding the teacup and gently rebuked.

“……Did you even present ten thousand conditions in the first place?”

“I haven’t done it all yet. About one hundred and fifty or so.”

“……There’s a long way to go.”

“That’s right. There are still things like enduring for 10 hours inside the fire.”

“……Then Acid will die, Dad.”

Dad wasn’t really trying to kill Acid, was he?

The moment a slight chill ran down my spine, Dad smiled kindly.

“Yes, it’s all a joke.”

‘I can’t believe it when Dad says it’s a joke…….’

Still, I decided to play along with Dad’s joke appropriately.

“Yes, that’s a joke?”

“Acid, he seems like a good kid.”

Dad whispered, looking at me with a serious gaze.

“Dad has made a decision. Let’s have an engagement ceremony.”

“…….”

Dad’s attitude was more lenient than I thought.

But, in fact, it was something I had anticipated when I met Dad’s gaze towards Acid in the rural village.

‘Dad, his eyes looking at Acid have become a little warmer.’

I don’t know what happened on the trip they spent together when I wasn’t there…….

Dad seemed to have opened his heart wide to Acid.

He looked at me and said firmly.

“Instead, keep this in mind. This condition is clear. Acid is going to be a son-in-law of our family.”

“Okay…….”

I nodded.

Maybe if Acid was here…….

‘I understand. I will steadily assist Sien-nim, who will become the head of the Mirmord family.’ He would say something like this.

I thought, touching my forehead.

‘Anyway, those two really suit each other.’

I shook my head inwardly and soon said kindly.

“Okay, I understand. Maybe Dad and Acid will look more like a family than me and Dad.”

‘To be exact, in terms of being a fool for me.’

But Dad seemed to have misinterpreted my words.

Dad widened his eyes and said.

“What are you talking about! Sien is Dad’s only family!”

“……There is such a thing.”

Something that the current Dad would never understand.

But I felt a sense of peace in one corner of my heart.

I had received permission for the engagement from Dad, and I was also able to give him a new meaning in life other than me.

Certainly, I gradually felt better.

***

The Mirmord family wanted to announce the news of my engagement, the daughter of the Duke and head of the family, in a big way.

The entire capital began to stir with the news of my engagement.

As the story about Acid became a hot topic in the capital every day, his childhood, his brother Ted, and his lineage naturally began to be re-examined.

‘Acid, will he be okay?’

Moreover, there was one more thing to worry about.

Just as Acid had done to our Dad, I also had to get permission from Ted, his only family, for my marriage to Acid.

“You know, Acid.”

“……Yes.”

“I have to get permission from Ted, right? For our marriage, I mean.”

Acid exclaimed briefly.

“Rather than permission, it’s just about seeking understanding.”

“But you got permission from our Dad.”

Acid made a face as if that was natural.

I couldn’t know his psychology exactly…….

“……First of all, I think I have to get permission from Ted for my marriage with you.”

***

I decided to meet Ted right away, saying that you should strike while the iron is hot.

I sent him a card saying that he should come to the rose garden when he had time.

As soon as Ted heard my request, he seemed to prioritize his appointment with me and rushed to the rose garden.

As soon as I finished setting up a light table in the rose garden, Ted approached from afar.

As a paladin who originally lived an ascetic life, he was approaching with a bewildered expression, as if this splendid garden was somewhat awkward.

“The rose garden seems to be decorated more splendidly than usual.”

“Yes, there’s something important.”

I smiled and gestured to him.

“Sit down, Ted.”

He sat facing me and whispered softly.

“It’s romantic.”

“Because today is an important day.”

At my words, Ted chuckled and said.

“Yes, I think I know how important today is.”

“Okay?”

He stared at me as if he was guessing something.

I smiled, raising a cup of rose-scented black tea.

Then Ted immediately brought up the main point.

“I heard that you are planning to have an engagement ceremony with my brother.”

“……Yes, Ted.”

Hiding my nervous expression, I put the tea in my mouth.

‘Was Acid this nervous too?’

Asking the other person’s family for permission as a future spouse seemed to be more nerve-wracking than I thought.

Ted, who was looking at me quietly, opened his mouth.

“I don’t mind.”

It was a simple answer.

He continued.

“Of course, I’m worried when I think about the thorny path that I have to face as Mirmord’s son-in-law. But in the end, all of that is Acid’s responsibility.”

“Ah…….”

“I’m just cheering for my brother’s path. As a family.”

Ted was definitely an adult.

I nodded vigorously, looking into his abyss-like eyes.

“Yes! And, Ted.”

“Yes.”

“Are you okay?”

Ted opened his mouth while looking at me.

“I’ll ask you just one last thing.”

At the last comment that seemed somehow tragic, I involuntarily straightened my back and said nervously.

“Yes, ask me anything.”

Ted paused briefly and then opened his mouth again with great vigor.

“The flowers set on this table, were you going to give them to me?”

Even with the playful final comment, it was like Ted.

I smiled shyly and nodded.

“Yes, these flowers are for Ted.”

“I will gratefully accept these flowers. And…….”

Ted glanced behind me and smiled.

“It seems that Acid was worried and followed you.”

From outside the rose garden, Acid was standing.

I smiled, looking at Acid, who was staring at me beyond the roses.

“Yes, that’s right.”

At that time, Acid came up and whispered.

“You received flowers from Sien-nim.”

Ah, that expression was clear jealousy.

I was embarrassed by the sight of him being jealous of his own brother.

‘Oh, did I create discord between the brothers?’

……Even so, it couldn’t be helped.

I smiled and shook Acid’s sleeve.

“I got permission.”

At my words that ‘I got permission for the engagement and marriage from Ted,’ Acid smiled brightly, erasing the jealousy from his face.

“……Yes, I knew you would, because it’s Sien-nim.”