Fathers in All Times and Places [Part 2]
“Robert, explain yourself! What’s going on?! Why are the insects gone!”
Robert, who had returned early because class was canceled, was greeted by his father’s furious yell as soon as he got home.
While some parents decided to pick their children up by themselves after hearing that a disturbance of unprecedented scale had happened in the academy had worried them a lot, Robert’s father only sent a servant over to fetch his son. Then, after knowing that Robert had arrived at the mansion, he immediately called him over to his bedroom without caring about his son’s well being first.
Duke Lance scolded Robert with a voice so loud that there was no point in dismissing all the people in the hallway beforehand.
“I-Insect? W-what are you talking about, Father?”
Robert instantly knew that the Duke was referring to the disgusting insect he had thrown at Emma, but he decided to feign ignorance after seeing his father’s scary face.
“It’s the tailless whip scorpions kept in the innermost part of our mansion! That’s a valuable insect that the Royal Family has entrusted to House Lance!”
“Huh?! T-The Royal Family???”
What is my father saying…
There’s no way such a disgusting insect has anything to do with the Royal Family…
No, if it was really that precious in the first place, then you should’ve taken care of it well.
To lock it up in the deepest part of the garden and leave all the caretaking to the servants… Even the supervision of the keys was lax…
There’s no difference between having the insects here and not.
The food distribution, the insects too… My father is the one who should take responsibility for it all, isn’t he?!
“If the Royal Family discovers that the insects are gone, there will be no tomorrow for our House Lance, you know that?!”
Duke Lance threw the thick book in his hand, nearly hitting Robert’s face.
“…F-Father?! W-What does tha—?!”
“A servant saw you holding the key to the insect shed. I know full well that you’re just lying!”
The Duke looked like he wished he could swallow Robert whole. It was as if he was directing all his pent-up frustration and anger onto Robert.
“T-That servant… lied… U-Uwahh!”
Fed up with his son’s lies, the Duke flung a candlestick with its fire still lit. With the Duke aiming seriously at him this time, Robert needed to dodge, or his face would be burnt.
“I-It’s dangerous—! A-Ah, it’s burning, oh no!!!”
Robert, who had barely dodged the candlestick, desperately tried to put out the fire on the carpet so that it wouldn’t spread.
“This is not a mistake you can afford to pay with your life!”
While disheveling his always kempt hair, the Duke ordered Robert.
“Hurry and find them!!! The insects!!! The tailless whip scorpions!!! Get it back before the Royal Family finds out that we lost it!!! At worst, just bring back a pair! One male and one female!”
“You will not be allowed to enter the mansion until you bring the insects back!” The Duke gave an ultimatum.
After his father’s scolding was finally over, Robert was directly chased out of the mansion before he could even feel relieved.
The sky was already getting dark outside.
“W-Why do I have to suffer like this…?”
Even though Robert was still perplexed about how things had turned out, he started walking towards the school with heavy steps.
Although those insects are disgusting, they don’t have wings. With that many of them, I’m sure I can find them in no time after looking around the tree.
At that time, Robert, who was thinking optimistically, didn’t know…
…that every single one of those tailless whip scorpions had been taken home by Emma.
♠♠♠
“…Your Highness. Why are the knights still stationed at the academy?”
Prince Edward, who was evacuated to the royal castle and was relieved after being informed that Emma was safe, ordered several knights to stay behind at the academy even after the situation had settled.
“Arthur, I remember what Emma once said. That ‘the culprit’ will definitely return to the scene…”
“C-Culprit? Do you think that this incident was orchestrated by someone, and not a coincidence, Your Highness?”
Based on the report, the ladies who fainted, and the wounded ladies, fortunately, didn’t sustain any serious injuries, and the damage was minimal, considering the size of the accident.
However, nobody knows how much psychological trauma it caused.
Dropping that many insects on the quiet, lovely, and delicate Emma is absolutely unforgivable.
Didn’t the knight say that Emma’s legs gave out from the fear, and that she needed to be carried home by George?
I hope you won’t have any scary dreams.
I hope you will never feel sad.
I hope you will always stay healthy.
How frustrating.
But more than anything, I’m frustrated at myself, who couldn’t rush to her location immediately and take her hand.
Even though I just want to protect that smile with my own two hands…
Just who was the ‘culprit’ who put Emma in danger?
I will never forgive that person.
Thinking back on his powerlessness during the incident, Prince Edward resolved himself.
♠♠♠
At that moment…
“Kyaa~ Do it again, Koumei-san! Do that ‘Line up~’ thing again!”
“Meoww!”
*fwwshhhhh…*
“Kyaa~ How cute~!!!”
Today, Emma’s smile bloomed in full power like never before.
♠♠♠
Author’s words: I tried to emphasize the difference between Robert’s father and Leonard, but… how should I put this? It’s like the Prince has both…
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