How to Protect My Sub Male Lead Dad

Mana stones were extremely expensive.

In other words, 2 years’ worth of mana stones for heating were very costly.

‘But maintaining the temperature for the storage device requires 10 years’ worth, which summed up to an astronomical cost.’

Because of this, no one attempted storing it and hardly other methods were known.

‘Even the Duke of Moltke didn’t actually try this. Selling the stored berries to secret customers was just a smokescreen.’

He went to Paro without suspicion, using the stored fruits as a fantastic cover to explain his immense wealth.

In reality, he imported only a moderate amount and sold it quickly, while his real profit came from iron ore mining.

“It can’t be true. Even if it were true, why would my husband lie to me?”

Though the Duchess said that but her thoughts were quivering.

‘It’s unrealistic to believe everything a child says.’

I needed to give her more hints.

“But Uncle Sandy and Aunt Judy sold the Eastern book to an antique shop.”

Duchess Moltke’s eyes sharpened.

If she checks that book, she will discover the truth.

‘Fortunately, books written in the Eastern Continent language are not popular, especially on the topic of Morning Glory Berries. It gathered dust for ten years before my mum bought it. It’s probably still in the bookstore.’

“Where did they sell that book? What’s the title?”

I told her the name of the bookstore and the book.

The Duchess of Moltke wrote them down, looking anxious.

Now it’s time to drive the wedge in.

I pointed my finger at Mount Paro on the map like a curious child.

“But why is the Duke so fond of this mountain, that he stops here on his way to the harbour? Is he hiding some treasure?”

Hearing my words, Duchess Moltke’s eyes turned sinister.

“Yes… Mount Paro. Something must be there.”

The Duchess of Moltke was the type to take the bait.

“Is he cheating on me? Hiding a woman in the God damned Paro mountains! That’s why he visited that booger like hill!”

‘I thought you said it was a tranquil, beautiful mountain…?’

Of course, the bait doesn’t always work exactly as I intend.

‘He’s hiding something even more dangerous.’

Duchess Moltke quickly finished the lesson.

Then, without saying goodbye to Hart, she bolted.

Now, all that was left was to wait for her reaction.

 

* * *

 

“Aren’t you going to study?”

I grabbed Melanie’s sleeve and swayed it back and forth, playfully.

The clear drool marks showed Hanelope had been dozing off.

“Study? What study?”

“Studying with the Princess!”

Upon hearing that, Melanie burst into laughter.

“Will she come again? You fall asleep every time you have a lesson with her. Last time, the Duchess couldn’t stand it and stormed out, remember?”

Melanie cupped my cheeks and pinched them.

My chubby cheeks wobbled. From a distance, it might seem cute, but…

“T-That hurts! Stop!”

This was bullying.

I shoved her away, Mrs. Melanie frowned.

“How dare you be rude to an adult!”

It was plain victim blaming.

‘If this continues, she might raise her hand.’

I felt a sense of impending doom. I couldn’t be sure if it would actually happen, but Melanie, who had been tormenting me relentlessly, was becoming more and more aggressive.

“You’re really useless.”

“Am I useless?”

I asked, looking hurt and sobbing.

Lady Melanie gave me a condescending glance.

“Yes! You didn’t even do the job you were supposed to do the other day, asking the Prince to meet the Saint. I ended up getting criticized as she had to leave without the Prince.”

Her expression became venomous, as if recalling that anger from back then.

“She would’ve paid off my gambling debts, if I could get that done.”

“Gambling? Mrs. Melanie, do you gamble?”

Mrs. Melanie was startled.

It seemed she couldn’t believe that I, who always pretended to be clueless, was the one who spoke.

“Gambling is terrible. If people find out, Lady Melanie won’t be able to work with nobles any more.”

“Hush! Be quiet! What does a child know….!”

Lady Melanie quickly clamped her hand over my mouth.

“Hurk! Umph!”

“You clever little thing, when did you learn to eavesdrop!”

I didn’t eavesdrop, you let your guard down and spoke carelessly!

“If you go around saying such things, I won’t stay quiet. You should know that, even the Duchess of Moltke has abandoned you. Ugh!“

Mrs. Melanie screamed and fell to the ground.

I bit down on her finger that was clamped over her mouth.

“Mrs. Melanie, you’re a bad person. You were trying to suffocate me.”

“Th-This..!”

Mrs. Melanie glared at me with a stern face. But she soon sensed something was wrong.

I, who would normally have cowered in fear, was looking straight at her without the slightest bit of trepidation.

Moreover…

“Ah, I see it! Mrs. Melanie, that’s why you wanted to request my dad, if so, the Saint would pay off your debt!”

Mrs. Melanie’s face went white.

“Is that why you wanted me to go and tell Dad to meet the Saint. Were you trying to use me against my dad?”

“Young Lady, please stop spouting nonsense….!”

“But I don’t want to meet the Saint anymore. I won’t even ask her to come home when she returns!”

It was a stern warning that I would not co-operate in future.

Mrs. Melanie’s face contorted.

“What is this absurd….!”

She slowly approached me, her face was terrifying.

‘Am I going to be hit?’

I wouldn’t stand for it.

I pursed my lips and turned to face the approaching Mrs. Melanie.

Just then that I heard a knock on the door.

“My Lady, it’s me, Sherry. I’m here to see you because you haven’t come to the study.”

Mrs. Melanie stepped back nervously.

“She won’t be going today!”

Mrs. Melanie, who had opened the door only a crack, hissed through the gap.

Sherry’s panicked voice came through.

“Yes? But today was her lessons scheduled.”

“Think for a moment, will the Duchess come?”

“The Duchess is…..”

“The Young Lady is sleeping,  so don’t bother her!”

“Miss is sleeping? That can’t be right, she was really looking forward to this lesson….”

BANG!

Mrs. Melanie slammed the door shut.

Trying to run to Sherry, I lost my timing and slammed into the door, and ended up hurting my tail bone.

“I want to see Sherry. Open the door!”

“Why aren’t you listening to me today, of all days?”

Mrs. Melanie grabbed my wrist and hauled me into the room. The tightly gripped wrist and the scraped ankle on the floor caused a sharp pain, and tears welled up. She forcefully sat me on the sofa and extended a glass bottle.

“I’m going to give you your favourite juice as a present, just stay still.”

Sure enough, it was the juice laced with sleeping pills.

I unscrewed the lid of the bottle and spilled it all over the floor.

The sleeping pill mixed juice soaked the carpet.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m not drinking it, it makes me sleepy.”

“What….?”

“You put sleeping pills in the juice, didn’t you?”

I asked sharply.

Mrs. Melanie couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

“How did you….”

She blurted out.

Surprised by Hanelope’s behaviour, Melanie looked away.

“I told you, it’s only because the Young Lady is lazy!”, she said.

“Then do you mind if I gift this juice to the Princess?”

“Wh-What are you saying? Why would you give something you gave to the Young Lady to someone else? Absolutely not!”

“What to do? I already gave it to the Princess.”

Mrs. Melanie shouted in disbelief.

“What are you talking about? You’re lying, aren’t you?”

“It’s true. I’m sure the Princess slept soundly after drinking this.”

One by one, bewilderment, then fear, then anger flashed across Mrs. Melanie’s face.

“Why would you do that!”

Mrs. Melanie’s hand, which had been raised, came down abruptly.

Then she quickly took out another glass bottle.

“Stop talking and drink it now. I need to gather my thoughts!”

“No! I said I don’t want to drink it!”

Mrs. Melanie pressed her hand against my resisting cheek and forcibly opened my mouth.

“Ah… no…!”

“Just stop whining!”

Sweet sleeping pill laced juice poured out between my lips.

I screamed in horror and spat it out.

“Are you really…!”

That was when Mrs. Melanie shoved me away.

Behind her back, the door slammed open.

Who had opened the door?

I couldn’t see it, as the door was hidden by Mrs Melanie’s body.

‘Whoever it is, please help me!’

“Ah, Miss!”

It was Sherry, my saviour.

She rushed in and scooped me up in her arms.

Mrs. Melanie stiffened for a moment, then burst into laughter in relief.

“Sherry! Let’s see, what brought you back here… aack!”

That’s when someone grabbed Melanie by the hair, roughly.

It was the Duchess Moltke, who held Mrs. Melanie’s hair tightly behind her, bending her back.

“How dare the insolent thing lay hands on my grand-niece?”

“Ah, Ahh! Your Grace! I-It’s a misunderstanding, I mean no such thing……!”

“Shut up! I never gave you permission to make excuses.”

Duchess Moltke threw Lady Melanie to the floor.

Even as she fell to the ground in pain, Melanie could only tremble in fear.

Duchess Moltke stared at her like a bug.

“The nanny wouldn’t send Hanelope to her study, so I came here myself. I can’t believe you’ve been doing this all along.”

Duchess Moltke picked up a glass bottle from the floor.

Smelling it, she frowned.

“The Princess wanted to share the precious gift that her nanny gave. So I drank it, but when I woke up, I was in bed. The butler said I didn’t wake up as if I had died, while sleeping in the carriage. It was suspicious, so I investigated this juice and found a huge amount of sleeping pills in it.”

The Duchess of Moltke strode stiffly towards Lady Melanie.

Lady Melanie crouched down, shaking.

“Why did you give the Prince’s daughter sleeping pills? Did you have a death wish?”

“D-Duchess, I-I was ….”

“Haah.. I’m not certainly asking for an excuse again. I’m just confirming your sins.”

“What do you mean?”

Just then, I heard a chilling low voice through the half-open door.

My heart skipped a beat as soon as I heard the voice.

My mouth moved first.

“Dad!”

Hart, who had walked into the room swiftly, flinched at the sound of my voice.

He turned his head to see me clutching Sherry, tears streaming down my face.

Soon, his face turned cold.

“Looks like Mrs. Melanie is up to something funny.”