I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 122
At first, Lia tried to handle the situation amicably and peacefully. However, the more she thought about it, the more absurd and irritating it became. In the end, she couldn’t help but resort to sharp and blunt words.
‘What do they really think of me?’
Though she was young, did they really think she was too dumb to express her opinion properly?
Did they think she would just sit anywhere, stammering and unable to say a word, even in such an unreasonable situation?
If that was the case, she felt tempted to crack open their heads and check if they had brains.
How could anyone be so thoughtless to think like that?
“I’ll count to three exactly. If things are still the same by then, as Duke of Sithran, I’ll officially send a letter of protest to everyone. Also… it seems I’ll need to inquire with His Majesty about when the imperial nobility became such a mess. I’m beginning to wonder if some reform has taken place in the empire that I was unaware of.”
Each word was spoken clearly and deliberately, her icy voice carrying undeniable authority, making it impossible for her to be ignored simply because she was a child.
Standing still, Lia began counting. She said no more, but her actions alone were enough to warn and pressure the nobles.
The nobles cleared their throats awkwardly and adjusted themselves, creating space for Lia to sit among the other dukes.
Only then did Lia move, taking her seat with a faint smile. She muttered sarcastically,
“Oh my, I almost thought I’d gone senile at this age, seeing how boldly you all sat. What a relief, right? If I were senile at my age, there wouldn’t be anyone here who wasn’t.”
While the situation was resolved, she couldn’t entirely let it slide. Just because the problem had been fixed didn’t erase their childish behavior from moments earlier.
This was Lia’s way of getting back at them—a small act of rebellion against those who kept using her age as an excuse to belittle her.
Some nobles flinched at her words, clearly displeased, but they said nothing. They had realized she was not someone to be underestimated.
Trying to fight back with words could easily backfire and leave them embarrassed.
One duke, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, remarked with amusement,
“The late Duke of Sithran was fortunate to have such an exceptional granddaughter.”
He had no interest in joining the petty games of the other nobles, choosing to stay silent because he saw no need to intervene.
For a duke, one should claim their rights on their own. If not, the position was too much for them.
So, he simply observed, curious about how the young duke would handle the situation. Her response was bolder and more decisive than he had expected.
The duke found himself quite fond of her fearless and resolute personality.
Indeed, to lead a family—especially a duchy—one must possess such boldness and courage.
“Now, I’m not just my grandfather’s granddaughter but also the head of the duchy.”
Her words were respectful yet subtly pointed, addressing the underlying tone of the duke’s comment. This caused a flicker of admiration to return to his gaze.
“Oh dear, I’ve been rude. You’re a duke just like myself,”
His words had been meant as praise, not as an intentional slight. However, regardless of his intentions, speaking as though he were evaluating her qualifications was undeniably impolite. It was a mistake, and Lia’s sharp insight in addressing it only deepened the duke’s admiration.
With a gentle smile, Lia indicated that it was no big deal. Since the duke had already acknowledged his misstep, there was no need to dwell on it further. As a fellow duke, it was unwise for her to risk souring their relationship over this.
Shortly afterward, the remaining nobles arrived, followed by the emperor himself. As the emperor entered the chamber, all the nobles rose to pay their respects.
With this, the formal meeting commenced.
The meeting began with reports from each family, starting with the highest-ranking nobles. They provided updates on significant matters and events occurring within their respective territories.
Given the large number of nobles present, the reporting phase took a considerable amount of time. Once the reports concluded, the meeting moved on to discussing the main agenda items.
The emperor maintained a solemn expression as he listened attentively to the nobles’ proposals. Among the many topics presented, the emperor chose to prioritize the issue of demons.
This decision wasn’t unexpected; reports about unusual movements of these demons had been steadily coming in from multiple regions. It was a matter too significant to overlook.
Once the topic was selected, the nobles became animated, voicing their opinions passionately. As demons posed a direct threat to the empire’s safety, even those without special abilities were deeply invested in the discussion.
However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when one noble commented,
“Not only in our territory but in others as well, the frequency of attacks by demons has increased. This clearly indicates that those with special abilities are not fulfilling their duties.”
His words insinuated that the current rise in attacks was due to the negligence of ability-users. This sparked a palpable tension, particularly among the noble ability-users, who exchanged sharp glances.
This led to a heated confrontation between the ability-user nobles and the non-ability-user nobles.
“How dare you place the blame on us ability-users!”
“If not, then who else is responsible?”
The other countered provocatively, his gaze daring them to respond.
Another ability-user noble, unable to hold back, spoke up in disbelief.
“When the number of demons decreased, not once did anyone acknowledge our efforts or commend us. But now that the numbers are rising, you’re quick to claim it’s because we’re neglecting our duties?”
“Dealing with demons is your responsibility as ability-users! Why should we praise you for doing what you’re obligated to do?”
As if it were an unreasonable complaint, the nobleman rebutted.
The dismissive attitude ignited further resentment among the ability-users.
Though they had accepted their role in subduing demons, the lack of recognition and the constant discrimination they faced remained a source of deep frustration.
For the ability-users, their responsibilities often felt unfair.
They hadn’t chosen to be born with abilities, yet they were burdened with duties that others were exempt from.
Despite the recent improvement in how ability-users were treated, fundamental prejudices and biases still lingered.
“Just because it’s our duty doesn’t mean it’s not a sacrifice, we didn’t choose to be born this way, and yet we’re expected to shoulder these responsibilities alone. Do you think it’s fair?”
No one wanted to be an ability-user simply to endure danger and discrimination.
They were just as vulnerable to injury and death as anyone else.
However, the harsh remarks of the non-ability-users rekindled their suppressed grievances, inflaming tensions further.
The room grew increasingly hostile as both sides exchanged cold glares. Amidst the rising discord, Lia, who had been quietly observing, finally broke her silence with a calm yet commanding tone.
“As far as I know, the purpose of bringing up this issue is to resolve it, not to quarrel amongst ourselves,”
Lia’s calm voice cut through the tense atmosphere with remarkable impact.
“To solve a problem, we first need to identify the cause. I was merely trying to do that,”
“Well, to me, it sounded less like finding the cause and more like blaming someone,”
“Is it my fault if it sounded that way? The problem lies with the one who misunderstood—”
The noble began but abruptly fell silent. Before he could finish, a loud bang reverberated through the meeting room.
Lia had slammed her hand on the table, creating a resounding noise that stunned everyone. Despite the aggressive sound, she remained composed as if nothing had happened.
“I was under the impression that we gathered here for a meeting, but perhaps I was mistaken? If this is just an excuse to fight, why bother staying here? Why not head to the training grounds outside and settle things there?”
“That’s absurd—”
“Well, then it’s simple. The winner’s opinion will be the correct one. So go ahead—fight it out and come back when it’s settled,”
In the first place, if there’s no communication, how can they continue the meeting or do anything at all?
However, none of them seemed interested in truly listening to the other side.
It only seemed like they were trying to provoke a quarrel and place blame to bring someone down
