I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 18
Despite saying nothing and just staring quietly, an overwhelming pressure could be felt, causing the intruders to involuntarily swallow their saliva.
Due to past incidents and accumulated stress, tension naturally built up in his body.
However, he couldn’t withdraw like this.
“Don’t we still have something to resolve between us?”
Pretending not to know Cassian’s presence, one of the intruders spoke.
Yet, the slightly trembling pupils and the gaze that kept involuntarily turning towards Cassian revealed his high level of tension.
“You should speak straight. It’s not between us but my business.”
The reason these annoying intruders came to him was painfully obvious.
Probably because of the guardian issue.
Yesterday, I’ve officially went to the emperor, obtained approval, and Cassian became my guardian. However, they still don’t know about this fact.
“Deciding a guardian is not only a matter for the young lady. As it is related to the survival of the family, it is also our affair.”
Outwardly pretending to be more concerned about the family than anyone else, one of the intruders said.
However, to Lia, who knew their true intentions better than anyone, those words were nothing but amusing.
Therefore, she didn’t respond.
Choosing to ignore rather than continuing the troublesome confrontation.
Despite sensing Lia’s disregard, the intruders did not retreat.
From the intruders’ perspective, Lia was not the successor to the duke but merely a child.
Someone they could easily manipulate if they wished.
“If choosing a guardian among us is difficult, we have someone in mind. What about appointing one of them as the guardian?”
As if making a considerable concession, one of the intruders said with a forced sympathetic expression.
“No, there’s no need for that.”
“Young lady, merely delaying time won’t solve matters. We need to decide on a guardian as soon as possible to strengthen the family’s position, don’t you think?”
As if expressing frustration at not understanding that, one of the intruders wore a vexed expression.
Lia’s gaze turned cold at that sight.
It didn’t make her feel good to talk about that topic like that, when all Lia could think about was how it would consume her family.
Cassian, sensing Lia’s state of mind, exuded a subtly fierce aura.
It was as if he would willingly dispose of these people before him at any moment if she gave the signal.
Having grasped this, Lia silently signaled Cassian to stay calm.
Before Cassian could take any action, she hastily spoke.
“I’ve already chosen a guardian.”
“… You have chose a guardian?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you inform us of such an important decision beforehand?”
Lia’s unilateral decision on the guardian without a word of consultation displeased the intruders.
“That’s why I’m telling you now.”
Someone other than the one speaking until now exclaimed indignantly.
“This is not the time for that! How could you arbitrarily decide such an important matter!”
“Choosing a guardian is my responsibility. You are mere nobles from another province; you have no right to interfere.”
“But young lady is still a child and needs the care of adults.”
“Before that, I am the sole successor to the Duchy of Sithran.”
“Young lady…!”
As if angered by Lia’s unyielding attitude, the intruder’s voice grew louder.
Along with it, Cassian’s aura, exuding fierceness, intensified.
The intruders, who had momentarily raised their voices, flinched.
Merely his presence created tension, but now, with the added intensity, ignoring him became impossible.
“First… wouldn’t it be better for us to discuss this matter privately without outsiders present?”
With Cassian present, the intruder cautiously spoke, sensing that a proper conversation might not conclude.
“No, Khal has every right to intervene in this matter.”
“What do you mean?”
The intruder, feeling unease in Lia’s words, had wavering eyes.
“Oh, come to think of it, I haven’t formally introduced him yet. Say hello, Khal, my newly appointed guardian.”
Despite sensing the intruders’ disquiet, Lia casually introduced Cassian.
As if indifferent to whatever reaction they might have.
“Young lady…! Choosing an unknown person as a guardian, even if we don’t like it!”
As if absolutely unacceptable, the intruders vehemently protested.
“Well, I wondered if you were so audacious as to come to the Duchy of Sithran without knowing. That I dislike you nobles.”
Now, with no intention of hiding her feelings towards them, Lia responded confidently.
“Young lady, the matter of choosing a guardian is not something that can be decided so easily.”
“Who says it’s easy? I decided it easily. As I mentioned earlier, deciding who will be my guardian is my responsibility. It’s not a matter for you to dictate.”
“I’m speaking with concern for young lady and the family.”
“I’ll take care of the family concerns, and my worry… my guardian, Khal, will handle it well.”
“Indeed, our angel baby speaks well and is clever. Yes, the little angel is right. I’ll handle Lia’s worries, so you all can step aside.”
Perhaps feeling pleased with Lia’s words, Cassian confidently spoke with a strangely gentle expression.
However, the fierce aura towards the intruders remained unchanged.
“We cannot accept this decision.”
“I am not obligated to follow your words.”
The intruders’ opinions were not crucial in choosing a guardian.
With the Emperor’s approval already secured, their opposition now wouldn’t make a difference.
“Young lady…! This is not so simple…”
“Lia, from what I see, their hearing doesn’t seem good. Even if our angel baby kindly explains, they won’t understand. It seems there are also issues with their tongues. So why not get rid of them altogether since they’re not in good shape anyway? I’d be more than willing to help with that.”
If Lia nodded, it seemed Cassian was ready to promptly deal with the ears and tongues of the individuals before him with his fierce aura.
“No matter if he’s a guardian, he can’t treat us like this! And, and he hasn’t officially become a guardian….”
Despite trembling with fear, the intruders did not back down.
“No, since I’ve received His Majesty’s approval, Khal is officially my guardian.”
“What…?”
To the intruders who found it hard to believe, Lia confidently showed the Emperor’s decree.
The letter clearly stated Khal’s appointment as the guardian of the Sithran Duchy’s heir.
“Th-this is absurd…”
The intruders’ eyes shook, as if unable to comprehend the Emperor’s decision to appoint someone they didn’t know as Lia’s guardian.
However, since they had already received the Emperor’s approval, there was nothing they could do.
Yet, they couldn’t simply withdraw at this point.
“We will formally send a letter of protest to His Majesty. The author lacks the qualifications as a guardian. Isn’t he attempting to solve everything through violence even now? How can such a violent person become the guardian of the Sithran Duchy?”
The trembling intruder spoke quickly, maintaining a determined expression.
“Oh, come to think of it, dealing with ears and tongues might not be enough. I should handle these hands to prevent any unnecessary actions.”
With those words, Cassian approached the nobles, breaking their hands without hesitation, despite any objections from Lia.
His movements were so swift that they couldn’t even follow with their eyes.
The belated pain made the intruders aware of the current situation.
“If you have something to say, go ahead. Since there are many things hanging on this ragged body, removing each one might be amusing.”
Cassian exuded a much more ruthless and violent aura than before.
Just from that aura alone, it felt like their entire bodies were being violently torn apart.
Faced with Cassian’s warning, the intruders couldn’t utter a word.
“I’ll give you one last chance. If you clean up that disgusting mess now, we’ll end it here. If not…”
Cassian didn’t bother to finish his sentence.
He knew that leaving it to the imagination of the other party could be even more terrifying.
Shuddering at his words, the intruders hastily opened the door and left, seemingly acknowledging their inevitable fate.
“Sigh….”
After driving out the intruders, Lia sighed with a conflicted expression.
While she was grateful to Cassian for resolving the conflict swiftly, the process was unpleasant.
Now, Cassian might seem intimidating enough for them to retreat, but they wouldn’t give up so easily.
Especially with the events from before and today providing them with continuous reasons to question Cassian’s qualification as a guardian.
Revealing Cassian’s true identity would easily solve the issue, but since concealing it was a condition, that wasn’t an option.
‘In the end, cleaning up the aftermath falls on me.’
Already burdened with numerous responsibilities, Cassian added another task to his plate.
“You don’t need to worry. No matter what they try, I won’t be stripped of my guardian status.”
Even if they send a letter of protest to the Emperor, he wouldn’t entertain the idea of revoking Cassian’s status.
Given the Emperor’s personality, he would likely internally dismiss the nobles’ complaints, pretending not to have seen their letters and cleverly ignoring them.
From the Emperor’s perspective, siding with obviously deceitful nobles against the Grand Duke was disadvantageous. It was more beneficial to ignore their demands.
Considering Cassian’s unpredictable nature, there was no telling how he would react if the Emperor entertained the nobles’ demands.
Regardless of his true nature, Cassian, as the Grand Duke, held significant importance in the Empire.
Even the Emperor couldn’t help but pay attention to Cassian’s actions.
“Of course. I won’t let it happen.”
As Lia spoke, her demeanor overflowed with confidence.
She exuded a firmness and charisma, reminiscent of the Sithran Duchy’s former Duke.
It was as if she believed in her abilities more than anyone else.
