The Credentials of a Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 179

“This is something you didn’t need to go to such lengths for.”

“No. I prefer not to leave any room for doubt.”

I firmly held out the document. Though this would ensure Meriel couldn’t inherit any of Pierne’s property, considering the child’s future, this was the better path.

After all, the main reason the Pierne people distrusted Meriel was that once she was formally adopted as Calix’s heir, she would gain inheritance rights over Pierne. Though renouncing those rights wouldn’t entirely erase their psychological resentment, it would at least ease it somewhat.

“I swear this: neither Pierne, nor Crayton, nor any name will ever belong to my daughter.”

If my own inheritance rights weren’t restored, Meriel’s claim would naturally become meaningless. Once Bake was captured and faced justice for his crimes, he would inevitably lose his title over Crayton.

Thus, Meriel would end up with no inheritance rights from either parent.

“But even if that’s true for Pierne, Crayton is….”

“There are things in this world you simply cannot deny, no matter how much you wish to. I’ve come to accept that.”

“……”

“There’s nothing else for it. No matter what I do, my daughter will inevitably carry the lifelong stigma of being the traitor’s child.”

I kept searching for the best possible solution but ultimately found no answer. Unless we abandoned the Empire and lived in hiding forever, it was impossible to completely erase Bake’s mark from Meriel. I had no choice but to accept it, however unwillingly.

But that was exactly where I drew the line. Meriel and Bake were different. Just because they shared blood didn’t mean they had to follow the same path. The child still had countless hopes ahead.

“This isn’t an ideal situation. Thinking of the child’s future feels utterly bleak. Yet even so, I’m grateful she’s alive—truly grateful, always.”

Watching his trembling eyes through his wrinkled lids, I clasped my hands together as if in prayer. My pride had long been discarded. What I needed now wasn’t useless pride, but compassion for my child.

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