I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 125
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#.125
“Ha. Haha. It was tough because of the hot weather, but thanks to you it’s gotten cooler.”
Marius spoke while gauging my reaction.
He was exactly like those dads who ignore their children’s education their whole lives, then start being clingy once the kids are all grown up.
Actually, Marius was very interested in my education and was a good brother-in-law who played with me every day.
However, at the same time, he was also the worst brother-in-law because he had committed a very fatal mistake by deceiving me. So.
“Get lost!”
Bang!
I closed the window and carefully drew the curtains.
“Li, Lilliana.”
The flustered Marius called out to me, but I pretended not to hear.
“Hmph!”
Through the shadow beyond the window, I could see Marius walking away.
‘Am I being too harsh? His arms were covered in blood because of me.’
The large hands and embrace that protected me are still vivid in my memory.
“It’s dangerous, so stay behind me.”
“You must never leave my side.”
I resent Marius, but I can’t completely hate him.
I slightly opened the curtain to check outside. Marius’s drooping shoulders and noticeably thinner back bothered me.
“He’s really mean. Why is he so skinny?”
When will he remove those bandages wrapped around his arms?
Are the wounds very serious?
The adults only say it’s a wound that will heal with time, so I can’t really gauge it.
“What are you doing there?”
Just then, Edgar returned carrying lots of food.
I rushed over and grabbed his shoulders, shaking them.
“Edgar!”
“Huh, what? Why!”
“About big brother-in-law. Is he really okay?”
“He, he was badly hurt. At first he had a high fever and was struggling.”
“Huh. Then he was seriously injured!”
No wonder he looked pitiful just from his back view!
As I grabbed both my cheeks, not knowing what to do, Edgar tilted his head.
“Are you going to make up?”
“No way! I’ll never make up with him. Don’t you tell me to make up either.”
“I won’t. Is this the first or second time you two have fought?”
Edgar shook his head as if fed up.
Chris, who used to cry at the drop of a hat when we first met, doesn’t care at all when Edgar and I fight, thinking we’ll make up again anyway.
That’s because we fight and make up constantly.
Edgar is the same way.
Marius and I have repeated the cycle of teasing, sulking, apologizing, and making up every day for the past few years.
“Marius has gotten well enough to say weird things like usual. Yesterday he asked me who I like better between him and Leo. He’s so childish I can’t tell who’s the older brother and who’s the younger one.”
“He must have been in a lot of pain because of me, right? I keep getting soft-hearted. He got hurt trying to protect me. Even though big brother-in-law did wrong to me…”
It’s true that he cherished me like a real younger sister.
Whatever our beginning was like, all the time we’ve built together wasn’t entirely false.
My chest felt stuffy and uncomfortable, making my legs tremble.
Edgar told me to calm down and shoved chocolate into my mouth.
“Then let’s go spy on him.”
“Spy?”
“You don’t want to meet him directly. So let’s secretly observe him and then think about it again.”
“That’s a good idea!”
And so the Marius surveillance team was formed. Of course, I was the leader.
* * *
We stealthily made our way to the office, keeping our footsteps as quiet as possible to spy on Marius.
Perhaps because of Razas’s attack, there was tension lingering everywhere we went.
‘Who would have known the Demon King would appear in the Imperial Palace.’
I was also very scared after meeting Rebecca, no, Razas impersonating Rebecca.
But I won’t cower just because I’m afraid. The one who gets scared first always loses. I may not know about other things, but I absolutely won’t lose to Razas.
“Ah. There’s my brother.”
Marius was talking with Francois in the garden in front of the office.
We hid among the bushes and crawled closer, narrowing the distance.
“When the delegation came, I prepared an excuse for you to go over there. Officially, it’s to learn Trowance’s sect detection techniques, so handle it well.”
“You did that for me?”
Francois stared at Marius persistently, as if suspicious of him.
When working, Marius had a cold and dry expression like now.
He always has a smiling face in front of us, but I know well since I occasionally peek into the conference room or sneak into his office to play pranks.
“When the Razas problem started erupting, the person I was most worried about was none other than you. No matter how much insurance you have, once it explodes it becomes an uncontrollable bomb, so it’s better to stay somewhere far from the front lines.”
“…”
“Your pride seems hurt.”
“I’d need to have pride for it to be hurt.”
“Go, and don’t cause trouble for your little sister-in-law.”
I came to spy on Marius, but thanks to their conversation, I was reminded that I’m going back to Trowance.
I had been so out of it that I had completely forgotten.
‘Francois is going to Trowance too? Why?’
More than that, since he had his body taken by the Demon King, are there no side effects or strange symptoms?
My youngest sister said he’s fine, but…
“Right. Thanks.”
“Then I’ll be going. We’re not on terms to be facing each other so amicably.”
Francois gave a light greeting and walked away.
“Edgar. Stay here and watch big brother-in-law. I’ll go to uncle and come back.”
“What? Hey, hey! Lilliana!”
I left Edgar behind and diligently chased after Francois.
As soon as I left Marius’ residence, I called out to him.
“Uncle!”
Francois stopped walking. He stiffly turned around and looked at me.
“Lilliana? Are, are you okay?”
He hurriedly approached and checked my condition first.
“No more fever? What about eating? Is digestion going well? If your ears are still stuffy or walking is difficult, tell me.”
“I’m fine now. I sealed my ability again.”
I’m fine, but Francois doesn’t look fine.
Through his thin summer clothes, I could see his shoulder wrapped in bandages.
“What about uncle? The Demon King is still inside, right?”
“Yeah. I’m looking for a solution.”
If there had been such a method, he wouldn’t have ended up like that before my regression.
“Mm-hmm. Right.”
Both Marius and Francois don’t know what to do in front of me.
This was natural and I had wanted this kind of attitude too, but when I actually faced it, everything felt uncomfortable.
Not being able to like him like an uncle as before, and his flustered attitude toward me. So I kept wanting to get along well like in the past.
“Even if you make such a pitiful face, I won’t help you, Uncle.”
I clenched my fists tight, afraid my heart might waver.
“If Uncle gets dominated by the Demon King, I’ll eliminate both you and the Demon King together. That’s my revenge.”
If I don’t help him, Francois will die. And quite miserably at that.
I felt myself to be not just cruel but horrific, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t say.
So I stared straight at Francois. Hoping he would quickly break down. But then….
“Yes, do that. But Uncle won’t die by Lilliana’s hands.”
It was a light acceptance, as if receiving a dinner menu.
There was no playfulness to lighten the conversation, no trace of attachment to life, no despair.
Rather, he even smiled faintly as if relieved.
At that moment I realized.
Francois had never intended to receive my help from the beginning. He had been resigned to his life for a long time.
I had said I would take revenge to hurt him, but the one who got hurt was actually me.
* * *
When Lilliana left chasing after Francois, Edgar no longer hid and emerged from between the bushes.
“Brother.”
“Edgar. What are you doing there?”
“You knew I was here. When Lilliana left earlier, you must have seen her dress hem.”
To spy properly, one should wear the darkest clothes possible, but the dress Lilliana wore was bright yellow.
Moreover, she had rushed out so hastily that even from quite a distance, Marius couldn’t help but notice.
“He’s my brother but he’s really quick to notice things. I can’t lie to you.”
“I know everything about Brother hiding your injuries. You can’t move your right hand properly.”
When Edgar’s expression instantly darkened, Marius pulled his brother close and patted his head with his right hand.
Since the penetrating wound was severe, he would need rehabilitation treatment for a while to use his arm like before.
Still, he could at least pat the children’s heads.
Very fortunately.
“Edgar. Sometimes I wish you would grow up quickly, but other times I wish time would just stop. Childhood never comes back.”
He had turned back time, and even in that returned life, he made mistakes because of foolish feelings.
If there was something he realized only after hurting Edgar, it was that most of people’s regrets toward others stem from not loving them enough.
So now Marius wanted to love without regrets.
It was fine if Edith and Lilliana pushed him away. His love for them would be eternal.
And that feeling was the same for Edgar.
“Edgar. Brother is sorry.”
“For what?”
“Just, everything.”
“Brother. You said you’d soon part ways with Lady Edith.”
Marius swallowed. Edgar asked with a trembling voice.
“When I asked Lady Edith yesterday, she said when Lilliana’s brother comes, they’ll return to Trobancha together. This, Brother can’t stop it, right?”
Marius instinctively knew that this time too, he would become a pathetic older brother.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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