I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 175
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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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#.175
Though Marius was quite startled by the sudden question about whether he was his father, he hid his emotions so the child wouldn’t be confused.
“Do I seem like your dad?”
“People say so. That Edgar is your son.”
“I see.”
Though they had restricted other people from entering the garden and playground where Edgar and the twins played, children were like balls that could bounce anywhere.
It seemed he had naturally overheard while playing around the palace with his maternal cousins.
‘I expected this day would come.’
He seemed more sensitive and clever than expected. To notice so quickly.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked in a slightly trembling voice.
“Do you dislike that I’m your dad?”
“No! I like it! You’re a cool knight who even fought monsters!”
His eyes widened instantly.
Seeing those eyes looking up at him with a bright smile made his heart swell as if he had gained the whole world.
Could receiving the evaluation of being a cool knight really be this heart-wrenching?
Marius pressed his chest and bent one knee to meet Edgar’s gaze.
“I’m also happy that Edgar is my son.”
“I am pretty amazing. I even eat peas well.”
When he lightly pinched his cheek with his finger, Edgar twisted his body and giggled.
“Don’t you live with Edgar?”
“Would you like it if we lived together?”
“Mm. I don’t know.”
Though he shook his head with a bashful smile, being a young child, his true feelings were clearly visible.
“Do you dislike our mom?”
“No. I like her very much.”
“Aunt Mandy said so too. That mom also likes you.”
Seeing him glance around and whisper while watching the adults’ reactions made his mouth bitter, feeling like only the child was getting hurt by adult problems.
Marius lifted Edgar up and gave him a piggyback ride while changing the subject.
“It’s time to sleep now.”
“The bed monster might come out.”
“It’s okay. I’ll stay up all night to guard so monsters can’t come out.”
If only he could stay by his side tomorrow, the day after, and for all the countless days the child would face in the future…
Marius prayed earnestly as he walked toward the child’s bedroom.
* * *
“You were here.”
“Shh.”
It had already been an hour since Edgar fell asleep. However, Marius was still patting his belly and gazing at Edgar endlessly.
Even while looking at him, he missed him, and sometimes he felt wonder, then suddenly got scared thinking this moment might be a dream.
Marius gently stroked the golden hair that resembled his own and quietly left the room.
“I’ve been thinking lately.”
“What about?”
“Maybe everything I’ve lived for until now was to meet Edgar.”
“You’re saying the same thing as my brother. He used to say that about Lilliana too.”
“Don’t you feel that way?”
Edith shrugged, asking why she wouldn’t feel the same.
Since it was autumn and quite cold at night, Marius personally heated some milk and offered it to her.
The sound of insects could be heard from outside the window.
Sitting face to face and sipping milk together created the illusion that they had returned to the past.
“It’s nice. Being like this with you.”
Even without creating a special atmosphere or bringing up other topics, just having Edith by his side gave him deep satisfaction.
Listening to Marius’s emotion, Edith hesitated for a moment, feeling like she was breaking the mood, then opened her mouth.
“The Coast Guard captain will tell you tomorrow, but the government received reports about the Lazarus incident and issued a return order.”
“I expected that. It’s only been a few days since returning from the expedition, yet they immediately moved up the training schedule.”
Marius put down his cup with a bitter expression.
“I’m most envious of Francois Cassel these days. He can leave for wherever he wants whenever he wants.”
“What would you want to do if you could leave?”
“I’d follow you. If you dislike living in the same house as us, I’d get a room in the house next door or behind. Then when you go to work, I’d take care of Edgar.”
“That sounds fine. I like work and you have a talent for handling children.”
Marius imagined the house where Edith and Edgar lived.
It would be a house with a beautiful garden and modest appearance, like when the sisters lived together.
When he woke up early in the morning to cook, Edgar would be fussy about eating.
“Today I chopped the carrots very finely so you won’t taste anything. So just try one bite.”
“Edgar. You should at least take one bite thinking of the care dad put into cooking.”
Edith would kiss them in turn, saying she had a scheduled departure and would return in a few days, then go to work.
Just imagining it was so delightful that his heart tingled.
But it was an impossible dream.
When he escaped from the sweet imagination, his skin shrank from the cold reality.
“Marius. There must be a way for us to be together. I’m giving permission, so what’s the problem?”
“Permission?”
“Yes, permission. A very small piece of my life isn’t much. Try being a fairly large piece. Though it probably won’t be as much as Edgar.”
Marius’s eyes, gazing at Edith, became moist.
It was true that he had inwardly hoped after starting positively before the expedition, but now that he was actually hearing this, he felt bewildered to the point of tears.
“This time, you adapt to my life. You’re the Emperor, so you can do that much.”
As long as Edith gave permission, nothing in the world was impossible.
Right. What was there to fear? He was the Emperor. He could do anything and accomplish anything.
Especially if it was a move to get closer to the woman and son he loved.
“…May I kiss you?”
When simple permission fell with a raised eyebrow, Marius rushed at her as if to devour her.
The night was long, and the reunited lovers were passionate.
* * *
I even went to visit Edgar’s room because I wanted to see Cookie again, but he drew a line saying he absolutely couldn’t show it.
“Why?”
It’s just a doll, yet he won’t show it to me – I felt wronged.
“It’s embarrassing to still have a doll I received as a child until it became a rag.”
“If it’s a comfort object, that’s possible.”
“It’s not a comfort object.”
If he’s kept something I gave him when he was very young until now, what else would it be but a comfort object?
Whether Edgar was embarrassed or not, at his firm answer that he couldn’t show it, I glared at the back of his head and entered the dining hall ahead of him.
“It’s just a doll.”
“Just a doll, yet you’ve treasured it so preciously.”
Edgar’s neck, pretending not to hear and quickly ordering food, turned red.
“But how’s the uncle these days? Things seem to be going well with Edith, right?”
“Well. They do look good.”
“Phew. That’s a relief.”
“Both Edith and Edgar are planning to return soon. My brother is worried. A few days ago, he even mentioned wanting to move the palace to an island near Trobancha.”
“But it’s not like she’ll work as an inspector forever. When she returns, she’ll get promoted too. And they said field work only goes until age 50.”
“So in the end, my brother has to spend another 16 years alone.”
“But is there really a need to get married?”
I twirled the freshly served pasta around my fork.
Edgar made a serious face at my comment, as if he couldn’t understand.
“So they’ll just date forever? Even with a child?”
“Still, one of them can’t sacrifice everything. Edgar can grow up traveling between the Empire and Trobancha, and Edith can have a long-distance relationship.”
“You, you…”
Edgar’s mouth fell open like someone who had been betrayed.
I had felt this when playing with friends at school too, but there were differences in thinking between Empire people and Trobancha in many ways.
“They say when bodies grow distant, hearts grow distant too!”
“Even if they grow distant, they still like each other in the end. Aren’t you eating? Can I try yours?”
Edgar pushed his plate toward me and asked in an extremely excited voice.
“What if their feelings cool because of the distance? If they stayed close, there wouldn’t be problems, but they might grow apart because of the long-distance relationship. Wouldn’t it be better for them to just get married?”
I took a bite of Edgar’s tomato pasta, twirling it around my fork.
Somehow it seemed more delicious than my cream pasta.
“Well. I think it would be fine if Edith just dated for her whole life. And they might break up while dating. They said cooling feelings is a natural flow.”
Edgar turned surprisingly pale.
Just like someone who had projected himself onto Uncle Marius.
He seemed to have completely forgotten about eating, not even touching his fork.
“…Would you be okay with growing distant from me?”
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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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