I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 178

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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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#.178

A gentle breeze blew, causing the sound of rustling leaves from all directions.

The temperature was slightly cool, but I wasn’t cold since I was dressed warmly.

Edgar, with his head deeply bowed, struggled to open his mouth and confess his feelings.

“I… I hate the thought of you disappearing far away again. I really hate it.”

“I’m sorry.”

Though he was as tall as Coachman Marius and built like a door, Edgar seemed like a 10-year-old boy right now.

Just like back then, when he was so dejected and lost after hearing I was leaving.

Seeing his gloomy profile made my heart ache and brought tears to my eyes.

I didn’t know what words would comfort him. I bit my lips.

In this situation, saying I would write letters wouldn’t be consoling.

Edgar seemed to feel a heavy sadness that was rare for a boy my age to carry.

“Even though I feel wronged for always being dragged around by you, when I see your face, I think even that is good. I have no idea how to ignore these feelings.”

“Edgar…”

“Having to be apart from you again… I’m not ready to accept it yet…”

Being apart didn’t mean we’d be separated forever. But that didn’t make the farewell any less difficult.

While I couldn’t find the right words, Edgar composed himself alone and stood up.

“Let’s go inside. You must be cold.”

His faint smile looked pitiful. On the way, he spoke with difficulty.

“Now you’ll reply when I write letters. I think I’ll be happy just with your replies.”

“This time I’ll write first.”

Since class ended early today, the afternoon sunlight brightly illuminated Edgar.

His blonde hair shone transparently. The backlighting cast shadows that created clearer contours on his face than usual.

That made it even more vivid. His cleanly defined facial lines and his anxiously pressed lips.

“You don’t have to reply. No, I’d hate it if you didn’t at all. Even occasionally is fine, just don’t disappear.”

“Are you afraid I’ll grow distant from you?”

“Because I like you. What other reason could there be?”

Our eyes met.

Edgar looked at me steadily, his eyes filled entirely with me.

It was strange. Even though we were similar in age, Edgar had a weighty power that made even jokes feel real.

Perhaps that’s why, though it was just a few words, it felt like a grand confession.

The sunlight felt hot. My heartbeat echoed in my ears.

The sensation I felt when we interlaced fingers came back to me.

The ticklish feeling when his large, long fingers intertwined with the back of my hand swelled up so much it felt like it would burst.

All of this was so dazzling that I smiled like a fool.

* * *

When Edgar and I returned to the room, Antonio was lying on the bed, fast asleep.

I didn’t particularly want to wake him, and disliking the gloomy atmosphere, I sat in a chair and looked around Edgar’s desk.

“Wow. Edgar. Your handwriting is really neat.”

Unlike his appearance that suggested he’d write in elegant cursive, Edgar showed handwriting as neat as printed text.

It was definitely different from Antonio’s chicken scratch or my careless scrawl.

“Are these your major textbooks? Hmm. Just looking at them gives me a headache.”

I quickly closed the book and doodled in an empty notebook.

After drawing eyes, nose, and mouth, Edgar, who had been watching quietly beside me, asked.

“What did you draw?”

“You as a child.”

“This is supposed to be me?”

“It looks quite similar.”

“No way. I’m not this ugly.”

Edgar picked up a pen and drew sheep heads in the empty space of the notebook.

“You should draw me too. Why are you drawing animals?”

“But you are…”

“What did you say?”

I looked back and forth between the drawing and Edgar suspiciously.

I had forgotten. The fact that he was catastrophically bad at drawing.

Belatedly embarrassed by his own drawing, Edgar slyly covered it with his hand.

“Move your hand.”

“Only if you promise not to tease me.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Then no.”

I pushed against him to move his hand, but Edgar didn’t budge an inch.

Using his door-like build for something like this…

I tried to pry his fingers off one by one, but even that wasn’t easy.

As I struggled, I heard giggling from above my head.

He had been depressed to death just moments ago, but seeing him smile made me feel a bit relieved.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“But…”

“Do you really need to go this far with me?”

When I met his gaze and stared at him, Edgar’s eyelids trembled as if his heart was wavering.

I deliberately lowered my eyes and showed disappointment, and the strength left his grip. That’s when it happened.

“You two are having fun. Playing so well right in front of me.”

Antonio, who woke up kicking off his blanket, forcibly squeezed between us when our shoulders were barely touching.

“Hey. Go somewhere else.”

“The seat next to Liliana was originally mine.”

“As soon as you go back today, I’ll block your palace access, so keep that in mind.”

“Are you done with your farewells?”

“Blockhead. Be quiet if you don’t want to get hit.”

“If you two are done saying goodbye, you should do it with me too.”

Edgar threw a punch at his side, and Antonio defended with an ice shield using his ability.

But he couldn’t defend against my flick to his forehead.

“Ow! Liliana! Whose side are you on anyway? How can you do this between us? He’s only been your boyfriend for two weeks, and I’m your lifelong mega-best friend!”

“He’s my soulmate, so you lost.”

“What? Edgar! Are you crazy? What did you make with whom?”

“Go home if you don’t want to be kicked out. Why did you bring him anyway?”

“Antonio suggested coming first. He said he was worried about you.”

“For me to receive worry from you, I must have really looked like an idiot.”

No matter how I look at it, these two are like a dog and cat. Edgar is the cat, Antonio is the dog. I’m the poor shrimp caught between them.

“Let’s start with card games. I really wanted to play that.”

I winked at Edgar.

Since we agreed to be on the same team last time, I’m definitely going to make Antonio come in last place today.

* * *

After crushing Antonio, Coachman Marius brought up a completely unexpected topic during dinner.

“They’re giving us titles?”

He proposed that they would grant us titles for dealing with Lazarus.

Antonio was so surprised that a shrimp fell off his fork and sauce splattered, but he didn’t even notice.

“Chris said he would accept it. So it’s right for you two to accept as well.”

“No, Your Majesty. What would I do with a title… I’m not even an Imperial citizen.”

“How about getting dual citizenship while we’re at it?”

“Dual citizenship isn’t bad. But a title is a bit…”

Antonio tapped under the table, asking for help.

“Like Antonio says, a title is a bit burdensome. Not only can’t I manage it, but the concept of titles itself is too foreign.”

“Right. I’m satisfied with dual citizenship. Instead of a title, please make a really fancy medal for me. With flowers and jewels embedded, very glamorous. That’s enough for me.”

“I also find titles a bit burdensome.”

Marius looked at us and let out a deep sigh, feeling frustrated.

It wasn’t a sign he was trying to joke around. He was genuinely sighing in despair.

“How are you going to survive in this harsh world being so weak at negotiations? At times like this, you should ask for enormous amounts of gold and treasures along with the titles as rewards.”

“When I become an adult, I’ll inherit quite a bit of wealth, so I have enough money to live on for life.”

“I also have quite a bit of inheritance from my grandfather. Even if I become an unknown actor, I won’t go hungry.”

And so we witnessed the Empire’s Emperor put down his fork and knife and sigh once again.

We must be very powerful headache inducers.

To make this cunning and mischievous man sigh like this.

“Chris said support for the Magic Research Institute of Christo Academy was enough, so his parents stepped in to persuade him to accept a title. But looking at you now, birds of a feather really do flock together.”

“What did Edgar decide to receive?”

“He received the third-best title the Imperial Family can give, 1,000 gold coins, one mansion in the capital and one villa in the countryside each. For reference, the Runtbollenue Duchy that Edgar inherited is the second-best title. The first is only given to the Crown Prince, so I can’t give it to anyone.”

“Wow…”

“Lily, he was really materialistic.”

At Antonio’s comment, Edgar frowned sharply.

“You guys are the fools. It’s right to accept when you can.”

“No. We just fought to survive, but if you give us gifts saying we did well, it feels like we’re committing fraud to extort wealth.”

“Good heavens. Kids. You’ve uprooted a problem that the Empire has been racking its brains over for the past 10 years. Just how did Andrea educate you about economics?”

“Lilliana. Ask for the Marquessate of Leverietz and the villa Princess Victoria used. It’s called a villa, but it’s practically like a castle. You must take the 1,000 gold coins. Antonio, you should demand the Viscountcy of Verzelz and a mansion with 11 rooms and 9 bathrooms on the outskirts of the capital.”

“Lily. Should we just take a ship at dawn tomorrow and run away? That seems better.”

This time Antonio and I sighed.

Throughout the meal, we listened to Edgar’s nagging that was so persistent it was mind-numbing.

After finishing the meal, my head felt parched and I could only think about quickly escaping home.

“…It’s right to increase your wealth when you can. Moreover, that’s a right you should enjoy.”

“Okay. I understand, so please stop now. Your Majesty. We’ll use Edgar as our representative. He’ll take care of everything.”

“Oh, it’s already 8 o’clock! We should get going. Edgar. See you tomorrow morning!”

“I’ll escort you to the carriage.”

“No! Don’t follow us! We want to go by ourselves! We’re going to cool our heads in the cold wind, so don’t come out!”

While Marius was saying goodbye and telling us to go home safely, I hurriedly packed my bag.

We ran to the carriage, shaking off Edgar who wanted to see us off, and as soon as we closed the door with a thud, we both slumped down simultaneously like twins.

“If we were quick with calculations, my math scores wouldn’t be in that state.”

“Exactly. Even my older brother gave up, but Edgar won’t give up.”

Thanks to our representative who was quick with calculations unlike us, the next day, 1,000 gold coins each were delivered to the mansion for Antonio and me.

* * *

Edgar, who had confirmed from afar that the carriage carrying Lilliana and Antonio had departed, returned to the palace.

“Edith and Regina are quick with calculations, but Lilliana… I’m worried.”

“It’s fine. I’m quick with calculations. More than that, brother, I have something to talk about.”

“Really?”

Marius straightened his posture as if he had been waiting.

Edgar instinctively knew that his brother already knew what he was about to say.

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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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