I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 199
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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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#.17
Though he was called a troublemaker at school and disaster lips at home, Filippo was not a boy with shallow thoughts.
“Filippo?”
Filippo’s face was gaunt from suffering through two days of awakening fever. But his intelligent eyes remained the same.
“I’m sorry. I could hear the conversation from inside my room.”
“We were being loud. You must be tired, I’m sorry.”
“No. I came out because I remembered something I absolutely had to tell Mother.”
“What is it?”
Regina thought Filippo would ask her to keep the fact that he had gained an ability a secret.
Mind control often made people uncomfortable just by the fact that it was a power.
So she was ready to gladly do whatever her son wanted.
But Filippo brought up a story Regina had never imagined.
“Do you remember when Lazarus invaded our house when we were little? You ran away with us barefoot.”
“I remember. That’s when our sons saved mom by throwing toys from the carriage.”
“Did we? Anyway, Yosiyas and I made a firm resolution after that day. We would become strong and protect Mother.”
While living in the Imperial Palace because the manor was in ruins, Filippo made a promise with his twin brother Yosiyas.
From now on, when difficult or scary things happen, let’s become strong enough so we can take up axes and defeat the bad guys instead of mom.
“Brother. I’m going to have strong power like uncle or great-uncle.”
Yosiyas steadily grew stronger as promised.
Taking after his father, he was born with all talents including not only physical strength but also excellent athletic abilities.
On the other hand, while Filippo was stronger than he looked, he resembled his mother more than his father.
Because of this, no matter how hard he tried, he always hit limitations.
Even though they were only minutes apart, being the older brother, he didn’t want to be weaker than his younger brother.
He was also secretly anxious that he might not be able to keep his promise.
‘I can’t become as strong as Yosiyas just by training my body.’
How can I protect Mother like this?
While worrying day by day, he suffered from awakening fever.
‘I wanted to have an ability like Uncle Antonio.’
Though he had actually awakened, it was true that he was quite disappointed not to have gained a spectacular power.
“Yosiyas. Eat the carrots for me.”
But Yosiyas, who was forced to eat the carrots he hated, didn’t find his brother who had gained an ability repulsive, but instead covered his mouth in admiration.
“Brother! Why don’t I have power like you?”
“Isn’t this disgusting to you?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I’m certain you won’t use your ability for bad things.”
“Hmm.”
Hearing Yosiyas’s words, it didn’t seem so bad.
While pondering this, he happened to overhear his mother’s inner thoughts.
“I don’t have tremendous strength like Yosiyas who can bend a spoon with one hand. I probably can’t grow up to be a man like Father. But I think there’s a strength I can have because I’m me.”
Youngest aunt defeated the demons by joining forces with Edgar and Uncle Antonio.
Youngest aunt didn’t have excellent swordsmanship skills like Uncle Edgar.
Nor did she have a lethal ability like Uncle Antonio.
Of course, it was an ability that was like a natural enemy of Lazarus, but in Filippo’s view, youngest aunt’s power lay not in her ability but elsewhere.
It was the charm that captivated the uncles’ hearts enough to make them fight alongside her risking their lives – that was youngest aunt’s true strength.
“As you know, I’m smart. I’m also good at talking and have many friends. And… I also have the same ability as Mother, whom I love most.”
“Filippo…”
“I think gaining this ability is like being given a chance to keep my promise.”
“…”
“Mind control won’t only be difficult. I’ll show you how I solve many problems in positive directions using this power.”
Filippo calmly told Regina about his aspirations.
“I’ll prove that the problem you’re worried about is nothing special. I’ll protect Mother from the fear created by the mind control ability.”
Filippo regarded the ability that Regina had considered a secret to hide for life as a means to protect himself, like a strong body.
She had thought that while Filippo had grown tall, he was still young inside, but seeing him now, he was so reliable it made her nose tingle.
Regina wiped around her eyes with the handkerchief Leopold carefully handed her.
“In this aspect, you’re exactly like your father.”
In the past, Leopold had chased after Regina even knowing what her ability was.
And now his son had inherited the same power and wanted to prove that all the fears Regina had felt were illusions.
“Hey. Father can’t do this. Only I can.”
Filippo smiled playfully and hugged Regina tightly.
The young son Regina had risked her life to protect seven years ago had grown up considerably.
So every time she was hugged, she felt reassuringly protected instead.
In just a few years, he would become a complete adult like Edgar.
Regina looked forward to the future of her children who had become adults.
And she was happy to be able to sincerely support the aspirations Filippo had boldly declared.
* * *
“If someone writes the lines for me, I’m confident I can act perfectly.”
I clung to Edgar and trembled all the way to the theater office.
I had to announce my pregnancy and apply for leave. But when I went to the theater, Monica would obviously be there.
“I was too sensitive with Monica that day. She must have been hurt because of me, what if she won’t accept my apology?”
Thinking about it now, Monica seemed to have been afraid that I, her rival, might disappear.
Just as Monica was a special colleague to me, she also regarded me as special.
“Go to Monica and tell her exactly what you told me.”
I held onto Edgar, who was comforting me not to worry, and calmed my nerves.
Edgar patted my back and glanced at me subtly.
“Were you afraid she might come to like someone other than you?”
“You saw Monica at the theater dinner before, so you know. Monica is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
If I were a man, I would have flirted with Monica. Edgar didn’t miss my small murmur.
“Can’t you tell me that even if you were a man, you would have liked me? I think I would have liked you even if I were a woman.”
“That’s just how pretty she is.”
While I was hitting Edgar’s forearm repeatedly, we arrived at the theater before I knew it.
“Wait outside.”
“Are you sure you don’t need me to go in with you?”
“Am I a child?”
I left Edgar standing outside the building and went in alone.
Monica was in the middle of fitting costumes for a new play.
“I’d like the stitching to be sturdier. If it tears on stage again, I really can’t let it slide this time.”
She doesn’t look upset, so that’s a relief.
Feeling secretly relieved, I carefully approached Monica.
Monica, who noticed my presence, turned her head away pretending not to see me.
“The color of that outfit suits your eyes well.”
I spoke while subtly watching Monica’s reaction.
When no response came back, I became anxious and my mouth went dry.
Emotional changes due to pregnancy don’t serve as an excuse for treating others poorly.
It was my fault for being mean to Monica.
“Could you give us a moment alone, please?”
I asked the staff member from the costume shop for understanding.
When only the two of us remained, I held out the bouquet and card I had specially brought for Monica.
“I’m sorry for being mean when you were just giving advice because you care about me.”
Monica was listening to me but kept her mouth tightly shut.
“I want to get along with you. Ever since joining the troupe, you’ve always been the goal I wanted to catch up to and the best rival who motivated me.”
“I understand why you were being sensitive. You said you’ve been with your boyfriend for a very long time. I know well that not everyone can make work their first priority like me.”
“…We have been together for a long time, but it’s because I want a stable family. I don’t have parents, so I was raised by my older brother and sisters.”
Only then did Monica turn to look at me.
Since we avoided personal stories in the troupe, none of the other colleagues knew about my family situation.
“I think I’ll be getting married soon. Actually, I’m expecting to give birth next year. But just because I’m having a child doesn’t mean I’ll give up my dreams. So won’t you remain my rival from now on?”
Monica’s red-painted lips trembled finely.
She repeatedly opened and closed her hands before taking the bouquet from me.
“I’m putting your apology today on hold. If you don’t return to the troupe, I won’t forgive you.”
“Alright. Then I’ll apologize again after I return.”
“I’ll have to throw a welcome party for you that day.”
Monica, who lowered her head to smell the flowers, smiled as beautifully as a rose.
I had a strange premonition that we’d probably bicker and get along like this for life.
* * *
“You made up!”
My face must have looked bright as I came out of the building, because Edgar, who had been waiting for me, was even happier than I was.
“Edgar. I absolutely have to return after I give birth. Quickly contact Edith and tell her I’ll be doing childcare at home for the next 10 years.”
“Then let’s get married before that. I’ll handle all the wedding preparations, so you just need to show up that day. I’m an Empire citizen to my bones, so I want our child to be born within marriage.”
Edgar had lived in Trobancha for so long that I forgot. That he was from the Empire.
Unlike the free-spirited Trobancha, the Empire was a society with rigid laws and ways of thinking.
So all children born before the wedding ceremony were treated as illegitimate.
The reason Edith could be crowned as a prince in the Empire was because Edith got pregnant before the divorce, but our child was different.
We weren’t in a marital relationship. So Edgar must have been worried first that our child might become illegitimate.
Me wanting to postpone marriage for the child’s sake, and Edgar wanting to hold the wedding first for the child’s sake. Both of us had the same fundamental feelings.
“So that’s why you brought up the house topic that day.”
“Please give me a chance to take responsibility for you and the child.”
Without giving me a chance to answer, Edgar dropped to one knee.
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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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