I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 28

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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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#.28

“Lilliana, you sweated a lot all morning and afternoon—are you feeling sick or dizzy at all?”

Edith asked while combing my hair. I answered while twisting Cookie’s long ears around and around.

“No. I don’t hurt at all.”

Since I had a body that would get fevers and collapse from just a little strain, Edith was always sensitive about my health.

Actually, I thought I might get seriously sick from travel fatigue after being on a ship for ten whole days to get to the Empire, but somehow I’m still perfectly fine.

“After dinner tonight, can I ask Leo to give me a piggyback ride?”

“You want a piggyback ride?”

“Leo is tall, so I can breathe the air up high.”

“Sure, then. Let’s ask him once.”

“Great!”

Marius and Leopold were supposed to join us for dinner tonight.

According to Edith’s explanation, it was to show the Emperor’s intention to care greatly for the distinguished guests from Trobancha.

‘He’s moving quickly.’

Liliana sarcastically mocked Marius’s choice.

Anyway, for that reason, I held Edith’s hand and went to the dining hall.

“But when can I see our youngest sister?”

Instead of answering, Edith seated Cookie in the chair next to me.

Actually, it seemed like my sisters didn’t really know what our youngest sister was doing outside either.

Edith, Liliana, and I sat in a row waiting for the others to come.

“Little sister, you’re pretty.”

Since Liliana kept touching her hair, I gave her a thumbs up.

“Really? How pretty does your big sister look to you today?”

“Mm. The prettiest in the world… well, not that, but second prettiest.”

“Who’s first?”

“That’s, uh…”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it was Edith.

“Me! I’m the prettiest!”

When I grinned cheekily, Liliana said that was right and stroked my cheek.

As we two were chatting back and forth like that, Marius, Leopold, and Edgar all entered the dining hall at the same time.

Marius had an unfamiliar expression, just like when I saw him in front of the hotel.

He in the Imperial Palace had quite a different atmosphere from when he was in Trobancha.

Unlike when he showed a very frivolous side in Trobancha, now he had a perfectly cold atmosphere without any gaps.

‘Come to think of it, he was the Blood Emperor from the original story.’

In the original, he was a cruel character who sat on the throne at a young age and killed his brothers and relatives to keep his position.

That’s why Marius didn’t hesitate to get blood on his hands to win the female protagonist’s love.

The reason he started a war with Trobancha was also because he was obsessed with the female protagonist Rebecca and wanted to win her love.

If Francois could be endlessly cruel even to the woman he loved, Marius was a man who would unhesitatingly destroy the world for love.

“Hmm, little one. Are you staring because uncle is so handsome?”

Right now he’s a man who says frivolous things whenever he opens his mouth though.

I pretended not to hear and turned my head away. Then I saw Edgar, who had run away leaving me behind earlier.

Since he ran away leaving me behind earlier and hurt my feelings, I glared at Edgar with force in my eyes.

For some reason, Edgar’s eyes were red and swollen. I was surprised and asked Edgar.

“Did you cry?”

“Cr-cry? Who says I cried!”

“But you did. You cried.”

“I didn’t cry!”

Edgar, who had shouted at me, belatedly realized he had been rude and stiffened his face.

Edgar moved his lips while gauging Edith and Liliana’s reactions.

“Hurry and sit down to eat first. The young duke must be very hungry too.”

Even when Edgar and I were bickering, Edith seemed to think it was natural for children to do that while playing. So rather than scolding, she suggested we eat.

The kid came to sit next to me instead of sitting across from me.

Scrape. Edgar pulled out the chair and frowned when he saw Cookie occupying the seat.

“Move this.”

“Why?”

“I want to sit here.”

“No. This is Cookie’s seat. You sit over there.”

We’re three and they’re three anyway, so it would be perfect if we sat facing each other, but why is he being troublesome and trying to come over here.

I really can’t understand this kid.

“That’s a doll. It doesn’t eat or anything.”

“Even if he doesn’t eat, he’s my little brother.”

“How can a doll be a little brother? A doll is just a doll. So it’s natural for me to sit there.”

“Cookie is a special child to me. Edgar, who’s not special, should go away.”

“What? You…”

When I didn’t back down obediently, Edgar glared at me once, then punched poor Cookie with his fist and went to the seat across from me.

When I glared fiercely, Liliana sitting next to me smiled softly. Liliana’s gaze moved to Leopold, who had seated Edgar next to him.

“Leo, how was your day today?”

“I spent it as usual. I handled Knight Order business and attended meetings…”

Leopold, telling my sister about his day’s activities, was half out of his mind.

From his sweet gaze to his melting voice and slightly reddened ears.

‘Perfect. It’s going according to plan.’

Leopold would be able to make our Liliana happy.

While I was thinking about this and that, not forgetting to have a staring contest with Edgar, the food came out.

Marius cut the steak in front of him into small pieces, switched plates with me, and apologized.

“Little one. Uncle has a lot to apologize to you for.”

“Huh? What?”

“Because uncle didn’t manage properly, you heard things from the maids that you shouldn’t have had to hear. Edgar, I’m very sorry to you too. I should have paid more attention.”

“You apologized earlier, so you don’t need to do it again. And you gave appropriate punishment, so it’s fine now.”

Edgar replied while stabbing his steak.

“Uncle, cut it smaller. So it’s easy to eat in one bite.”

I said while watching Marius cut the steak into small pieces.

“And I don’t know why uncle is apologizing when the mean sisters should apologize. But Lilliana can forgive you. I fell backwards with a thud, but it didn’t hurt at all.”

“Aren’t you angry that they were mean to you, little one?”

“I’m angry, but heroes must be merciful and brave. So I can forgive them.”

When I spoke confidently with my chin raised, Edgar sitting across from me objected.

“Hero? Are you still going on about being a hero?”

“Heroes are so cool. Don’t say that when you ran away in the middle of playing kitchen.”

“That wasn’t running away… Anyway, you’re too weak to be a hero or anything!”

“No. When I grow up, I’ll have hammer fists and go around beating up all the bad people.”

“That sounds difficult.”

Edgar snorted.

I got heated and swung my legs hard under the table.

Since I hadn’t grown even one centimeter since last time, my legs still just flailed around under the table.

When Edgar glanced under the table and stuck his tongue out at me, I got twice as heated.

I wanted to tease Edgar by calling him asparagus right away, but I held back because the adults were there.

“And uncle. Since uncle cut the meat into small pieces for me, I’ll generously overlook your mistake.”

“Pfft. Where did you learn the word ‘generously’?”

“Hmph. Did you think I wouldn’t know that? It’s from The Adventures of Red Sheep Cocobom.”

“You still read fairy tale books?”

Edgar interrupted my conversation again. He snickered as if he thought I was stupider than him.

He’s the same 6 years old as me, yet he says “still”?

I gave up on having more conversation with Marius and decided to bite Edgar with all my might.

And so the Second Dining Table War broke out.

* * *

Marius smiled as he watched the two little ones whose clothes had become a mess from splashing lemon juice and sauce at each other.

The two who had been bickering throughout the meal ate their dessert thoroughly and then fell asleep right there on the drawing room sofa.

Lilliana seemed very angry about Edgar asking if she still read fairy tale books.

But actually, Edgar read fairy tale books too.

He was sulking because he couldn’t sit next to her at the dining hall earlier, so he deliberately provoked Lilliana.

“Now that we’ve officially announced the engagement today, Edgar’s birthday party next week will be the day Edith is first introduced to the nobility.”

“That’s right. I’ll attend alone. I think it would be better for my siblings to show their faces after we hold the wedding ceremony.”

“Yes. I think that would be good too. Still, I’d like Lilliana to attend with us. Edgar seems very happy to have made a friend.”

Sleeping Lilliana was as lovely as a baby angel.

From her chubby little fingers to her cheeks that still seemed to smell of baby powder, there wasn’t a thing about her that wasn’t adorable.

“I can’t shield you from every attack that comes your way, Edith. There are things you must bear and prove not because you’re a foreigner, but because you’re the Empress. But I promise you this one thing.”

Marius reached out and stroked Lilliana’s head.

She was such a small, small child. So small it made one’s heart ache to see her.

“I will definitely protect Lilliana.”

And he would spare no effort in supporting her until she safely reached adulthood. Apart from his contract with Edith, he wanted to atone in this way.

His frighteningly dark and serious eyes were completely erased by the light smile that followed, but Edith didn’t miss that momentary change.

However, not knowing Marius well, Edith judged that he was being conscious of their contract.

“Don’t be too nervous. No matter how much they talk about prestigious families and whatnot, when you see them up close, they’re nothing special.”

Marius added with a shrug of his shoulders.

It was a remark that showed the leisure befitting the Blood Emperor who had cruelly punished the traitors who had targeted his life.

* * *

While Edith and Marius were discussing future plans, Regina and Leopold were strolling through the garden that had been off-limits to Lilliana.

‘It’s not that kind of weather, but it feels muggy.’

Every time Regina’s high voice tickled his ears, his heart pounded, and every time their eyes met, his face burned hot.

Thanks to this, Leopold felt it was as muggy as summer even though it was still spring.

“I also prepared a small gift to celebrate the Viscount of Runtvolleney’s birthday, but I’m not sure if he’ll like it.”

“A gift? That boy will be genuinely delighted with whatever it is.”

“Still…”

Regina trailed off and then hurriedly looked around.

After confirming there was no one around, she gestured for Leopold to lower his head.

When Leopold bent his waist, Regina rose on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear.

“…wouldn’t that be a bit much?”

With the breath touching his ear and the low whispered voice, Leopold couldn’t understand what she was saying.

The heat rising to his head felt like it might explode with a bang. No, his heart might stop first.

“Th-that…”

He needed to answer, but like a fool, his whole body stiffened and his voice trembled so much that no words came out.

Just as he was stammering to open his mouth, a sigh was heard.

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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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