I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 38

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

#.38

“Edgar.”

“I know very well what it means to point a sword at my brother.”

“You know the meaning and still do this?”

“I’m doing this precisely because I know.”

Fifteen-year-old Edgar resembled his father and had already grown as tall as an adult.

He even had a decent stance with a sword, and in just a few years he would become an excellent swordsman like Leopold.

“I can overlook it once. Edgar. Put away your sword and step aside.”

“….”

“Edgar! What’s so important about some girl that you’re acting like this!”

“Lilliana. That’s her name.”

With those words, Edgar charged at him.

A fierce battle ensued in the rain.

Max didn’t dare interfere, and Marius was half-stunned from shock, only reflexively blocking the sword.

Edgar didn’t seem to intend to hurt Marius either, as there were several opportunities but he only pushed him back.

“Why are you doing this? Why are you… why on earth…”

Marius was terribly confused.

Did I do something wrong? Did I raise him inadequately? Even if I wasn’t an affectionate brother, I thought I had given him my love in my own way…

Did you want the throne like my other brothers? Or do you desire my life?

Ah. Maybe you want to hold me responsible for Leopold’s death.

As despair led to more despair, his head grew cold and his blood stirred.

When he swung his sword with force, clang! the swords clashed against each other.

“What do you want?”

His deeply lowered voice must have felt threatening, as Edgar’s gaze wavered.

Though the rain blurred his vision, only those green eyes identical to Leopold’s were clearly visible.

“Do you want to hold me responsible? Leopold’s suicide wasn’t my fault.”

All the tragedy began with that damned Rebecca Marchione.

Everyone—Marius, Leopold, and even Francois—had been played by that woman’s vengeful schemes.

That was also why Leopold chose death.

To Marius, who was bursting with frustration, Edgar shouted.

“I hate you, brother!”

“I did my best for you, so how can you say such things!”

“Yes. You did your best. If killing innocent people for love is doing your best, then it was your best. You, Leo—you’re all insane. None of you are in your right minds.”

“…So you’re going to kill me?”

“If necessary.”

Edgar’s sword cut his arm.

The moment searing pain spread, Edgar was startled and dropped his sword, while Marius’s vision flashed.

The sword blade swung without hesitation grazed the boy’s cheek.

Drops of blood fell and spread in the rain puddles.

Edgar, with bloodshot eyes, said.

“End it with just me.”

“Since you aimed for my life, your actions constitute treason.”

“I know. That’s why I’m saying this. Don’t kill Lilliana or anyone else—end it with just me.”

At those words left like a last will, Marius felt he might go mad with anger, betrayal, and sorrow.

He swung his sword without hesitation. Lightning reflected off the silver blade with a flash.

But Marius couldn’t kill Edgar.

All he did was cut Edgar’s clothes. He concluded the situation by putting his cousin brother in the underground prison.

‘How could I kill you.’

A boy who was only fifteen had risked his life to stand in his way.

Every time emotions got the better of him, Edgar seemed so infuriating that he wanted to go down to the underground prison several times a day to shout.

How could you do this to me.

But it was Edgar.

Even if he couldn’t love him as desperately as Edith, enough to stake his own life, wasn’t he the one precious existence left in his life?

“Ugh.”

Marius let out a groan.

A few months ago, when he had traveled back in time, the wound he received from Edgar didn’t even exist.

Yet whenever he recalled that moment, strangely his left arm where he had been wounded would ache.

The more he tried to cut off his feelings toward Edgar, the worse the pain became, but in this life he wanted to keep his distance from that child.

The Edgar of that time and the current Edgar were different but the same child.

He didn’t want to hurt twice.

Most of all, he didn’t want the tragedy of crossing swords with that child twice.

‘Edgar, I’m sorry for being a coward.’

The tragedy he couldn’t confess to anyone was still a vivid wound less than six months old for him.

So he rubbed his arm, hoping the pain would disappear.

* * *

Edgar’s birthday party was already a week ago.

During that time, I drank Francois’s bubbling, terrible-tasting magic potion twice.

When I drank the potion, Liliana lightly pricked my fingertip with a needle and drew a few drops of blood.

“Aaaaaahhh!”

She said she was doing some kind of research, but she wouldn’t tell me what it was properly, so I don’t know.

The important thing is that needles are scary.

“Sister! I’m going to hate you.”

When I hid my hands behind my back in fear, Liliana looked sorry and her eyebrows drooped.

“Little one. I’m so sorry. But please bear with it a little.”

“Nnnno. I don’t want to. I don’t like it. Help me!”

“That’s not what I taught you to say in situations like this.”

I had tears welling up, but Liliana wasn’t the type to let me off because of that.

Liliana kept repeating ‘Sorry, I’m really sorry’ while forcibly holding me down to draw blood.

Francois made a magic squirrel to comfort me, but what I needed wasn’t consolation—I needed someone to pretend to stop Liliana.

“I won’t play with uncle anymore!”

Feeling wronged, I screamed and went to the meeting place to see Edgar.

Edgar, who was waiting in front of the fountain, saw me and asked.

“Did you cry again?”

“I didn’t cry. Do you think I’m a baby? I don’t cry over things like needles anymore.”

“If you lie, horns will grow on your bottom.”

“There’s no such thing.”

How could horns grow from your bottom?

Still, just in case, I pretended to scratch my back and quickly touched my bottom.

Fortunately, no horns had grown. It was definitely a lie.

While I was secretly relieved, Edgar took out a piece of candy from his pocket and pressed it into my hand.

“Today’s the day you drank the magic juice, right?”

“You’re giving this to me to eat? Thank you. Edgar really is the best. I like you much more than Liliana.”

At my words, Edgar’s cheeks turned red.

The corners of his mouth also lifted slightly—Edgar was definitely weak to compliments.

‘I want to do something for Edgar too, but I don’t know what or how to do it.’

For the past week, things between Edgar and Marius had been a complete mess.

Marius had tried to talk to him several times, but Edgar only avoided his gaze.

On top of that, Leopold was making a fuss about taking Edgar to the ducal estate.

“Edgar. Are you really going to live at the ducal estate like Uncle Leo said?”

“What do you think would be best?”

“Hmm. If you go to the ducal estate, we won’t be able to play together like this every day, right?”

“I suppose not.”

“Then—”

Just as he was about to answer Edgar, an unexpected voice interrupted.

“Hey! You?”

It was Chris Ruman and Helene Aldridge, whom I’d seen at Edgar’s birthday party last time, along with what appeared to be their friends.

It seemed they had stopped by the palace with their parents because Edith and Marius were selecting flower children for their wedding.

Helene suddenly pointed at me and shouted.

“That’s her! The monster who eats people!”

Then the children completely surrounded Edgar and me.

Edgar frowned, clearly displeased with the situation.

“Don’t block the path and move aside.”

“Edgar! Why are you dangerously playing with such a savage?”

“Who’s dangerous here? Stop talking nonsense and go away.”

Though the Empire was a class-based society, Edgar’s status didn’t matter to these children who didn’t yet properly understand what titles meant.

“She tried to eat Chris yesterday! Come over here quickly before you get eaten too!”

“What?”

These kids, really! Something hot rose from within my chest.

It seemed I needed to introduce my friend to these brats.

I clenched my fist tightly and asked Helene.

“Should I introduce you to my really scary friend?”

“Scary friend?”

I raised my right fist and introduced him.

“Say hello. His name is Oliver!”

Oliver, my hammer fist sleeping in my right hand, was a reliable friend who only came out when I was angry.

“If you don’t want to know how strong our Oliver is, then stop it. Why would I eat Edgar? I’d rather eat nasty kids like you.”

When I deliberately clicked my teeth together, Chris’s face turned pale.

Edgar spoke to the group surrounding us as if they were pathetic.

“You’re not even kids anymore, and you believe that stuff about eating people?”

Then they all flinched at the same time. For children, being asked if they were still kids was a matter of pride.

“N-no! I didn’t believe it!”

“Right! I was just pretending to believe it!”

“Helene’s the weird one!”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Helene. Helene stammered in confusion.

“M-my grandmother said so. That people from Trobancha eat people!”

“I thought you were older since you’re taller than me, but you’re still a little kid, aren’t you?”

I clicked my tongue and wagged my finger.

This is probably a kid who still believes Santa Claus delivers presents through the chimney.

The truth is he doesn’t use the chimney but rides red-nosed reindeer and delivers presents through windows.

“Let’s go. If we stay with these idiots, we’ll become stupid too.”

“We’re idiots?”

Helene grabbed my hand and stood in front of Edgar, who was trying to leave.

“Should I call you a coward instead of an idiot? You were the one who ran away last time too.”

“You, you…”

At that moment, Helene pushed Edgar’s shoulder.

And I reflexively rushed at Helene and headbutted her.

“Don’t touch my friend!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————