I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 44
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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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#.44
Before the wedding celebration banquet began, Hans made a bet with his friends.
The bet was whether Hans, who was popular with the capital’s women, could win the favor of the Empress’s sister.
Of course, Hans wasn’t as handsome as Leopold or Francois.
They were like stars in the night sky, possessing perfect looks along with wealth and honor.
On the other hand, Hans was a realistic kind of handsome man from a decent family, making him approachable without much burden.
“Trobancha people date around a lot, don’t they? They probably won’t say anything if we meet casually and then break up. Plus, she’s the Empress’s sister, so if things go well, it’ll be good for me too.”
Even if problems arose, he could just brush it off as cultural differences.
Hans discussed with his friends which of the twins to approach.
“What about that woman next to her, Emilia or something?”
“No way. She’s the Mage Tower Lord’s assistant, so she probably knows magic. If we approach her carelessly, we might get roasted alive.”
That’s how Regina was chosen as the target of the bet.
Hans wagered 30 gold coins that Regina would dance with him and enjoy a secret rendezvous.
‘She’s beautiful, so it won’t be boring while I’m working on her.’
If she weren’t from Trobancha, she was beautiful enough that he’d want to seriously date her.
But as the heir to a baron’s house, he couldn’t promise marriage to some island country woman with no status.
Since they were people who dated freely and broke up anyway, he could just have some fun and end it.
He thought it would be an enjoyable encounter for both, but who would have thought she’d notice the bet.
“H-how did you know?”
The flustered Hans blushed. Hans’s friends said.
“How could she possibly know about our bet?”
“What she said to me was… no, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Anyway, you lost. Don’t forget you owe us 30 gold coins each.”
At that moment, a man approached the three with a stern face.
It was Duke Baltrahen, the Knight Order commander, who was a head taller than other men and boasted an overwhelming build.
As Leopold emanated an intimidating presence that made his opponents cower, Hans and his friends were overwhelmed by his aura and offered creaking greetings.
Though it wasn’t the wild energy like Marius’s, the threatening and heavy atmosphere unique to sword wielders was difficult for ordinary people to handle.
“Making bets about state guests from Trobancha…”
Shadows fell across his sculpted face.
“W-we were just…”
Thud. A calloused hand grabbed Hans’s shoulder.
Hans gasped and swallowed. Though it didn’t seem like much force was applied, his shoulder felt like it would tear apart.
Hans barely managed to suppress the scream that was about to burst out. He didn’t want to be humiliated in the crowded banquet hall.
But Leopold had no intention of going easy on him and applied more pressure to his grip.
Then Hans couldn’t stand properly and staggered.
“Ugh!”
Leopold grabbed Hans by the collar to help him maintain his balance.
Hans, who suddenly couldn’t stand properly and was grabbed by the collar, flushed red with shame.
“I’ll have to give separate warnings to Baron Obitz and your families. To attempt such rudeness…”
Though he wanted to deal with them himself, he couldn’t cause a disturbance on such a good day.
Leopold glared at them as if he would kill them and released Hans.
“If you don’t want to see something ugly, it would be best to leave the banquet hall.”
At Leopold’s warning, Hans and his friends scurried away.
Having clearly memorized Hans’s group, he decided to deal with them another day and found Regina on the balcony.
“…Leopold?”
Regina’s eyes widened as he suddenly appeared.
“Why are you here alone? Where’s Emilia?”
“Emilia is dancing with her Magic Tower colleagues. I came out for some fresh air.”
“…Would you like some champagne?”
“That sounds good.”
Regina readily accepted the champagne Leopold offered.
It was almost sunset time. The edge of the sky was tinged with pink.
“…It would be better not to get close to Hans Obitz. He’s a worthless man.”
Ah. You knew too.
Regina’s face burned with embarrassment.
“I know. What kind of person he is. That’s why I warned him too.”
“You knew?”
“He and his friends were giggling while looking at me. Imperial people often look down on Trobancha people.”
Emilia was oblivious to such things, but Regina was different.
She had hoped that Leopold, of all people, wouldn’t know about the incident with Hans… it was embarrassing and humiliating.
Regina, her pride wounded, drew a cold line.
“It’s not something Leopold needs to worry about.”
“How can I not worry? It’s about you, Regina. I wanted to help.”
“I don’t need it. So please stop being interested in my affairs.”
If they were still lovers, Regina wouldn’t have pushed him away for interfering in such matters.
Leopold, feeling deeply hurt, bit down hard on his molars to keep from speaking his true feelings.
However, when Regina’s hair fluttering in the breeze brushed against him, he could no longer hold back.
“Even if Regina doesn’t need me, I need Regina. I like you, so I couldn’t just stand by and watch.”
His voice was uncharacteristically excited.
His large fists clenched tightly. Regina looked up at him, surprised by his unexpected reaction.
Leopold continued with a pained voice.
“I’ve thought a lot about it. What’s needed for a person to like another person. If I fell for you at first sight and was only attracted to your appearance, I should feel excited about your twin sister who resembles you too. But the person who comes to mind every moment is you, Regina.”
“…”
“Maybe I like Regina’s bright side. Perhaps my feelings deepened because the moments we laughed together were enjoyable. What’s certain is that the instant I first saw you, Regina, I fell in love with you.”
He continued speaking rapidly, as if he wouldn’t give Regina a chance to speak.
“In that brief moment, I was imprinted on the person called Regina Berchio, so I can neither turn back nor forget. It’s meaningless to think about a realistic future. Regina, you are the sun, and I was blinded by that light. I know it’s foolish, but… I like you very much.”
Deep blue eyes like the clear seawater of Trobancha gazed at Leopold in confusion.
Her finely trembling gaze was painful to see.
Regina realized she could no longer claim her lies as truth.
Since Leopold had shown her his sincere confession, she too wanted to show him her secret.
Even if it would make him look at her with disgust.
* * *
“Edgar. Are you ready?”
“I’ve been waiting a month. When we make those guys our subordinates, Chris Ruman is mine.”
“No way. He’s going to be my donkey.”
“I don’t want Helene Aldridge.”
“They’re both mine. Chris will be my donkey and Helene will be my servant. Got it?”
“You greedy thing.”
I stuck my tongue out at Edgar playfully.
Just then, Helene and Chris looked in our direction, so we quickly hid ourselves under the bushes.
Edgar pulled out grape berries from his pocket. I snapped the rubber of my slingshot and aimed at those kids.
When Helene and Chris started playing in the garden, we planned to throw food at them with our prepared slingshots to mess up their clothes.
On a day like today, if their clothes got covered in food, both kids would obviously get scolded by the adults.
“If we get caught, we run to the fountain.”
“I know, I know.”
Edgar also took out his slingshot. Then he loaded a grape berry and pulled back the rubber band.
Thump thump. My heart pounded hard with excitement.
The time had come to make her pay for getting Liliana in trouble last time.
“Three. Two… One!”
Pop!
Two grape seeds that Edgar and I shot flew through the air.
The grape seeds hit Helene’s skirt and the back of Chris’s head.
“Ah!”
“Huh? What’s wrong, Chris?”
“Someone hit my head!”
Helene didn’t seem to properly notice our attack like Chris did.
We quickly loaded new grapes.
Pop! Another grape seed flew through the air.
This time it hit Helene’s forehead and Chris’s chest.
“Huh? Where did that come from?”
Both of them looked around frantically.
Seeing their tearful faces made me giggle.
Edgar pulled out a tomato from his pocket.
The tomato was too big to shoot with a slingshot, so he had cut it into four pieces with a knife beforehand.
Thud!
The tomato left a red mark on Helene’s clothes as it fell to the ground.
“Ah!”
Helene screamed loudly as her clothes got dirty.
Chris, who got hit in the hand with tomato, made a tearful face and started whimpering.
“C-could it be a ghost?”
“Where would there be ghosts! Someone’s playing a prank! Whoever you are, come out right now!”
Seeing Helene throw a tantrum made both of us burst into laughter at the same time.
We quickly covered our mouths, but they had already discovered our location.
“Let’s run!”
As Helene ran toward us with an angry face, Edgar grabbed my hand and we ran.
“Stop right there!”
We had only thrown three times, but seeing her chase us in such fury was hilarious.
Even though we were getting sweaty and tired, Edgar and I laughed heartily.
“Kyahahaha!”
“Puhahaha!”
“If I catch you, you’re dead! Chris! Catch them!”
Chris joined in too. I could see the fountain in the distance.
Just a little further past the fountain was the banquet hall.
There were adults there, so Helene and Chris couldn’t act however they wanted.
The problem was my stamina.
“Huff, gasp!”
I had only run a little, but my feet hurt and I was already out of breath.
When my breathing became rough, Edgar stopped running and checked on me.
“Are you okay?”
“Mm-hmm. I think I’m fine.”
“Got you!”
But before we could run again, Helene caught us.
Having run at full speed and then stopping suddenly, Helene’s body tilted and her weight shifted forward.
“Whoa?”
Edgar and I fell backward behind the fountain.
As I flailed in the air, my hand grabbed onto Helene.
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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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