I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 8

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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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#.08

Leopold had already checked his wristwatch five times.

The time he was supposed to meet Regina was 2 PM.

No matter how he thought about it, it was 2 PM, not 2 AM, and it was today, not yesterday or tomorrow.

But Regina hadn’t appeared for three hours now.

‘Did she stand me up…’

Leopold checked the bouquet with a dejected expression.

Like skin ripening under Trobancha’s scorching sun, the bouquet seemed ready to wilt at any moment.

“Sigh.”

That day, he was certain that something like electricity had flowed between them.

She couldn’t have failed to feel the enormous emotion budding in his chest.

“Do you happen to have a fiancée or wife?”

Though Leopold didn’t know much about women, he knew well enough that a woman wouldn’t ask such a question to a man she had no interest in.

That’s why he had asked her on a date despite Marius being right there.

“Then let’s meet again at that café in three days at 2 o’clock.”

She had only accepted because her younger sister Lilliana had burst into tears and it was chaotic, but perhaps all of that was just his delusion and she had no interest in him whatsoever.

When his thoughts reached that point, all strength drained from his body and a massive wave of depression washed over him.

At the same time, he felt he had waited long enough.

Continuing to wait for someone who wouldn’t come was practically the same as burdening the other person.

He returned to his lodging with drooping shoulders.

“Why are you back already? Did you get rejected?”

Marius, who had been packing his bag, widened his eyes in surprise.

He had been the person who supported his friend and subordinate Marius’s first love more than anyone.

“…I got stood up.”

It wasn’t even just getting rejected, but being completely stood up.

Marius felt sorry for his friend and said consolingly:

“It was just someone you met once anyway.”

“Whether it’s once or ten times, what does it matter? What’s important is that my feelings for that person burned hot.”

Marius looked at his friend with a troubled expression.

Leopold was usually taciturn and stingy with emotional expression, but right now he seemed like a sensitive adolescent boy.

While he was briefly choosing his words, not knowing how to comfort him, Leopold erased his expression and asked calmly:

“It was today, right?”

“Someone from Trobancha will come soon to guide us.”

When they entered the country earlier than scheduled, the Trobancha government recommended moving from their lodging to a hotel due to security concerns.

Since the conference wasn’t far off, Marius decided to follow their recommendation, and a government official was expected to arrive soon.

Leopold had packed his bags early in the morning and left to meet Regina.

After setting down the bouquet and gathering his bags near the entrance, Leopold asked Marius:

“But why did Francois Cassel come to Trobancha so early? He agreed to come here to make the Soul Oath, but he’s not someone who would come this early.”

“He said he had business.”

“I’m curious what kind of business it is. It’s bothering me for some reason.”

“Well, maybe it’s personal? Since he’s in Trobancha anyway, he might want to research ability users.”

Marius pretended to be busy packing while playing dumb, but Leopold was too busy fidgeting with the now-useless bouquet to notice.

“That’s true. Entry permits for Trobancha aren’t easily granted, so he might have come to kill two birds with one stone.”

Just as Leopold reached that conclusion, there was a knock from outside.

The Trobancha government official had arrived.

Instead of Marius, who was hastily stuffing clothes into his bag, Leopold opened the door.

Beyond the door stood a woman in a neat pantsuit.

She had let down her jet-black hair and wore leather boots instead of dress shoes, giving off an impressively cool atmosphere.

“I’m Leopold von Waldrafen. That’s—”

“I’m Marius. Nice to meet you.”

Recognizing the government official, Marius approached with a bright smile and extended his hand for a handshake.

The woman’s deep blue eyes touched the casually offered hand before withdrawing.

She shook hands with Marius and introduced herself.

“I’m Inspector Alicia Berchio from the Marine Police Security Bureau of Trobancha. I’ll be responsible for your security during your stay in Trobancha.”

Despite her cold impression, she had a clear and refreshing voice. At first listen, there was even a strange gentleness to it.

A strange light—whether joy or something else—flickered in Marius’s eyes before disappearing.

He spoke in his characteristically playful, light tone:

“Are you perhaps Regina’s older sister?”

When an unexpected name came from Marius, Alicia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I just asked on a hunch, but you really are family. What a connection.”

“Do you know my younger sisters?”

“Ah, we met by chance and they gave us a day’s tour.”

Marius briefly considered whether to mention that Regina had almost gone on a date with Leopold, but decided there was no need to create unnecessary trouble and kept quiet.

However, he couldn’t help but glance at Leopold.

Leopold had been slightly more tense than usual ever since hearing the surname Berchio.

“You have the same eyes. Oh, come in and let’s talk. I haven’t finished packing yet.”

Marius forcefully shoved the remaining clothes into his bag.

Alicia asked with curiosity:

“I heard your attendants are coming separately on the scheduled date—is there anything inconvenient?”

“It’s inconvenient, but I like it. When else would I get to live away from people’s watchful eyes? I guess the emperor position doesn’t suit my nature.”

Marius winked playfully and forcibly closed his bursting bag.

Leopold quietly observed Alicia.

The solid muscle felt from her lean frame, the sword at her side, her smooth accent, and straight posture.

Unlike the Empire, Trobancha was a country without social classes.

However, she seemed more noble than the Empire’s aristocrats, with a dignity rarely found in ordinary people.

Leopold, who was sensitive about security, asked her:

“Did you come alone?”

“I alone am sufficient.”

“Ah, I wasn’t doubting your skills. I apologize if I offended you. I was just concerned that marine police would handle such matters.”

“Trobancha is a small island nation, so marine police have more influence than civil police. Besides, we couldn’t mobilize soldiers to escort you two.”

Alicia checked on Marius, who had finished preparing to leave, and concluded:

“I’m a direct descendant of the Berchio family.”

The Berchio family was a prominent political family in Trobancha.

Not only had they produced numerous politicians, but when wars broke out, they enlisted regardless of gender and stood on the front lines.

Of course, given the family’s long history, there were many branch politicians using the Berchio name, but direct descendants carried a different weight.

In other words, Trobancha had shown their sincerity by sending a direct Berchio descendant capable of single-handedly guarding an emperor.

“If you’re ready, we’ll move now.”

They traveled to the hotel by carriage.

With no one speaking, it was Marius who broke the ice—not the stiffly frozen Leopold or the seemingly taciturn Alicia.

“How is Lilliana doing?”

“You know Lilliana too?”

“Of course. Didn’t you know we’re quite close?”

“Lilliana has been running a high fever for several days and is currently hospitalized. Regina and another sister are taking care of her.”

“Ah.”

Leopold unconsciously let out an exclamation.

Hope arose that Regina hadn’t come to their meeting place not because she disliked him, but because she couldn’t due to her sister.

Color immediately began returning to his face. Marius smiled silently and continued the conversation.

“Is she very sick?”

“She seemed fine when I saw her this morning, but her fever rises again at night, so it’s hard to say. More importantly, did you enjoy touring Trobancha?”

“Of course. I heard there are many beauties in Trobancha, and that turned out to be true. Thanks to that, things have become quite difficult.”

“What do you mean?”

“I decided to have a political marriage based purely on political considerations, but everyone’s so beautiful that it’s making it hard.”

Though he confessed this in a casual, offhand manner, the content and the look in his eyes were anything but light.

Edith was slightly surprised by the information Marius revealed, but she didn’t show it and responded calmly.

“I heard you prepared a soul oath for the peace treaty, but I didn’t expect you to also consider a political marriage. That’s unexpected.”

“A soul oath ends when either I or someone from Trobancha dies, but mixed bloodlines create a treaty that remains valid for a very long time.”

His voice felt like cool shade under a tree on a summer day—refreshing coolness within the heat.

Marius asked in a peculiar tone, mixing serious talk disguised as light jokes and playfulness.

“I came here early to find someone from a suitable political family for a strategic marriage. What do you think, Edith? Is there anyone you’d like to recommend?”

One of Edith’s eyebrows rose slightly.

Eyes like heavy ice sunken beneath rough currents stared directly at Marius.

“Do you have any particular conditions you want in the woman you’re looking for?”

“Since I’ll be proposing a political marriage without any special prior notice, it should be someone who thinks well in this direction. I’d prefer a prestigious political family, and also…”

His eyes were certainly folded mischievously, and his curled lips couldn’t be lighter.

However, the atmosphere surrounding Marius gave off a wild energy, as if looking away would result in being devoured and torn to shreds.

It was the rough momentum that only a man who had reached the pinnacle with his brothers’ blood on his hands could display.

“Edith doesn’t seem bad either. What do you think, Edith?”

One of Edith’s eyelids twitched.

The Emperor had been targeting her from the beginning.

There wouldn’t be many people in Trobancha who were direct bloodline of the finest political noble family that the Empire couldn’t find fault with, and who possessed the power to bring strong abilities to the Imperial Family.

“Well. That would depend on what you can give me.”

The corner of Edith’s mouth curved up smoothly.

Though she was a caring older sister to her siblings, she was definitely not a woman to be taken lightly.

If she were a soft person, she wouldn’t have been able to rise to the position of security officer at such a young age.

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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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