I Became the Youngest Sister-in-law of the Ruined Reverse Harem’s Male Leads - Chapter 94

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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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#.94

 

Edgar, who had played excitedly with his friends, went to find Lilliana as soon as he returned to the Imperial Palace and asked.

 

“How was it without me?”

 

Edgar hoped that Lilliana had been lonely without him.

 

“It was nice not having a nagging grandfather around.”

 

When Lilliana answered mischievously, Edgar asked again.

 

“Really? Don’t tell me you had fun playing alone?”

 

“Hmph. Even though you disappeared like that yesterday, I had a great time playing card games with Helene until dinner.”

 

“What about today?”

 

“I was a little bored. But it’s okay. I’m not a baby anymore, so I can play well by myself.”

 

He had hoped to hear at least that she felt somewhat empty without him.

 

Edgar was so disappointed that he puffed out his cheeks and pressed his lips tightly shut.

 

“Lilliana. Your sister has something important to tell you.”

 

“Mm-hmm. What is it? But Edith. When exactly is Friday coming? The delegation is coming on Friday. I can’t wait because I want to see my brother.”

 

“Stop looking for your brother. You have your other brother and Lady Edith too!”

 

Edgar, who had become sensitive, ended up bursting out in anger.

 

Lilliana glared at him, but he didn’t care and turned his head away sharply.

 

Just then, a servant came to inform them that it was time to go to Ian’s birthday party.

 

Edgar gathered his gift and immediately set off for Ian’s house.

 

Ian’s birthday party was bustling with the children he had played with a few days ago.

 

“Happy birthday. This is your gift.”

 

After greeting his friends, Edgar congratulated Ian on his birthday.

 

Edgar, who had been practically alone until he first entered school, now had friends he could hang out with reasonably well, even if they weren’t very close.

 

“Wow, this is what I wanted!”

 

The gift Edgar handed over was an assembly-type wooden doll.

 

It was a toy that was popular among boys these days because the shape changed completely depending on how you attached the pieces.

 

“I suddenly said I wanted to come to the party, so thank you for sending me an invitation.”

 

“No, it’s nothing. When they heard you and Chris were coming, my parents said they absolutely had to send you invitations.”

 

“So you’re saying you invited me because of your parents? You don’t like me?”

 

It was a tone that would make strangers shrink back, but his school friends had already adapted to Edgar’s words and actions.

 

Everyone knew that despite his words, he was actually a kind and sensitive child.

 

Moreover, Edgar had gained a stable environment over the past few years and wasn’t as sharp-edged as before.

 

Ian comforted Edgar while handing him some snacks.

 

“Hey. I’ve always wanted to become friends with you, so I’m happy you came today.”

 

“Then that’s good.”

 

“It was great playing games together with Luca last time. Plus, you’re good at kicking the ball. Let’s do it again next time!”

 

“Yeah. Let’s definitely play together.”

 

“Ah! I got a ball as a gift, so let’s play now!”

 

Edgar pretended to give in and accepted the suggestion.

 

Then Ian grabbed the ball that Luca had brought as a birthday gift and rushed outside with his friends.

 

After rolling the ball around with Chris and the others, they were soon drenched in sweat.

 

“Edgar. Huff. You should let us win once. Isn’t this too much?”

 

“But our team has me on it.”

 

Luca, who was the weak link on the team, argued.

 

“W-we have me on our team too.”

 

When Chris stepped forward, Luca was momentarily speechless. Chris was an even bigger weak link.

 

Everyone giggled and went into the banquet hall to gulp down drinks.

 

Then Ian slapped his knee and exclaimed.

 

“Ah, right! Edgar! You’re close with Lilliana, right?”

 

“How do you know Lilliana?”

 

“My cousin Julie, who’s mixed-race from the Hartmann Kingdom, is in the same class as Lilliana.”

 

“Ah. Julie. I know him too.”

 

“I became friends with them when I joined them to buy tongue candy. We failed to buy the candy though. Anyway, Lilliana talked about you a lot.”

 

“About me?”

 

Edgar asked casually to pretend he wasn’t interested, but his ears had already perked up.

 

“Yeah. She said you’re her closest friend, so she told me to treat you well if I meet you. Otherwise, I’d have to meet Oliver, who’s sealed in her right hand.”

 

“I told her to keep some distance from Oliver.”

 

Though he grumbled as if complaining, the corners of Edgar’s mouth were secretly curving into an arc.

 

He was still upset that Lilliana wanted to return to Trobancha.

 

But he was extremely happy that she thought of him as her closest friend. Happy enough to make his entire chest feel hot and full.

 

“Edgar.”

 

Then Chris grabbed Edgar’s sleeve and shook it with a pale face.

 

“What’s wrong. Are you hurt somewhere?”

 

“It’s not that, but I had something I wanted to discuss with you, but I forgot because we were playing.”

 

“What is it.”

 

“I heard during breakfast this morning that Lilliana’s brother won’t be able to come with this delegation.”

 

“What? Is that really true?”

 

“Yeah. Lilliana has such high expectations, what should we do?”

 

When Chris started to tear up, Edgar held his head in his hands.

 

If Lilliana’s brother doesn’t come to the Empire, then Lilliana won’t return to Trobancha either.

 

But that didn’t mean he welcomed a situation where Lilliana would be hurt.

 

“I should have held back instead of getting irritated this morning.”

 

Edgar sighed deeply, regretting that he had lost his temper with Lilliana.

 

* * *

 

Tap. Tap. Tap.

 

Long fingers rhythmically drummed on the table.

 

Emilia had been unable to take her eyes off the letter she received for ten minutes now, lost in thought.

 

The academic world has been turned upside down because of the paper you published.

 

You solved the secret of a rare disease that no one else could solve.

 

Your sister’s health problem must be resolved too, how about returning to the research institute?

 

The Empire is dangerous right now. There are rumors that they even requested holy knights to be dispatched to Trobancha Temple to catch dark mages.

 

“Wow. What should I do about this.”

 

Setting aside the position and research funding support the research institute proposed, it was Trobancha. Her hometown where she was born and raised.

 

It would be a lie to say she didn’t miss her hometown. The Empire was too different from Trobancha, from food and clothing to ways of thinking.

 

Knowing this fact, she came to the Empire because she was worried about her sisters. Though she didn’t particularly do anything special for her sisters.

 

“What do you mean I didn’t do anything. I cured our youngest, didn’t I?”

 

Emilia shook her head quickly.

 

She had done a lot, having used up what felt like her entire future lifespan researching Lilliana’s rare disease.

 

Moreover, after Regina gave birth, she lived at the Waldrafen Estate for three months helping with postpartum care.

 

She could have had the maids do it, but it wouldn’t be as comfortable as having family do it.

 

‘Wouldn’t it be okay to go back now?’

 

She had followed them because of her sisters in the first place.

 

She thought to help because it was obvious the two of them would have a hard time taking care of Lilliana and adapting to a foreign country.

 

But now the situation had changed a lot. Ten-year-old Lilliana didn’t require as much care as before, and Edith had adapted well and was living the life of an imperial worker no less than Marius.

 

‘I can take Lilliana with me and Francois is…’

 

She was calculating in her head when Francois entered the research lab right on time.

 

“Aren’t you going home?”

 

“Hey, sunfish.”

 

“….”

 

Francois didn’t respond.

 

Sunfish was a nickname she had given him because he would flinch and get startled whenever he had even the slightest connection to dark magic.

 

But before that, it was a term he had used to tease Emilia.

 

“Sunfish. I’m calling you. I have something special to ask you.”

 

“I’ve told you countless times not to call me that.”

 

“You used to call me sunfish all cheerfully too. How is it okay for you but not for me?”

 

“You really hold grudges.”

 

Francois wanted to punch his past self who had provoked Emilia by calling her sunfish when he first met her at the Trobancha Library three years ago.

 

‘Even playboy would be better. Sunfish isn’t pretty or cool at all.’

 

He didn’t want to be called by such a nickname, especially by Emilia of all people.

 

Though he showed his displeasure and asked her not to call him sunfish, Emilia didn’t care. She stubbornly returned the favor as if shaking off the hurt from being teased as sunfish back then.

 

‘I must have been crazy. How dare I call Emilia something like sunfish.’

 

Unaware of what he was thinking, Emilia suddenly reached out and placed her hand on Francois’s forehead.

 

“Ah.”

 

“Let me check for a moment.”

 

As golden patterns appeared on her palm, she could sense what was inside Francois’s head.

 

Though she had shared her blessing and continuously provided divine power, the erosion was still steadily progressing.

 

The hole in his mind hadn’t been filled, and it was because a demon had nested there since he was in the womb.

 

“Still, the erosion speed is much slower than before. So don’t make that expression.”

 

When Emilia frowned and chewed her lips anxiously, Francois felt hurt and gave a bitter smile.

 

Then she made a fist and lightly tapped his forehead.

 

“Aren’t you angry? How could you make such a contract when you have a child?”

 

“I think I used to be angry and resentful. Well, if you lose something, you gain something too.”

 

“What did you gain?”

 

“A good friend like you and that friend’s good family.”

 

“Are you insane?”

 

When Emilia stepped back slightly with a disgusted expression, Francois asked.

 

“So what did you want to ask?”

 

“Um….”

 

As Emilia trailed off and stared at him intently, he raised his eyebrows in confusion.

 

After three years of staying by his side as a colleague and friend without showing it, was she finally becoming interested?

 

A brief sense of anticipation crept up, but as expected, it was the usual.

 

“What would you do if I said I was going back to Trobancha?”

 

“I’d follow you.”

 

“You’re the Marquis. Could you give up such a good position?”

 

“Though I obtained it through ability, it’s not a position I’m particularly attached to. Are you planning to return to Trobancha?”

 

“Our niece is only 22 months old, so I can’t go back yet. I want to see her grow up a bit more before I go. Anyway, let’s be clear about one thing.”

 

“Tell me.”

 

“Whether you’re the Marquis or the Marquis of Cassel, it has nothing to do with me. I have no intention of fitting my life around yours—”

 

Francois interrupted her words with a sighing voice. He looked clearly exhausted.

 

“The moment I signed that contract, I decided to fit everything about myself around you.”

 

“Oh, really? Then that’s good.”

 

“If I adjust to you, will you fit me into your life?”

 

The question seemed to hold some expectation, so Emilia was a bit flustered and held her breath.

 

His questioning voice was somehow low and sticky.

 

‘Why are his eyes sparkling so much today?’

 

No, why is his expression like that again….

 

His angelically beautiful face had turned serious and sunken, giving off a somewhat seductive atmosphere.

 

It was like seeing the guy next door who always wore shabby clothes suddenly come out neatly dressed in uniform one day. It felt so unfamiliar that she felt inexplicably embarrassed.

 

‘Why am I acting like this? Am I going crazy?’

 

While she was choosing her words, not knowing how to respond, Francois chuckled and added cheekily.

 

“Your expression is really funny. I’m not asking you to take responsibility, so finish up and let’s go home.”

 

“Ah, okay. Right.”

 

Emilia hurriedly packed her things while tilting her head in confusion.

 

Today, Francois felt strangely like a stranger, which puzzled her.

 

‘Ah, whatever. It’s not like he’s been weird for just a day or two.’

 

Of course, as a working person, you leave random thoughts at the office.

 

By the time the carriage arrived at home, Emilia had forgotten all her worries.

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