CH 20

‘But I don’t know exactly when it will happen.’

It’s a story that passed after explaining it in just a few lines, and my memory isn’t clear, so I’m not sure.

Anyway, for sure, The second prince to be emperor. Ironically, it was because of the monster that the first prince, who had been pushing for the second prince’s power, suddenly died. Because the brainwashed monsters are exploding.

‘I don’t know when and where that monster runaway occurs.’

I couldn’t guess the time, but the place was highly likely to be the capital no matter how I thought about it.

Another monster appears in the capital. Me and my eldest brother would be fine because we went down to the house after the New Year’s festival, but the younger brother who joined the Knights of the Red Lion and my older sister Lily, who had their headquarters in the capital, might be in danger.

‘In the book, both are safe until Noah becomes an adult.’

I, who should have married Leonhard and left for the Marquis of Ajas by now, am still in the capital.

Surely my presence won’t cause a butterfly effect and endanger my family, right?

My shoulders trembled because of the bad image that came to mind at the moment.

“Are you cold, miss?”

“No. I am not cold…”

Cklok! Cklok!

At that time, a brown cuckoo among the four cuckoo dolls opened its beak and cuckooed in a nest on a model of tree branches hanging on the wall. Helen, holding a teapot to pour a new cup of hot tea, looked at it and said,

“Looks like the Count is coming home.”

“I know. Did the meeting end earlier than expected?”

I went to the window and looked out and saw the carriage my eldest brother had been riding in the morning, passing through the gate and into the garden.

‘I was curious about the result of the meeting, but it went well.’

After passing through the hallway, running from the stairs leading to the hall on the first floor, I saw my eldest brother leaving his coat and hat to the butler.

“Brother Liv!”

“Nell…Hey, don’t run on the stairs!”

But I’m in a hurry!

When I ran down the stairs and arrived at the lobby on the first floor, I let go of the hem of my skirt and my eldest brother shook his head as if he couldn’t stop me. I laughed when I saw my older brother.

“Did you have a good trip to the imperial palace?”

“Yes. A special investigation team will be set up to uncover the truth of this monster situation. The commander of the investigation was entrusted to the Duke of Kereis.”

Is it because I usually ask about this and that? I didn’t even ask, but my eldest brother informed me of the meeting. I’m sure you’re telling me because you can tell me this much.

I followed my eldest brother to the office room and asked questions for no reason.

“Speaking of the truth, it means someone made a trick, right?”

“Without artificial intervention, how could monsters of different species appear in the capital at the same time? Besides, the knight guarding the outer castle said they couldn’t see the monster, so this is the biggest problem.”

“Did they hide with magic? Or dig underground and go there?”

John came in after me and lit the fireplace, my eldest brother invited me to sit down in a chair. I quickly put my butt on the rocking chair that was like my assigned seat.

“I can’t jump to conclusions. There is a way to confidently enter the capital without hiding or digging.”

“How can a monster enter the capital? ah…!”

Then John brought the trolley and set a tea set on the table. My older brother, who was handed a teapot directly from John, poured black tea into my cup and nodded.

“Yes. A pet monster raised by nobles.”

“But…Nobles raise low-level monsters like Wingcats and Hornhorses.”

I heard that they can be easily defeated by a single knight or wizard.

“It was fashionable to raise low-level monsters when there was no one to raise them. Now that you and I are raising low-level monsters, what do you think people who want to be noticed will do?”

“Are you raising intermediate or advanced monsters?”

“Yes. From what I hear, there are situations where monsters that are presumed to be of high rank have already been traded on the black market.”

“Oh, my god…”

Oh, now I get it. so the first prince sent a monster into the second prince’s palace. He is going to turn it over as the second prince’s pet monster!

“There was also a vote on a law banning the breeding of monsters. Sooner or later, there will be a proclamation about it. Just in case, you don’t secretly raise monsters at home, right?”

“What do you mean! No matter what, I’m Howard’s Family Lady, I’m not going out of my way to secretly raise monsters!”

“Yeah… I’m glad you’re not a tomboy that far.”

I can’t even think of raising a cat or dog, but to say it’s a low-level monster is ridiculous.

Besides, in order to raise low-level monsters, the existence of a wizard who could periodically extract the magic accumulated in the magic stone was essential.

Unlike Lily, I had no talent for magic, so I couldn’t even dream of it.

“And Nell. There is something I want to ask you seriously.”

“Yes..?”

You can just ask lightly…

The fact that the word ‘seriously’ came out of my older brother’s mouth meant that it was a really serious question. I was nervous and swallowed dry saliva as I recalled what mistakes I had done.

“What kind of relationship are you with Marquis Ajas exactly?”

“What?”

While I was wondering if it was possible that I had been caught stealing the kitchen together with Helen, I was so surprised by my older brother’s question that I finally heard it, so I didn’t say anything for a while.

All sorts of emotions spread across my eldest brother’s face, as if he thought I was so caught up that I couldn’t say anything.

“Nell, you…”

“Oh no! It’s nothing! It was just that we danced at my debut date, went on a date in public, and he escorted me to Becky’s birthday banquet.…?”

As I talked about it, the eldest brother’s expression got worse. Of course. If the other two men and women had progressed like that in just a month, I would have bet my entire fortune on “the two of them are getting engaged soon.”I don’t have a whole fortune, but anyway.

“It’s really nothing…”

“But the Marquis Ajas dares to call me over and ask how you are?”

“Is that what Leon said?”

“Yes. It seemed that the face that worried about you, who was in a safe place the whole time. Nell, I won’t ask again. Do you have any idea why Marquis Ajas cares about you so much?”

The eldest brother’s expression became even more stern. I didn’t do anything wrong, but why do I feel like I’m being scolded?

I, who kept an eye on my eldest brother and played with my hands, eventually brought up a story I had been hiding.

“In fact.”

“in fact?”

With that single word, one of the elder brother’s eyebrows twitched.  I don’t know, I said at once.

“I almost got a marriage proposal at Becky’s birthday party.”

“What, what?!”

“But don’t get me wrong. I didn’t get a marriage proposal. I was almost to get it.”

When I put the emphasis on ‘almost’, my eldest brother asked back.

“No, if you get it, you get it. What’s the point of almost receiving it?”

“Before the words of the marriage proposal were completed, a monster appeared and kyaaakh!, people screamed.”

In addition, I couldn’t even see what the ring, which should be given if he proposed to me, looked like. A marriage proposal without a ring. Does it make sense?

“That’s why I didn’t get a marriage proposal. I don’t know if Leon noticed that or if he knows.”

“You… Now that you say that important thing”

“But I didn’t even get a marriage proposal. It could be my misunderstanding.”

But I could bet my entire fortune on not being mistaken. In the original story, Leonhard proposed to Raenel.

“Okay…Now I get it. Marquis of Ajas said he wanted to send someone soon and have a serious talk, Perhaps, he wants to talk about it.”

“Perhaps? What? You said Leon would send someone soon?”

Doesn’t that mean he’s going to marry me?

My eldest brother thought so too, so he asked me a serious question once again.

“Nel. Please answer honestly. Are you interested in the Marquis Ajas, or do you want to marry him?”

“No!”

“Are you sure? Can you swear to the clover that you really have no disinterest in him?”

“Ugh….”

To fall down with a clover in a mean way. I hesitated, then slightly raised my thumb and index finger.

“This much…?”

“How much?”

“No, but he is very handsome. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a handsome man since I was born.”

I grew up between warm and cold handsome men, so I am immune to handsome men.  Still, the reason I keep getting possessed is that Leonhard is an incredibly handsome man, and that he is perfectly my taste.

“To be very honest, I don’t think it’s bad if we only date. But to decide to get married, it’s probably a little…”

“A little?”

I quietly avoided my older brother’s eyes and looked up at the ceiling.

“Should I say I’m not ready to leave this house yet?”

“Anyway, You have no thoughts of marriage, right?”

“Yes, That’s right.”

The most important thing is that there is a future dark sub-male lead in that house. Not only the original Raenel but also the Howard family was annihilated.

‘Of course, if I don’t try it, it might not be possible.’

In this story, it was unsure. If I try, will I be able to change that child or not?

“I get it. Then, if marriage talks come in from the Marquis Aias, I will reject it.”

“Yes, brother.”

“just in case, don’t meet with Marquis Aias separately from now on.”

“Yes.”

If I had known that the monster crisis was about to happen in the first place, I would not have committed such a thing as going on a public date with Marquis Ajas to calm the rumors about Duke Khalid.

But what can I do? It’s already spilled water and broken glass. From now on, I’ll just have to stay at home.

But. what the hell. Why not?’

* * *

“Why are you here?”

“Meow.”

As if answering my words, the wing cat shaking its neck. A red magic stone stuck in the forehead with black hair from head to toe.

Why is this wingcat, probably named Ruby, in a back alley like this?

And why is he showing friendliness by rubbing his head against my feet? All that came out was just a sigh, so I looked at the blue sky and recalled what happened hours ago.