♧ Chapter 4 ♧
All I knew was the original story.
So I had no idea what the main characters did before the original story began.
Even so, thanks to my sisters, I knew that two of the male leads would visit Trovanza and about when they were supposed to arrive.
‘They were supposed to arrive a week later…’
Why were they already in Trovanza?
And why were they at the playground in front of our house?
“Sir. Just look at how small she is. How could you push such a tiny child that hard?”
My Second Sister scolded the blond man, Marius.
She was usually as gentle as a spring breeze, but right now she was truly angry.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her body trembled.
Marius usually acted carefree, but once something upset him, he could become cruel at any moment.
So I was worried that he might get angry because of my sister.
“S-S-Second Sister…”
Stop… please stop…
I’m so scared of that man!
“If this gentleman hadn’t caught her, my little sister could have cracked her head or broken a leg.”
As my sister calmly pointed out that I had almost been seriously hurt because of him…
The cruel Emperor from the original story—
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
He kept bowing his head and apologizing to my Second Sister.
‘Huh? But he’s the Emperor?’
He had always been easygoing in the original story, but I never expected him to apologize so sincerely.
“Our little one. Look at her. She’s still shaking from fright.”
My Second Sister gently rubbed my back, thinking I was still scared because of the accident.
But the reason I was trembling…
Was because of the male leads.
“I’m okay.”
Even after I said that, she seemed to think I was only pretending to be brave to comfort her.
With a worried expression, she checked me over once more before thanking Leopold.
“Thank you for catching my little sister. Thanks to you, it didn’t become a terrible accident.”
“It was nothing.”
Leopold’s voice was even more blunt than I had expected.
I peeked out from my sister’s arms and looked at him.
He had enough athletic ability to catch me in midair after I fell from a swing that had gone so high.
In the original story, Leopold was a Sword Master who had trained his body to its absolute limit.
He was also the commander who led the Empire to victory in the war against Trovanza.
‘He’s really huge…’
All of the male leads were much taller than average.
But Leopold was on a completely different level.
He looked taller and wider than the front door of our house.
And the hard muscles I had felt when he caught me…
They were unbelievable.
“Thank you, Mister.”
Being afraid of a male lead was one thing.
But gratitude was gratitude.
I gave him a polite bow.
Leopold looked at me in slight surprise before the corners of his lips lifted into a faint smile.
Marius, who was standing beside him, covered his mouth dramatically.
“Wow. What should I do with this little one? She’s just too cute.”
“I’d like to thank you somehow…”
“It really isn’t necessary. I’m just glad the child wasn’t hur—”
Marius interrupted Leopold.
“Then how about becoming our travel guide?”
“Eh?!”
The strange sound came from me.
What kind of random request was that?
“Do you know how difficult it is to visit Trovanza? We worked really, really hard to enter the country, but we don’t know anything here. Could you show us around, Miss?”
Second Sister, please don’t fall for that!
I grabbed my sister’s hand and shook it to tell her not to agree.
She let out a small laugh and waved her hand.
“Hehe. What are you talking about? If you have any conscience, you shouldn’t even ask something like that.”
Making someone suffer with a smile on her face was one of my Second Sister’s special talents.
Marius nudged Leopold with his elbow and spoke playfully.
“Come on. Leo wanted a guide more than anyone else. Right?”
“That’s true. If possible, I’d like to shamelessly ask for your help.”
“Hmm…”
Just like my sister, I also fell into deep thought after hearing Leopold’s request.
Nothing good would come from getting involved with the tragic male leads.
But my Big Sister and Second Sister were destined to meet them anyway.
If that was the case…
Wouldn’t it be better if they built a good relationship from the beginning?
Maybe…
This was a chance given by heaven.
Before my sister could answer, I quickly grabbed Leopold’s hand.
“I agree!”
If things have come to this… then my plan is to make the male leads and my family become friends.
A little later…
Because I insisted so much, my Second Sister ended up becoming their travel guide.
Of course, she wasn’t going to show them all of Trovanza.
I was still young, weak, and short.
Since I walked much slower than everyone else, my Second Sister decided to simply introduce them to the best restaurants in our neighborhood.
“There aren’t many places for travelers to stay in Trovanza, so I can’t imagine where you’re staying.”
A moment ago, she had looked ready to argue with Emperor Marius.
Now, her gentle voice had completely returned.
That meant her anger had faded.
“We’re staying at a small guesthouse by the coast. Near Toban Beach.”
“Oh my! You’re staying there? I know that area very well. I worked nearby for a short time before.”
“Leo, isn’t there anywhere interesting to visit around Toban Beach?”
“Oh, by the way, Mr. Leo. Have you tried Trovanza’s traditional food? There’s a really delicious restaurant nearby.”
My Second Sister completely ignored Marius and only talked with Leopold.
Marius shamelessly interrupted from time to time, even though she was obviously ignoring him.
But my Second Sister was one step ahead of him.
At least…
He wasn’t the type who suddenly went crazy without warning like François Cassel.
“Siiigh…”
The moment I sat down at the restaurant my sister had brought us to, I let out a deep sigh.
My feet hurt.
And being on guard around the male leads had exhausted me.
“Hahaha. So the little one even knows how to sigh? Hey, little one, how old are you?”
“I’m six years old! …Huh? I’m not little!”
“Right, right. You’ve only been alive for six years. You’re still a baby.”
“A-And… how old are you, Mister?”
“Me? How old do you think I look?”
Marius rested his chin on both hands like a flower pose and leaned toward me from across the table.
The moment I saw him up close…
My heart skipped a beat.
A male lead really was a male lead.
He was unbelievably handsome.
If Leopold represented pure masculinity…
And François was the very definition of beauty…
Then Marius was handsome like a perfectly carved sculpture.
His shining blond hair stood out.
But what impressed me even more was the sharp bridge of his nose flowing down from his forehead…
The beautiful shape of his lips…
And his firm jawline.
‘Can a real person really look like that instead of a statue?’
My heart beat faster.
But his blue eyes were filled with mischief.
So I decided to tease him too.
“You look five hundred and fifty years old!”
Without thinking, I spoke casually.
Then I hurriedly added,
“…Sir.”
“Five hundred and fifty? Little one, look again. There’s no way this face belongs to someone that old. And if speaking politely is difficult, you can just talk comfortably.”
Huh…?
Was it really okay to speak casually to the Emperor?
Still…
A chance like this probably wouldn’t come again.
So I decided to just speak normally.
If something happened later…
I’d switch back to polite speech then.
“Then… five thousand five hundred and fifty!”
“Hmm… Five thousand years old, huh? Little one, you really don’t have good eyes. Even if I were five thousand years old, I’d still be incredibly handsome, right?”
He smiled.
His handsome eyes curved warmly, showing his white teeth.
It was such a cheerful laugh that it made everyone around him feel happier.
But when I stared at him with my mouth hanging open…
His laugh became a silly giggle.
It felt like he had noticed that I thought he was handsome.
Embarrassed…
I became stubborn.
“No! Mister Leo is more handsome!”
“Cough!”
The moment I said that, Leopold, who had been drinking water beside us, suddenly started coughing.
He had choked so badly that his face quickly turned red.
Covering his mouth, he kept coughing.
I puffed out my chest, lifted my chin, and proudly declared again,
“Mister Marius isn’t as handsome as Mister Leo!”
Leopold continued coughing.
Meanwhile, Marius looked completely unconvinced.
“Little one. Look carefully. There’s no way I’m uglier than him!”
“No! Mister Leo is the best!”
“Marius. That’s enough. Calm down. The little one already made her choice.”
Leopold said calmly while the corner of his lips curled into a faint smile.
Marius asked again,
“Even so… I’d still be the most handsome among all the five-thousand-five-hundred-and-fifty-year-olds, right?”
“No! Mister Leo is the best!”
Unable to watch any longer, my Second Sister joined in and gently patted my head.
“Our little Lily has good taste.”
The moment she said that…
Leopold’s face turned even redder.
Even the back of his neck became bright red.
I wondered if someone could really get that embarrassed just because they were called handsome.
But then I remembered.
In the original story, Leopold was shy when it came to love.
And besides…
My Second Sister was considered one of the greatest beauties in all of Trovanza.
Even a male lead would naturally become shy after being praised by someone like her.
“Th-Thank you… little one.”
“My name isn’t Little One.”
“If you’re not Little One… then are you Chestnut?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
Seeing that I didn’t understand, Marius explained.
“You’re so small. If you’re not a little chestnut… then maybe you’re just a tiny little bean?”
“I’m not tiny!”
“Hahaha! Tiny children never admit they’re tiny!”
“M-My name is Liliana!”
“Then your full name must be Liliana Chestnut Tiny.”
“No! I’m not Chestnut or Tiny!”
Seriously!
He’s teasing me again!
I was so frustrated that I flopped back against my chair.
Marius laughed loudly.
Leopold told him to stop teasing me…
But even he was smiling a little.
Even my Second Sister, whom I trusted…
Was trying hard not to laugh.
Oh… everyone in the world… this is so unfair!
“Lily. Even if you’re a little short, you’re cute and lovable.”
“Hmph… I want to grow tall like my sisters.”
“If you eat all your bell peppers, spinach, and carrots without leaving any behind, you’ll grow big and tall.”
“But I hate all three…”
Right then…
The food arrived.
My sister had ordered Barolo Brasato, slow-cooked beef with wine…
And Carbonara Vitellone, beef marinated in spices and wine before being cooked.
“I heard that people from the Empire eat more meat than vegetables, so I ordered mostly meat dishes.”
As for me…
I got the children’s lunch set that I always ordered whenever we came here.
The delicious smell made my mouth water.
I quickly picked up my fork.
Just as I was about to take my first bite—
Leopold noticed someone entering the restaurant and being shown to a seat.
He called out,
“François. Why are you here?”
At that unexpected name…
I stopped wrapping my pasta around my fork and quickly turned my head.
Am I some kind of magnet that attracts the male leads?
The moment François appeared…
My mouth fell wide open.
