Chapter 09
Why was Kainess angry?
I thought about it the entire way back to the mansion, but I couldn’t come up with an answer.
Ah—was it because of the engagement?
A sudden flash of insight crossed my mind, and I clapped my hands with a loud smack.
That would make sense. If it were Kainess, he’d be horrified just being tied to Esta in any way.
‘You say you don’t like me, yet you haven’t even broken off the engagement! That’s ridiculous!’
Was it something like that?
‘But it’ll be annulled on its own anyway…’
I was already busy worrying about staying alive. It was too much trouble to start plotting how to break off my engagement with Kainess too.
We were going to separate once we became adults anyway.
I just hoped he wasn’t too upset because I had gone to confront him for no reason.
The fact that my lifeline was in his hands…
“Living as Esta is really hard…”
Until I found another mage who could help me, I’d better survive by carefully pleasing our male lead.
While I was thinking of ways to soften Kainess’s heart, I spotted a Bailey family carriage entering the garden in the distance.
And the tall figure stepping out of it.
N-no way…!
The moment our eyes met, the handsome man who smiled with crescent-shaped eyes was the Bailey family’s eldest—Febuer.
“Esta.”
Oh my. Oh my! He’s ridiculously handsome!
Father is handsome, Mother is beautiful, and I’ve always thought Jenuer and Meier were drop-dead gorgeous too—but those two are still minors.
Febuer, however, had the perfect male-lead look.
Broad shoulders. A wide chest. A back as vast as the ocean. A body wrapped in solid muscle. A height that made it look like he’d have to duck to enter a carriage!
A perfect physique—and a handsome face to match.
He had the Bailey family’s gentle eye shape, incredibly clear skin, and even moist-looking lips that were flawless.
And that radiant golden hair under the sunlight…
A-are you a god…? A male deity has descended before my eyes!
“Ah—aaah!”
I screamed in shock without meaning to, and Febuer rushed over instantly with a worried look.
Such a holy level of beauty.
I could tell he was tall at first glance, but standing this close, he felt overwhelmingly imposing.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
He pressed a hand to my forehead with concern.
I-I think I’m going to get a nosebleed…!
I was reminded once again how weak I was to handsome men. My nose tingled, and I quickly covered it with my hand. Febuer tilted his head.
“D-don’t worry. I’m just so happy to see you, Brother.”
“It’s been a long time.”
He smiled brightly—almost foolishly so—and stroked my hair.
Then, with one arm, he effortlessly lifted me up and carried me into the mansion.
“F-Febuer, Brother!”
I liked being held, but this position was extremely embarrassing.
My body may be fifteen, but inside is a fully grown adult woman with very impure thoughts!
“P-please put me down, Brother!”
“I just wanted to hold you since it’s been so long. Is it uncomfortable?”
That beautiful way of speaking, that handsome face, the tenderness of rushing to see his sick younger sister at once.
T-the real deal has appeared…!!
“I’m going to marry you when I grow up, Brother.”
Febuer’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Jenuer said you’ve changed, and it seems he was right.”
He chuckled lowly as if amused.
Oh my, even his laughing face is handsome.
“Yes, I’ve been reborn. When I grow up, I’m marrying you.”
“Alright, let’s do that.”
I made him promise several times. Each time, he agreed.
I knew better than anyone—being a 21st-century modern person—that it could never happen. But even this vicarious satisfaction made me ridiculously happy.
“You’re… too handsome…”
I burrowed into Febuer’s arms and muttered.
Completely unaware of my shameless inner thoughts, he simply held me like I was adorable.
“Why did I have to possess a kid’s body and suffer like this…?”
If you’re going to enter a novel, shouldn’t you at least get a heart-fluttering romance with some unrealistically handsome man?
All I see are snot-nosed kids everywhere.
Damn it!
On top of that, my health is poor, so even going out is difficult.
Romance is a distant dream.
“Before that, is there even anyone who’d date me?”
I’m the fiancée of Kainess, the only son of the Feisia ducal house.
…That’s a disaster, isn’t it?
Until the engagement is broken, I can’t even dream of a normal relationship.
But if we break it off, will Kainess still come treat me?
Ugh… my life, or romance?
The 고민 didn’t last long.
“First, I need to survive.”
There was another reason I had woken up early.
“Brother!”
“You’re up early.”
His bright smile outshone the morning sun.
I didn’t know I was the type of woman who fangirled over handsome faces.
I couldn’t stop my lips from curling upward as I followed Febuer around.
‘Ah, life feels worth living.’
Unaware of my dark inner thoughts, Febuer simply stroked my hair affectionately.
More. More…!
A faint glint of madness flickered in my eyes, but the moment our gazes met, I smiled sweetly.
“Waking up early is a basic virtue for a lady.”
At that, Ellie—standing beside us—looked at me with dry, unimpressed eyes.
‘Since when did Miss wake up early? When did noon become early morning?’
She didn’t say it out loud, but her eyes did.
Still, I didn’t even notice her. My vision was filled entirely with Febuer’s radiant face.
“I’m so happy I get to see you first thing in the morning, Brother.”
How is he handsome even right after waking up?
His slightly tousled hair only made him cuter. Soft eyes, thick brows, defined features, a straight nose, fatal red lips.
However you looked at him, he was clearly the novel’s male lead type.
Why isn’t Febuer the protagonist?
If he were the male lead, this story would’ve been a steady bestseller.
As I smacked my lips regretfully, Febuer smiled gently and took my hand.
Oh my.
“You even speak so sweetly now. You’ve really matured.”
“Hehe. When are you going back?”
“Do you want me to leave soon?”
“No? I wish you’d stay by my side.”
“I’d like that too.”
The grin on my face refused to come down.
As I fixed my gaze on his profile while heading to the dining hall, we ran into Jenuer on the central staircase.
Jenuer, who was coming down the stairs, saw us holding hands and curled one side of his lips upward.
“Well, well.”
“Jenuer. When you see your elder brother and sister, you should greet them properly.”
Wow… he even has charisma.
He was soft only with his younger sister Esta, but he carried the dignity of the Bailey family’s eldest son.
When he spoke firmly in his low voice, Jenuer finally bowed his head.
“It’s been a while, Brother.”
Febuer returned the greeting, affection softening his gaze toward his younger sibling who was five years younger.
“How’s the capital these days?”
“About the same. There’s been some trouble near the outer territories recently, but it’ll quiet down soon.”
“You’re not deploying again, are you?”
“……”
“It’s my turn next. You know that, right? You promised last time.”
“I’ll make sure there’s no need for deployment. Don’t worry about it. Just take care of the family.”
Oh my.
I blinked, watching their brotherly bond. Jenuer grumbled while worrying about his brother, and Febuer ruffled his hair affectionately.
While I stood there gawking at their looks, Febuer looked at me with concern.
“We shouldn’t have said that in front of Esta.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
I didn’t even know what they were talking about.
I’d been too busy admiring their faces.
“I’m not worried.”
At my carefree reply, both brothers smiled in relief.
Why would I worry about them dying?
That would be pointless.
In the original story, the only one who died was Esta.
After finishing our meal, I went for a walk holding Febuer’s hand. He said he had to return to the capital soon, so today was the only day we could spend much time together.
“I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
“What do you do in the capital, Brother?”
“I work at the Ministry of Finance.”
The Ministry of Finance?
Suddenly, I remembered that the trashy second male lead—the Crown Prince—had also trained there.
“Then… does His Highness the Crown Prince work there too?”
“That’s right.”
Why under that trash of all people?!
Startled, I jumped to my feet.
“What’s wrong?”
“I—um—it looked like your face was glowing, so I just…”
“Haha. Our Esta has become quite charming.”
He even saw that positively.
My cheeks flushed for a moment—but then I grew worried.
The Crown Prince was a notorious trash character in the novel—and a workaholic.
He was so obsessed with work he even tried to use the female lead.
And my brother works under him…
“Brother, if your superior ever mistreats you, please tell me! I’ll scold him for you!”
I clenched both fists. Febuer smiled gratefully and ruffled my hair again. I grinned at the familiar touch.
If anyone makes my brother cry, they’re dead.
After that, he told me about a popular opera in the capital that would soon be performed in our territory and promised to take me.
“I’d love that!”
It would’ve been enough just to look at his face.
I swallowed the rest of that thought and smiled brightly.
As I walked through the garden holding Febuer’s hand, the Feisia estate kept coming into view unintentionally.
“How are things with Kainess these days?”
“It’s the same as always.”
“I heard you decided to stop liking him.”
“Yes.”
“It’s not easy to cut off feelings cleanly like a blade. It must be hard.”
Febuer looked at me with pity and stroked my hair gently.
Hard? If you were by my side, Brother, nothing would be hard at all.
My eyes sparkled as I squeezed his hand tightly.
“Brother, I want to break off the engagement.”
