Chapter 06
“Uba? (Older brothers?)”
“It’s almost mealtime. If we go to the dining room, you’ll see them.”
‘Now that I think about it, I’ve never met them.’
Lucero has two sons.
The eldest, Iello, and the second son, Levi.
I never met them in my past life, but according to rumors, Iello is the cold, handsome version of the head of the Granato family, and Levi is the warm, handsome version.
“Come, let’s go.”
Lucero carried me and headed to the dining room.
“Welcome, Father.”
“Father, why are you so late!”
As we entered, I saw two boys. One looked fairly mature, and the other looked younger.
“Sorry, I was delayed because of work.”
After answering, Lucero walked to the head seat and sat down. Then he placed me on his lap. After that, he introduced the boys to me.
“Alle, the one on the left is Levi, and the one on the right is Iello. They are your older brothers.”
‘I see.’
This time, Lucero introduced me to them.
“This is your younger sister. Her name is Allegria. You can call her Alle for short.”
“Abu! (Nice to meet you all!)”
Feeling happy, I babbled loudly and reached out my hands toward them.
Seeing me like that, Lucero smiled proudly and spoke.
“Isn’t she adorable, boys?”
He looked as if he could melt from how lovely I was and asked them with curved, smiling eyes.
“……”
‘What?’
They gave no response. It was as if they did not want to speak. The uncomfortable silence continued, and Lucero urged them.
“Boys?”
“I see. My name is Iello. I am your eldest brother.”
At Lucero’s prompting, the boy on the right spoke with a dry expression.
‘Iello…’
He had red hair and deep pink eyes. He looked calm and neat—the kind of image adults would like.
“I’m Levi. I’m five.”
While I was looking at Iello, the boy on the left introduced himself with a slightly sharp expression.
‘Levi…’
Levi also had red hair and deep pink eyes. He looked curious and playful, just like a child his age.
‘Everyone in this house is handsome.’
They had different vibes, but both looked exactly like Lucero.
Maybe that’s why just looking at their faces felt healing.
Except for the way they treated me.
“Father, shall we start eating now?”
“Hurry and eat, Father! I’m hungry!”
It was as if I didn’t exist. They only spoke to Lucero.
‘Did I do something wrong?’
Unsure, I looked up at Lucero. He also seemed embarrassed and could not continue speaking.
In the end, unable to stand the mood, Lucero spoke to change the atmosphere.
“She may still feel shy with you, but if you keep seeing each other, you’ll grow close.”
“No. That won’t happen. So please don’t force us to get close to her, Father.”
As if he had been waiting, Iello immediately refused. Levi nodded in agreement.
“That’s right! Becoming close is up to us.”
“But you’re family.”
“Just because we’re family, do we have to be close?”
At Iello’s words, the room instantly became silent.
“……”
Lucero stared at the boys silently, as if deep in thought. Iello looked back at him, waiting for an answer. Levi fidgeted with his fingers, not knowing what to do.
In the end, no one could easily speak.
‘What is this situation? Are they picking on me?’
As the mood grew heavy, even I became conscious of it.
‘We’re family. Would it hurt to welcome me?’
The more I thought about it, the more annoyed I became.
‘I was so excited to meet them…’
It seemed they were not happy to see me.
“Everyone must be hungry. Let’s eat first and talk later.”
With a sigh, Lucero told the servant waiting at the door to bring in the food. Soon, dishes began to come out one by one.
‘Wow!’
My mouth opened automatically at the endless line of food.
Shiny roasted turkey, soft and savory fish dishes, sweet and sour fruits, and fresh, crisp salad—there was everything!
‘I want to eat too.’
Without realizing it, I started drooling.
‘It looks delicious…’
The smell was so good it tickled my nose.
‘I’m hungry… I want tasty food.’
Drawn by the smell, I grabbed the edge of the table and struggled to stand up. I barely managed to lift myself high enough to rest my chin on the table.
“Is my daughter very hungry?”
“Uu. (Yes, I’m hungry.)”
“Just wait a little. Your baby food will come soon. Alle, wait a bit until your food arrives.”
‘Baby food? How can I wait when something that delicious is right in front of me!’
Hungry, I pointed at the dishes on the table and complained.
“Aba! Buuu! (Daddy! I want that!)”
“No.”
“Appu! (Why not!)”
‘I want juicy turkey, fresh and soft seafood, and sweet chocolate that makes your tongue tingle!’
Even if I hadn’t seen it, maybe I could endure. But now that I had seen it, I couldn’t stop whining.
“Huu! (I want it!)”
“No.”
“Huuu! (I want that!)”
“No.”
“Bbu! (Why not!)”
“Alle is still a baby, so you can’t eat it yet.”
When I kept whining, he spoke firmly.
“If you eat it now, it will hurt.”
‘That’s true… but baby food when all this is in front of me?’
Suddenly, I felt sorry for myself.
‘I know what it tastes like…’
My lips stuck out in frustration.
‘Tch, I’m the only one who can’t eat.’
As I puffed my cheeks in complaint, Lucero gently comforted me.
“My daughter can eat it when she grows a little more.”
‘I want to eat it now…’
“If you eat it now, it will hurt. Let’s eat it when you’re older.”
‘Not even one bite?’
Desperate for even one bite, I looked at Lucero with pleading eyes. When our eyes met, his body flinched.
‘You still won’t give it to me?’
I made the most pitiful face I could and looked at him with round, sparkling eyes.
‘Just one bite! Really, just one bite!’
When I stared at him with shining eyes, he quietly turned his gaze away.
“Ahem, isn’t the baby food ready yet?”
“Yes, Your Grace! I will check the kitchen right away!”
Unable to handle my gaze, Lucero ordered the servant to hurry and bring my baby food.
‘Hmph. Where did the overly affectionate father from this morning go?’
It seemed getting a bite from him was impossible.
‘It can’t be helped.’
I could only smack my lips in regret.
Since I couldn’t eat, I looked at Iello and Levi while they were eating.
Iello was eating neatly with proper manners, while Levi was busy stuffing his mouth, sauce smeared all over his lips.
‘They’re the only ones eating delicious food. I’m jealous.’
Wanting at least some secondhand satisfaction, I kept staring at them.
Then—
“!”
My eyes met Levi’s.
I quickly looked away.
‘Did I stare too much? But what can I do! My eyes naturally go to food!’
My heart pounded loudly in my chest.
