CHAPTER 55

Yomnyamnyamnyam- 

During snack time with my Father, as I put the cake he fed me into my mouth and chewed slowly, I recalled an incident that happened not too long ago. It was about two novels of unknown authors. There were illustrations of things like cars that don’t exist in this world, and yet Jenny, upon seeing them, didn’t find it strange.

‘It seems like the science and imagination of people from ancient times were incredible. A horse-drawn carriage with armor that doesn’t make any sound when it moves, and the person who drew this must be amazing.’

The two books I read were said to be among the widely circulated novels. To think of the drawing of a car as a product of the imagination of ancient people.

Was the author of the two unnamed novels the creator? Or were they someone like me, a person who had lived through both places in ancient times? 

Well, in any case, upon hearing that my brother single-handedly subdued my former fiancé and quelled a rebellion in the Benedict Empire, I felt relieved deep down.

Not knowing whether my brother was alive or not, I sighed lightly and felt my strength drain away.

In that book, my existence ended with my death during the rebellion. I had died at the hands of my former fiancé, and I was certain that if I suddenly appeared, it would undoubtedly be confusing.

As I pondered deeply for a moment, the sensation of my cheek being stroked made me blink my eyes. “Rafi, why are you just putting a delicious cake in your mouth without chewing?” 

“Huh? Oh, well, I was just thinking about a book in Miss… No, Mother’s room.” 

“Hmm? What kind of book in Seraphina’s room would make you do that?”

Recalling memories from not long ago, I had been deep in thought and had cake in my mouth without chewing. I quickly chewed and swallowed with a gulp, then drank the milk Father had given me.

“A romance novel. It’s an old story, and they said it’s written in an ancient language.”

“Oh, you’re talking about that novel. It was a book that Seraphina particularly liked. She used to say often that she had experienced a love like the romance in the book and got married because of it. Ahem.”

While speaking, a slight blush appeared on Father’s face. Seeing Father speak and then get embarrassed, I smiled.

“Well, Father, isn’t it strange that I’ve been reincarnated into the world of that book?” 

“Suddenly, our daughter is saying something I don’t understand.”

Slightly flustered by my question, Father gave an awkward smile. In response, I asked how he would feel if I told him I had lived in two different worlds and ended up here.

“Rafi, no matter what anyone says, you are the child of Seraphina and me.”

Father, who had said that it wasn’t just a coincidence but because my blood was connected to Seraphina’s, hugged me tightly.

“It’s clear that she sent you here to raise you so that I wouldn’t have a moment to think about myself, who was slowly falling apart.”

They say parenting is so overwhelming that even having a single clear thought is impossible. 

“You could draw a world map for me like you did last time while sleeping. I used to find it so adorable how our daughter toddled around wearing panties over her diaper, but she can’t do that now, so I don’t know what to do.”

Seeing my father’s sullen expression, I felt sorry for not causing any accidents and burst into laughter with an open mouth. In response, my Father naturally took a piece of cake and fed it to me.

“Eat a lot and grow quickly. Our Seraphina might be a troublemaker with the boys lining up, but it’s alright. Father can handle all of that.”

Hearing my Father’s words about not stopping the guys who come and not planning to stop the guys who leave, I was taken aback for a moment. At this rate, I thought I might never get married and would have to live with my Father in this house for the rest of my life.

I lowered my hand to stroke Ciel’s head as he approached, his tail swaying cheerfully. As I did, the mischievous expression on Ciel’s face turned sluggish, and he climbed onto my leg and lightly patted me.

“Rafi, maybe you should keep a distance from the cat when you’re having a snack.” 

“It’s fine. Ciel is nice.”

“But…”

“But it’s best when I’m with Father.”

Indeed, to survive in this world, it seemed that you needed to be sensitive to social cues. As an example, my Father’s lips formed a gentle curve. When a handsome man smiled, there was nothing more splendid.

Perhaps to create distance between Ciel and me, my Father lifted me and sat me on his lap. His strong thighs and robust chest provided unparalleled comfort. Indeed, for men, the chest and thighs were key. I hoped that the man I would eventually marry would have a physique like my Father’s.

“Oh my, is our daughter brewing some ominous thoughts with that dark gaze at her Father? And even drooling while she’s at it.”

I quickly wiped my mouth with my hand upon my Father’s words. Aside from cake frosting, there was no drool to be found. In response to my Father’s teasing, I pouted my lips.

“If you keep pouting those lips, Father’s going to give you a kiss.”

Even after he said that, when I didn’t put my lips out, Father embraced me, planting kisses all over my face and lips. Do Fathers and daughters usually engage in this much physical contact? Having lived with a rather eccentric Father, I found his affection a bit awkward, but I didn’t push him away forcefully.

“Father, will you stay with me for a long, long time?”

“Of course. Since Rafi said she’s marrying Father, I should keep her by my side and live together for a lifetime.”

My Father said with a smile, concentrating again on feeding me the cake. From a distance, Vance’s pupils, standing a bit away, seemed to be slightly cloudy. It was as if he had seen something unpleasant.

“Your Grace, you came here to speak about something important to the young lady, yet your actions seem to contradict your purpose.”

Seeing the cute documents puffing up in real time and being left here, while my Father was doing something else, Vance complained and turned his head at my Father’s gaze.

“Oh, it’s not something that important, but I did mention it was an urgent matter to escape the office for a moment.”

“Father, when are you going to stop lying?”

“Our daughter is saying she’ll hit me… That’s actually making me feel better. After all, for hitting to be possible, one must be alive.”

Even if I became a notorious villainess, forsaking all sense of propriety, it seemed like Father would still be perfectly content. He wiped away the cake cream from my trembling lips with his hand and then wiped his lips with it before eating it.

From a rational standpoint, one would say he’s being childish. Unfortunately, I hadn’t lost my mind to the point of falling for him rationally.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Oh, it’s nothing much. I just came to let you know that Eugene will be coming soon.” 

Eugene? Eugene was the second child of this household, the son of Duke Panteur.

Recalling what Jenny had told me before, I nodded my head. She had mentioned that Eugene was studying at the academy, so he would probably be coming during the vacation.

“I’m not sure who your brother takes after, but he probably won’t give off a gentle vibe due to his aloofness. Also, don’t expect him to instantly like our Rafi, so don’t get too hurt.”

Why would someone resemble Father?

I just nodded at Father’s words. After coming home for the first time in a while, having a younger sibling sitting around wouldn’t be a pleasant feeling. Moreover, if you’re twelve years old, you’re likely on the cusp of entering adolescence. Imagining someone with a personality likely to rebel and push back, I sighed inwardly.

It was certain that when Eugene arrived, there would be some commotion. While he probably wouldn’t come charging at me with a lethal intention like a berserker, he might simply ignore me as if I were invisible.

Shrugging my shoulders, I recalled the day I had playfully patted Ciel’s backside while listening to stories about my brother. It had been days, and there was no sign of my brother, who could easily come here through the Warp Gate. I was about to ask the question that was on my mind, but before I could, Father spoke first.

“By the way, Eugene has a fatal flaw.” 

“Really? What is it?”

A flaw? Well, first I had to find out what it was.

“He can’t use the Warp Gate. Well, the medical examination results said it might improve when he becomes an adult.”

He can’t use the Warp Gate? If that’s the case, it means he can’t just fly over here in an instant. No wonder Father was so casual about it. Even if he left right now, it would undoubtedly take a long time.

“Why not just knock him out and bring him here?”

“Haha! Knocking him out, that’s quite an inventive idea. Hahaha. But despite not knowing whose temperament he takes after, he refuses that option.”

Seeing Father muttering in refusal after having knocked someone out cleanly and brought them here in the past, I chuckled. It wasn’t anything else, it was knocking them out from behind, so it was understandable he wouldn’t like it.

“Anyway, I get it.”

When the successor of this household is coming, it’s not like I can stop them. So, I just nodded and petted Ciel.

“Meow.”

While watching Ciel yawn and stretch, Father rang a bell on the table. I thought he was trying to clear what was on the table, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.

“Prepare Rafi.”

“Yes, understood.”

Both Elena and Jenny answered simultaneously, then they scooped up me and Ciel. Elena, who only held me, took me to the bathroom. She washed me gently, making splashing sounds as warm water touched my skin. Afterward, she gently dried my hair.

My fair skin was tinged with a faint pink hue. After eating something delicious and soaking in warm water, I felt lethargic and seemed to melt away into the water.

“Ah, our young lady, you’re as soft as a rice cake soaked in water.”

I made a chubby face in response to Elena’s cheerful words. It felt like this household or rather this world was like a tray of variously prepared rice cakes.

As Elena said, immersed in the fish cake broth, I transformed into something soft and chewy like water-soaked rice cake. I let out a lazy yawn.

“Ah, our young lady, you shouldn’t be yawning already. You should quickly go meet the young master.”

Eugene can’t use the warp gate, so how can I go see him? It couldn’t possibly mean she was asking me to go out and greet my brother, right?

Elena, who had helped me up, wrapped me tightly in a large towel. Seeing me all clean and bundled up, Father nodded in approval.

With a fresh change of clothes and some hair accessories that kept my hair from falling into my face, I shouted, 

“Father!”

“They’ve probably almost arrived by now. That’s why I hope our daughter goes out to greet her brother. We need to build up some affection even in this way.”

“What? Greet… what do you mean?”

“By now, they should have reached the territorial border of the estate. So, I hope our daughter uses the Warp Gate to go there, meets her brother, holds hands, and takes a carriage ride back home.”

Without even having time to properly refuse following Father’s wish for us siblings to get along well, I found myself standing in front of the Warp Gate. I managed to grab Ciel at the last moment, but Father had already piled up my luggage near the Warp Gate.

“Please take care.”

“Take care and worry not. I’ll be back soon. Miss Rafi, you should greet His Grace quickly.”

This time, with Max accompanying me, I shook my head with a disheartened expression as I waved.

“Father, bye-bye! See you next time.”

If only I could get there safely.

Swallowing the rest of my words, I arrived in an unfamiliar place in the blink of an eye. Thanks to Father’s decision to place Warp Gates at the estate’s borders for efficient management, I didn’t have to travel for a long time in a carriage. My backside would probably be sore from the carriage ride back, though.

As I held Max’s hand and stepped out of the Warp Gate, the group I hadn’t seen before approached. Among them was a boy who seemed to be in his mid-teens, perhaps? He had black hair and a golden eye patch that covered one eye. He looked at me and burst into an incredulous laughter, saying, 

“Huh? What’s this? Did a pumpkin turn into a rice cake and roll in?”

Was that an insult or a compliment?