It's Not A Childcare But A Contract Marriage - Chapter 1 Part 2

As the only daughter of the family, my older brothers call me by their own nickname. Everyone whispers that I am their precious daughter and sister,

Am I not used to it yet?

‘It’s a typical child care romance!’

Even as a child, I grew up alone in the manor. Isn’t this a setting for creating unique misunderstandings? For some reason, I was kept away from my family. But in fact, it was all unavoidable for me, the heroine. 

When the misunderstanding is resolved later, the family pours out love and apologizes for making me feel lonely, promising to make me happy.

‘It’s just my taste.’

I had a hobby of reading romance novels in my previous life. And among them, the ones I liked the most were child care romance novels.

As an orphan, the family in the child care’s romance looked very sweet to me. Like the cotton candy I ate for the first time as a child.

‘So I tried…’

Before my family arrives, I send a letter stating that I never resented being alone in the manor. And that I am aware of my family’s love, so that misunderstandings do not build up. I didn’t want to just receive one-sided love from my birth family,

So I did what I could in advance.

‘Business management is the basic knowledge of a parenting heroine.’

Although I didn’t have original knowledge or special abilities like other parenting heroines, I had the business details of countless romantic heroines stored in my head!

It took some trial and error to do it without any cheat keys. But eventually, I succeeded by referring to the actions of the heroines I liked.

The company I run stands tall as the top in the continent, and the profits earned make even the nobles envious!

‘Whoops. After all, romance is beneficial!’

Didn’t I make good use of my previous life’s romance knowledge?

I was proud that I finally met my family in this life. And I was delighted to feel the warmth of their arms hugging me with a bright smile, saying, “Welcome.”

I finally have a real family,

And from now on, I will be filled with nothing but happiness in my parenting life.

* * *

‘It was a complete misunderstanding.’

My eyes turned cold as I looked at my older brothers, who were examining my expression.

It was because I knew what was coming next.

“Um, by the way, Pudding, can I use the lake villa you’re getting this time?”

“Doulian, what do you mean? Do you want to use a wedding gift that we haven’t even received yet? Don’t you think it would be embarrassing for the future husband?”

“No, bro. What are you saying? Can I really do something embarrassing to our Pudding?”

“Enough. She’s the youngest. This is a family matter… It seems like I need to increase the amount of money invested. Let’s move some funds from the main house for a while—”

‘Enough.’

I felt a wave of apathy as my older brother’s words passed through one ear and out the other.

‘I thought they were asking for money.’

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

“…Parenting oppas don’t talk like that.”

“What?”

I turned my back and walked away, ignoring my older brothers who were looking at me in confusion.

‘Is this what family is like?’

What I dreamt of… The family I longed for since my previous life wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Breathing became heavy in the suffocating atmosphere.

Thump, thump!

To cool off my heated emotions, I kicked my legs hard and ran through the hallway.

‘Enough now.’

A gust of wind rushed past, cooling my feverish cheeks.

* * *

‘Okay, let’s face it.’

I’ve been clutching at straws. I had been hoping to live as a parenting heroine, but it seems futile now.

Of course, my mother and older brothers, who are my dear blood relatives, made endless demands on me, contrary to their words.

‘The profit I gave to the empty-headed Count Gangjeong family, who only has a high name value, was the first significant sum they ever dealt with.’

I tried to understand. Because they are my blood relatives.

But…

“Blood is thicker than water!”

Marriage to someone 40 years older than me crosses the line!

When I thought about it again, tears welled up in my eyes.

“It’s just that the straw sticks are thicker!”

The reason they postponed my marriage wasn’t because of the parenting storyline, but because they wanted to squeeze all the business benefits out of me.

The day the last tears fell from my eyes, I made up my mind.

“I will expose your true nature, dear family!”

Bang!

Grinding my teeth, I entered the room and took out a small bottle of medicine from a hidden space, without my family’s knowledge.

* * *

Driven by anger, I ran courageously.

Standing in the drawing room of the Duke’s family, a place I had never been before, I swallowed hard, holding back the hiccups that threatened to burst out at any moment.

‘Um, yes. I’m the parenting… Can’t I do something more than that?’

My cheeks tingled from the intimidation that the duke exudes for an uninvited guest who has invaded out of nowhere.

‘Are you okay? Let’s not be scared. I have this.’

I fiddled with the familiar outline of the medicine bottle in my pocket, trying to calm my rising tension.

“Okay.”

My shoulders flinched involuntarily at the cool voice that seemed as if ice had touched my ears.

“You have something to tell me?”

A dry gaze, as if looking at something insignificant and worthless.

The only duchy in the empire, the red eyes that proved the blood of Ivernum, turned to me.