The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 68

Pelsone told the man she would find him a building to use as a shop soon, and until then, he should behave himself and stay quiet.

The man bowed repeatedly and backed away.

As soon as he was gone, Pelsone wiped the smile off her face and removed her mask.

Just then, a cloud passed over the sun, casting a shadow across her expression once more.

‘…It’s only a matter of time before he starts talking.’

That was exactly the kind of man she had chosen—talkative and easy to manipulate.

Pelsone stepped out of the alley and made her way to the meeting spot.

It was a private room on the second floor of one of the most popular dessert cafés in the Imperial Capital. As she entered, she greeted the person waiting for her.

“Hello.”

Rima, who was nibbling on a slice of strawberry cake, looked up and welcomed Pelsone in a babyish voice.

With her hair tied into high rabbit-ear pigtails, sparkling jewelry, a luxurious dress, and shiny enamel shoes, Rima looked just like a nobleman’s daughter.

She smiled brightly and pointed to the empty seat across from her.

“As expected of Lady Rima,” Pelsone said with a small sigh as she sat down.

“Just like you predicted, the head of the Rubeo family turned down the offer.”

“Hmmm. What a waste. Rima gave him such a huge opportunity…” Rima said, biting gently on her fork with a pout.

Pelsone quietly repeated Rima’s earlier words to herself.

‘The head of the Rubeo trading house…?’

Yes, the Rubeo family originally began as merchants.

But now, in the Empire, no one refers to Celletina Deiamor as merely a “trading house head.”

And yet, Rima had never once called her the “family head” or “leader.” She only ever called her the “trading house head.”

“Hmmm, then where would be a good location for the shop…?”

“I have a recommendation. There’s a ground floor space available for lease right across from the Rubeo Department Store. The rent is a little steep, but it’s the best location.”

“Oh, you’re right. If our shop is right across from theirs, they’ll be forced to watch us succeed with their own eyes.”

After a little more discussion about their plans, Pelsone stood up to leave.

“Shall I send the next report in writing?”

“No!”

Rima quickly shook her head. Her pink pigtails, tied high like rabbit ears, slapped against her cheeks.

“Papa will misunderstand.”

“Papa?”

“Ah, um—I mean, His Grace might misunderstand!”

Rima rushed to correct herself.

Thankfully, Pelsone didn’t pry.

“Haha. Sounds like the Duke treats you like his own daughter.”

“M-maybe something like that!”

After Pelsone left the room—

Rima, now alone, began eating the rest of her half-finished cake.

‘Hmm, it’s starting to get a bit too sweet.’

And the whipped cream had dried a little while they were talking.

So she put her fork down without hesitation.

“Rima!”

Just then, Rubens came in through the door. In his hand was a box of pudding from a shop across the street.

“You’ve been waiting, right? Look! It’s the pudding you said you wanted.”

“Wow!”

“Huh? You didn’t finish your cake?”

“Uh… well…”

Rima gently rubbed her belly, as if to say she was full.

“You’re full already?”

“Yes…”

“Well, I guess we should head home then.”

Rubens held out his hand.

“Okay!”

They’d finished everything they came for, so there was no reason not to go home.

Held in Rubens’ arms, Rima was carried down the stairs.

“I can walk, you know…”

“Nope.”

As he gently set her down on the first floor, Rubens said,

“You’re still just a seven-year-old. What if you tripped and broke your leg on the stairs?”

“It’s… not that serious…”

Rima blushed, embarrassed by the people glancing their way. But her protest didn’t sound convincing.

In the end, she smiled and thanked him softly.

Rubens returned a small smile.

Inside the carriage, Rima played with the box of pudding Rubens had brought for her.

“You like it that much?”

“Of course!”

Rima beamed.

“Because it’s a gift from you.”

“That’s nothing special.”

“It’s a secret, but… I like Rubens more than I like Al.”

“Really?”

Rubens smiled again.

The carriage fell into a comfortable silence.

Rubens looked out the window, while Rima sneaked glances at him, then turned her attention back to the pudding box.

‘Yes, this was the right choice.’

Rima finally felt confident in the decision she had made.

If the world inside the novel was different from the story she wrote, then as the author, she had a responsibility to act.

So Rima had taken action.

And slowly, things had started to change.

Kalaroff was beginning to show interest in her, little by little.

Pelsone even set aside a personal allowance for Rima to spend freely.

As soon as she received it, Rima shoved her salary account book deep into the back of a drawer.

Not long after, Al and Rubens started arguing over who got to spend time with her alone. They fought so often, they ended up getting punished more frequently, too.

‘This is it…!’

The moment she got directly involved, the world began returning to the way it was supposed to be.

Rima was confident now.

‘Let’s just keep going like this.’

Her first step had been to bring down the Rubeo family.

‘Rubeo stole the wealth that rightfully belonged to the heroine. So, they have to fall. That’s how the original story was meant to go.’

For the heroine’s bright future, someone had to fade.

If they thought they could take someone else’s happiness and still come out on top—that was just shameless.

Reaffirming her goal, Rima closed her eyes.

‘…This is my world.’

The novel I wrote.

A world where I am the main character.

Rima repeated it over and over in her mind like a mantra—like a believer reciting scripture.

“……”

At some point, Rubens had turned away from the window and was silently watching her.

The smile on his face had long since disappeared.

Since arriving in the capital, Leticia had been visiting the Deiamor estate every day.

“Mom and Dad scolded me. They said I’ve been coming over too often.”

“Nini loves it when Leti comes!”

Nivellia squeezed Leticia’s hand tightly.

Leticia, who had looked a bit down, perked up immediately.

“What about Soles? Where’s your brother?”

“He’s studying. A lot these days.”

“That’s so like him. And Nini, you said you’re going to kindergarten, right?”

“Uh-huh! I go with Aref! But Aref also goes to the academy. The academy’s upstairs from the kindergarten.”

Aref, who had been reading a book called Romantic Fairy Tales for Children, lifted his head.

“What do you learn in kindergarten?” Leticia asked.

“Words and math. Lately we’re memorizing multiplication.”

He also learned about history, reading, and how to read the newspaper.

Recently, the adults had been discussing whether he should study music or art.

Caleo had suggested learning an instrument, so Aref was leaning toward that.

“If it’s an instrument, we could play music together someday!”

Leticia clapped her hands, clearly excited by the idea.

“I know how to play the viola!”

Aref didn’t really know what a viola was, but he nodded earnestly.

“Then I’ll sing!”

Nivellia suddenly climbed onto the sofa and started singing out loud.

It was a squirrel song she had learned at kindergarten.

“Round and round the acorns go! Munch munch, down they go!”

Squirrels go prrr-prrr-prrr!

Acorns roll and roll!

“Off we go on an autumn picnic!”

She rolled her arms like yarn being spun and shook her hips like a squirrel’s tail.

After finishing the performance with full movements, Nivellia gave a graceful bow to her audience.

One hand rested on her chest, while the other held up her skirt, and she bent her knees just like a real performer.

Aref and Leticia clapped and cheered.

‘…I really have to learn an instrument.’

Aref promised himself he would. He wanted to give Nivellia’s beautiful singing a proper accompaniment someday.

“How was it? Was I cool?” Nivellia asked, running up to Aref with her face full of anticipation.

Aref spoke with all his heart.

“It was amazing. Truly amazing!”

“Really?”

“You sang it better than anyone. It was the most wonderful squirrel song I’ve ever heard. I can’t sing like that.”

“Heehee! I like you, Aref!”

Beaming with joy, Nivellia suddenly hugged Aref tightly.

Aref gently returned the hug, holding her close.

“……”

Leticia, watching the two, blushed faintly.

“Hey… are you two dating?”

Nivellia and Aref tilted their heads in sync.

“What’s that?” they asked.

“It’s when two people… love each other!”

“Nini loves Aref!”

“Kyaaah!”

Leticia squealed and bounced with excitement.

“Nini, you’re like a grown-up! Even more mature than me!”

“Well… I guess I kind of am,” Nivellia replied with a nod.

Aref, meanwhile, was clearly overwhelmed by Nivellia’s sudden burst of affection. His face turned red, as if it might let off steam if someone poured water on him.

“Aref, do you love Nini too?”

Leticia leaned in suddenly and asked.

“…Yes,” Aref answered shyly.

“Kyaaah! You’re a couple! Such a perfect couple!”

Leticia rushed to grab the book Aref had been reading earlier.

“There’s a part in here about two people who love each other!”

She opened it to the middle, revealing a new story.

“This one’s my favorite. A prince and a princess are in love, but their families are against it.”

So they team up to defeat the Demon King who is threatening the world, hoping to convince their families along the way.

“The Demon King!”

Nivellia scrunched up her gentle eyes into a fierce glare.

“Bad! The Demon King is bad!”

“What’s a Demon King?” Aref asked.

Leticia calmed Nivellia down and explained.

“He’s the king of the monsters. There was a big war 40 years ago, remember? The Krepata War.”

“Oh yeah. The one where the Saintess got rid of all the monsters, right?”

Aref recalled what he’d learned in history class.

It was a war between humans and monsters on the Krepata Plains in the center of the continent.

With Saintess Muniel and Holy Knight Ardores leading the charge, the heroes wiped out the monsters.

“The Demon King led the monsters into our world. He attacked humanity. He’s their leader—a terrifying one.”

“The Demon King is super scary!”

Nivellia shivered all over, as if she had seen him with her own eyes.

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