The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 85

“A member… what does that mean?”

What did he mean by that?

Wasn’t I already part of this family?

Confusion tightened around Aref’s throat.

“They said I was family…”

Did that mean I wasn’t? Was I never really one of them?

“You’re going to be sold to some rich pervert one day and treated like a toy! I heard it myself!”

The horrible words Aref had once tried to forget came back and crushed him all over again.

Just then,

“No!”

A warm hand suddenly squeezed his.

“Aref is family! He’s Nini’s partner!”

Nivellia shouted with determination.

“Of course he is. Aref is our family. And he’s my little brother too.”

Soles added with a firm voice.

“Aref, don’t misunderstand. We are your family. You’re part of the Deiamor household. No matter what anyone says.”

“That’s right. You know that, don’t you?”

“…”

“Say it.”

“…Yes.”

Aref finally responded, like someone who had just managed to breathe again after nearly drowning.

For the first time, Nivellia’s demanding voice sounded sweet to him.

“I am a member of the Deiamor family. I belong here.”

His voice had grown stronger.

Only then did Nivellia and Soles begin to relax.

Just moments ago, Aref had gone so pale they worried he might pass out.

Soles continued.

“Aref, you just don’t know how the noble world works yet. It’s cruel and filthy.”

And Soles was a noble himself.

Not just any noble, but a child of a prestigious founding family. He was also one of the heirs to Rubeo, the wealthiest house in the empire.

That was why he understood exactly how small-minded and selfish the noble society could be.

Even the Deiamor family had once been ignored for lacking power and wealth.

That wasn’t even fifty years ago.

“Nobles don’t like outsiders joining their circle.”

“I’m an outsider?”

“Yes. You weren’t born into nobility.”

That was why the Deiamor family did everything they could to protect Aref.

They introduced him as someone who had saved their lives.

They made him a disciple of the holy knight Ardores.

But even with all that, there were still people who looked down on him.

In fact, there were probably more fools now who believed it was unfair that an orphan like him was being treated like royalty.

“But you know what?”

Soles, who had been serious this whole time, suddenly gave a sly smile.

Aref was surprised. He didn’t know his kind older brother could make a face like that.

He looked just like Sir Ardores.

But it also made him look really cool.

“What do you think will happen when the Emperor officially recognizes you?”

The Emperor himself had ordered Aref to present the first sample of the mana stones from the mine.

Alongside the children of a powerful noble house.

In front of every noble in the empire.

“…If anyone insults me after that, they’ll be in trouble, right?”

Soles smiled.

Exactly.

“Insulting you after that would be like insulting the Emperor.”

Which would be treason.

And treason meant death.

Soles guessed that this incredible opportunity might have come from their parents.

It could be one of the things they managed to secure while negotiating the mine agreement.

“Either way, it’s a great chance. Let’s do our best.”

“Let’s do our best!”

Nivellia seemed to understand what Soles was saying and stopped complaining. She no longer acted like she didn’t want to be involved.

Aref pressed the back of his hand against the corners of his eyes.

He didn’t cry.

If he cried every time something made him happy, he’d be crying all day. He’d run out of water and shrivel up like a raisin.

“I can’t let that happen.”

He had just started gaining some weight again.

So, Aref decided that from now on, whenever he was happy, he would smile instead.

“I’ll do my best!”

Just like now.

With that decision made, the children immediately began their training.

“Your job is actually very simple.”

Muniel explained.

This was finally the moment when her younger days as a Saint would prove useful.

“No smiling. No running.”

“That’s it?”

Nivellia asked.

“There’s more. You’ll need to learn how to walk properly, how to use your eyes, how to move your hands, how to hold your posture, even how to breathe.”

“Wait, what?”

The list of things they had to learn just kept going.

Nivellia wanted to shout that she didn’t want to do this anymore, but she remembered what Soles had said about this being a good opportunity for Aref.

She held it in and stayed where she was.

“Do we have to learn everything?”

“Can you even learn all of it?”

“Uuh…”

“That’s what I thought. It’s probably too hard for you right now. Honestly, Soles might be the only one who can manage it. He’s the only one of you who has studied formal etiquette.”

At that, Nivellia and Aref both looked at Soles.

Soles just smiled awkwardly.

“You two can do it too if you learn.”

“But we don’t have time to learn all that right now.”

So Muniel reminded them again of the two most important things.

“Do not smile. Do not run.”

“Can we talk?”

“You can’t talk either.”

“What if we get bored?”

“You won’t be bored at all.”

Muniel took the children out to the garden. She used a long stick to draw a straight path through the snow.

“This should be about the length of the hall leading to the Emperor’s audience chamber. The three of you will walk this path together while holding the mana stone.”

“That’s easy!”

“Is it really?”

Muniel gave Nivellia a mocking smile and immediately had them begin practice.

Soles stood in the center as the eldest, with Nivellia on one side and Aref on the other. In Soles’s hands was a cushion that Muniel had brought with her.

“Alright, give it a try.”

Nivellia started walking with confidence and pride.

“Ahem.”

Muniel stopped her right away.

“You can’t walk like that in front of the Emperor.”

“Why not?”

“The Emperor is the ruler of the empire, and nobles like us are his subjects. You have to walk with grace and caution.”

“But Grandma, you’re stronger than the Emperor.”

Nivellia spoke the truth without hesitation.

“That’s true.”

Muniel didn’t deny it.

“But this is part of the ceremony. It’s a promise of respect.”

“Then why did you say before that you wanted to—”

“Alright! Let’s start again.”

Muniel clapped loudly and raised her voice, completely covering Nivellia’s last remark.

Thankfully, after a few tries, Nivellia seemed to get the idea of how she needed to walk.

Aref, who was always quick to observe, carefully followed Soles’s movements and copied them well.

“Good job. You all did well.”

Muniel praised the children as they successfully reached the end of the path.

“Next, you kneel on one knee. That’s right. Soles, you hold out the mana stone. Then a court attendant will take it and present it to the Emperor.”

That was all the children needed to do.

“Ohhh.”

Nivellia nodded.

“That’s easy. It’s not hard at all.”

“But there will be a lot of people watching that day.”

Nivellia froze.

She hadn’t thought about the idea of people watching them.

“It’s okay!”

Aref said with energy.

“Soles and I will be there, so there’s nothing to be scared of.”

“That’s right. If you think you’ll be nervous, Nini can walk in the middle. Aref and I will stand beside you and block everyone’s view.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Nivellia was the legal owner of the mana stone mine and the surrounding lands.

She had been the one to suggest finding the mana stones. She had even traded her clothes and jewelry to the dragon in exchange for information.

“You’ve become braver since last year.”

Muniel looked Nivellia in the eyes.

Nivellia slowly nodded.

“Yeah. I’m brave.”

She had gone to school, met new people, and learned how to open up a little more.

She could tell she was changing, and she was proud of it.

“But it still might be hard, so how about you walk in the middle and hold the cushion?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Uuh…”

But Nivellia hesitated to answer.

Soles leaned over and whispered softly in her ear.

“Actually, the middle is the leader’s spot.”

“I’ll do it!” Nivellia shouted with determination.

“The leader never backs down!”

“My daughter!”

Celletina had just returned from work and immediately called out for Nivellia.

“Wow!”

Nivellia, who had been reading for the first time in a while, looked up in surprise as Celletina suddenly picked her up.

“Mom!”

“Nini!”

Celletina kissed Nivellia’s soft cheeks over and over, as if she might gobble her up.

“Stop! I said stop!” Nivellia cried out, wriggling and squirming.

“You scared me! I was really scared!”

“My daughter! My precious, precious daughter!”

“I know I’m precious! I know I’m pretty!”

After managing to escape, Nivellia stared at Celletina with an unfamiliar look.

It was the first time she had seen her mom act this strange.

“Now where are my sons?”

“Big brother and Aref went to the study. They went to get a book…”

Just as she finished speaking, Soles and Aref appeared, carrying books.

“Boys!”

Just like before, Celletina showered both of their cheeks with kisses.

Then she pulled all three of them close and hugged them with her arms wide open.

“I love you all so much!”

“Mom, are you okay?”

Nivellia was starting to get concerned.

“Did you eat something bad? Did you eat poison?”

“I’m as happy as if I did!”

“No you’re not. Poison hurts, and then you die…”

“Kids!”

Celletina interrupted.

“The stone mushrooms are all sold out!”

The children froze for a moment.

“Wowww!”

“They sold! They all sold!”

“Aaaaah!”

But soon they were cheering and hugging each other in excitement.

“All the mushrooms got sold?”

Armiphera appeared from somewhere and quickly joined the celebration.