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Translator: uly
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Mom's Ambition and Dad's Outing
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Molga's eyes gleamed as she spoke.
"Of course. Who do you think gave birth to you all?"
Spirit Users who had contracted with mere low-grade Spirits were a dime a dozen. What she needed was a Spirit with greater power at her command.
'If only I had that Spirit who grants wishes...'
The days of living under the stigma of being from the government, constantly watching her step in the ducal house, would come to an end.
They said there was no wish that Spirit wouldn't grant...
Molga's children would outshine any ducal heirs. Even the Emperor would have nothing to envy.
"Mom believes in her babies."
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
Molga pulled her vigorously responding twins into a sinister smile's embrace.
Her eyes rippled with the same vile greed as always.
* * *
Flash—I woke up.
I stared in shock at Wishit, who was gazing down at me with a worried expression.
"What kind of dream is this?"
"I dreamed of going out in the capital with Dad. I was on a diet, but we went to a restaurant and ordered a lamb steak course. I even polished off the dessert without leaving a crumb. It was a miracle I didn't lick the plates."
"Sounds like a good dream."
"What are you talking about? Just thinking about how heartily I ate makes my spine chill right now. Good thing it was just a dream."
After laughing and sharing a meal face-to-face with Dad, we went flower viewing and watched a play together.
I seemed to have whined about something, but dream-Dad wore a gentle smile he'd never show in reality, grinning ear to ear and saying anything was fine.
It was bewildering, but...
"Looks like it really was the reality Rubette wanted. It's ridiculous, but my mood's way better now."
"Then I'm glad."
"And sorry."
Wishit's eyes widened at my sudden apology.
"For what?"
"I told you not to worry, but I showed such a weak side. I didn't expect it. I never thought my body would react first just hearing that woman's name, Molga."
"..."
Wishit paused, then placed his chin on my head with a sigh.
"I expected it ever since you fully absorbed Rubette's memories. Just look after your own heart. Don't apologize for something like this."
"Come to think of it, I made a fool of myself in front of Dad too."
I'd been in the middle of petty rebellion against Dad, who told me not to worry or pay it any mind.
'Clinging and begging for a hug? For real? I'm dying of embarrassment.'
As I shook my head,
Bang—!
"G-Gah!"
The door flew open without warning, revealing a familiar face.
'Dad?'
In that brief moment, it was like Dad had regressed to my childhood...
'Regressed, my foot.'
No, it wasn't.
'Why is Oppa in my room?'
It was my eldest brother, Viego Diorus, whom I hadn't seen since waking up as Rubette.
Viego, who looked just like Dad, was panting heavily, his attire disheveled as if he'd rushed over.
"Oppa."
"..."
Standing still by the door, Viego stared at me intently before saying,
"You seem fine."
With that, he shut the door with a bang and left.
"Hey, wait..."
My hand, hesitating in the air to grab him, dropped.
"Ugh, what a jerk."
After that ten-second encounter, I let out a sigh.
"He must've come because he was worried. You collapsed, the Duke carried you out, we called a doctor—it was a whole commotion."
"So what?"
I flopped back down and clicked my tongue.
Viego Diorus.
Neither good nor bad. My eldest brother, with no fond or close memories.
If one word summed him up—the man who felt immense gratitude toward Molga for raising us three siblings in place of our late mother.
'An idiot.'
Viego had blindly trusted Molga's kind face his whole life, obeyed her every word, and doted on the twins.
He thought the twins, his own blood, had grown up sharing Molga's love while she cared for us three.
It was a sense of debt.
'Zero awareness, total pushover fool.'
To him, priority wasn't his blood siblings like me or Victor—it was always Riki and Lilia.
'A stupid ally can be more dangerous than a clever enemy at times.'
I swallowed a sigh, staring at the door Viego had closed behind him.
Rubette had endured Molga's torment her whole life without breathing a word because of this idiotic ally's role.
In three years, Viego would officially become the 9th Duke Diorus... and go on to be a power among powers, serving as Molga's sturdy shield for life.
* * *
Two days had passed since Molga returned.
I'd thought she'd come sniffing around right away, but there was no sign of her.
'Cautious and sharp. A woman who rolls her cunning brain like second nature.'
Molga must have noticed something off about me.
Sly as a fox, she'd be gauging the mood in the ducal residence from the shadows. With her right-hand butler fired, she'd be single-handedly overseeing the servants too.
'Nothing bad for me, at least. This body's trauma makes it hard to keep my wits facing Molga.'
Even if it was the calm before the storm, now was prime time to act.
Staying as 15-year-old Rubette—too young, unskilled, no standing or connections—meant exposing Molga's true face would be futile, no matter how hard I tried.
No one would listen to the words of a foolish duchess whose greatest achievement was being 'Daughter of Duke Diorus.'
'Time to work. No delaying—model casting today.'
I steeled my resolve and crunched into half an apple.
As always, I was having breakfast with Dad. He held the other half.
"I don't get why you insist on just half an apple every day when eating a whole one won't make you gain weight."
"Because I want to share with you, Dad."
I'd preempted his nagging about my mouse-like portions by blocking it in advance, and Dad gave an odd look.
Without a word, he brought the apple to his mouth and took a bite following mine.
'He's not asking anything. Fine by me, though.'
Dad hadn't pried about the incident the other day when trauma made me freak out and pass out.
If he did, I'd have to bring up Molga, which would only put me in a tough spot.
Everyone in this house was on Molga's side, so any swing I took would disadvantage me.
"Dad, you're eating lunch alone today."
"Why?"
"And no sneaking drinks if I'm not here. I'll check with the kitchen."
"So why eat separately?"
"I'm heading to the city today. Probably grabbing lunch out."
"Why go out?"
"To see a play."
"What play?"
"..."
His endless questions left me speechless.
'Question mark murderer?'
I'd never imagined a casual lunch-separate chat would drag on like this.
Dad seemed to realize his concern was overkill and slyly averted his eyes.
"Hmm..."
After pondering, I picked up the magazine I'd brought and slid into the seat right next to him.
"Wanna see this?"
It was an entertainment mag from the capital.
Rustle—I flipped a few pages to reveal a beautiful woman.
"Sera Wigo, the top actress in the capital right now. I'm a huge fan."
Sera Wigo, the capital's premier female celeb actress at present.
Gazing at her beauty, I smacked my lips like a greedy merchant.
Dad, skimming the mag indifferently, asked,
"When are you going?"
"Now."
He paused, looking up at me as I shot to my feet.
"Don't skip lunch—make sure you eat."
"Wait."
Grabbing me as I turned to leave, Dad hesitated for some reason.
"What?"
His gaze drifted to the dazzling window outside.
"..."
Like a vampire terrified of sunlight, he stared down the window for ages before turning to me.
"Let's go together."
"Huh? You're going out?"
I was stunned. This was Dad, who'd lived like a mole in his room since Mom died.
"Why? Don't want to?"
"No, it's not that..."
Dad, of all people, deciding to go out?
Of course, his company wasn't bad for me. It fit my plans and was a great first step for him living a human life.
Fearing he'd change his mind, I nodded quickly.
"Sure!"
"But I'll pick the lunch menu."
"I was thinking salad specialist on Deviang Street. That cool?"
"No grass-only."
"Mm, but I need to lose weight, so other menus are..."
As I fretted, Dad stared before suddenly standing.
"Eek!"
The next instant, I yelped. Dad had scooped me up out of nowhere.
Effortlessly lifting my still-plump frame, he said,
"You've slimmed to half in a week—didn't you feel it? You're not heavy at all, so stop losing weight now."
"No way!"
"..."
Faced with my unyielding glare, Dad furrowed his brow in displeasure but backed off.
"Fine, at least no grass-only today."
"Hmm..."
I'd toughed out a brutal diet for a week, so why not enjoy a cheat day?
Generously, I shrugged in his arms and said,
"Got it. Treat me to something tasty then."