Chapter 21
Chapter 21
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Got Nothing to Say?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Got nothing to say?"
"Then why do you keep getting in my way?"
"I'm not blocking you—I'm trying to step aside, but our feet keep overlapping."
He grumbled curtly, and only then did Cedric pause. I openly glared at him, narrowing my eyes.
*I'm not the girl who blushed shyly and bowed every time we crossed paths, kiddo.*
Cedric stared blankly at my impassive face before speaking up.
"You apologize to Lillia yet? Do you have any idea how worried she was after you fell into the pond?"
"What are you talking about? Why would I apologize to Lillia for falling in the pond?"
"You did it on purpose. Because I was paying attention to Lillia, you got jealous and threw a tantrum to make her feel bad."
"Huh?"
I was utterly dumbfounded.
I let out a hollow laugh, packing it full of disbelief, and said,
"Listen, Cedric. Don't you think your ego's a bit out of control? Sorry to break it to you, but you're not the kind of guy who'd make me risk my life in some dramatic suicide stunt."
"...What?"
Cedric blinked at me for a moment before scoffing.
"Everyone said you'd gotten weird after nearly dying, but I guess you've decided on a whole new way to get my attention. Pretty childish, just like you."
"...?"
What the hell was this guy even saying? When someone's that ridiculous, words just fail you.
"Pfft."
It wasn't anger so much as sheer absurdity that made me burst out laughing. Cedric's eyebrows shot up.
Sure, he came from a good family and was decent-looking, so he had every reason to be arrogant.
*But sis here has dealt with guys way out of your league begging for just one date, 365 days a year, kiddo.*
My phone never stopped buzzing with messages from rich, talented, drop-dead gorgeous men trying their luck.
From celebrities to SNS influencers and chaebol heirs...
Guys with mediocre specs couldn't even get my business card, so naturally, my standards were sky-high.
*In that world, you'd be scarfing down cafeteria slop and hitting up PC bangs right now—what makes you think you're hot stuff?*
I shook my head and said,
"Hmm, well... After that ice-cold shower, I started having some doubts. Like, is this guy really worth chasing for seven years?"
"What did you say?"
"Sorry to say it, but overall, you're pretty lacking. Short, narrow shoulders..."
I pursed my lips in mock disappointment and gestured up and down in front of him like I was appraising livestock.
"...and they're so narrow?"
"You... what did you just say?"
"Not even exceptionally handsome, either. Your family background gave you a boost, I guess?"
Cedric's mouth slowly fell open.
"Bottom line: take away the family, and there's nothing to see. And since I don't lag behind there, no real loss. Guess you've gotten too cocky thinking I've been the one chasing you all this time."
I leaned in close to his face and whispered,
"Time to snap out of it and face reality. If you want me sticking around without looking elsewhere, hit the gym and bulk up those shoulders first."
"Ha..."
Caught off guard by the insult, Cedric let out a disbelieving laugh.
"You dare insult me like this? And you—fat, short, unpopular..."
"Good point. You've always casually mocked me like that, calling me fat and whatever."
The old Rubette would crumple and go silent whenever her looks got picked apart.
*But me? Self-esteem's the only thing I'm missing—zero damage taken~*
I grinned and added,
"So I returned the favor by critiquing your looks. What's wrong—can't handle it?"
Cedric trembled with rage at my calm teasing.
"Get lost."
I stepped aside with a smug smile and jerked my chin for him to go. He ground his teeth.
"I can tell you want my attention, but that was the absolute worst way to go about it."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
I snickered, and he finally exhaled sharply before stomping down a step in anger.
"Whoa."
That was when it happened.
On the narrow staircase, our shoulders brushed as we tried to pass. I lost my balance in an instant. My arms flailed instinctively.
*I'm falling!*
Sadly, Cedric's knightly instincts didn't kick in to catch the lady.
"Wh-whoa, whoa..."
Thanks to some lingering athletic reflex, I managed a couple more steps backward.
"Ow!"
Thud—!
Unfortunately, the last three sent me tumbling butt-first down the stairs.
*Ow, my ass hurts.*
At least I hadn't climbed far—any higher, and my head would've cracked open.
Rubbing my throbbing backside, I whipped my head up irritably.
Cedric loomed above, smirking down at me.
"Sigh. How clumsy do you have to be to not control your own body?"
"Oh, Cedric? What's going on?"
Just then, a heavily made-up Lillia appeared behind him.
Cedric turned to her, holding back a laugh.
"Lillia, get a load of this. She was waddling along and then couldn't even stay upright—rolled right down the stairs."
"What? Pfft!"
Mocking Cedric and delighted Lillia.
This perfect duo wasn't new—Rubette's memories held dozens, hundreds of such scenes.
*Annoying. Being ridiculed by these insignificant brats never stops sucking.*
I gritted my teeth to stand when—
*...Huh?*
The distant front door swung open. Someone was entering.
He handed his coat naturally to the maid at the entrance...
*What? Victor oppa?*
I hurriedly averted my eyes from my second brother, Victor—who hadn't spotted me yet—and turned away.
*Why's he home at this hour out of nowhere?*
My mind raced.
Victor Diorus. My second brother.
As vice-captain of the imperial knights, he came home once or twice a year at most, staying in the palace barracks.
He'd lived there in his youth, then got his own place after marriage.
In Rubette's 45 years, memories of time spent with him were practically nonexistent.
But.
*Still way better than first brother.*
Blunt in expression, but Victor was a hundred times preferable to Viego.
He didn't play favorites with the sweet Lillia and always brought Rubette a small gift when he visited, treating her like a sister.
*And he's the target I've been plotting to approach!*
I'd been planning to meet him anyway to ask for an in with the crown prince.
And now, fresh off a spectacular stair tumble?
Talk about divine timing!
*Die from my award-winning supporting actress performance, you two.*
Still snickering above me, I slowly pursed my lips.
A perfect expression: on the verge of tears but holding back, eyelids fluttering, lips quivering.
"...It was an accident, right? Cedric."
My voice carried—Victor froze in my peripheral vision.
"What? You tripped all on your own like an idiot."
"..."
I lowered my gaze, clenched my jaw, and let a single fat tear drop with a plop. Then more, pattering endlessly onto my dress hem.
"What did I... what did I ever do to you? Is it because I snapped at you earlier? You've been way meaner before..."
"Quit blubbering. It's pathetic."
"Do I disgust you that much? Enough to push me down the stairs?"
"What are you on about?"
"Even if something happened to me, you wouldn't care, would you, Cedric?"
"You couldn't even handle your clumsy body and fell alone—who's to blame? And yeah, I know. I wouldn't blink if you dropped dead. So stop hovering around me."
Perfect! Keep it up, Cedric! More!
"Cedric, people can hear. Lower your voice."
Lillia's voice chimed in, laced with open glee at my sobbing.
"You're so mean. I really don't know why you two treat me like this..."
When I slowly lifted my tear-streaked face, as expected—
Victor approached with a terrifying scowl.
I feigned shock at spotting him now, eyes widening in surprise.
"O-Oppa?"
Victor stopped before me, gripped the stair railing, and whipped around to glare at Cedric and Lillia.
"What the hell is this?"