Confession, Troublesome Marriage
I stared at the words floating before my eyes.
"Confession, troublesome. Marriage. The act of forming a marital relationship and building a family through legal and social agreement."
In my previous life, I was a lifelong bachelor. That’s why I had one major goal in this new life.
To meet a healthy wife who doesn’t exist in the original story and become the father of many children.
“Yes! Hic— Big Brother, sob, please answer me!”
But who would have thought I’d receive a confession from my adorable little sister, whose eyes were all puffy from crying?
I gently stroked her hair and said,
“Confession, troublesome.”
“Huuuh?”
Ah, damn it. The wrong words came out.
It must be because my mind and body are still weak.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry, Ester. That came out wrong. But do you know what marriage is?”
“Hic— That’s… a vow, a kiss, huu— groom, briiide—”
So unbearably cute.
Yeah, let’s think about this again when she turns fifteen.
“That’s right, my lovely little sister. You may not know the details, but you understand the general idea.”
“Hic— Yesss—”
Hmm. Even her hiccups are this level of adorable.
“Then you probably don’t know that family members cannot marry each other.”
“Sob— Yes. Yes?!”
She really didn’t know.
How utterly adorable.
Damn it. Now I understand why my parents carry around a video orb everywhere they go.
The way her swollen eyes widened in shock was just too precious.
“Ahem, Ester. Family members cannot get married. Marriage is fundamentally the act of two people from different families or backgrounds coming together to form a household. It requires both social and legal agreement.”
“Then… then… between me… and Big Brother Leon…?”
“It’s practically impossible, I’m afraid.”
“…N-no way…”
Oh dear. Was it that shocking?
In my case, it just felt incredibly cute.
It was like one of my long-held dreams had come true.
The classic “When I grow up, I want to marry Daddy!” declaration.
Heh. How long had I waited to hear something like that?
In my case it was “When I grow up, I want to marry Big Brother!” but close enough.
I carefully wiped away the tears staining Ester’s shocked face.
It’s not like there’s no way around it.
“However, in our case, since we don’t share blood, it’s not entirely illegal.”
“R-really?”
“That’s right. But for that to happen, you would need to be adopted into another family. Would you want that?”
“I… I…”
Wait, she’s seriously considering it?
That would be a disaster. Our parents can no longer live without Ester.
They’re already talking about her debutante ball eight years from now.
“There are other ways, though…”
“R-really?! What are they?”
But should I really be telling her this?
If Ester is actually thinking about it seriously…
Hmm. Am I really that much of a catch?
She probably only said all that because I saved her and always take care of her.
But once the original story’s flow begins, she’ll experience even greater events with the male leads.
She’s still just a child, so this is probably temporary.
Once she sees those dazzling male protagonists later, Ester will change her mind.
And at that time, I’ll probably feel a little hurt and think, But Ester once asked me to marry her…
“It’s by earning a great achievement for the empire and receiving a noble title.”
“A noble title? How do I earn an achievement?!”
Asking a follow-up question right after the answer—excellent attitude.
As expected of my little sister.
“There are many ways to achieve something. Usually, it involves doing something that greatly benefits the empire. You could distinguish yourself greatly in war, make a remarkable discovery, reach the seventh circle or higher as a mage, or become a sword master as a knight.”
Though it’s nearly impossible.
Among commoners, those with talent appear extremely rarely.
That’s how bloodlines work. But if it’s our genius heroine Ester, maybe it’s possible?
After all, she’s one of those incredibly rare children.
Still, as time passes, she’ll end up getting all lovey-dovey with the male leads.
I already feel like I’m about to cry tears of blood.
I think Ester’s curfew should be set at 1 p.m.
“I see… A mage… Understood. Big Brother Leon…! I’ll do my best!”
Do your best at what?
“Uh, um. Yes, whatever it is, go for it. Our little sister can do anything.”
“That’s right!! I will! So from now on, you can’t call me little sister!!”
Huh?
“No, what are you saying, my lovely little sister? I’m your big brother…”
“I’ll still call you Big Brother Leon, but you can’t call me that!! Call me Ester!!”
Ugh. This is unbelievable.
“Did puberty hit while I was unconscious…?”
“Puberty? What’s puberty?”
“Ah, never mind, my lit—”
“It’s Ester!! Hmph— If you keep calling me little sister from now on, I won’t call you Big Brother anymore!!”
I won’t call you Big Brother anymore anymore anymoooore.
Ester’s voice echoed throughout the spacious room.
“…Alright, Ester.”
My world had just collapsed.
…
I stayed up talking with Ester until the early morning hours.
My parents had taken care of the trash who had threatened her, they said.
I don’t know exactly what they did, but I’m sure they cleaned it up nicely.
When Ester spoke about him, her eyes were chillingly cold for her age. She must have been very frightened.
She said she couldn’t eat until I woke up.
“Because if I ate, I’d throw up…”
Shock.
Was my collapse that hard on her?
I wanted to scold her, but when I saw the moisture gathering in those large golden eyes, I held back.
Using cuteness as a shield like that—how underhanded.
My excellent little sister, who knows how to use every weapon she has.
“But why can’t I call you little sister?”
This was a very important question.
Ester is still only eight years old.
No matter how early girls mature, puberty couldn’t possibly be hitting her now.
“Because I’m going to marry Big Brother Leon later! If you call me little sister now, it’ll be harder to change it later, right?”
“Cough.”
An unexpectedly adorable reason.
It seems our little sister is more serious about this than I thought.
“Hehe, I see, my lit—”
“I really won’t call you Big Brother anymore. I’ll call you Young Master instead.”
“—my very cute Ester. So working hard is for the sake of earning a noble title, huh?”
“Hehe, yes, that’s right! I’m going to study magic really hard!”
Ester clenched her small fists with a determined expression.
She looked like a baby rabbit.
But having the title of “little sister” taken from me was genuinely disappointing.
“Alright, do your best.”
Anyway, this is probably just temporary.
Children grow up frighteningly fast.
It was a night when Ester’s golden eyes shone especially bright.
…
“Aah— Le… Leon. Are you alright?”
“Leon… sob… We were so worried…”
“I’m fine now. I’m sorry for making you worry, Father. Mother.”
Hmm. As expected, our family is overflowing with love.
My parents, with dark circles under their eyes from staying up all night, came in very early in the morning.
Our chatterbox little sister had fallen asleep beside me while we were talking.
I had answered all her questions about family and marriage with great sincerity.
Ester would definitely become an excellent student later.
That’s how I ended up staying awake all night. After sleeping so much while unconscious, I couldn’t fall asleep.
The moment my parents made eye contact with me, they rushed over, hugged me, and started crying.
I could understand Mother, but even Father was secretly wiping away tears.
It seems I’ll have to devote myself even more to training.
I don’t want to see my family cry.
Ester, who had been sleeping beside me, woke up.
I’d have to let her take more naps later.
Sleep is important during a growth spurt.
“Mmm— You’re here? Father, Mother.”
Everyone in the room froze.
It was as if time had stopped.
This was something even I hadn’t expected.
“…What did you just call this Papa, Ester?”
“…Did this Mama hear wrong? Right?”
My parents looked utterly shocked.
Mother was even doubting her own ears.
“Father? Mother?”
Ester tilted her head as if she didn’t understand what the problem was.
With her messy bedhead and sleepy eyes, she looked adorable.
“Calling this Papa ‘Father’—can you explain what this situation is and why you’re using such a word? You clearly promised this Papa that you would call him Papa until the day you die, didn’t you Papa you?”
What the hell is “didn’t you Papa you,” Father?
“You said you would call this Mama ‘Mama’ too, that you would call her Mama until the day you die, Mama Mama? Mama Mama Maaa!”
What language is Mother speaking?
It definitely isn’t the empire’s tongue.
“Haa, I can’t help it! If I’m going to marry Big Brother Leon later, I can’t call you two Papa and Mama anymore. Big Brother Leon told me earlier! And please call me Ester instead of daughter!!”
Two icy gazes landed on me.
I just woke up after collapsing, you know.
And this is unfair.
I didn’t know Ester would do this to them too.
In times like this, playing sick is the answer.
I summoned acting skills drawn up from the depths of my core.
“Ugh— My… my head hurts. I’d better lie down agai—”
“Leon Leonhardt. Explain what this is about, step by step.”
“Leon Leonhardt. This mother will bring you a recovery potion. It seems we need a very deep conversation.”
Damn it. It didn’t work.
I was screwed.
That’s when Ester suddenly threw herself into my arms. So soft and cute.
“Hmph— Don’t bully Big Brother Leon! He’s my future husband! Even if you’re Father and Mother, I won’t allow it!! O-or else I’ll call you Duke and Duchess!!”
I’ll call you Duke and Duchess instead instead instead.
Ester’s adorable voice echoed through the room once again.
The content, however, was not adorable at all.
“Khk— My small, cute Ester…”
“Aah— My world is collapsing…”
It seemed my parents felt the same way I did.
After that, we spent quite some time exchanging rather cute banter.
The two of them seemed to find Ester’s marriage declaration adorable as well.
Father did glance at me with jealous eyes, though.
Heh.
Anyway, family really is a wonderful thing.
Even if it stings that I can no longer call Ester my little sister.
…
“Papang— Mamang—!”
“Kahaha, our adorable daughter—”
“Aigo, our pretty daughter—”
Damn it. This is clearly against the rules.
I looked at my parents with eyes full of envy and jealousy.
Heh.
They responded with light, mocking expressions.
This unfair situation occurred during teatime the day after I woke up.
“Hmm, darling. Don’t you think it would be good to introduce Ester to your Papang and Mamang as well?”
“A fine idea, my wife. Since Ester has grown familiar with etiquette, we should contact your Papang and Mama as well.”
?
The awkward choice of words and the way they kept glancing at Ester.
“Hehe, do Father and Mother call each other’s parents Papang and Mama too?”
Ester’s eyes sparkled.
“Of course. By the way, my wife’s Papang and Mama call me their son.”
“Mhm, and my husband’s Papa and Mamang call me their daughter.”
Damn it. This is clearly betrayal.
“Wow— Then can I still call you two Papang and Mamang?”
“Of course. We can still call you our daughter.”
“That’s right. We were a bit flustered yesterday, but you can call us that as much as you like.”
“Yay!! I want to call you Papang and Mamang too, and I like being called daughter!!”
And so it came to this.
An excited Ester hugged them while cutely calling them Papang and Mamang.
I had no choice but to go along with the situation.
“Ahem, Ester, actually Mother’s older brothers also call Father my bro—”
“They do not. They don’t. They call him Duke Leonhardt. Very stiffly. They don’t even use his name.”
“That’s right. My older brothers use very formal titles.”
“Hehe— I see. As expected, Big Brother Leon calling me Ester is the right thing to do!!”
“Kahaha, as expected, you’re so smart, our daughter—”
“How can she be so clever and beautiful, our pretty daughter!”
“Kyaa— Ehehe, Papang, Mamang—”
Damn it.
The world really does seem unfair.