Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Just Like His Dad
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After hugging for what felt like forever, we now faced a suffocating reality.
The topic at hand was, 'So, how do we let go naturally now?'.
As soon as the melodrama wrapped up, embarrassment crashed over us. We just fidgeted awkwardly, unable to shift positions.
While hunting for a smooth follow-up topic and easing Jenia down gently...
-Bang!
"Big brother! How could you get engaged without even telling me!?"
The one who flung the door open with gusto was our tomboy Serena, forever locked in a rudeness ranking battle with Lancelot for first place against me.
Her little sister's bellow—already stacking up insolence from the entrance—sent Jenia springing from my arms like a cat dunked in water.
Serena fired off a quip.
"Well, well? Already loving it to death, are we?"
"Serena, it's not—"
"Save it, brother. I only came today because I was curious about the lady."
At Serena's words, already wafting evil sister-in-law vibes, Jenia straightened her clothes and curtsied.
"I greet the Star of the Empire, Second Princess. I am Jenia Ardell."
Her flushed cheeks and eyes still dewy from recent tears made her self-conscious; she offered an awkward smile with her gentle bow.
Serena, her spiteful streak deflated like a punctured balloon, just stared blankly.
"Wow..."
With a sigh that seemed ready to trail off into 'look at her,' Serena spaced out. Feeling the awkwardness, Jenia called to her new sister-in-law.
"...Princess?"
"Huh...? Oh, ahem! Nice to meet you, Lady Ardell. Seeing your face, I get it a little—just a tiny bit—why brother jumped into this engagement."
Jenia beamed brightly in response. She must have been thrilled to meet in person a character she'd only known from the game.
"You're too cute yourself, Princess. Hehe, how are you this lovable?"
Her face beet red from the pure, 100% compliment, Serena toddled over to me and whispered in my ear.
"What's up?"
'Brother, fine, I'll admit she's a looker. No wonder she turned you into a procedure-skipping, shameless playboy overnight. But don't worry—as your sister, I'll dissect every bit of this lady for you.'
I scooped the ear-blasting Serena onto my lap and called to Jenia.
"Jenia, don't just stand there. Come sit here."
"Yes."
Jenia settled beside me, grinning ear to ear at Serena.
Serena stared back, mesmerized, then kickstarted a chat out of sheer embarrassment.
"...Ahem. So, Lady, what's your hobby?"
"Ah, I've spent so long bedridden that I don't really have any."
Serena's eyes flickered, realizing her blunder.
"Uh... You were sick? You're okay now, right?"
"Hehe, of course. I'm fully recovered now."
Suddenly brimming with sympathy, Serena peppered her with questions.
"So you couldn't shop for dresses, eat desserts, or go to parties?"
Jenia nodded with a bittersweet smile.
"Oh my god!"
Now gazing at Jenia like a tragic heroine on stage, Serena seized her hand.
"Lady! Come play at my palace sometime! We'll shop for dresses, devour desserts, and throw a party!"
"Oh? I'd love that, Princess. Just call me anytime."
Serena fidgeted with their clasped hands, cheeks aflame, then mumbled,
"Um... Call me Serena. I'll call you big sis too..."
'?'
Jenia, dying from the cuteness, crushed her in a hug.
"Got it, Serena. Sigh... You're too adorable."
Jenia, you monster... Sure, Serena loves pretty people, but conquering her in under five minutes?
I snorted in disbelief at Serena's super-extrovert superpower, casually dubbing a stranger 'big sis' on sight.
Awkward but not hating the embrace, Serena grinned dopily before snapping to.
"Oh right! I'm joining dinner with Mom today, so heads up! Off to prep!"
Jenia waved with a laugh at the storm-in, storm-out Serena.
The awkwardness between them evaporated, leaving only soft smiles.
Jenia bubbled over excitedly.
"Prince! Isn't Serena the cutest? What happened there?"
I shot back, puzzled.
"What do you mean? She's always been like that."
Her answer floored me.
"No, originally Serena wasn't this close with the Crown Prince."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The Crown Prince suffered mana overloads constantly since childhood, so he rarely visited her. They'd bump into each other, exchange bitter smiles, and bow formally. Heartbreaking story..."
Fixing the mana overload early must've rewritten my bond with Serena too.
Father predicted it too—is overload a family curse?
"Mana control was my first move after reincarnating, so the timeline probably split then."
"Oh my... Wasn't it painful?"
"Brutal at first. But once was enough to know I couldn't live like that, so I trained, and it's been fine since."
Noticing the gloomy turn, Jenia smiled warmly.
"You're incredible. Thanks to you, I got an eyeful of brother-sister bliss!"
"No biggie. Spoiling her turned her into too much of a rascal, though."
"I prefer this Serena by a mile."
I swelled with pride knowing my efforts mended things with Serena.
Deep down, unspoken, I hoped she'd grow up unscathed, untainted, forever bright.
Thanks to Serena, we traded smiles and chatter until dinner loomed.
"Jenia, dinner soon—let's prep. Keep it simple; Mother hates heavy makeup on ladies."
"Finally! Off to see the heroine of Rebel of the Academy!"
"?"
Jenia's eyes gleamed with rapture, but I couldn't let that slide.
"Hold on... Mother was a series heroine?"
"Yes! Her Majesty the Empress, sole refuge for our tragic-childhood Emperor. He dodged her for her safety, but post-Crown Prince, they crossed paths at the academy! Epic love story! Ah... Prince, you had to play this route..."
Jenia's fangirl mode maxed out, but hearing my parents' romance felt bizarre.
'No wonder he froze up around her.'
I hastily pivoted at her nonstop mutters.
"Anyway, anyone around me pop up often in the original?"
Jenia's face darkened abruptly.
"Well... Lancelot Verstappen crashes routes at random. Solid ally sometimes, but he'd challenge your target to a brawl, trash them to the infirmary... Skips events, burns a day—I raged so hard..."
Her brows knit tighter just recounting Lancelot.
Those vacant eyes pleaded.
"Prince... Keep Lancelot leashed tight, please..."
Crushed by the void in her gaze, I stammered assent and fled on dinner prep pretext.
I changed into Mother's favorite outfit, fetched Jenia, and headed for the Empress's palace.
Jenia fussed nonstop over her appearance; soon, we reached the dining hall.
"Jenia, we're here."
"Eek! Already? How do I look, Prince? Good?"
"Told you, no worries..."
Oblivious to Jenia's nerves, the servant swung the doors wide. Jenia marched in rigid as a board.
Serena chattered away to Mother inside; Mother listened with a smile.
Mother's eyes locked on entering Jenia.
Jenia flinched, snapping ramrod straight. Mother smiled warmly in greeting.
"Welcome, Lady Ardell. Serena filled me in. She said the Prince fell hard—and you've brought a truly charming lady."
Jenia returned the courtesy.
"I greet the Moon of the Empire. Your Majesty the Empress, I am Jenia Ardell of Duke Ardell's house."
"Hehe, come sit, Lady."
We took our seats; servants served as dinner commenced.
Jenia primly sliced her steak to etiquette specs, but her eyes sparkled uncontrollably.
Mother chuckled softly at the sight, then spoke.
"Hehe, eat up without holding back, Lady. See Serena?"
Serena wielded her little hands to hack away at her steak, face radiating bliss with every bite.
Too cute—we all chuckled. I magically diced Serena's steak for her.
Eyes lighting up at the perfect cuts, Serena beamed.
"Big brother best!"
"Atta girl~ Dig in."
Jenia stared in wonder, so I turned to her.
"Want yours done too?"
"Me...? Really?"
I sliced Jenia's steak; her face burst into full bloom.
Mother watched, lost in memory.
"How is he so exactly like your father..."
Puzzled, I asked,
"Pardon? Like Father?"
Serena and Jenia whipped their heads to Mother.
Mother shared the tale.
"Long ago, hiding at my house, your father joined me for dinner. I nibbled my steak in tiny bites; suddenly, he snatched my plate and diced it with sword aura."
""Wow~""
'? Where's the romance? Pretty sword glow?'
No guts to pop the trio's bubble, I zipped it and listened.
"Even proposing was identical. At the banquet, he seized my hand, dragged me out, and declared marriage on the spot."
"Gack—hack!"
My choking—extreme damage mid-bite—didn't faze Mother.
"I scolded him, 'Are you insane?' He stared into my eyes: 'I'll take full responsibility...'"
""Wow!""
Mother blushed in reminiscence; I just carved steak.
"Hehe, hearing of your engagement, I was floored at first. Then it hit—too similar, had to laugh. Bringing such a darling lady? Totally get it."
Jenia gushed, eyes on her retired ultimate idol.
"Y-Your Majesty the Empress... You're stunning too."
"Oh? Thank you, Lady. You'll have our whole family enchanted at this rate, hehe."
Mother clasped Jenia's hand tenderly.
"Lady, this strange place must overwhelm you—don't fret. I vouch: the Prince will sort it all."
Her words: no worries, even in the palace.
Jenia nodded, getting it.
"I'm fine, Your Majesty. I'm overflowing with happiness right now."
Mother smiled back.
"I truly hope the palace becomes your endless joy."
And so our dinner drew to a close.