Chapter 72

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Always being compared.

"Really, your sister is so excellent, why can't you be like her?"

"Your sister is so kind, but you—"

That was a scene from my past life.

Sisters were always compared.

The excellent and adorable older sister.

In contrast, I was the underachieving younger sister.

No matter what I did, I was always compared.

And even my first love—

"Introduce me to your sister, will you?"

It was miserable.

Gradually, I became engrossed in games, and the one I started was "that otome game."

Someone who would only look at me.

Men who would praise me in the game.

There was happiness there, and as long as I didn't choose the wrong route, I could stay happy forever.

In reality, my sister was smoothly progressing in life—while I was falling behind.

Unlike my sister, who graduated from a good university and got a job, I started working right after finishing a vocational school.

I couldn't win against my sister no matter what I did.

Then, something happened.

I started dating a man.

A man from the company I worked at—not a big company, but the next CEO.

He wasn't handsome, but he was kind and serious.

He had a promising future.

The second generation of a solid and serious company.

I thought it was my lucky break.

For the first time, I felt I could win against my sister.

But—within a month of reporting it to my parents—

"I'm going to date your sister."

I couldn't understand what was being said.

When I consulted my parents,

"It's fine. You should find someone else."

"You're not a good match for him."

They only sided with my sister, and the conversation went nowhere.

So, I talked to my sister.

"I'm sorry, but—, you'll definitely find a good person next. I'll support you."

I don't know who made the first move.

But he betrayed me and chose my sister.

No one blamed him.

—I hated my family.

—I hated the existence of my sister.

◇

Night.

Leila sat up, drenched in sweat.

The sweat felt disgusting.

Her breathing was erratic, and she knew she had been having a nightmare.

"Another dream from the past."

The past—my past life.

She pulled her knees up on the bed and buried her face, recalling the unpleasant memories.

Even though she knew it was different, she couldn't help but overlap her past life's sister with Noelle.

She thought of Leon and Marrie.

"What's the point? Everyone always cares about the sister. I've thought about a lot of things too."

Noelle and Eriq were blamed for pushing Eriq onto her.

She thought Eriq, who was a bit possessive, wouldn't be that bad.

She couldn't believe he would resort to violence against women and change her bright sister.

She felt she was at fault, but it was frustrating to be blamed.

"I've thought about a lot of things. I chose Emile, who was less prominent, and let Eriq go to my sister. What's wrong with me?"

Leila—a girl with pink hair and a strong personality—understood herself.

Even though she was reincarnated, she didn't aim for a reverse harem like Marrie.

Choosing the less prominent Emile among the attractive men was a result of her careful consideration.

Since the best one would go to her sister Noelle anyway,

Then, it should be fine for her to be with Emile.

"Who would have thought it would turn out like this?"

Where did it all go wrong?

Leila got up to wash away the sweat and headed to the shower.

◇

The next day.

With dark circles under my eyes, I took Ange and Revia to Marrie's mansion.

Why?

For future discussions and various other reasons.

For Ange, it must be awkward to show up at the mansion where Marrie and Julius live—but she can't refuse.

Whether she stays in the Republic or returns, a discussion is necessary.

"Are you okay, Leon?"

"I'm fine."

Revia, worried about my wobbly state, grabbed my arm to support me.

At the mansion's entrance, Ange was ringing the doorbell.

"Did you not sleep well last night? If so, you can borrow a room and rest. I'll handle the discussion."

"I'm fine. I'll do my best."

Lusion and Claire, who were watching us,

"I don't think the Master who couldn't do it yesterday can do it today."

"Getting excited and not being able to sleep is so childish. The reason you couldn't sleep isn't childish, though."

—Should I throw these guys like balls?

I was irritated with the AIs who didn't treat me as their master, and I noticed the door wasn't opening.

Ange's mood was getting worse.

"I told them we were coming. What's going on?"

There should be servants in the large mansion.

It didn't seem like they were short-handed and in a rush.

"Did something happen? Lusion, go get Marrie."

"Thanks for the order. Then—"

As Lusion tried to enter the mansion, something became noisy on the other side of the door.

Claire told us,

"Everyone, it's better to move away from the door. Hurry up."

As the three of us moved away from the door, it suddenly opened, and five men were thrown out.

The five men were kicked out by Marrie.

"Get out of here!"

The five men, kicked out at the door, looked up at Marrie with blank expressions.

"What, what's going on?"

What were they doing in the morning?

Marrie, who was furious, went back into the mansion.

I spoke to Julius.

"What did you do this time?"

Julius, who noticed us, started to make excuses, a bit flustered.

"No, no, we didn't do anything!"

It was suspicious.

I looked at Jilc.

"Then, did you buy junk again and get scolded?"

"Calling it junk is rude. You don't understand the value of things. But, I haven't bought anything since then."

He's a fraud victim who sees value in junk and buys it at a high price.

But, if it's not him—

"Was it you, Red?"

"Don't call us by our hair color! I didn't do anything."

Red—Gregg—sat on the ground with his legs crossed, looking sulky.

Next, I looked at Brad.

"Then it's you."

"No! It's not me. I didn't do anything!"

"Really? Marrie was furious. There must be a reason. But, if it's not these guys—"

Finally, I looked at Chris.

He was confused, adjusting his glasses and standing up.

"It's not me either. I really didn't do anything."

All five of them said they didn't do anything.

Is it true?

Ange and Revia were also confused by the five men being thrown out.

Just then, Kyle arrived.

"Ah, Earl, I've been waiting for you."

Kyle, looking a bit tired, invited us into the mansion.

"What? You're ignoring these five? At least explain what happened. Ange and Revia are confused too."

Kyle glanced at the five and snorted.

"You! What's your attitude!"

Julius was angry at Kyle's attitude, but I had to endure it to move forward.

"You guys shut up. Kyle, tell us what they did."

Kyle, looking tired, said,

"They didn't do anything."

"Huh? That's impossible. They did something to make Marrie angry, right?"

The problem was in my thinking.

I didn't understand these guys at all.

"They were kicked out because they didn't do anything."

"---What?"

◇

Let's go back a bit.

It was during breakfast at Marrie's mansion.

"We don't have enough hands!"

Although servants were sent with the delegation, they weren't enough.

The minimum number needed to live.

Plus, they were just sent and needed preparation.

Marrie and the others had to prepare breakfast.

The summer break had started at the Republic's school, so not having to worry about being late was a small relief.

Marrie, moving busily in the kitchen, placed fried eggs on the plates arranged by Carla.

Kyle was also busy preparing breakfast.

Then—

"Whoa!"

—Eriq, wearing an apron, dropped and broke a plate.

"What are you doing?"

With the hungry men waiting, the workload increased, and Kyle's shoulders drooped.

Carla sighed and went to get cleaning supplies.

Eriq, shoulders slumped,

"I'm sorry."

Marrie approached Eriq and saw that his finger was cut.

"Let's treat it first."

"I'll help."

Eriq, who had been failing from the first day, was overworking and hindering the process.

But, Marrie—

"It's no good. If you bleed, you can't help with the meal. Let Carla treat you and take a break. I'll treat you after breakfast is ready."

Eriq, feeling down, followed Marrie's instructions.

As a result, because Eriq helped—breakfast was served later than usual.

Therefore, the five growing boys were irritated from the morning.

During breakfast,

Julius was scolding Eriq.

"Really, helping and hindering is pitiful."

Jilc agreed.

"Is it fun to hinder Marrie?"

Brad gave a cold look.

"Can't even prepare breakfast. What good are the Republic's nobles without the blessing of the Sacred Tree?"

Chris, wiping his glasses,

"I agree. It's better not to help at all."

Gregg, eating the breakfast bread,

"Go home quickly. There's no place for you here."

Cold attitude, but he was a man trying to get close to Marrie.

The five's unfriendly attitude was understandable.

But—

In front of the dejected Eriq, Marrie stood up and said to the five,

"Eriq helped from the morning."

Marrie's behavior was different, and Julius and the others were confused.

"Marrie, what's wrong?"

"It's fine. Eriq helped. Yes, he increased the workload and delayed breakfast, but he did help. But—none of you did anything."

At this point, Marrie realized something.

(Why do I have to take care of everyone? We're living together, so it's normal to help each other, right?)

"You guys only complain—reflect a little!"

◇

After hearing Kyle's story, I thought,

"You guys are stupid. Getting scolded for not doing anything?"

I laughed at the five, and Julius and the others glared at me.

"What about you?!"

"I can take care of myself."

In my past life, I lived alone, and in this life, I'm from a poor noble family.

I had to be able to do things to survive.

Seeing the five, who looked regretful, Lusion muttered,

"But, you're not doing anything now. I'm the one taking care of you."

Hearing Lusion's words, Kyle looked at me with a stunned face.

"You can't talk, Earl."

"You're stupid too. I'm an Earl. It's fine to have people take care of me. I'm important."

Jilc looked regretful.

"We're not that different, are we?"

"I want you to realize the huge difference. I'm just letting Lusion do it now."

"That's not your own ability, is it?"

"I can't hear that. Plus, unlike you who can't do anything, I can do it but choose not to."

Being able to do it and not doing it are very different.

These handsome guys' weakness—earning and living skills.

It's good to have a field where I can win.

It's not my strength, but Lusion's.

Brad looked at me,

"Will you be kicked out too?"

Then, Revia joined the conversation.

"There's no way! Even if Leon can't do anything, I'll support him! I can cook and clean. I'll take care of him! So, it's fine."

Ange also gave me a kind smile.

"It's fine if Leon can't do anything. Managing that is our job. If you want, I'll earn money. So, you don't have to worry."

—Wait, what? It's nice, but am I becoming a freeloader?

Claire said happily,

"Master, you're loved! But, it feels like a freeloader."

Hearing that, someone "puh" and laughed.

"Shut up! I'm not a freeloader! I'll show you I'm better than these guys!"

Julius yelled at me.

"I'm better than you! I've lost in many things, but I can't lose in everything. Let's have a competition!"

Fine, I'll accept.

I have to prove I'm better than these useless five to maintain my dignity.

"Hah! You're saying that when you can't do anything. Don't talk big."

Lusion muttered in a disappointed tone,

"What a pitiful competition."