🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter – 20
“Um, I just think it would feel really awkward if I suddenly gained siblings my own age.”
Mina, however, was the type to speak her feelings plainly.
“Uh…”
“It’s difficult for anyone to suddenly become accustomed to a new family.”
Thus, it was Mina who brought Radius’s imagination to a halt.
“I’m very grateful that you like me, but I think we need to keep a reasonable distance.”
Mina said it with a smile, but Radius felt disappointed. He was even somewhat shocked to hear that she wanted space.
He had never been rejected by a woman before, which only made it more shocking.
“Uh, ever since I was young, my parents lived apart from me because of work, so I lived with my cousins. But now, my mother no longer works in the military, so she’ll be at home. And both Mr. Martínez, you, and I all have jobs that allow us to return home in the evenings…”
Naturally, he imagined each person returning home after work, having dinner together, sharing stories about the day, and going on family trips on weekends—a perfectly ordinary family life.
Just like Uncle Rammus and Aunt Sophia meeting Lux and Anima at home, traveling together on weekends.
He, Radius, had been included among them like a real son—but it still wasn’t the same as actually being one.
Mina, who had been watching Radius as he trailed off and closed his mouth, finally spoke.
“You’re clearly very devoted to your family, and you treasure them deeply. I believe it would be best for you to meet a good person and marry someday. I mean that sincerely.”
“Uh…”
“I’ll be going now.”
Mina bowed politely and stood up.
“Um…”
She looked as though she had something more to ask.
“Yes.”
Radius answered in a slightly tense voice. Mina looked at him with a troubled expression, then turned back toward the door.
“No, never mind. Well then… goodbye.”
And just like that, Mina left Radius’s side.
Radius stood staring at the door she had disappeared through.
“Ah… I really looked like an idiot.”
He had never liked anyone before, so he didn’t know—but apparently, when you truly like someone, you end up babbling nonsense.
He had already said plenty of absurd things during the four-person meeting last time. They were all sincere, of course, but it was true that he had spoken without considering Mina’s position.
If you meet your father’s lover’s son for the first time, and he suddenly says he’s your fan and gushes about how well the adults suit each other, who wouldn’t feel flustered?
He had vowed to be careful after that.
Yet today, in front of Mina, his brain went haywire again and he brought up the topic of the youngest sibling. That wasn’t all.
He had already fantasized about his mother and Mr. Martínez getting married and even talked about living together with Mina.
Telling her they should suddenly live together—
How could that not be overwhelming?
“Ah, seriously, are you stupid, Radius Lorvaker!”
Radius slumped into his chair and buried his head on the table.
“Mina even told you to get married, and this is what you do! Are you out of your mind?”
Drunk on the fantasy of gaining a new family through his mother’s marriage—one that might include the lovable Mina—he had spouted nonsense without considering her feelings at all.
Part of him wondered whether what he really wanted was simply a family waiting to greet him when he came home.
A home where Mina welcomed him with, “Welcome back, Brother.”
“…I’m insane. And the worst part is—I like that. I actually like that thought.”
Radius grinned foolishly before covering his eyes with both hands.
“I’m really crazy. Even I’d be afraid of myself.”
Why had he done that?
Radius regretted having lost control.
And one thing—he was curious.
It seemed like, at the end, Mina had wanted to say something to him. What had she meant to say?
“Yeah, you’re completely insane. Don’t go around telling people you’re a Lorvaker. It’s disgraceful to say someone this foolish is a Lorvaker.”
Anima shook her head as she scolded Radius.
“Am I too much of a fan? I think I go a bit crazy whenever I see Mina.”
Radius answered, voice heavy with regret.
“A bit? A lot. And what’s even more impressive is that even after Mina gave you such excellent advice about getting married, you still haven’t come to your senses.”
“What? I’m perfectly sensible right now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Listening to everything you two talked about, the bottom line is that the reason you’re supporting Aunt Talasa and Mr. Martínez’s relationship is because you want to gain a family.”
“That’s one of several reasons.”
“No, listening to you, it’s obviously the main reason. If Aunt Talasa marries him, you get a new father and a new sister instantly.”
“Gaining family is a blessing.”
“Yes, it is. But if the whole point is for you to have a family, why don’t you just get married and make one yourself?”
He had heard this a dozen times already, but Radius still dismissed it.
“My mother is the one dating, though. If I get married, I’d have to wait until I have children. But if she marries a man who already has a child, then all his family becomes my family. So her marriage is more advantageous for creating a larger family.”
Anima barely restrained herself from swearing. He was still her cousin, after all—and her mother Sophia kept close contact with him.
If her cousin heard her swearing constantly and told her mother, she’d be scolded again. The last time he tattled, she certainly hadn’t gotten away unscathed.
“Unbelievable. Now tell me this—if this ‘new family’ you’re so excited about didn’t involve Mina at all, would you still support Aunt Talasa’s marriage?”
“No.”
Radius answered immediately.
In truth, if the man weren’t Mina’s father, Feto Martínez, he would have opposed his mother’s relationship entirely.
“See? That’s your real intention.”
“What real intention?”
“You want a family, but you want Mina to be that family. And since Aunt Talasa just happens to be dating Mina’s father, you think it’s perfect.”
“Yes, that’s how I think.”
“Look at you answering like that. I hate that look in your eye. The shining eyes of a deranged madman.”
“My eyes are always full of life.”
Radius smirked.
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m not. I’m answering everything very seriously.”
“You seriously don’t understand your own feelings?”
“What feelings?”
“You want to be family with Mina.”
“Yeah.”
“Then instead of going the long way around, shouldn’t you just marry her yourself?”
“…”
Radius’s mind went blank for a moment.
“…”
He slowly replayed Anima’s words in his head and then slowly answered.
“My mother and Mr. Martínez are dating right now. What are you talking about?”
“What does that have to do with love? Just seduce Mina and claim the prize first.”
“What?”
“You’re popular, aren’t you? If you act the way you usually do—being charming and kind—Mina will fall for you too.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Hm?”
Anima raised an eyebrow. Her cousin, usually so quick to boast about his looks, was now hesitating.
“Mina knows that my mother is dating her father. There’s no way she’d see me as a romantic interest.”
“Ahahahahahaha!”
Anima burst into loud laughter, enough to embarrass him. Radius glared at her. She wiped away tears from laughing so hard.
“Why? Wasn’t there a girl once who liked you even though her father was dating Aunt Talasa? She came to see you every day just to get close because her father was seeing your mother.”
“Hey, she was twelve back then. And I was fifteen. We were kids who didn’t know anything.”
“Love happens exactly when you don’t know anything.”
“What?”
His incredulous laughter made Anima laugh even harder.
“Wow, it’s been so long since I’ve won a verbal argument with you. This is fun.”
“It’s not ‘long’, it’s ‘never’. Savor this moment. It’ll be the first and last time.”
Radius ground his teeth as he spoke.
