TVDML 02

Chapter 2

To be honest, even before I possessed this body, I was always weak to handsome faces.

So now that I’ve entered a novel and the male lead is this good-looking…

I felt like I could truly plant my roots in this story.

Of course, that didn’t mean I had any intentions of doing anything with Baldwin.

Stay strong, Laila.

If you get charmed, you’ll die.

Stay close with the original female lead as much as possible, but keep just enough distance with the male leads—like a frenemy. Got it?

Don’t forget about the original Laila who bullied the female lead and ended up dead.

I reaffirmed my resolve and pulled Baldwin into a tight hug.

This was purely out of fangirl passion—I couldn’t help it.

Baldwin blinked his jewel-like eyes in my embrace.

Too cute, seriously.

Despite what my heart said, my body betrayed me—I slobbered all over Baldwin’s cheek before finally letting go.

Phew. So this is why people love raising babies?

Once I released him, Baldwin—still at the sad, unbalanced toddler stage with a head too big for his body—tottered and promptly fell on his back.

Uh, uh…

That wasn’t my fault!

“Waaahhhh! Moooooooom!”

“Lala! Did you tease Didi again?”

Didi? Didi?!

Apparently, Mom had already given Baldwin a nickname.

I was so absorbed that I forgot I was being wrongly accused.

Mom scooped up the soft and adorable kitty—wait, Baldwin.

How can even his nickname sound like a cat’s?

Was this a past-life wish to raise a kitten finally coming true?

“Didi, stop crying. Shh… Mommy will scold Lala! Bad girl! Bad girl!”

Of course, that didn’t mean I stepped away from Baldwin.

He was someone I’d have to let go once the female lead showed up anyway, so I might as well enjoy this while I could.

Truth is, once Baldwin grew up… well…

He got a lot more aloof and prickly.

Full confession: I was so smitten with Baldwin that I read the unfinished novel dozens of times.

He was just that delicious.

Original Baldwin had all the classic male lead traits—baseline requirements, really—but also had the perfect level of obsession and the classic “cold to others, sweet only to you” behavior down pat.

Readers were constantly in a shipping war between Baldwin and Ains—the charming guy who was sweet to everyone but especially loving to the female lead. They even coined fan terms:

Eonamwin (It’s Baldwin anyway) and Eonamin (It’s Ains anyway).

As for me? I was firmly Team Baldwin.

And even now that I’m inside the novel!

While I giggled despite Mom’s scolding, she sighed deeply.

“Sigh. Honestly, who did you get this from…”

She patted the squirming Baldwin on the back as she spoke.

Who else?

“Mommy!”

“What? Are you saying you take after me?”

“Mhm!”

Of course I do.

Mom surrendered completely at my sly grin.

Seeing that, Baldwin wiggled his tiny little butt and burrowed deeper into Mom’s arms.

What was he crying about earlier like the world was ending?

Now I kind of wanted to make him cry more.

Seeing him get wronged stirred up my mischievous side.

You don’t get many chances to see Baldwin cry as a kid—it’s a rare treat. I sort of wanted to savor it.

This… this is what they call a fan’s blessing, right?

How many people get to see their favorite character grow up right in front of them?

Baldwin, grow up beautifully, okay?

Your noona will support you.

Wink.

*

Baldwin, just as I wished, grew up well—both pretty and well-mannered.

But as he grew, Mom and Dad’s concerns also deepened. Naturally, it was about his education.

Since the future is uncertain, they felt Baldwin should receive the education suitable for a duke’s heir—but his status as a nanny’s son was a problem.

A commoner child without even a surname, receiving successor training in a ducal house?

People would obviously start whispering.

And since the Emperor of Laigos still harbored a grudge against the Winchesters, Baldwin’s status couldn’t be decided lightly.

The novel mentioned this part too.

Just the name “Winchester,” known as the origin of swordsmanship, was enough to summon mercenaries and knights.

That’s why the Emperor of Laigos continued to keep Baldwin in check.

Whenever Mom saw Baldwin’s preference for reading while I preferred drawing and playing, her concerns deepened.

She couldn’t just keep him as my study buddy or playmate—he was still a boy.

In the original story, Mom and Dad ended up teaching Baldwin themselves.

So for everything he lacked, he had to read and study on his own. They were always quietly saddened by that.

Well, I suppose we’ll follow the same path this time too.

Before I knew it, we both turned seven.

Maybe it was thanks to my excessive doting—

Baldwin grew up more prickly than I’d imagined.

Fortunately, we ended up close—closer than acquaintances, close enough to be friends.

Seven years old already. All that effort finally paid off.

“My little kitty…”

Startled, Baldwin quickly turned his head away.

Then he began scooting his butt further from me.

“I-I’m… not a cat!”

Sure, sure.

As he scooted away, I just moved closer to him.

Don’t reject me, Baldwin. Your noona will be hurt.

“Wanna play dress-up?”

“D-Dress-up?”

“Mhm.”

Baldwin’s round eyes darted around nervously.

I could tell, from seven years of living with me, he was calculating what would happen if he said no.

His twitching red eyes were the proof.

I grinned.

Honestly, I thought I’d outgrown dress-up long ago, but whenever I looked at Baldwin, I got nostalgic.

With his fair skin, he’d look great in pink dresses… or yellow ones too.

Luckily, the Duke of Lorobante’s wealth extended even to my wardrobe.

My dress room was always overflowing.

Full of lace, frills, and ribbons—just like the outfits I used to put on my dolls.

And by some twist of fate—

Baldwin was a couple of finger-lengths shorter than me.

“…Fine.”

His chubby cheeks trembled slightly.

Hnnng. Can I just bite them once?

About an hour later…

I had created a masterpiece of a lifetime.

A pale pink dress looked perfect on Baldwin.

I tied his short black hair up tightly with a pink ribbon.

It was a little messy since my hands were small, but still—Black-haired Baldwin looked a bit like a dark-haired Snow White.

Hmm. A little lacking, though.

Maybe I should have gone with a red ribbon headband.

Baldwin, surprisingly, was calm.

He always acted cautious and prickly around me, but once things were in motion, he tended to just sigh and accept it.

Just like now.

That resigned look in his eyes—Is this really my life?

“How is it? Pretty, right? Boys should try on dresses at least once, you know.”

“…You have terrible taste.”

He mumbled quietly, but I pretended not to hear.

I know I shouldn’t do this, but it’s just… too fun.

And seeing him blush when I call him cute—it’s addictive.

I was admiring my masterpiece with pride when it happened.

Mom, clearly tipped off by the nanny, burst into the dress room.

“What’s going on… Lala!”

“Hmm?”

I blinked innocently.

Mom quickly assessed the scene and let out a heavy sigh.

Ugh, Lala!

Even while scolding me affectionately, she ruffled my hair as I giggled and clung to her side.

“Isn’t Didi pretty?”

Mom gave me a side glance, then opened her arms toward Baldwin.

“Didi, come here. Mommy will help you change.”

Baldwin looked between us and then dove into Mom’s embrace.

As I saw him snuggle into her arms, I grinned.

My mission was complete—I’d seen everything I wanted.

“Where did you even get your mischievous streak from?”

Mom muttered, and I cheekily replied,

“From you, Mommy~”

I smiled sweetly as I dragged out the last word, and Mom rubbed her forehead.

Hehe. Teasing Mom is fun too.

“Honey! Come scold Lala!”

It must’ve been the weekend—Dad was home.

He peeked his head around the corner.

“M-Me?”

“Who else is here?”

Mom shot him a playful glare.

Dad cleared his throat and came toward me.

Then, in a solemn voice, he said:

“Lala, don’t do things Didi doesn’t like.”

“But Didi agreed! Right, Didi?”

Didi—er, Baldwin—looked between me and Dad, then gave a tiny nod.

“Y-Yes. I did.”

Despite being a duke, Dad was weak to the women in our house.

Especially to me.

You don’t earn the title of daughter-con for nothing.

The trick is to widen your eyes and blink slowly—to look as pitiful as possible.

“R-Really?”

“Mmm-hmm~”

“I guess Daddy misunderstood. I’m sorry, Lala!”

“What are you sorry for?! Didi’s just a sweetheart!”

Mom sighed heavily, but in the end—I won.

Why is everyone in this house so cute?

I think I ended up in the right place.