Chapter 10
One month ago.
Lima, who had regained memories of her past life, realized that this world was the novel she had written.
Lima Daygladis, the protagonist of the childcare-themed reverse harem novel, [Is It Okay to Be Loved Even Though I’m an Adopted Daughter?]
Having possessed the female lead she herself had written, Lima stood in front of the mirror, admiring her face with a delighted expression.
“No matter how many times I look, I’m so pretty…!”
Though she was thin from lack of food, her face was still quite lovely. Her pink hair, though a bit dry and rough, was brightly colored. And her mysterious violet eyes.
Lima let out a deep sigh filled with emotion.
“Really, so beautiful…”
More than anything, she liked this pink hair the most.
It was the perfect color for a childcare story heroine who was adorable, lovable, and cherished by everyone.
She was worried about being too skinny, but she didn’t really care.
“Soon, the men of this house will fuss over feeding me.”
A flower-like smile bloomed on Lima’s pretty face.
“I wrote this, you know? The setting, the characters, the incidents — I know them all. I’m the only one who knows the future, so I’m basically a god in this world.”
Lima flopped down on the bed and closed her eyes comfortably.
“So far, I’ve succeeded in entering the duke’s mansion. For now, I’m just a minor dependent, but soon I’ll reconcile the awkward family and fully play my role as their daughter. Adoption will happen in no time!”
She knew exactly what she had to do.
“First, money!”
Her fist clenched and stretched out into the air.
“I’ll go to the information dealer, heal the younger sister of the shop owner, then at the auction, get the egg of the evil dragon Ather as a gift for the mage tower lord…”
Just thinking about it made her grin happily.
Lima was carefully planning out what was basically a pipe dream when she suddenly stopped. Sitting up slowly, she recalled an odd detail she had forgotten.
“…The eye color was different.”
The novel clearly stated that all the bloodlines of the Daygladis duke family had black hair and black eyes.
But the Duke Daygladis and his children each had red and blue eyes.
Moreover, the family didn’t seem awkward with each other.
“……”
Lima was a bit bothered by that.
To be honest, it annoyed her quite a bit.
Nibelia, who had been running a slight fever, was able to open her eyes by evening thanks to medication and good rest.
But feeling more lethargic than usual, the child whined, looking for an adult.
Just then, Dether entered the room.
“Miss, you’re awake?”
“Dether…”
Nibelia weakly stretched out her arm.
“I’m sick…”
“Oh dear, our miss is so unwell.”
Dether wore a pitying expression and carefully picked Nibelia up. Her sweat-drenched face was still flushed with fever.
“Are you thirsty? Would you like some water?”
“Yeah…”
“Here, drink slowly…”
After wetting her parched mouth and throat with lukewarm water, Nibelia finally regained some strength.
Upon hearing that Nibelia had woken up, Seletina and Kaleo arrived.
“Our baby, mom didn’t even know Nini was sick…”
“But the fever has already dropped. Are you hungry?”
“Hungry…”
Quietly answering, Nibelia suddenly opened her eyes wide and jumped up on the bed.
Her movements were so quick that it was hard to believe she had just been acting weak and spoiled.
“Wolf!”
“Ah, ah! Wait…!”
Kaleo quickly caught Nibelia as she jumped off the bed. Suspended in midair, she kicked her limbs as if swimming.
Kaleo scolded her.
“You little troublemaker! You were sick just now!”
“No! Nini’s healthy! I need to feed the wolf!”
“Nini’s wolf is right here.”
Seletina held out a wolf plushie that had been beside the pillow.
“That’s a toy.”
Nibelia said coldly.
“I was just playing with it while waiting for the wolf to come.”
It was like a cruel farewell line from a trashy drama: “I only met you because it was lonely waiting for that person. Did you think I was serious? How stupid!”
The adults felt sorry for the wolf plush.
Its red jewel eyes shone as if filled with tears.
“Then should I throw this doll away?”
Seletina asked.
“…N-no, that’s not okay.”
Nibelia quickly retracted her words and reached for the plush. Seletina handed it to her, and Nibelia hugged it tightly.
“Sorry. But you’re a fake wolf, so I like you a little less now. But I hope you understand.”
“Our Nini is going to make a lot of boys cry later, huh?”
After a moment of pride, Kaleo put Nibelia down on the bed and held out his pinky finger.
“Don’t run, eat your food. If you promise, you can see that kid.”
“I want to run! It feels like huge strength is bursting out of my body!”
“…You did take cold medicine, right?”
Kaleo was somewhat alarmed by his daughter’s suspiciously hyper behavior but said again.
“You were sick just a moment ago. If you use your body recklessly, you might get sicker. Then you won’t be able to meet the wolf again.”
“Ugh…”
“So promise me.”
“Promise…”
Though her face was full of dissatisfaction, Nibelia obediently hooked her pinky finger.
After wiping the sweat off her body and changing into fresh, soft clothes, she was finally able to leave the room.
Holding each of her parents’ hands, she trudged forward weakly, looking like a prisoner being escorted.
“Mom, where’s the wolf…?”
“The wolf will come to the dining hall. We’ll do something for you all…”
“It’s been less than a minute since I told you not to run, Nibelia.”
Because her hands were held, Nibelia’s attempt to run failed, and she saw the stern expressions of her parents for breaking her promise.
“Sigh, my fate…”
Nibelia let out a heavy sigh.
“…A four-year-old shouldn’t say that.”
Kaleo also felt like he was aging.
When they arrived at the dining hall, other family members were already waiting.
Muniel, Ardores, Soles, and next to Soles, a blond boy with red eyes.
Nibelia stood on tiptoe.
“Wolf!”
“Okay, okay. Sit beside me.”
Kaleo held Nibelia back from running again and seated her next to the boy, who had an empty seat.
Sitting down, Nibelia grinned a silly smile.
“Wolf, did you eat?”
“……”
“No? You didn’t? You couldn’t eat because Nini wasn’t here?”
“……”
“Wolf, eat this. It’s not my favorite, but I like it okay. You have to eat well to grow big and strong!”
“……”
The boy was embarrassed by Nibelia’s relentless chatting and fussing over feeding him.
Why is she like this?
By now, the boy’s empty plate was a mess, with food mixed all over it.
Because Nibelia’s hands were still not fully skilled, crumbs and sauce were scattered around the plate.
The boy, unsure how to deal with the mess, glanced around pleadingly.
“Nini.”
Soles, who was closest, offered help.
“It’s very kind to take care of others, but since the meal hasn’t started yet, why don’t you wait a bit?”
“The wolf has to be taken care of by Nini. That’s how it was before.”
“We just met today. And Nini is only four years old, you know?”
“I’m a cat. Actually, Nini is…”
Clink.
A crystal clear sound rang as a glass touched a spoon.
It was Muniel.
“Kids, sorry, but may I say something?”
“No!”
Nibelia quickly rejected.
“Yes, you may.”
But Muniel ignored her and started speaking.
Nibelia pouted but endured, listening carefully to her grandmother.
“First of all, I was very worried because Nini was sick. Are you okay now?”
“Yes. Nini is boring without health.”
“Indeed. Our Nini is too boring without health.”
Muniel now brought up the main topic.
“Starting today, a new member will join our Dayamor family. The name is…”
“Wolf!”
Nibelia answered.
Why do they call me wolf?
The boy had never seen a wolf nor had any connection to one.
Instead, he had been unfairly teased by orphanage teachers for looking like a fierce stray cat.
Even the other orphans teased him similarly, so the boy didn’t really like his own face.
…Even here, my opinion doesn’t matter.
Suddenly he realized that even in this dreamlike situation, none of his own desires were reflected.
He was just here because nobles brought him.
So if this childish noble kid sitting next to him called him ‘Wolf,’ then he had to become a wolf.
On the other hand, being called a wolf wasn’t so bad.
It was much better than being teased as a stray cat.
“But first, we should ask the child.”
Ardores called the boy.
“What kind of name would you like?”
“……”
The boy glanced sideways.
Nibelia, who had been chattering, was now quietly waiting and watching him expectantly.
“…Just…”
The boy turned his head back and said.
“Just Wolf is fine.”
“No name comes to mind immediately, right?”
“…Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. We’ll think of a name later.”
Ardores passed the floor back to Muniel.
Muniel continued explaining.
“That child will live in the annex with Ardores from now on. Soles and Nini, you can visit often.”
Besides the main building, the Dayamor mansion had another building called the annex.
It was where Kaleo’s sister Armifera had lived, but since she ran away six years ago claiming she would become the mercenary king, the place had been left abandoned.
