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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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“Why… why are you crying?”
Even Tia was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Sepia to burst into tears.
“Tia, why did you make her cry?”
Tesha looked back and forth between them, flustered. Sepia glared at Tia, tears welling up in her eyes.
Tesha quickly handed Sepia a handkerchief.
She didn’t want Sepia to be crying when Ethan returned.
That would be awkward for both Sepia and Tia.
“Sepia, why are you crying?”
“I… I feel so… wronged! She insulted me… said my breasts would sag… and I wasn’t even trying to act innocent…”
Sepia’s words were punctuated by sobs. Tesha patted her shoulder comfortingly.
“Why… why do I have to be attacked for… for a child I haven’t even had yet?”
“Sepia, don’t cry. Tia was definitely wrong to insult your appearance and personality. That was too far.”
“No! I didn’t do anything wrong! Sepia started it…”
Tia felt wronged. But Tesha, while comforting Sepia, glared at Tia, silently urging her to apologize.
‘Tia! Apologize!’
Tia, reading Tesha’s lips, sighed and spoke. She wanted to resolve this before Ethan returned.
“I-I’m sorry, Sepia. I went too far… but you started it…”
“Tia!”
“I feel wronged! Tesha! Why are you taking Sepia’s side?”
Sepia continued to cry, her head lowered.
“It’s all my fault… I shouldn’t even try to take care of a child… Maybe I shouldn’t even get married…”
“Sepia, that’s not true! What’s wrong with you? You’re beautiful and kind! C-come on, let’s go.”
The situation was deteriorating rapidly. Tesha helped Sepia to her feet. Sepia continued to wipe away her tears.
“I’m sorry, Sepia!”
Tia rushed after them as they headed towards the door.
“It was my fault. Please don’t go. We haven’t seen each other in a while…! I was too harsh. I’m sorry!”
Tia pleaded, her voice trembling. She felt a little wronged, but she wanted to smooth things over.
“…Promise you won’t insult me again. Or bring up my arranged marriage. And don’t insult my future child.”
“…O-okay! I promise I won’t insult you again.”
Tia suddenly noticed a faint smile playing on Sepia’s lips. And she realized.
This had all been an act.
‘I… I’ve been played… Sepia, you’re a good manipulator.’
But she couldn’t say anything. Tesha was already on Sepia’s side.
“Sepia, Tia apologized. You should apologize too.”
“O-okay… I’m sorry, Tia.”
“Good! Now that everyone has apologized, let’s sit down.”
Tesha clapped her hands together, an awkward smile on her face.
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The atmosphere in my apartment was gloomy when I returned. It felt like a storm had passed through. Hessia peeked out from behind me, looking at the others nervously.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Tia looked a little upset, Sepia’s eyes were red, and Tesha looked exhausted.
“Ha… haha! N-nothing happened!”
“Really?”
“Of course! Ethan, do you need help with dinner?”
Tesha wanted to escape the awkward atmosphere.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll make it. You guys can relax.”
I was planning to make fried chicken.
Fried chicken was the perfect meal for a gathering. And it felt awkward asking my guests to help.
I coated the chicken pieces in batter and started frying them. The savory aroma filled the apartment.
I glanced at the living room. They were all sitting in silence.
‘Did they… fight while I was gone?’
The atmosphere was definitely strange. But they probably wouldn’t tell me what happened, even if I asked.
“Daddy! That smells good!”
“Yeah, Hessia, you’ll love it.”
“Yay!”
Seeing Hessia’s innocent smile after that tense atmosphere was healing.
I had fried five chickens, one for each of us.
One chicken per person was the way to go.
“I hope they like it.”
Fried chicken didn’t exist in this world. Neither did pizza, hamburgers, or cola.
Modern fried chicken had been invented by Colonel Sanders in the 20th century.
But there were sandwiches in this world, invented by the Earl of Sandwich.
Why? I had no idea. Were sandwiches easier to make? Or was it just another plot hole created by the author?
The author had a knack for creating plot holes.
Anyway, the chicken was ready. I brought it out, along with my special sauce.
“What is this?”
Sepia looked at the chicken leg suspiciously.
“It’s fried chicken.”
They all looked at the unfamiliar dish with apprehension.
“Just try it.”
I placed a chicken leg on Hessia’s plate. Her eyes widened after taking a bite.
“Yummy!”
Her words were muffled, but she was grinning. They each picked up a chicken leg.
Chicken legs were the best.
Crunch.
Sepia took a bite, then dipped it in the sauce and took another bite.
Game over.
Sepia’s eyes were sparkling with delight. So were Tesha’s and Tia’s.
“What? This is delicious!”
“What is this? I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
“It’s so crispy and warm!”
I was pleased that they liked it. Maybe I should quit being a Hero Candidate and open a fried chicken restaurant with the Erze Trading Company.
I picked up a chicken leg. It was my first time eating fried chicken in this world. I almost cried. We ate in silence for a while.
“Ethan, about what I said earlier…”
“What did you say?”
I tried to remember, but I couldn’t.
“About Hessia needing a mother…”
“Ah, that! I was thinking about it while I was shopping, and I don’t think I want to ask anyone to be her mother. I was also planning to ask Hessia to stop calling me ‘daddy.’”
I didn’t want to be mistaken for a married man or a single father at the academy.
“Daddy?”
“Hessia, how about you call me Ethan in front of other people?”
Hessia’s eyes wavered.
“You’re… not my daddy?”
How was I supposed to explain this?
Indigo Dragon hatchlings were born with the intelligence of a four or five-year-old. They matured quickly compared to humans, but it was still difficult to explain complex concepts to a child.
“How do I explain this?”
I looked at Tia, hoping for some help.
“Hessia, Ethan isn’t married. And in human society, it’s strange for someone who’s not married to have a child. So, you shouldn’t call him ‘daddy.’ Do you understand?”
Even Tia’s explanation didn’t seem to convince Hessia.
“Why did you explain it like that?”
“Sepia, what’s wrong with my explanation?”
“Hessia, Ethan prefers to be called Ethan, not daddy.”
Hessia’s face lit up.
“You like Ethan more than daddy?”
Her dark blue eyes looked up at me.
“Um… yeah.”
“Then I’ll call you Ethan!”
There was an easy solution after all. Sepia looked triumphant.
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That night, in Tia’s room.
After her raven, Crow, had fallen asleep, Tia thought about the events of the day. Sepia’s act had been annoying.
But there was something else that bothered her. The rumors about the Linchester family.
‘Could the rumors be true?’
There had been talk of an engagement between Ethan and Sylvia. She didn’t know the details, but the rumors had spread through high society. If they had gotten engaged, it would have been a major scandal. But that hadn’t happened. The engagement must have been called off.
There were also rumors that they had discussed marriage but had ultimately decided against it.
‘But Ethan was wearing a ring… on his left ring finger…’
It looked old, but it was clearly a valuable ring. Tia, as the daughter of a wealthy merchant, could recognize quality.
‘And it had the Linchester family crest.’
Marriage and an old ring.
Perhaps it was Sylvia’s mother’s ring. Had she given it to Ethan? A theory formed in Tia’s mind.
‘Could it be that Sylvia and Ethan made a secret promise?’
Or maybe Sylvia had simply given it to him as a gift.
‘And Sylvia brought Ethan as her partner to the social gathering.’
It was a clear sign that Sylvia had feelings for Ethan.
‘Maybe… Professor Sylvia is in love with Ethan…’
Sylvia was beautiful.
Everyone agreed that she was both beautiful and talented. And she was from a prestigious family.
She was superior to both Sepia and Tesha.
And Ethan was her disciple.
If Sylvia had feelings for Ethan and decided to pursue him, he would probably reciprocate.
And then they might get married.
Tia clutched her chest, her breath catching in her throat.
‘What… what is this feeling?’
She had decided to support Ethan, no matter who he chose. But the thought of him marrying someone else, especially Sylvia, filled her with a sense of unease.
‘I… I don’t just admire Ethan…’
It was a feeling she had never experienced before. She had never desired someone so intensely. She reached a conclusion she hadn’t wanted to face.
‘I… I love Ethan…’
The realization made her feel melancholic. If Ethan married Sylvia, she would have no chance. And neither would Sepia or Tesha.
‘Sepia… we shouldn’t be fighting each other…’
If Ethan chose Sylvia, there was nothing they could do.
‘…We have to work together to keep them apart…’
They had to make Ethan fall for them. That way, even if he married Sylvia, they would still have a chance.
‘…I don’t mind being your second…’
She would prefer to be his first, but she would accept being his second or even his third. It was a small price to pay for realizing her feelings so late.
She just hoped it wasn’t too late.
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