5 - How to Escape the Reverse Harem Cliché
Chapter 5
When I was very young, my parents divorced. I remember it was probably before I even started elementary school. My mother agreed not to take alimony in exchange for my father not seeing me.
My father was a good person. At least, he was kind to me, showered me with affection, and was like a magician who granted me anything I wished for.
However, he was not a good husband. When he drank, he was no longer human, and if he was displeased, his fists moved before his head.
After one instance of violence, my mother immediately demanded a divorce. Of course, my father pleaded, but my mother was resolute. She took me and left our new apartment.
A cold winter. Holding my mother’s hand, I walked and met the first snow. My mother was crying, and I pretended not to notice. At that moment, she sobbed and told me.
“My daughter. I will raise you well. I’ll raise you so well that everyone will see, and we’ll live prosperously. So, just trust me.”
Until I heard those words, I desperately wanted to go back to our home.
It was so cold. I wanted to go back to our home where the boiler ran warmly. Our apartment was right there…
But I couldn’t say that while looking at my crying mother. Even as a mere kindergartener, I was quick to read the room.
I just thought I had to live diligently with my mother so that one day I could return to that house.
“Laila.”
The Countess woke me from my reverie.
Perhaps it was because I dreamt of my mother after a long time yesterday, but I found myself caught in unnecessary sentimentality.
“It’s snowing outside.”
“Ah.”
“You may go out and play with Aiden. However, dress warmly. I will tell the governess.”
“Yes, I understand.”
She smiled with satisfaction as she looked at my obedient self.
Although the era is different, this place, where I am warm and have no worries about meals, is good in its own way.
Missing the mother I wanted to see was enough for the first year. It’s been almost seven years since I possessed this body, and worrying about how to live here was a more realistic use of my time.
Dipping bread into sauce, I alternated glances between the Count, seated at the head of the table, and the Countess, dining beside him.
In this world’s system, Espers and Guides lead the hierarchy, but the Pascianne Count family seemed to have no interest in such matters.
Because wars were frequent and Monsters poured out incessantly, each nation needed the abilities of Espers. Since Espers cannot live without Guiding, they desired Guides.
Thus, Guides, as a means to bind Espers, were treated well. It wasn't for nothing that rumors spread about gaining money and honor by manifesting as a Guide.
In reality, it was common for commoners to give up their children who manifested as Guides to noble families for money. Or, they would report hidden Guides and receive money.
This led to frequent kidnappings of Guides. To avoid this, Guides and their families would voluntarily pledge allegiance to the Empire. By joining, they could earn money and honor by providing Guiding to a few Espers, and also be safe from external threats.
Using the influx of Guides as bait, the nation could naturally gather Espers who were struggling with Guiding.
Among them, high-ranking Espers were as precious as Guides, so those who achieved merit on the battlefield were generously awarded high titles.
In this way, bloodline was not truly important; what mattered was who possessed the most Guides and Espers, and how many formidable high-ranking Espers they could raise.
While the outside world was so fierce, Pascianne remained tranquil. No matter how ancient a family might be, the center of power could shift in an instant, yet the Count and Countess seemed uninterested.
Neither the Count nor the Countess were Espers or Guides. And Aiden was likely not an Esper or a Guide either. In the original work, there was no mention of Aiden being related to Espers or Guides until his death.
If that’s the case, was the reason for adopting Laila simply because the young Laila was a Guide, as in typical cases? No, that wasn't it either.
Laila would manifest as a Guide only around the age of seventeen. The original work described that as a very late age. This meant they did not adopt her knowing she was a Guide.
Then, how exactly was Pascianne maintaining this power? Where was all this immense wealth coming from? It was a new question, but one that arose.
“If you’re finished eating, you may go out and play.”
The Count, having finished his meal, rose from his seat and spoke kindly to Aiden and me.
The Count was a good father. Although he had a reputation among the servants as a cruel master, as a father, he was a perfect score.
Just the fact that he didn’t discriminate against me, an adopted child, was enough.
He even contacted the Restro Marquisate to request treatment for my burn scars and frequently invited Orion to the Count’s manor to heal me with his abilities whenever I got hurt.
In the original work, Laila feared the Count. Perhaps because he had a large bone structure and a sharp impression, he was simply frightening to young Laila.
However, from an adult’s perspective, I thought the Count was a perfectly good father. Compared to my father back in my previous world, well, he was about the same level.
“Governess. Laila is frail, so please dress her warmly to prevent her from catching a cold.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The Countess, on the other hand, was rather strict. She reacted sensitively to even the slightest noise, and if the mansion’s layout was even slightly off, she would immediately summon a servant and scold them.
It was the same with Aiden and me. To make us ideal heirs of a noble family as she desired, she assigned numerous tutors to educate us.
Thanks to that, I did adapt quickly to life here. In my previous world, if there was one thing I was good at besides anything else, it was receiving rote education. So, I was best at taking what was given to me. Perhaps because of that, the Countess couldn’t hide her pleased smile whenever she looked at me.
However, at this point, the problem was Adrian.
“Aiden. Who told you to place your fork like that?”
At the Countess’s chilling voice, Aiden, who had been excitedly pushing his chair back to run out, flinched and stopped in his tracks.
“You will be entering the National Academy in a few months. Must you bring shame upon the family?”
“I am sorry.”
“I want you to understand that everyone is watching your actions.”
“Yes, Mother.”
The Countess spoke with her head held high haughtily, without even looking at Aiden.
Perhaps because of that, Aiden, standing slightly out of the Countess’s line of sight, pouted and let the scolding go in one ear.
Unfortunately, I, sitting opposite Aiden, could see his behavior perfectly, so my desire to go outside suddenly plummeted. Whenever he did something so childish, it somehow felt like my fault, and I felt unnecessarily apologetic to the Count and Countess.
No matter how I thought about it, I felt like I had pushed him too hard back then, causing him to go astray. Just as children’s problems in educational programs are often the parents’ problems, I felt like I had ruined him by educating him poorly during a crucial period.
“Laila. Let’s go out quickly.”
The only fortunate thing was that in front of me, he was still the Adrian from the original work.
But can I really call this fortunate? I felt the Countess’s sharp gaze sweep over me just now… Is it my imagination?
“I hope it snows a lot! It’s the snow you like, Laila.”
“Yes. Brother, just a moment. Let me tidy this up before we go.”
“Sure! I’ll do it!”
Sensing the Countess’s gaze, I tried to place the cutlery neatly, but Aiden stepped forward and began tidying my cutlery.
Hey. Go over there and tidy your own. I desperately wanted to say that.
The problem was that he was excessively overprotective of me, as if he still felt guilty about the burn he got when he was seven.
It was fine when we were alone, but when he did this in front of the Countess, I was caught in the middle, feeling awkward.
Ignoring her gaze as much as possible, I quietly said goodbye and left the dining room.
“Let’s go, Laila!”
“Ah!”
“Ouch!”
Aiden, eager to leave, grabbed my hand, and both of us screamed simultaneously.
What was that spark… Is it because it’s winter? What kind of static electricity is this strong?
Our fingertips tingled, and both of us clutched our hands, making faces of distress.
“It hurts when you grab me so suddenly.”
“I’m sorry, Laila. I’ll be careful. Did it hurt a lot? Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. It’s cold, so I’ll wear gloves.”
“Laila. You’ll still hold my hand, right?”
Aiden had become sensitive about physical contact for some time now. It seemed to have worsened after Orion entered the Esper Academy.
In fact, it was also because I had tried to distance myself from Aiden after that.
After all, I was an adopted child here. I didn’t know if the servants knew, but the Count and Countess certainly did.
When they saw me and Aiden together, they would make peculiar expressions, which made me uncomfortable. I worried they might dislike me being close to Aiden. Even though I possessed a child’s body, my mind was that of an adult, and I had lived more than half my life relying on my wits, so I couldn’t help but notice their gazes.
So, when I tried to distance myself, Aiden began to obsessively cling to my hand as if he had an affection deficit.
“It doesn’t sting if you wear gloves, right? Right…?”
I couldn’t shake my head at Aiden, who was once again asking for my opinion.
