***
‘Robain showed up?’
I immediately furrowed my brow.
‘I was saying he had no guts just a minute ago, speak of the devil.’
Heinz finished speaking, and without wasting a moment, I handed the paper bag I was holding to Luca.
As Luca received it, his eyes widened, curiously glancing at me.
“Huh?”
“Take this!
I’ll have my meal later!
I have something else to attend to first!”
After uttering those words, I firmly grasped Julianne’s hand and urged her to come along, making it clear that I wanted to accompany her.
Although the story had a rough beginning, it was still progressing smoothly, and those three individuals who had visited Julianne served as evidence of that.
However, if Robain returned, the story would follow the original novel’s course unless I intervened.
That’s precisely why I needed to stop him.
My sister was far too precious to be involved with someone like Robain!
I had to prevent him from coming back…
but…
“Why don’t you go and play with Luca, Lili?” Julianne gently released my hand and smiled.
My eyes widened, and I looked at her in surprise.
‘No, no.
You have to come with me, alright?
If I don’t, you’ll end up falling into that guy’s trap!’
“But I don’t want to!”
“I’ll just have a quick conversation and be back right away.
Okay?
I’ll even let you have two puddings today.”
‘Then I’ll have the custard flavor I was planning to eat the chocolate flavor anyway…
so that makes two…
wait, no.
I shouldn’t be thinking about that.’
I shook my head firmly.
‘Do you really think I would trade my sister for some pudding?
I’ll never send her alone!
Even if you bury me with pudding, over my dead body!’
“Or you can come with me, Julianne.
Let’s face that guy together.
After all, he hasn’t shown his face once since we graduated.” Allen lifted the corner of his mouth and said with a smirk.
‘Well said, Allen!’
If there were more than two contenders for the original male lead, they were bound to keep interfering with each other!
‘Hurry up and go!
Get in his way as much as you want!
Make sure he never sets foot in this place again!
Then I’ll call you big bro too!’
“I’ll tell him to come and see you later.
He probably came here because of something to do with me.”
But Julianne was even more determined than I had anticipated.
Determined enough to drive me crazy.
‘I’ve already told you, Lia, you can’t go alone!
If you do, you’ll fall for that misunderstanding jerk and get into all sorts of trouble!’
I wished I could say those words out loud, but unfortunately, I couldn’t.
“Like he’ll come to see me.
I’ll just say hi to him, so let’s go together.”
However, Allen didn’t back down and spoke up.
I bit my lip and silently cheered him on as I glanced at him.
‘More, more!’
“Someone needs to stay and take care of the kids.
Can you do that for me, Allen?” Julianne asked him with a kind smile.
It was a smile that could make anyone melt as if she had cast a spell on anyone who saw it.
‘Lia!
Using that is cheating!’
I shook my head.
Regardless, it seemed like even Allen couldn’t stop my sister.
“I’ll be back soon, so have fun, alright?”
In the end, Julianne gave me a radiant smile before following Heinz and heading toward the parlor.
Allen, captivated by Julianne’s beauty, stared blankly as she walked away, then quickly snapped back to reality and frowned.
‘You should have put up more resistance, man.’
Of course, I had no right to say anything since I had also failed.
If it had been Michael instead of Allen, he would have succeeded with his words.
It was a shame that it wasn’t him.
Everyone was always somewhere else when I needed them and always here when I didn’t.
“Lili and… Allen Lowell?”
Just like this unfortunate guy.
I blankly stared at Cedric, who approached us while holding Joshua and Aiden’s hands.
‘Seems like Michael left his nephew with Cedric even while he’s sick.
Does he really think this is a daycare or something?!’
Of course, it was at Julianne’s request though.
I rolled my eyes and greeted Joshua and Aiden roughly as they came over.
They had completely different reactions.
Normally, that would have been amusing in its own way, but not today.
I immediately turned my gaze to where Julianne had disappeared.
‘Damn it, I can’t just let her fall for Robain.’
“Oh, perfect timing.
You stay and watch the kids for me, Royston,” Allen said as Cedric arrived precisely where we were.
Allen promptly dumped Luca and me onto the poor man, leaving him to take care of us without any idea what was happening.
I glanced at Cedric, wondering how he would handle the sudden responsibility.
‘Cedric seems like more of a threat than Allen.
Well, maybe not.
Robain probably knows how timid Cedric is, after all.
Damn it!
A conniving character like Michael Evans would have been perfect for a situation like this!
Why did he have to get sick now?’
“What’s going on?” Cedric asked, contrary to my expectations.
His eyes widened menacingly, giving off a chilling gaze that made it hard to believe he was the same innocent young man standing before Julianne.
‘Come to think of it, he was the youngest commander of the Imperial Order.
He always appears harmless, so I almost forgot about that.’
“Just a moment ago, Robain Cleoné came looking for Julianne,” Alan Lowell blurted out as he was about to rush off.
Cedric froze, his already stiff expression becoming even more rigid.
‘Seems like they all really dislike Robain,’ I thought silently, tilting my head in curiosity.
‘Well, I can understand.
Besides, they probably heard about what he did recently as well.’
“I don’t have time, so I’ll be going.
Take care of the kids!” Allen didn’t even wait for Cedric’s response and hastily departed.
‘He must have been in a real hurry…’
I let out a deep sigh, observing the three clueless kids.
‘I can’t just let Allen go alone.
It would even be a relief if Julianne didn’t turn him away.
Hmm, I’m still worried.
I can’t leave him by himself…’
I pondered, my gaze fixed on Cedric and the three boys left behind.
Cedric would likely intervene if I attempted to take action alone, and even if I disregarded him, the three kids probably wouldn’t listen to me.
‘What should I do?’ I wondered, needing to come up with a plan.
I needed to find a way to capture the kids’ interest, gain their cooperation, and have an excuse ready in case Julianne found out…
something like that…
“Oh.”
Suddenly, an idea flashed across my mind, prompting a small exclamation to escape my lips and capturing the attention of all four boys.
With an innocent smile, I opened my mouth and said,
“Do you want to play pretend?”
***
“I won’t repeat myself, so listen carefully.”
“Okay.”
“We’re currently on a top-secret mission.
It’s incredibly important, and we can’t let anyone find out about it!”
I whispered, lowering my voice for added intrigue.
The children’s eyes sparkled with interest, and I couldn’t help but feel satisfied.
‘Good, just as I expected.’
There was nothing more enticing for eight-year-olds than a secret mission.
With a content smile, I continued explaining.
“I’m the leader, and big bro Cedric is my second-in-command.
You all are my trusted henchmen.”
“Yeah, got it,” Aiden responded with a serious demeanor.
He was always agreeable to whatever I suggested.
Luca seemed indifferent, as long as it promised to be fun.
However, there was one persistent voice that chimed in.
“I want to be the leader too!
Why do you get to be the leader?”
‘This brat never knows how to take a hint.’
I looked at Joshua with dull eyes as he complained just like usual.
‘After all the lessons I’ve given him, why can’t he learn?
Well, I do like that about him, but not right now…’
“Josh,” I began, my tone firm.
I put on a gentle smile and stared at him.
In my heart, I wanted to say, “You should know when to speak up and when not to, you brat.”
However, I knew that if I did, he would likely start crying again.
I couldn’t risk disappointing Julianne by making this crybaby cry once more.
So, as much as I longed to see tears, I had to restrain myself – for now, at least.
“If you let me be the leader, I’ll give you my pudding.”
‘I gave up my pudding for this.
Will you finally agree?’
After a brief pause, Joshua nodded ever so slightly.
‘Ah, so two puddings should be enough to keep Joshua quiet,’ I mused, satisfied with the compromise.
With our arrangements settled, all that remained was to infiltrate the area where Julianne was.
“Everyone, stay quiet,” I instructed, and we silently made our way down the corridor toward the parlor.
Noticing Allen’s absence, I surmised that he must have either entered the parlor or gotten lost along the way.
Alternatively, Julianne could have sent him off to a distant location.
I pressed a finger to my lips, signaling for silence, and narrowed my eyes.
The children behind me gulped nervously, their nods affirming their understanding.
Even Cedric lowered his posture, his steps slightly faltering.
I flashed him a faint smile, then leaned in close to the parlor door, bringing my ear near it.
The children mimicked my actions, their eagerness palpable.
It was amusing to see their heightened nerves, even though they didn’t need to do exactly as I did.
Of course, it was quite a fun sight for me to watch, nevertheless.
‘Look at them, they’re so nervous.
It’s like they’re on a real secret mission.’
I chuckled slightly as I looked at the children with their ears almost glued to the door.
‘I was getting bored playing hide-and-seek all the time.
I should ask them to play pretend sometimes.
That way, I can slowly teach the kids how cruel this world is.
Especially Joshua…’
“So, Robain…”
However, just as I was lost in my thoughts, Julianne’s voice resonated from inside the parlor.
“Are you asking me to be your partner?”
‘Huh?
Partner?
Paaaaartner?
Don’t you even dare!’
I couldn’t contain myself any longer.
I swiftly swung open the parlor door and loudly shouted out.
“No!”
‘How dare you try to make a move on my sister!
Do you think you can be her partner?
I refuse!’