C17
It has been a week since the heroine arrived. I was still living this life like a candle.
After thinking it over for the past week, the appearance of the female protagonist was a good thing for me.
"Because I can become the younger sister the heroine longed for."
When you think about it, isn't there such a virtue as this?
"Sister!"
"Eirin!"
As I walked down the hallway, I ran towards the heroine whom I had accidentally encountered, and the heroine opened her arms and gave me a little hug.
Despite us having only a two-year age difference, the female protagonist was a head taller than me.
"My little sister is so cute..."
One peculiar thing was that she liked her "little sister" a lot.
"In reality, all the novels only featured men."
Her friends are men, and since it's a reverse harem, various main characters are naturally men...
Now that I think about it, the female protagonist never had female friends.
Damn, does that mean I can be the female protagonist's only same-sex best friend?
"How can Eirin's cheeks look like steamed buns?"
Is that a compliment?
I don't think it's something she dislikes, seeing as she's touching my cheeks with a happy expression.
"What will you do today?"
"Today, in the afternoon, I have a private meeting with Grandfather. Besides that, I'm free!"
"Whoa, I see."
I pretended to be genuinely curious, but I easily knew what the heroine was going to do.
"I guess she's going to calm the madness."
The thicker the Etham blood, the higher the risk of going mad.
In particular, as the blood of the immediate family was the thickest, they were always on the edge of anxiety about going insane.
Therefore, the heroine periodically visited the Etham family members.
This was also the reason why the heroine suddenly became close to the Etham family at the beginning.
"Hmm, sister."
"Yes, what's up? Little sister."
The female protagonist held me in her arms and gently touched my head and cheeks.
"Sister, do you want to be my father's daughter?"
"Oh...? No?"
"Then I can help you... Oh...?"
"Not at all... I don't want to be my uncle's daughter. But they say I need a tutor to stay here."
The female protagonist said somewhat casually.
"Oh..."
What?
Was it originally like this?
I guess not.
<—Sharnae, become Erno Etham's adopted daughter.
"Is it really necessary, Grandfather? He's so scary. Besides, it doesn't seem like he likes it much."
"If that's the case, don't worry, he's fair and good to everyone."
"Really?"
"He may seem like a vicious scoundrel who goes mad without thinking, and he really is, but he definitely protects what enters his fence. He's perfect for ensuring your safety as the formal successor."
"... Yes, I understand. Grandfather."
Well, now that I think about it, I don't think he really liked it.
However, there didn't seem to be such a boring description.
I looked at the heroine with a strange expression.
"Can't we make them like each other?"
I rubbed my chin with a very serious expression.
The female protagonist had been looking at me with happy eyes for a while now, as if she liked me posing alone in various poses.
That look somehow strangely tickled me, so I turned my gaze away a bit.
"Oh, I see... Isn't that time soon?"
Suddenly, a thought came to my mind, and I slowly tilted my head.
A thing called "Relic Theft."
This is the first incident that happened in the Etham family after the arrival of the heroine.
Because of this incident, the heroine gains full recognition from her family, gets Erno Etham's attention, and permeates the family.
The "relic theft case" literally refers to an incident where someone stole a dragon relic from the Etham family.
As a result, Erno Etham almost loses control again, but the heroine prevents it.
As a result, Erno Etham becomes very interested in the heroine and adopts her.
What is stolen this time is the second of the three Etham family relics, the "Balance Fragment."
And the owner of the artifact was Erno Etham.
This was the reason why Duke Miriel couldn't expel him even though Erno Etham was behaving arrogantly.
The balance fragment.
As an object that literally balances things that are imbalanced, it supports Erno Etham's imperfect spirit at the beginning of "Adopted."
The Balance Fragment normally chooses the one with more dragon blood.
As it's an object given by the dragon to protect the contractor who far exceeds the human, it chose the most unstable human.
Each artifact chooses its owner.
The first artifact, the flame of fire, selects the next head of the Etham family as its owner.
The second, as mentioned, is a Balance Fragment.
And the third artifact is the "Dragon Orb," which rejected all owners.
Occasionally, it lent its strength to the heroine for a short time, but in the end, it did not choose the heroine as its master.
"Eirin?"
"Yes?"
"What are you thinking?"
Perhaps because she was completely absorbed, the female protagonist had a worried look on her face.
"Hmm, nothing."
I shook my head.
"It seems like someone is stealing the artifact with the help of a member of the Etham family... strangely, even though I read the novel so much, I can't remember who the culprit is. It's as if someone erased only that part with an eraser. This incident is an opportunity for the heroine and Erno Etham to become closer. I don't know anything else, but maybe I shouldn't interfere so much in this case? Because this time, it's not like the last time when I almost died or he lost control... Even if he goes out of control, the heroine will surely stabilize the psycho."
"Daughter."
"Then why... I don't need to stop him, right?"
I slowly turned my head at the familiar voice I heard from behind.
"Yes, father."
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm playing with my sister!"
"I'm thinking of having pudding, how does that sound?"
"Oh!"
Unknowingly, I covered my mouth with both hands.
Pudding? I can't bear this. I don't know anything else, but this Etham family pudding is a taste I'll never forget, even after I die.
"Sister, let's go."
Of course, I thought we would go together and was about to take the female protagonist's hand, but my body rose into the air.
"Father?"
"Daughter, that child has to go with the Patriarch. Isn't that so?"
"Ah..."
Now that I think about it, she said she had a private meeting with Duke Miriel today.
When I lowered my gaze with a sad expression, the heroine looked at Erno Etham with a furrowed brow.
"Sister?"
"Ah, yes. That's right. It's time to be alone with Grandfather soon. Would you like to eat pudding together next time? Ideally, just the two of us."
The sun-like heroine invited me. I nodded coldly at that bright smile.
"Yes!"
"Alright, then I'll call you later."
"Yes! Goodbye."
I waved my hand gently. The more I look at her, the more the heroine really resembles an angel.
"Daughter."
"Yes, father."
I opened my eyes wide and replied quietly.
Now I am Daddy's foolish daughter.
He didn't ask me to leave, so the play probably wasn't over yet.
"Does my daughter like that girl?"
"Yes? Yes!"
You can't hate her because she's the female protagonist.
"More than me?"
"...What?"
"I asked if you liked that girl more than me."
I furrowed my brow as I held the stuffed tiger at my side even tighter.
What's her intention? Don't tell me she's trying to provoke me?
I pondered for a moment, then smiled widely and shook my head.
"No! Eirin likes Father more! My father is the best."
"....Mmm."
"Really!"
Because my role at this moment is to be the daughter beloved by her father.
"I see."
"Yes!"
He smiled faintly and caressed my cheek as usual.
"You called me father, don't forget that. You are my daughter."
It was a soft voice. In the face of those words, my eyes widened.
"If he says it like that, it sounds like it's real."
It was just a bit of fun until the interest faded away anyway.
Erno Etham is a really bad guy.
But a moment ago was a bit dangerous. I almost lost my heart.
I shook my head. I was possessed for a moment and almost forgot my place.
After this incident, the heroine will surely fall in love with Erno Etham.
"Yes, Father."
I obediently responded with a wide smile.
However, the pudding I ate that day strangely wasn't as delicious as the ones I had eaten before.
It's peaceful.
When I opened my mouth and ate the pudding Mayla gave me, I thought about that and laughed.
It was because not too long ago, I couldn't believe that I, who was packing to leave home, was living such a luxurious life.
"Now that I think about it, ma'am, do you know what day it is today?"
"Today?"
My head naturally tilted at Mayla's sudden question, which I heard just after finishing the pudding.
What day is it today?
I don't think there was anything special in the original story.
Searching my memories, I looked at Mayla.
Exactly three days had passed since Erno Etham invited me to eat pudding.
"Yes!"
No matter how you think about it, there's no reason for Mayla's eyes to shine.
She ate with me, and after eating with him, we strolled through the garden with the heroine and talked.
And in the original story today...
It's the day the thief steals the artifact.
