Two years passed peacefully, and I was already seven years old.
I gradually came to understand the true nature of Marquis Bahod. He valued the Anglus Family family's reputation above all else, and in essence, as long as nothing happened to damage the family's honor, he wouldn't inquire too much.
Another reason was that I hadn't reached the age to make public appearances, so naturally, I wouldn't have such an opportunity. If I were to have a birthday banquet at nine years old, inviting various nobles like Lucis did, I wasn't confident I could perform better than him.
However, after that incident, my mother became even stricter with me. Through our long time together, I came to believe that my mother, Lucia, was someone whose desire for power surpassed her love for her child, to a somewhat pathological degree. She often had the phrase 'as a noble' on her lips, using it to excessively correct my words and actions.
In such circumstances, I naturally had no choice but to obey. As an adult, I could broaden my mindset to prevent her from affecting my sanity, but a real seven-year-old child would likely find such pressure unbearable. Efforts receiving no positive feedback were taken for granted and ignored, attempts to communicate resulted only in my mother's one-sided lectures, and self-expression was suppressed.
A child living in such an environment for a long time would find their heart drifting further and further from others, and might even become irritable due to accumulated stress. I have no doubt now that such a family environment naturally shaped Robert into the villainous noble he became.
Although I accumulated a fair amount of stress in my daily life, my personality was already formed, and my self-control was definitely much stronger than that of Lucis and Aisha, who were also children. As long as I had the awareness not to become the true villain 'Robert,' I could basically endure all unpleasant things.
For example, one day when my brother Lucis and I passed each other in the corridor, Lucis gave me a cold glance, then suddenly intentionally bumped into me with his shoulder, making me fall. Seeing me fall awkwardly to the ground, Lucis smirked contemptuously and left like a victor. Of course, I endured it. Why bother with a child?
For example, one day, my sister Aisha and I happened to coincide at mealtime. I was eating quietly, but she was abusing the maid beside her because she found the food not to her liking. When I couldn't stand it and told her to stop, she turned her aggression towards me, splashing an entire bowl of soup from her table all over me. I was indeed furious at the time and wanted to slap her. But the current condition didn't allow it. I must hide myself and don't look conspicuous. So I endured it.
Logically, indulging their behavior would only fuel their arrogance, so I tried to let the parents solve the problem, but it didn't work. Marquis Bahod completely ignored these petty squabbles between children as long as things didn't escalate; Mrs. Teresa and Berolika would praise their children for doing well, so they were entirely useless; and my mother, Lucia, would instead scold me for not retaliating against them, for showing weakness. The path to solving bullying problems through proper channels was completely blocked. What was I expecting from a noble-supremacist society anyway?
Fortunately, no matter what, I was still a child of the Marquis Family. Even if Lucis and Aisha were childish, they understood not to directly harm me. Compared to modern bullying, their behavior could be considered 'cute.'
...
One afternoon, I was walking idly alone in the corridor. The things I was learning recently were still as easy as before. My most interesting magic lessons seemed to have to wait until I was eight years old to formally begin. Before that, I had a lot of free time every day, which was nice. Of course, I had already read many books about magic and even awakened my Magic the first time I read it, but I couldn't practice magic freely in the mansion because it would lead to many problems. So my Magic hasn't increased my in daily life.
I couldn't help but stop in front of a large window, looking at the bright sky outside, feeling as if I were a prisoner in a jail longing for freedom.
If only I had flying magic, I couldn't help but think.
Of course, I wanted to leave this house, but I didn't have the ability yet. There must be many unknowns outside, and it could even easily endanger my life. So, would it be enough to win the power struggle and become a Marquis candidate? No, I'm not cut out to be a noble; only my mother would be happy with that. I really hope the other three children work harder.
Living in such a world might be much harder than surviving in my original modern society. I need to think of other ways out.
Like an adventurer? The classic profession in other worlds. A merchant also seems good. If only I had been reincarnated as a merchant's son from the start.
"Hmm?"
As I was lost in thought, I suddenly felt as if someone was tugging at my clothes.
Turning around, a girl holding a pink rabbit doll was looking at me with innocent, curious eyes.
Huh? Was there such a cute creature in this mansion?
The first time I saw seven-year-old Aisha, I also thought she was cute, but this girl in front of me was a different level of cute altogether.
With big, round eyes, delicate and fair skin, dressed in a red-dominated dress with white cuffs, perfectly complementing her orange long hair. Her appearance reminded me of a little orange cat I used to have when I was young; just her appearance alone made me feel incredibly healed.
"Want to play?"
Coupled with that pure, milky voice unique to a girl who knew nothing of the world, it almost made me faint on the spot. Even I, who had seen countless cute pictures online, couldn't resist the destructive power of that cuteness when the real thing appeared before my eyes.
I must protect this child for life... No, no, no! Wait! Don't be fooled! I can't even protect myself right now, and I almost willingly became a slave to a girl I just met.
"What's your name?"
"Lia."
It wasn't very surprising. My younger sister, Lia, had reached an age where it wasn't strange for her to run around the mansion. This day was bound to come sooner or later.
But I still hadn't figured out how to face my sister, who might kill me in the future.
Treat her kindly, be her good brother? That's not hard to do. But that would create two problems.
First, both of our mothers wouldn't be happy to see us close. In the struggle for the head of the household, close relationships between heirs are like exposing weaknesses to each other, and my pathological mother certainly wouldn't allow it.
Second, it would change the plot of the novel. Ultimately, Lia's reclusive heart was saved by the male protagonist. If I became Lia's emotional support, the events related to Lia in the novel would drastically change, and the resulting 'butterfly effect' could lead to unpredictable and uncontrollable developments, rendering the 'plot' I remembered meaningless.
So, should I treat her as an enemy and be rough with her? I couldn't do that even more. To do such a thing after seeing her in person would truly mean having no humanity left. I'd rather die. No, if I really did that, it would be 100% heading straight for the death ending in the novel. Either way, it's death, and I would absolutely not choose that.
"...Let's play."
Perhaps seeing my delayed reaction, Lia repeated herself, this time even directly taking my hand.
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!
What a terrifying girl, using her cuteness to forcibly create an irresistible situation, making me instantly cast all my worries aside. Is there anything more important than playing with Lia right now? No! Even if the world were to end, Lia's happiness is more important!
"Let's go."
"Hey, wait."
Lia pulled me along without a word.
In her innocent years, before experiencing anything bad, Lia was naturally completely different from the Lia I knew in the novel. Perhaps it was a rare encounter with a child close to her age that created an inexplicable sense of closeness, and Lia eagerly wanted to spend a happy time with me.
That smile, truly an angel's.
At this moment, I completely surrendered. No matter what the consequences, I would never do anything to harm my sister. I swore it in my heart.
"Lia!"
If it weren't for a sudden third voice, I would have thought I was truly dreaming a beautiful dream.
"Mom."
Lia's mother, Mrs. Lilica, appeared in our sight. She showed a relieved expression when she saw Lia, and then immediately gasped when she saw me.
Mrs. Lilica quickly walked over, hugging Lia as if protecting her, turning her back to me.
"Didn't I tell you not to talk to strangers casually?"
Stranger? Was she referring to me? I'm her brother, yet I'm treated as a stranger. Of course, I didn't misunderstand her mother's feelings. She might have thought I would do something to harm Lia, just as Lucis and Aisha treated me.
"But..."
Lia seemed to want to say something, but she didn't dare to contradict her mother too much.
"Alright, Lia, Mom will play with you whatever you want to play. Let's go."
"Okay."
Lia's smile disappeared. She simply wanted to play with a child her age. To elicit such a reaction from her made me very happy, even if it was just my own overthinking.
"Then, please excuse us, Young Master Robert."
"Robert? Brother Robert?"
Lia reacted to my name. Come to think of it, I hadn't introduced myself to her yet.
"...Yes, he is your brother."
"Can't I play with my brother?"
Mrs. Lilica felt a bit troubled by Lia's question. A brother and sister playing together is natural for most families, but the Anglus Family family is different. Should she explain the real reason to Lia? No, she couldn't. She couldn't understand adult matters yet, even if she would naturally learn later, but definitely not now.
"Young Master Robert is quite busy right now and doesn't have time to play with you. Don't bother him; be a good child, okay?"
Just now, I was still troubled about what attitude to take towards Lia, and now Mrs. Lilica had made the choice for me. Since that was the case, I had no reason not to go along with her.
"That's right, I'm busy today. Maybe next time."
Neither closeness nor harm, but rather trying to avoid meeting. This is something that can be controlled in this house. Starting tomorrow, I won't wander aimlessly around the mansion anymore, and Mrs. Lilica won't let Lia run around alone either. The so-called 'next time' might never come, because by then, Lia might have clearly realized that I am her 'enemy.'
My rationality told me that this was definitely the best choice right now. Even if Lia's world didn't include me, one day in the future, she would meet a hero who would save her and live happily ever after. That hero was not a role that I, a villain, could fulfill.
Thinking of this, my departing footsteps became a little heavy.