Ru Pin of the Rainelle Clan disliked Ian Fercurus.
First off, Ian, despite being from a lower noble family, had once fanned Ru Pin. That alone was reason enough for Ru Pin to dislike Ian.
Of course, Ru Pin had given him cause to do so.
No one, not even someone of the Yuridina Clan’s bloodline, could have imagined that there was a person who would show so much interest in a mere illegitimate daughter.
Strictly speaking, the situation was a bit different.
Even if someone were showing interest, no one dared to challenge him.
There were multiple high-ranking nobles participating in the bullying of Ceria, not just lower nobles.
Ru Pin, while not part of the empire’s five great noble families, was still a member of the esteemed Rainelle Duchy, a family renowned for magecraft.
It was virtually impossible for commoners or lower nobles to intrude on high-ranking noble events. While not impossible in principle, they couldn’t help but fear the friction between families.
Until now, Ru Pin had enjoyed this position well.
There were rarely any repercussions for tormenting others, as Ru Pin’s sister was the renowned ‘Elsi Rainelle.’ Even high-ranking nobles of similar status were hesitant to provoke Ru Pin because of her.
Thus, Ru Pin had grown complacent.
When Ru Pin was punched in the nose by Ian and floated into the void, it felt as though he was in a dream.
This shouldn’t be happening.
However, the reality set in, and Ru Pin ceased to resist Ian. Deep down, though, Ru Pin replayed the humiliation of that day over and over again.
Ian was a genuine madman.
No one wanted to mess with a time bomb that could explode at any moment, especially without any corresponding benefit to outweigh the risk.
In Ru Pin’s eyes, Ian was someone who didn’t offer even a single positive aspect worthy of involvement. Moreover, since there was no way to control his violence, it was better to ignore him.
At that point, Senior Elsi Rainelle stepped in.
She was a strong, bold figure whose fiery spirit caused the Rainelle family’s siblings to tremble in fear. Ru Pin thought she could take down Ian.
However, Elsi was utterly defeated, and the result was something no one could bear to witness.
The Elsi Ru Pin had seen just the other day was no more than Ian’s loyal pet.
The self-possessed Elsi was nowhere to be seen.
When Elsi called Ian “Master” and flirted with him, Ru Pin almost fainted. Even worse, she would explode at her beloved younger brother to appease Ian’s anger.
Ru Pin felt his chest tear apart.
What hurt Ru Pin even more was the emotion evident in Elsi when she interacted with Ian— it wasn’t merely submission.
There was a subtle, dreamy, and sweet gleam in her eyes.
Ru Pin had seen it many times before.
It was an expression only a woman in love could wear.
But the way Ian treated his adorable and loving sister was utterly indifferent.
In fact, Ian looked more troubled and pushed Elsi away.
Ru Pin’s eyes bulged to the point of almost popping out, and it felt like his blood vessels might burst.
It was at this moment that Ru Pin made the decision to seek revenge.
His beloved sister was not the kind of woman who should cling to some man so pitifully. If Ian had clung to her, it might have been acceptable, but the current situation was unbearable.
Though Ru Pin didn’t have much experience with love, he understood this much.
Ultimately, love was nothing more than an extension of politics.
Once the power dynamic was established, it would inevitably continue to influence events throughout the relationship, even after marriage.
This could not be allowed.
The thought of Elsi living a life where she had to constantly tread carefully due to Ian was something Ru Pin rejected outright.
This was why Ru Pin was now giving Elsi a lecture.
“…So, sister, you shouldn’t give in right from the start! Doing so will only make him think you’re an unimportant, already caught fish.”
While Ru Pin continued his explanation in the tea shop on the main street, Elsi gave no proper response.
Instead, she blushed slightly, cleared her throat nervously, and looked around the area.
The lovely girl momentarily looked away before hesitantly asked:
“Well, even if… isn’t it too soon to talk about marriage?”
“No, it has to be done.”
With a bang, Ru Pin slapped his palm on the table. His eyes were filled with determination.
This was the first time Elsi had seen such a passionate side of her younger brother, so she looked at him with surprise.
His frozen features and trembling lips radiated a chilling seriousness.
“Do you not remember what kind of rumors spread about you after that incident with him?! The main house is trying to secure an engagement for you before it’s too late. Why should you have to endure such indignity…?”
Shaking with anger, every word Ru Pin spoke seemed soaked in venom. That day’s memory was clearly still a deep wound.
It was the day Elsi had earned the dishonorable nickname, “Pee Girl.”
At first, Elsi would fly into a rage just hearing the word “pee,” but now her reaction was surprisingly mild.
She sipped her drink through a straw and responded plainly.
“It’s the price I paid for daring and offending a person of such high status. Thinking about it now, Lord Ian was merciful…”
With a bang, Ru Pin’s hand struck the table again.
Elsi, who for a moment had been lost in a daze while reminiscing about Ian, now glanced at Ru Pin with a slightly irritated expression.
But Ru Pin was already too worked up.
His voice erupted with impassioned fervor.
“Sister, your life has been ruined by that son of a— How can we compensate for that? There’s only one way! Sister, take his life in return… Isn’t that logical?!”
“…Ah, yes. You’re right.”
Elsi thought something seemed off but chose not to point it out.
It was clear Ru Pin was too agitated to listen to reason, but inwardly, she found his passionate insistence charming.
Elsi was always proud of how he respected her, yet in her presence, he usually lacked confidence.
Elsi had always felt heartache over what she thought was a lingering effect of his earlier frailty. But the Ru Pin in front of her now was not just motivated—he was brimming with zeal.
Moreover, she wasn’t really opposed to what Ru Pin was suggesting.
Elsi pressed her lips together like someone leaning on a straw and let her imagination take flight.
A married life with “Master.”
Elsi wanted to wake up earlier than her husband in the morning to finish her light makeup.
Even after getting married, she didn’t want to look unappealing.
Once ready, she would kiss Ian’s cheek to wake him, maybe cuddle up with him in bed. He’d give her a wry smile and wrap his arms around her.
How blissful would it be to feel the warmth and security of his embrace?
It didn’t end there.
“Master” would surely grant all of Elsi’s desired rewards.
He would not only stroke her hair but perhaps grant her children as well.
She didn’t know how many children they would have, but she hoped to have as many as Ian wished for.
And she vowed to nurture each of them with boundless love.
Elsi had painful childhood memories, which likely fueled her belief that she should shower her children with love if she ever had them.
Fortunately, the Percus Family was a lower-ranking noble family, so there likely wouldn’t be unnecessary strictness in raising children like in high-ranking noble families.
The Rainelle family would simply pass their children off to anyone among the siblings. Perhaps living a peaceful life in the Perkus Manor wouldn’t be bad either.
As long as Ian was by her side.
“Nee, Sister, you must change your strategy! Submitting will only reduce your charm…”
“…I want to.”
While lost in her daydreams, Ru Pin seemed to be ranting something, but Elsi paid no attention.
Her tension had long since eased away. Her gaze was far away, seemingly locked on some distant memory.
From time to time, Elsi would emit a dreamy “Huh-hah” and reiterated her affirmation:
“I want to get married.”
Caught by surprise at Elsi’s sudden response, Ru Pin momentarily stiffened his body, then a cunning smile appeared on his face.
It was the beginning of his revenge.
The moment Ian married her sister, he would witness hell.
If there were nephews to be born, Ru Pin intended to dote on each and every one of them. When they reached the age of speaking, he would divulge the truth to them:
“Your father once severely beat your uncle… It was so violent that my nose broke.”
Then the nephews would look at Ian in shock. Ru Pin could hardly wait to see the expression Ian would wear when that moment came.
Of course, forming trust with caregivers during early childhood was important, so this plan required more thorough consideration.
And so, the Rainelle siblings shared a smile for different reasons.
Elsi was still lost in her blissful fantasies, while Ru Pin imagined the success of his cruel revenge in silence.
It was a classic case of “same bed, different dreams.”
