RPLT 10

Chapter 10

“Older sister, what kind of man do you want to marry in the future?”

“…Huh?”

Selenna was taken aback by Liotis’ sudden question.

‘Marry…?’

Liotis’ expression was serious.

‘Marriage, all of a sudden? Is this because of the storybook I read him before?’

Selenna occasionally read books to Liotis. As they were children’s fairy tales, the endings were always the same cliché happy ending: “The prince and princess married and lived happily ever after.”

‘Marriage…’

She had never really thought about it. In her previous life, she had no time to worry about romance or marriage. And right now, she was far too young to think about getting married.

“I don’t really want to.”

Liotis blinked slowly at her answer, as if he had been hit on the head. He stared blankly for a moment before speaking with a hurt look in his eyes.

“Why? Why don’t you want to?”

His reaction seemed oddly urgent.

“Uh, well… I’m still young…”

“And later?”

“Later… if someone I like comes along, I guess I’d marry them?”

Liotis let out a long sigh.

“Okay… then what kind of person would you like?”

Faced with Liotis’ persistent questioning, Selenna slowly described her ideal type.

“First, I’d like him to be rich. If possible, very powerful.”

“Like a Grand Duke?”

“That’s fine, but higher… an Emperor would be even better.”

‘Anyway, the sub-male lead who’s going to become Emperor will probably fall for the female lead, so there’s no way I’d ever marry the Emperor.’

“And?”

“Hmm… I want him to be strong.”

“How strong?”

“Strong enough to break down a door easily and fight a dragon bare-handed?”

Selenna giggled at her own words.

He didn’t have to be super strong all the time—she just wanted a man capable of protecting his family in dangerous situations.

“Anything else?”

“Hmm… I like kind people.”

“Kind people?”

“Yes. Righteous and just. But I’d like someone who wouldn’t hesitate to be a villain for the sake of the people he cares about. If he’s too kind, he can’t protect what’s precious.”

This was also something she hoped for Liotis in the future.

If Liotis were to meet the female lead later, she wanted him to avoid hurting the people he cares about or himself because of his kindness, like in the original story.

Liotis listened seriously.

“And above all! He has to look only at me. I’m very possessive, so I don’t want my man to be interested in other women. If my future lover ever cheats…”

She clenched her fist.

“I’ll uppercut him in the lower region.”

Selenna pretended to swing her fist. Liotis flinched, shivering.

“I would never do that.”

“Huh?”

‘Come to think of it… maybe that’s why he asked such a question suddenly.’

“Could it be, Liotis… do you want to marry me?”

Liotis looked slightly flustered at her question, then furrowed his brows.

“No.”

‘It was just a joke… no need to look so serious.’

He knew the only person he would truly love was the female lead he would meet in the future.

‘This novel is a story for the female lead.’

The question had just been a joke. Considering the circumstances, it wasn’t unreasonable to think so.

Selenna felt a little hurt but decided to let it go.

‘I’m an adult, after all.’

Although outwardly a child, Selenna was mature inside.

“It was a joke~ I’m not going to marry you either, Liotis.”

‘Even adults can sulk a little, right?’

“…Why?”

Liotis, having just looked serious, seemed offended that she had no intention of marrying him. He looked hurt.

“Liotis is younger than me. I don’t like younger men.”

Half of it was true, half was just said on a whim.

She liked older men.

‘They say men are mentally immature.’

She preferred someone mature who could lead reliably, rather than someone who whined like a child. Older men fit that better.

But she didn’t dislike younger men. If someone fit her ideal type, age didn’t really matter.

Selenna didn’t mention this to Liotis. He didn’t need to know, since his future spouse was already determined.

“Hello, everyone.”

A man dressed in a black suit greeted politely.

Most of the children in the orphanage were wary of unfamiliar adults, having had few good experiences with them.

‘This must be awkward for them.’

Despite the silence, the man appeared calm, as if used to such reactions.

He snapped his fingers. Then,

Flap!

A large bird flew in through the open window. Its swan-like wings were elegant, and the amber jewel embedded in its head glowed like a spotlight.

“Wow…!”

The children’s eyes lit up.

The bird circled in the air and then perched on the man’s shoulder.

‘A tamer.’

A tamer is someone who trains monsters imbued with Cycle power.

Tamers are divided into two types, depending on how compatible they are with the Cycle.

First, tamers affiliated with the Association.

Only those who can tame powerful monsters used in monster hunts can join the Association. Association tamers also tame monsters on behalf of the royal family.

‘Apparently, tamers in the Association make quite a bit of money…’

Because of this, many tamers in the Association are wealthy.

‘Meanwhile, independent tamers…’

Those not affiliated with the Association, whose power is weaker or compatibility with the Cycle isn’t great, can’t join. They can usually only tame small animals like birds or rabbits.

Independent tamers often earn money by performing with their tamed animals, like this man.

‘I thought tamers usually only performed for nobles…’

“Peep!”

A fluffy creature wrapped around Selenna’s hand. She looked down quickly.

“Peep?”

A small, white, fluffy ball tilted its head at her.

‘Oh wow… so cute.’

Selenna carefully cupped it in both hands. The little fluff rolled around her palms, tickling her hands and heart at the same time.

“What is this?”
“Look, it must like Selenna!”
“Uncle, isn’t this yours?”

The children crowded around, chattering excitedly. Despite the noise, the fluffy creature rubbed itself against Selenna’s hands without fear.

“Pom, come here.”

The man held out his hand. Pom, the fluff, glanced at him and turned back to Selenna’s hands, unwilling to leave.

The man didn’t seem displeased at all.

“Pom must like you. That’s surprising—Pom usually doesn’t like people…”

The children made even more noise at his words.

“But Pom is this tamer uncle’s pet.”
“Pets are supposed to obey only their tamer, right?”
“Then… does that make Selenna a tamer too?”

Selenna, captivated by Pom’s cuteness, finally regained her senses.

‘Now isn’t the time to be distracted. Why is the tamer’s pet acting so affectionate in my hands?’

She suddenly remembered a cliché from romance fantasy novels.

Most people who transmigrate into romance fantasy novels gain special abilities.

‘I may be a minor character with no name, but… I’m still a transmigrator. Maybe I have a tamer’s power too?’

A spark of hope lit in Selenna’s heart.

An orphan with no home or parents. She had thought this life would be just like her last—nothing. But maybe this life would be different.

‘Thank you, God! Sending me here wasn’t random after all!’

“Oh my, what’s this! Finally, our orphanage has a gem child!”

The director ran over, excited.

A child attracting noble attention, and a gem at that. Could anything be better?

Greed shone in the director’s eyes.

“Is Selenna a gem?”
“Fool, not ‘gem child,’ a true gem.”
“Whatever, same thing.”
“Selenna, amazing!”

As the children shouted, someone asked sharply,

“But if Selenna is a gem, why isn’t there a gem mark on her body?”

Selenna realized it too.

‘Right. There’s no gem or mark on my body.’

Gems always manifest a sign. But Selenna had no change on her body.

‘Can one have the ability without the mark appearing?’

The man observing quietly smiled.

“Some gems have a delayed manifestation. There is a way to confirm if this child is truly a gem…”

“Really? Mr. Millan, please! Confirm if Selenna is a gem!”

The director didn’t hesitate to ask Millan. He bent one knee, lowering himself to Selenna’s eye level.

“Could you extend your hand for a moment?”

Selenna reached out.

From inside Millan’s shirt, a white snake emerged. The snake lightly bit Selenna’s arm, flicking its tongue.

“Ouch.”

Millan nodded, as if done. The snake returned to him. A meaningful expression appeared on his face.

“I see…”

Millan trailed off.

‘See what? What is it!’

“See what? Does this mean Selenna is truly a gem?”

The director spoke Selenna’s thoughts aloud.

“Selenna…”

Millan had a way of leaving people hanging…