Chapter 73
In the form of a beast, hunting…
Chloe’s eyes grew serious as she mulled over Isabelle’s words.
If it were a one-on-one fight, she would have had no chance at all, but since it was a hunting competition, there was at least a little possibility.
Of course, the fact that she’d have to take on the form of a beast was a bit troubling.
“By the way, why are you asking that? Are you thinking of participating?”
At Isabelle’s gentle question, Chloe fidgeted with her fingers.
“What do you think, Isabelle?”
She had put on a strong front for Marquis Myers in the study, who had clearly been dismissive of her.
“But… could I really do it?”
The truth was, Chloe had no confidence.
It wasn’t surprising. Chloe was a herbivorous beast with nothing but blunt teeth as weapons.
She was a rabbit with a soft, delicate body, entirely unsuitable for facing ferocious beasts.
But…
The more she thought about it alone after returning from the study, the more she felt she had to enter the competition.
It wasn’t simply to show the marquis a lesson.
It wasn’t even because she wanted to become the head of the family.
There were countless things she could only see and do as the official heir.
If she didn’t claim her rightful authority over those things, she wouldn’t be able to counter the schemes of the hidden mastermind.
Even if she sneaked into the rare book library, she didn’t know what other restrictions might be placed on her next time.
Some obstacles might not be solved simply by getting permission to enter, as with the rare book library.
And above all, the mastermind—whose identity she didn’t even know—was someone who had planted fake spies trusted completely by Leander and Arus.
She could never dismiss the possibility that they might try to approach the official heir.
‘To prevent a legitimate heir with significant influence over the Leander family from being infiltrated by the mastermind, I have to become the official heir.’
Chloe’s goal hadn’t changed one bit since the day she realized her past life.
To protect her family. To live a life different from her past life.
Recently, the number of family members she wanted to protect had even increased.
But the more responsibilities she shouldered, the firmer and stronger Chloe’s resolve became.
I will protect them.
No matter what it takes, I will live happily with the people I love.
Chloe steadied the fleeting doubt that had made her think it might be impossible, and looked at Isabelle.
“Hmm.”
Say I can do it, Isabelle.
If Isabelle said that, it would give her heart a little more certainty!
Sensing Chloe’s earnest feelings, Isabelle paused for a moment, then spoke in her cheerful voice.
“Yes, I think you can do it.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. You might not be skilled at fighting, Princess, but you’re great at planning operations. Even during hide-and-seek before, you completely tricked me!”
Ah, she had brought up the trick Chloe had used during hide-and-seek at the Demos family.
Chloe, nervous at the thought of being called a cheater, was met with Isabelle’s kind reassurance.
“I think it’s possible. I trust you, Princess.”
“Isabelle…”
“So what if you break the rules? As long as you win, that’s what matters! Ah, now that I think about it, even the current head of the family entered competitions at an age similar to yours back then…”
Walking along and chatting about the heir-determination competition with the boisterous Isabelle, Chloe soon saw the dining hall.
“See you later, Isabelle. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I just spoke the truth.”
Waving to the kind maid one last time, Chloe bravely stepped into the dining room.
Wow.
The Leander Castle dining hall, which she was seeing for the first time, was even more magnificent than she expected.
Beautiful paintings, a glittering chandelier, food piled across the long dining table.
But the best part was…
“Welcome, Chloe.”
“Oh my, our daughter! Who dressed you in such a cute checkered dress? Bring them over, I want to give a reward!”
“Yes, this deserves some bonus points. Who was it? Tell me.”
Her family fussing over her the moment she arrived.
“The dress was chosen together. Please split the bonus!”
Chloe smiled brightly and picked a seat next to Zion.
“Your outfit looks great, Zion.”
When she whispered, a slightly sulky voice responded.
“…Your hairpin’s pretty too.”
“Really? I was debating between a ribbon and a pearl pin before coming, and I’m glad I chose this one.”
Hehe. Feeling happy, Chloe smiled foolishly, prompting Zion to murmur back faintly.
“The ribbon would’ve been pretty too.”
“Huh? What did you say? I didn’t hear that.”
“No, never mind. Eat your food.”
Sigh. Chloe briefly looked at Zion, then turned to lift her fork.
Maybe it was because they were eating together, or maybe the kitchen staff were as lively as Isabelle said, but the food somehow tasted better than usual.
There was only one exception.
‘Ugh, I don’t want to eat this…’
The strange-textured eggplant.
Chloe carefully pushed the eggplant to the edge of her plate, glancing around.
In both her past and present life, she hated soft, squishy vegetables.
It was a consistent preference unrelated to her mental growth.
‘I hate how they feel all soggy and burst with juice!’
It wasn’t just eggplant—she disliked most vegetables.
‘The only thing that was good in my past life was that nobody cared about my eating habits.’
As Iayeong, no one had paid attention to her diet, so she could grow into an adult who avoided vegetables.
But unfortunately, in this beloved current life…
‘When mom isn’t looking… secretly…’
She had to work hard to hide the eggplant she didn’t want to eat.
‘Everything else is fine about being Chloe, but this is annoying.’
Grumbling about her family’s over-attentiveness, Chloe carefully moved the orange peel to cover the eggplant.
Done!
Just as she thought she had successfully hidden the eggplant under the orange peel…
“Chloe.”
From across the table, not where her mother was sitting, Ian’s voice came.
“You have to eat vegetables too if you want to grow into a proper adult.”
“I don’t need to be a proper adult! I just want to be an adult…!”
“Didn’t you say in the study today that you wanted to become a proper adult who could protect yourself?”
Ugh. Bringing that up now.
Pouting, Chloe glared at the eggplant peeking from the orange peel.
Ian’s teasing laugh came again.
“If you want to be like me, you have to eat all your vegetables. That way, you’ll grow tall.”
“Like you?”
Melissa reacted first to Ian’s words.
“Why would our child want to be like you? Watch your words. My daughter will grow like me, not like you.”
Melissa’s sharp words made Ian curl his lips in a crooked smile.
“Well, shouldn’t we hear Chloe’s side too? Does she really want to grow up like you?”
“Of course. She’d want to grow up like me rather than you. At least I work diligently.”
“What? Who’s skipping out on work every day!”
“I didn’t say a word about skipping.”
Sensing the tension rising, Chloe rolled her eyes.
In the past, she would have tried to reconcile them.
She would have tried to act pitiful to draw attention.
‘Opportunity, opportunity!’
Now it just seemed like the perfect chance to avoid the eggplant.
‘Keep arguing, Uncle!’
Chloe quietly cheered inwardly, hastily lifting her fork.
‘Hehe. I’ll secretly throw it away.’
Chloe, who absolutely refused to eat eggplant, tried to drop it on the floor—but just then, a soft sigh and a quick fork came flying.
Huh.
In the blink of an eye, half the hidden eggplant was gone, speared by the flying fork.
Turning her head, she saw Zion calmly eating the eggplant she had tried to discard.
Wow…
Chloe gazed at Zion with admiration, whispering without realizing it.
“Zion… you’re really amazing…”
Zion paused mid-bite, then lightly reached to touch his ear.
“Give me the plate.”
After a small cough, Zion reached for the rest of the eggplant on Chloe’s plate.
Here! Here! But just as Chloe quickly handed the plate to make it easier for Zion, her eyes met Lucian’s across the table.
The single thought that struck Chloe immediately was:
‘I’m doomed.’
She wasn’t the only one who noticed his gaze.
Zion, fork still extended, froze in place as well.
Caught doing something wrong, Chloe rolled her eyes and glared at Lucian.
Her father, who seemed to have been watching all along, wore a strange expression.
It was a mix of disbelief and bewilderment, unsure of what to say.
Chloe assumed that look belonged to an adult deciding whether to cover up a child’s mistake. Her expression changed.
Turn crisis into opportunity. Turn mistakes into talent!
Thinking of her useful talent, Chloe widened her eyes, sparkling with determination.
Looking earnestly at Lucian, she whispered:
“Please… just once… just once, please…”
