Chapter 3
“Ugh… The first and second plans failed! They’re really not easy opponents.”
Serina opened her diary and drew lines through the failed plans.
“The next plan is… fasting!”
At that moment, growl, her stomach made a loud hungry sound.
When she looked out the window, the sky was already dyed orange.
“Huh? Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten anything all day.”
After returning to her room, Serina had tried to go back to the office, but the servants watched her closely and kept her confined to her room.
Because she was so focused on getting out, she had naturally skipped both breakfast and lunch.
“Now that I think about it, I’m starving. Ugh, fasting like this is impossible.”
Serina flopped down onto the bed.
“And how am I supposed to resist tasty snacks? Not eating dessert once a day is a crime! Right, Tosoon?”
She rolled onto her side and lifted up her beloved sky-blue rabbit doll.
“Then what should I do?”
Serina closed her eyes and thought hard. Then she remembered something hidden under the bed.
“Oh, right! The snack box! Merilly’s nagging is actually useful at times!”
Because of Merilly’s constant talk about health, Serina’s snacks had once been restricted.
After that, she secretly collected snacks from the servant sisters and brothers, and even the kitchen chef.
Serina immediately lay flat and pulled out a blue box from under the bed.
Inside were white chocolate cookies, caramel, colorful candies, and all kinds of snacks.
“Hmm… Would this be enough to last a few days?”
She took them out one by one and counted.
Just then, knock knock, someone knocked on the door.
“Miss Serina, it’s almost dinner time.”
It was Merilly’s voice.
“Just a moment!”
Serina hurriedly stuffed the snacks back into the box and closed the lid. Then she kicked it under the bed.
The door opened wide and Merilly walked in.
‘That was close. I didn’t get caught.’
Serina sighed in relief inside.
“Merilly, um… I’m not eating dinner tonight. Please tell them that.”
“No. You already skipped breakfast and lunch. You must eat dinner.”
“I’m not hungry, so it’s fine!”
Contrary to her words, her stomach made another loud growling sound.
“…That sound was because I’m bored! It’s definitely not hunger!”
Serina quickly tried to cover it up.
“It’s actually because my stomach hurts! Ouch, my stomach hurts so bad!”
She grabbed her stomach and acted with all her strength.
“I don’t know why you’re refusing to eat, but being stubborn won’t work.”
Merilly had taken care of Serina like a nanny since she was born. To her, Serina’s health was important.
In the end, Serina was dragged away by Merilly.
* * *
“I told you I’m not hungry! I said I’m not going in!”
Serina resisted at the entrance of the dining hall.
A servant nearby opened the door.
As her body tilted inward, Serina tried to regain her balance to avoid falling.
‘Huh?’
Before she realized it, she had stepped into the dining hall.
Blinking in confusion, Serina quickly began thinking of a countermeasure.
‘Since it’s come to this, I’ll show them fasting right in front of them!’
She went to her seat, stepped onto the footstool, and sat down.
Seeing this, Merilly smiled quietly and left the dining hall.
Even as time passed, Serina didn’t pick up her utensils and just sat there.
Her family looked at her silently.
“Serina, what’s wrong? Hurry and eat.”
“I’m starting a fast today. Brother’s engagement is a really serious issue to me. I won’t eat until you listen!”
She huffed and turned her head away.
“Serina, no matter what, you have to eat.”
Nereus, who hadn’t scolded her even when she threw tantrums in the office, finally spoke.
His low voice echoed, making Serina hesitate for a moment—but she didn’t back down.
“I’m not joking. I’m serious. Even if Dad says so, I won’t eat.”
Then the rest of the family joined in.
“Serina, you know there’ll be no snacks if you don’t eat, right?”
“Serina, don’t do this. Let’s eat together. Today’s dessert is pudding—you like it.”
Serina’s eyes drifted toward the trolley beside the table.
Custard pudding sat there with a glossy shine.
It looked smooth, soft, and jiggly. Even from far away, she could smell the sweet caramel scent.
Her already empty stomach desperately wanted the food right in front of her.
And of all things, it was her favorite pudding.
‘N-not eating snacks is a crime, but…’
Serina swallowed hard.
‘No! I can’t.’
I can eat pudding another time. I’m an adult who knows how to endure!
She shook her head hard and resisted the huge temptation.
‘For my goal, I have to make sacrifices!’
Serina successfully endured dinner time and quickly returned to her room.
After confirming everything was quiet, she hurriedly took out the snack box.
“Just in case, I’ll eat secretly.”
She hid under the blanket, curling up like a caterpillar.
Carefully, so crumbs wouldn’t fall, she took a bite of a cookie. Sweetness filled her mouth.
After devouring several cookies, Serina came out from under the blanket and let out a satisfied breath.
“Hehe, they probably think I really fasted.”
She hid the empty cookie bag in a corner and smiled brightly.
Proud of her fake fast, Serina fell asleep.
* * *
“What’s that smell?”
As soon as she woke up, a sweet scent drifted in.
Looking around, she saw the door slightly open.
Serina quietly walked toward it.
Her eyes widened.
Through the gap, she saw a trolley.
It was stacked with limited-edition strawberry desserts from Dulcis, her favorite dessert shop.
Serina swallowed hard.
She had eaten cookies last night, but her stomach wasn’t fully satisfied.
As if possessed, she slowly opened the door.
Lacus was standing beside the trolley.
Not noticing him at first, Serina flinched in surprise.
Lacus smiled brightly and pointed at the trolley.
“Ta-da! Brother prepared this especially for you. How is it? Surprised?”
“I’m fasting right now…”
Serina couldn’t take her eyes off the desserts.
“Serina, fasting isn’t good for your health. I reserved this days ago just for you. Are you really not going to eat?”
Lacus looked down, like a puppy caught in the rain.
‘Ugh…’
After struggling internally, Serina seemed to make up her mind. She grabbed the trolley handle and spoke with a prim expression.
“It can’t be helped. I’m eating because you’re worried, Brother. You know it’s not because I want to eat, right?”
Having lost the battle against reason, she made excuses.
“Mm-hmm, of course. Good girl, our Serina.”
Lacus gently patted her head, holding back his laughter.
Serina hurriedly pulled the trolley into her room and picked strawberry pudding first.
After taking a big bite, chewing like a hamster, she wrote something in her diary.
- Fasting (They might give up since they say I must eat while growing)
→ Stopped because Brother was worried. I’m a good girl, so it couldn’t be helped.
“Then… only the final method is left.”
- Throwing household items (Absolute last resort! Be prepared to get scolded!)
“…It’s really, really scary, but I can’t give up!”
Imagining Aura with devil horns, furious with anger, Serina shivered.
She hugged Tosoon tightly and shouted,
“Tosoon, your big sister is going to be brave!”
* * *
“Hmm… where would be good…”
Serina wandered around the mansion, thinking about where to cause trouble.
Before she knew it, she had arrived at the library.
‘The library?’
Lots of things to throw, and even if it gets messy, it doesn’t need urgent cleaning.
It fit her conditions perfectly.
“Alright, the library it is.”
She tiptoed inside and quietly looked around.
After confirming no one was there, she took in the neat interior.
Luxurious ornaments, shelves packed with books.
A large chandelier in the center, famous paintings on the walls.
A clean, soft rug, a high-class sofa, and a spotless table.
On the table sat a tray with light refreshments and fresh flowers.
“Umm… it feels wrong to throw anything.”
Seeing how well-maintained the library was, Serina hesitated.
“I’ll just mess things up a little. I’ll throw one book hard to make noise.”
If things broke, the servants would have trouble cleaning and replacing them.
Serina carefully placed decorations crookedly on the floor.
She laid a vase on its side so water spilled slightly, scattered petals around, crushed some wrapped snacks, and took down a few paintings.
After pulling out several books and finishing the setup, she wiped sweat from her forehead with satisfaction.
“Phew… this is perfect.”
Finally, she lifted a thick book and aimed it at the rug.
“One… two… three!”
Using wind magic, she threw it down hard.
Thud!
The book hit the floor with a loud noise.
The sound was louder than expected, making Serina flinch.
Soon, hurried footsteps echoed toward the room.
Her heart started pounding fast with fear and excitement.
“Ugh… I’m going to get scolded really badly, right?”
