This Time, My Brother-in-Law Proposed - Chapter 2.1

Chapter 2

After resolving the proposal issue, time passed well enough.

Today is September 16th. Only three days left until my twentieth birthday.

But in fact, the most important inheritance issue in my new life remains unresolved.

Today, I absolutely must have a conversation with my uncle, even if I have to trip him up to do it.

Right on cue, Shirley, who has now become my alarm clock, sang.

“There’s nothing to life, you see……. If you open your eyes after being born and see…….”

When she sings voluntarily, she always sings with such enthusiasm, but now that I’m making her do it on schedule, look how quiet her voice has gotten.

“Shirley, your voice is too quiet. Do you think I’ll wake up like that?”

“Eeek! I’m sorry!”

“Since I woke up today, it’s fine. From tomorrow, sing a little louder.”

Leaving those words behind, I ran secretly to my uncle, who would be eating breakfast.

“Uncle!”

“Ugh, uh? Cough, choke!”

“Have you finished thinking about the stock matter I mentioned to you?”

My uncle, as if asking ‘Can’t you see the bread in my mouth?’, pointed to his mouth and pounded his chest.

Keep pounding until your ribs break. Do you think I’ll let this slide again.

“You avoided me yesterday and the day before too. Today, I’ll wait.”

“……Ahem.”

My uncle finally swallowed his bread and faced me.

“Irene. I don’t know what change of heart you’ve had. Haven’t we gotten along well for the past eight years? I’ve taught you with all my sincerity―.”

“Are you referring to that very incident where I went to my debutante without having learned etiquette and committed rudeness before Her Majesty the Queen? The reason my head didn’t get cut off then was because I gave Her Majesty great amusement, not because of your sincerity, Uncle.”

“Irene!”

“Yes, continue. I will also continue.”

I remained standing and looked down at my uncle. My uncle poured black tea into his mouth, cleared his voice, and spoke.

“I never thought my consideration for your retiring nature would come back as criticism. But I advise you sincerely, you can’t do anything on your own. Even if I do give you some assets on your birthday―.”

“It’s not your assets, Uncle, it’s my father’s inheritance.”

“Either way! What will you do with it once you receive it? Do you think there’s an inn that will take in a noblewoman with no cash?”

“I have some money.”

“At best, a bit of allowance I gave you― no, anyway. At most, that bit of money and the cash from selling off your jewelry! I understand you’ve been harboring delusions for the past eight years. But the world isn’t easy enough to escape with just those delusions.”

You talk too much, Uncle.

To be honest, it is precarious.

The ‘Langnant Rose’ becomes popular in a few months. Until then, I have to survive on a small amount of assets. I could sell some of the floriculture industry stocks now to cover living expenses, but I’d rather avoid that choice if possible.

But that’s a concern for after I become independent.

“Thank you for worrying about your foolish niece. The kindness you’ve shown me will become my nourishment after independence. Then, I’m requesting the inheritance settlement within three days.”

That’s the end of it.

My uncle’s mouth opened and closed a few times, but in the end, he seemed to understand what I was trying to say.

“You’re cutting ties with me, and refusing to build ties with the Marquis’s family. You’re acting like you’re about to die, Irene.”

I had both of those and still died, Uncle.

I smiled bitterly.

My uncle frowned.

“What’s so funny that you’re smiling.”

“At first, I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to see you again, Uncle.”

“Huh? Wh-what?”

“But you’re so consistent that my resolve crumbled in no time.”

My uncle’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Fortunately, before he could reprimand me for some petty reason, my cousin Linda appeared in the dining room.

“Did you sleep well, Dad? Oh, Irene’s here too. Did you sleep well?”

She must be fifteen this year.

I hold no particular ill will towards Linda. She’s a child who acts clueless equally to everyone. When I was being scolded by my uncle for unfair reasons, Linda would often divert his attention with some nonsensical comment.

The problem was my uncle.

“Linda! No need to greet Irene. What good is it to form attachments with someone who will soon leave.”

“Oh, you mean since she’ll be leaving to get married, don’t bother?”

“She says she won’t marry. Don’t you ever follow Irene’s example―.”

“Why? Irene, did your fiancé fart on a date?”

“Linda! What frivolous talk is that!”

Now my uncle’s arrows turned to Linda.

Linda said, “Why are you like that, Father! Anyone would agree that’s a mood-killer!” and ran away, dodging her father’s scolding.

See. Times like this make her seem like a cute little sister.

I left the dining room thinking I should at least buy Linda a meal on my last day.

Now, what I need to prepare.

I need to find lodgings to stay in until the price of the Langnant Rose rises, and secure cash to match the cost of living.

Actually, I did consider staying quietly at the Dunbury residence until then, but the problem is that as soon as the price goes up, my uncle might sell off the shares.

Let’s not trust my uncle.