This Time, My Brother-in-Law Proposed - Chapter 2.6

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I first learned about monsters when I was around eight.

“Mom, what’s a monster?”

“A strange thing.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll know when you see it. Fish that fly through the sky, giant rabbits that tear humans apart, deer that ride waves with six legs……. When you see something and think, ‘Why is this here?’

that’s a monster. You can tell instinctively.”

“What’s instinct?”

“…….”

In the end, I learned what monsters actually were a little later.

Humanity’s mortal enemy.

Monsters that lie in wait for humans beyond the border.

Only a small number of licensed people can capture monsters and make them their property.

Because of this, city dwellers have no reason to see monsters outside of circuses, and the likelihood of being in danger from monsters is even lower.

So…….

I, on that day at age twelve, learned what kind of cursed fate I was born with, and…….

My father…….

“Dad…….”

I tightly grasped a hand that was near me.

A warm, slightly rough man’s hand.

A familiar hand.

It must be Dad.

Since I came back to life, Dad could come back to life too.

No, at this age, I shouldn’t call him ‘Dad’ anymore.

I held the word ‘Father’ in my mouth and slowly opened my eyes.

And the owner of this man’s hand I saw before my eyes was…….

“Kyaaaah!”

I threw his hand off and bolted upright.

It’s Ernst Freier!

Why is that bastard holding my hand? And where is this!

But Ernst seemed flustered too.

“Why are you screaming at the person nursing you?”

“……Nursing? Where is this? It doesn’t look like a hospital.”

“It’s our house.”

Hearing that, I broke out in goosebumps.

Three years in my past life was enough, and I’m lying in the Marquis of Freier’s residence again?

“Why am I here.”

“You’ll have to ask my younger brother. He carried you here unconscious.”

“…….”

“Lie back down.”

Ernst pushed my forehead.

Every time his flesh touched mine, goosebumps rose. Who do you think you’re being friendly with?

But the words that followed from Ernst were even more chilling.

“I was thinking while you were lying there, Irene. You really are most beautiful when you’re asleep. I wish I could see you like that every morning.”

“……I’m so glad I’m breaking off this marriage arrangement.”

Just imagining Ernst watching me asleep is horrifying.

I tried to get out of bed entirely.

Suddenly, Ernst grabbed my wrist.

“Wait! What’s this about the marriage arrangement being broken off? Are you still on about that?”

“Let go. I’m no longer in any relationship with you, Ernst Freier.”

“No relationship my! Ha, hey, Irene. Be honest. What’s made you so sulky? Have you been pretending to be quiet on the outside while secretly writing down everything you hated in a diary inside?”

“…….”

Not worth answering.

I swung my arm violently. He, not having expected me to resist, lost hold of my arm and stared blankly at me.

“……Irene. Are you really angry?”

“If you didn’t understand, I’ll say it again. I will not marry you. No matter what it costs.”

“Ha……. I really can’t believe it. Were you always this emotional of a woman? Are you going to go on about love again?”

“Thank you for lending me the bed. Goodbye.”

I cut him off and left the room.

The wet towel that seemed to have rolled off my forehead was stepped on by my shoe and let out a squelch, spitting out water.

Wet footprints remained on the carpet.

I worried that Ernst might follow these traces, but fortunately, Ernst didn’t seem willing to abandon his pride.

Of course, I have no intention of catching him if he rolled at my feet, but with that lofty attitude, what woman would come back?

Wake up and find yourself another woman!

As I walked through the hallways made familiar from my past life, I heard the maids whispering behind me.

“That woman, isn’t she our young master’s fiancée? Why is she so angry?”

“I heard they’re breaking up or something.”

“Oh my, she finally realized her place, I guess.”

Right. No one in this house welcomed me.

Even the servants, the maids!

I spun around to face them.

The maids who had been gossiping flinched. They’re all faces that tormented me in my past life too. I spoke to the one who had mentioned ‘place.’

“Alice.”

“Pardon? How, how do you know my name……?”

“The name isn’t the issue. Have you kept up your habit of stealing bead decorations while ironing the mistress’s clothes? That’s been causing trouble for your colleagues, hasn’t it?”

Alice covered her mouth. The maid next to her looked at her colleague with a face of disbelief.

“Hey! Did you really do that? No wonder the mistress’s seams kept coming undone lately, I’ve been working so hard……!”

“No! It’s, it’s a frame-up!”

“But you’re the one who mainly does the ironing!”

I suppressed my desire to laugh and left that chaos behind.

On my wedding day in my past life, there was an incident where the seams of the Marchioness’s dress burst as she was receiving my greetings. It wasn’t my fault. But the Marchioness started disliking me, saying, ‘Since Irene came to our house, unpleasant things have been happening.’

Not long after, that maid’s mischief was revealed, but the aversion stuck to me never disappeared.

Now that I’ve exposed it, will you behave a little more quietly from now on?

Marchioness, you owe me one.