#.01
Prologue.
The original genre was undoubtedly a bleak reverse harem.
A tragic tale where the male leads go so far as to wage war to win the heroine’s heart, yet she never gives her heart to anyone—a story of devastation straight from hell.
But at some point, the genre changed.
It seems the shift began with the original heroine’s death… But could things really change this drastically?
“Isn’t it amazing?”
François Cassel conjured a magnificent illusion spell, making translucent whales and schools of fish float in the air.
François was a genius mage of the century, the current head of the Magic Tower, and one of the male leads who played the role of a madman in the original work.
And now, he was also the fiancé of my eldest sister, Emilia.
I gaped at the illusion spell he had cast, then belatedly shouted,
“Yes! It’s amazing! Truly amazing!”
“Then, Liliana. Call me Oppa.”
“W-what?”
“Repeat after me. O-ppa.”
François lowered himself to meet my gaze.
His angelically beautiful face was so close that I held my breath.
Even though I saw him almost every other day, his beauty was still impossible to get used to.
“But you’re not Oppa, you’re Hyungbu. I already have an Oppa.”
Esraa : The meaning of the word Hyungbu is elder sister’s husband. It can be written generally as brother-in-law but The word brother in law means the husband of the older or younger sister. it is more accurate to leave it as Hyungbu.
“It’s fine. We’re family, so you’re like my little sister too.”
“I don’t think my Oppa would like that…”
I hesitated to answer.
François had done his best to win me over, but I was still a little scared of him.
In the original story, he had driven me, a supporting character, to the edge of a cliff in a fit of madness.
He was a cruel man who wouldn’t hesitate to do anything to achieve his goals, so I couldn’t help but feel tense around him.
But calling him Oppa would feel like betraying my real brother, Andrea.
And my eldest sister wouldn’t like it either.
‘Big Sis is really scary when she’s angry.’
So I quickly stood up to escape the situation.
“I’m going to go play!”
“Lili, Liliana—!”
Ignoring François calling after me, I sprinted down the hallway toward the swing in the garden.
But suddenly, I stumbled and twisted my ankle.
“Ahh!”
I felt myself falling forward, only to be abruptly lifted into the air.
“Uh?”
When I opened my tightly shut eyes, I saw a rough, scarred hand holding me.
There was only one person around me with hands like these.
“Small Hyungbu!”
“I told you not to run in the hallway, didn’t I?”
His blunt voice made me shrink back as I muttered,
“Okay… I won’t do it again.”
“Good, good.”
Despite his rugged demeanor, Small Hyungbu—Leopold von Baltrahein—was a strikingly handsome man with a large scar running across his face.
In the original story, he was one of the strongest characters in the world, a male lead known for his unmatched combat skills.
As one of the most powerful figures in this world, Leopold was incredibly tall and broad-shouldered, and he would often lift my seven-year-old self like a doll.
Even now, he grabbed my feet and hoisted me onto his shoulders.
“Where were you headed? I’ll take you there.”
“To the garden! I want to play on the swing!”
Over the past few months, I’d gotten to know Small Hyungbu better. He was a thoughtful and considerate person.
He was also the one who had installed the swing for me in the garden.
That’s why I really liked Small Hyungbu.
The only issue was that he was still a little upset that I had acknowledged François as Hyungbu.
But I was trying my best to get along with him.
If Small Hyungbu wanted my attention, I had to understand.
“Where were you headed, Small Hyungbu?”
“I was on my way to find Regina.”
“Little unnie?”
“Yes.”
Small Sis, Regina—Leopold’s wife—was surprisingly a perfect match for him.
She had a bright and cheerful personality, and she took the lead in their relationship.
Most importantly, Small Hyungbu loved my sister dearly.
And my sister adored him just as much.
“Liliana.”
His voice sounded more serious than usual, making my heart race.
“Yes?”
“…Out of all your Hyungbus, I’m your favorite, right?”
Huh? I tilted my head, wondering if I had heard him wrong.
Small Hyungbu, not Big Hyungbu or François, asking something like that?
But it didn’t seem like I had misheard, because when I leaned slightly to check his face, I noticed his cheeks were faintly flushed.
With a quick motion, I placed my hands on his scarred cheek.
There were probably only two people in this world who could squish the face of Leopold von Baltrahein—the most fearsome man in the empire—me and Regina.
“Small Hyungbu, you’re silly.”
He didn’t say it outright, but he must have wanted to be closer to me.
At that moment, Small Sis—Regina—appeared at the end of the hallway.
“There you are, little one! His Majesty arrived an hour early, so we’ll all be dining together soon.”
At her gesture, Small Hyungbu set me down.
Then she asked, with her signature playful hum,
“Ehehe~ What were you two doing together?”
“…It’s a secret.”
“We’re best friends! Best friends share secrets!”
While I confidently shook Little Hyungbu’s calloused hand, his eyes wavered slightly.
Perhaps because he grew up in all-male environments like boys’ dormitories and knight orders, Little Hyungbu was always startled whenever I casually touched him.
He said I looked so small and fragile that he was afraid he might hurt me even with the slightest miscalculation of strength.
But I’m already seven years old! I’m not a baby anymore!
Regina unnie gently patted my head and said,
“Don’t fight with Edgar today, okay?”
“Edgar is an idiot.”
“Little one, friends should get along with each other.”
Edgar was Little Hyungbu’s cousin, who lost his parents at a young age.
Because of that, Little Hyungbu took on the role of his guardian, and Edgar had been living with us ever since.
“He’s not a friend, he’s a subordinate. He follows me around every day.”
Before Little Unnie could start nagging, I quickly ran toward the kitchen.
When I opened the dining room door, I saw Big Unnie and Big Hyungbu, the Emperor, who seemed to have just arrived from the imperial palace and hadn’t even sat down yet.
“Big Unnie!”
I dashed toward Alice Unnie, our eldest sister, and threw myself into her arms.
She seemed so happy to see me after a week that she hugged me tightly with all her strength.
Then, she spun me around in the air.
“Have you been well?”
“Mm-hmm! I’ve been eating delicious food, learning to write, and sleeping well every day!”
“Really? Then you must have grown taller too?”
At Big Unnie’s question, Big Hyungbu, who was next to her, joked playfully.
“I don’t think she’s grown at all. She’s still a little runt”
“I’m not a runt!”
“Aren’t you? You’re definitely a runt. You barely reach here.”
As Big Hyungbu waved his hand around his waist, my face flushed red with embarrassment.
“You…! I hate you, Big Hyungbu!”
“You shouldn’t hate me, though.”
“No! I’ll hate you forever! Bleh!”
When I stuck out my tongue, Big Unnie chuckled softly, while Big Hyungbu laughed loudly and obnoxiously.
“Since you stuck your tongue out at me, you’re banned from entering the imperial palace for a month!”
“Gasp!”
Being banned from the imperial palace meant I wouldn’t be able to see Big Unnie.
Shocked, I gasped and clamped my mouth shut with my hands, while Big Hyungbu laughed in satisfaction.
“If you admit you’re a little runt, I’ll lift the ban.”
“Uh, uh…”
I glanced back and forth between Big Hyungbu and Big Unnie.
Despite being the Emperor, Big Hyungbu had no dignity and acted frivolously, teasing me every chance he got.
In the original story, he was supposed to be a maniacal emperor driven by obsessive madness.
If he weren’t the Emperor, I’d stomp on his foot right now.
But his wife, Big Unnie, was the kindest, prettiest, and most amazing person in the world.
Not seeing her for a whole month…
“Fine… I’m a runt…”
When I admitted defeat, Big Hyungbu smirked and suddenly spoke in a solemn voice.
“Since you admitted it honestly, I’ll issue an imperial decree for my little sister-in-law.”
“Huh? A decree?”
“It’s an imperial command. From now on, my little sister-in-law will live in the imperial palace and be treated like a princess.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Starting today, you’ll be living in the imperial palace.”
Too shocked to speak, I covered my mouth again and looked at Big Unnie.
She already seemed to know, as she smiled softly and nodded.
The thought of being able to see Big Unnie every day filled me with excitement, and I was about to jump for joy when—
Crash!
A sharp sound echoed through the dining room.
In one corner, Edgar had dropped his glass of water.
“You, you, you…!”
With a pale face, Edgar dashed in my direction.
Without hesitation, he slammed his head into Big Hyungbu’s stomach.
“Ugh!”
As Big Hyungbu let out a grunt, Edgar shouted,
“She’s my subordinate! If you’re going to take her, you have to take me, the captain, too!”
“Why would I go with you! Idiot Edgar, bleh!”
“Hyung! I want to live in the imperial palace too! If you don’t take me… I’ll never speak to you again!”
Edgar was Big Hyungbu’s cousin, meaning he was also related to the imperial family.
His parents were from both the imperial and ducal families, making him a product of noble lineage.
At Edgar’s outburst, Big Hyungbu’s eyes sparkled mischievously as he stroked his chin and drawled,
“Should I do that…?”
“Nooo!”
I quickly crossed my arms in an X and opposed the idea.
But Edgar threw an arm around my shoulder and yelled,
“We’re soulmates! If I go, she goes, and if she goes, I go too!”
What nonsense is he spouting now?!
I was about to yell back, but Big Hyungbu grinned and said,
“Alright! If you’re soulmates, then you can’t be separated.”
“No, nooo…”
I looked between Edgar and Big Hyungbu, unsure how to react, and decided to pull my ultimate trump card: shamelessness.
I threw myself onto the marble floor, burying my face and flailing my arms and legs.
“Noooo!”
It’s been a year since I came to this empire.
In that time, I’ve gained three Hyungbus, and Edgar, my friend-slash-subordinate, follows me around every day.
Big Hyungbu, who was supposed to be a mad emperor, now calls me names like “little squirrel” and “runt.”
Little Hyungbu, who was supposed to be stoic and devoted, subtly insists that he’s the best Hyungbu.
And Youngest Hyungbu, who was once a crazed villain, constantly tries to win my favor.
‘The days when it was just me and my sisters were the best.’
Back then, things weren’t this chaotic.
Who would’ve thought?
The three obsessive male leads from the original story would end up marrying my sisters.
It’s a relief that my sisters are extraordinary women who can handle these men.
‘How did it come to this?’
I did wish for the original story to change, but I didn’t do anything.
The original female lead just… suddenly died one day.
Right in front of me.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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