NOVEL NEXT The Strongest Solo Gamer with Terrible Social Skills Reincarnates as a Hated NPC in a VRMMO Chapter 7
7: Lilia’s True Intentions
――SIDE: Lilia――
I, Lilia, was born to a French mother and a Japanese father from a prestigious samurai family in Kamakura. My mother, who was from a high-society family, met my father, the current head of the Lilia household, at a social gathering. They had a passionate romance, and I was the result. Love is a convenient word, isn’t it? My father was already married at the time, but he didn’t care and eloped with my mother. They thought their love justified everything, but I couldn’t understand their warped values.
However, infidelity is infidelity.
My mother’s family had as much power as the Lilia household, and they took the opportunity to expose my father’s infidelity to the court, causing a scandal that involved both families.
As a result, the Lilia household was stripped of its official rank.
We had to mortgage our land to pay the compensation, and now the only property left is the Western-style mansion in the city, which belongs to the current head of the household. It was built to welcome my mother to Japan, but unfortunately…
In the end, my mother couldn’t abandon her hometown.
I came to the Ishizuru household alone.
Although I was truly fed up with my mother’s free-spirited behavior, it wasn’t because I was fond of the Ishizuru patriarch that I came to Japan.
It was all just a whim.
Maybe if I changed my environment, this suffocating feeling would lift a bit. That’s what I thought, and so I crossed the sea with my attendant maid.
“Ah, ah, Ria. Welcome… You’ve grown up so much! How’s your mother?”
“Long time no see, Father. Yes, Mother is doing well. She’s found a new love in her hometown of France and might even have a half-sister or -brother soon?”
“――Ah”
When I said that, Father’s face turned tearful, and he was at a loss for words.
He’s really weak.
I didn’t feel even a shred of respect for him.
It was no wonder Mother left him.
“Will you be going out to work soon?”
“Ah, yes… I need the money…”
“That’s unfortunate. Well, for the time being, you can use the house as you like. Where’s your brother? The next head of the Ishizuru household… I’d like to pay my respects.”
“Are you talking about Shōma? Then――”
“――What’s with that? I heard a sister was coming, but you’re not alone?”
“Who are you?”
“Huh? You don’t know me? This is ridiculous! You’re from abroad and don’t know the ways of the world, right?”
“……”
“My name is Ishizuru Shōma! As the next head of this household, don’t you know how to behave? You’re living in our house courtesy of our goodwill, so you’d better listen to what I say!”
I couldn’t help but narrow my eyes. This was the next head of the Ishizuru household… my brother? If I had to put up with someone like this, the Ishizuru household would fall apart sooner or later.
At that moment, I regretted my decision. If I had known the Ishizuru household was like this, I wouldn’t have bothered crossing the sea. It was a mistake to be interested in the true identity of the blood flowing through my veins.
“Listen, you should call me ‘older brother’ and show some respect――”
Shōma, oblivious to the maids’ glares, was saying ridiculous things with a grin. …It was about time someone taught him his place.
That’s what I thought at that moment.
“What are you saying, Shōma?”
“H-hey! S-sister!? B-bullying me!?”
“Stop making a ruckus in the hallway. Our guest is tired from their long journey. Let’s get them to their room first.”
“――”
“I apologize for the disturbance. One of my family members has been impolite. Let me show you to your room now.”
“Ah, yes!”
“Hmm?”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice.
With a dignified demeanor,
I was drawn to the noble, blue-blooded lady.
“What’s your name…?”
“I’m Ishizuru Aina. From now on, I’ll be your sister too.”
“Aina… sister…”
This was my first meeting with my sister.
The Ishizuru household, which was supposed to be foreign to me, welcomed me warmly with Aina as my sister. For me, Aina was the first “family” member I could truly respect from the bottom of my heart.
That’s why I can’t forgive Shōma.
I know my sister values tradition and takes our family matters seriously, so I loathe the brother who would ruin it all.
“If only sister were the head of the household…”
One day, when I couldn’t help but express my true feelings, my sister said quietly,
“The samurai class values precedent. As a woman, I cannot inherit the Ishizu family estate.”
“But!”
“It’s not just that. Our family has already been targeted by the imperial court. The Right Minister, Nasuno Takamichi, arranged a marriage for us, but Father ruined it. From now on, we must avoid drawing attention to ourselves.”
“Is that… because of me?”
“Why would that be? Your mother, the French woman, and Father’s infidelity have nothing to do with you, do they?”
“But…”
“I’m grateful to you, though. You’re listening to our family’s concerns. If I were alone, I’d be exhausted by now.”
“Sister… you’re serious about making that brother the next head of the household, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’ll pour my heart and soul into making Shōma a worthy successor! Even if it means making him spit blood, I’ll do it!!”
“Sister…”
But, sister, people can’t change that much.
Looking at Mother, I realized that.
To protect the family, instead of changing people, there’s a simpler way.
I’m sorry, sister, but I’ve decided to exile Shōma from the Ishizu family. I’m prepared to use any means necessary to do so.
And yet… what’s this feeling of discomfort?
“What was that guy doing this morning, anyway…”
Usually, Shōma would resist, but today, he greeted me politely, even prostrating himself on the floor without being forced to do so by the maids. It’s like he’s changed.
I don’t understand what’s going on.
What has happened to my brother?
“Has he lost his pride as the head of the household? Has he given up on resisting? But then, why wouldn’t he yield the next head position to sister?”
I couldn’t find an answer no matter how much I thought about it.
In the end, it’s just the same as always.
There’s only one thing to do.
“Are you there, Kaori?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
I asked while sitting on my bed, and a maid with a prim expression and tea-colored hair appeared from a place where I hadn’t sensed anyone before. She was one of the 13 maids who came from France, and also my bodyguard.
My maid team consists of 10 young explorers who were treated like slaves in a third country. They were taken in by my family, and while it appears to be a charitable act, in reality, they’re kept as a force to be used in times of need. In exchange for a normal life, they’re required to swear absolute loyalty to me.
“Did you wake Shōma up this morning? Was there anything different about him?”
“Was there anything different…?”
“Anything is fine. Just say what comes to mind.”
“…”
When I said that, Kaori looked slightly embarrassed, blushed, and shook her head.
“Was something going on?”
“No, it’s nothing…”
“Really, anything is fine. I just want to clear up this feeling of discomfort within me, so please tell me if you noticed anything.”
「……I was looking in the mirror」
“What’s with that?”
“I was looking at my crotch it’s small”
“……………………Natsumi”
“Yes, yes!”
“――Now, let’s go trash Shoma’s room”