Chapter 10
One month ago.
Rima regained memories of her previous life—and realized that this world was the setting of a novel she herself had written.
A reverse-harem childcare fantasy novel titled:
[I’m the Adopted Daughter—Is It Okay to Be Loved This Much?]
The protagonist? Rima De Gladius.
Now reincarnated as the very heroine she had created, Rima stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection with an expression of bliss.
“No matter how many times I look… I’m way too pretty…!”
Though malnourished and skinny, her face was still quite charming. Her pink hair was frizzy, yet the vibrant color made it stand out. And her violet eyes had a mysterious glow to them.
Rima let out a breathy sigh, drunk on her own beauty.
“Seriously… I’m so pretty…”
What she loved most was her pink hair.
It was the perfect color for a beloved childcare-novel heroine—sweet, adorable, and irresistibly lovable.
She worried about how thin she looked, but it didn’t really bother her.
‘Soon enough, all the men in this house will be obsessed with feeding me.’
A flower-like smile bloomed across Rima’s delicate face.
‘I wrote this world myself. The settings, the characters, every single event—I know it all. I’m the only one who knows the future. In other words, I’m a god in this world.’
Sprawling across the bed, she closed her eyes in peace.
‘Getting into the Duke’s estate was the first success. I may just be a sponsored orphan for now, but once I mend their strained family relationships and earn my place… adoption is inevitable!’
Rima knew exactly what she had to do.
“First—money!”
She raised her tiny clenched fist into the air.
‘First, I’ll go to the information broker and heal his sister. Then, I’ll head to the auction house and bid for the egg of the evil dragon Ather to give as a gift to the Tower Master…’
Just thinking about it made the corners of her lips curl with delight.
The plan was basically a daydream, but she was determined to carry it out step by step.
Then, Rima suddenly paused mid-thought. Slowly sitting up, she recalled something that had been bothering her.
“…The eye colors were wrong.”
In her novel, every member of the De Gladius family had black hair and black eyes.
But the Duke, and his children, each had eyes in shades of red or blue.
Not only that—they didn’t seem cold or distant with one another at all.
“……”
That bugged her a little.
No—a lot.
Nivellia, who had developed a slight fever, had been given medicine and slept soundly. By the time the sun had begun to set, she finally opened her eyes.
But her body still felt heavier than usual, and feeling irritable, she began to whine for the adults.
Right then, Deter entered the room.
“You’re awake, young lady?”
“…Deter.”
Nivellia weakly reached out her arms.
“I feel sick…”
“Oh dear, our little lady isn’t feeling well.”
“Hug me…”
“My, my. You’re being extra clingy today.”
Deter gave a sympathetic smile and gently picked Nivellia up. Her sweat-dampened cheeks were still slightly flushed with fever.
“Are you thirsty? Would you like some water?”
“…Yeah.”
“Here we go. Slow sips… gulp, gulp…”
Only after she moistened her parched throat with some lukewarm water did Nivellia begin to regain a bit of strength.
Upon hearing she had woken up, Celletina and Caleo came to check on her.
“My baby… and I didn’t even know you were sick…”
“Good thing your fever went down quickly. Are you hungry?”
“…I’m hungry…”
Just as she answered quietly, Nivellia suddenly shot upright in bed, eyes wide.
The sudden burst of energy was so unlike her earlier sickly state that the adults were momentarily stunned.
“Wolf!”
“W-wait—!”
Caleo quickly caught her as she attempted to leap from the bed. Dangling midair in her father’s arms, Nivellia flailed like she was swimming.
Caleo scolded her gently.
“You little rascal! You were just sick!”
“No, I’m healthy now! I have to feed the wolf!”
“Isn’t your wolf right here?”
Celletina held up the wolf plushie resting by the pillow.
“That’s just a toy.”
Nivellia said coolly.
“I only played with it until the real wolf came.”
It was the kind of cold, detached line you’d expect from a heartless jerk saying: “I was only with you because I was lonely. You didn’t think I actually meant it, did you? How stupid.”
The adults suddenly felt sorry for the stuffed toy.
Its red gem-like eyes shimmered, almost as if tears had welled up.
“Should I throw it away then?” Celletina asked gently.
“…N-no, don’t do that.”
Nivellia quickly retracted her statement and reached out her arms. Celletina handed her the plush, and she hugged it tightly.
“I’m sorry. But you’re a fake wolf, so… I like you a little less now. You understand, right?”
“Our Nini is definitely going to break a lot of hearts when she grows up.”
Caleo chuckled—only briefly proud—before placing her back down on the bed and extending his pinky.
“Don’t run. Eat first. If you promise, then you can see him.”
“But Nini wants to run! It feels like… like this amazing power is just bursting out of me!”
“…Are you sure you actually took your medicine?”
Caleo couldn’t help but feel a little concerned as his daughter displayed what could only be described as a suspiciously intense reaction to cold medicine.
“You were sick just a while ago. If you move around too much, you’ll feel worse again. Then you won’t be able to see the wolf.”
“Ehh…”
“So, promise me.”
“…Promise.”
Nivellia’s face was full of protest, but she still hooked her pinky without resistance.
After a quick wipe-down and changing into soft, fresh clothes, she was finally allowed to leave the room.
With both of her parents holding a hand each, Nivellia trudged along like a criminal being escorted under guard.
“Mom, where’s the wolf…?”
“He’ll be at the dining hall too. We’re all—”
“It hasn’t even been a minute since we said no running, Nivellia.”
Her attempt to bolt forward failed because her hands were held, but the moment earned her a pair of stern expressions from her parents.
“…Ugh, my life is so hard.”
Nivellia let out the heavy sigh of someone twice her age.
“…Four-year-olds shouldn’t say things like that,” Caleo muttered, feeling like he was aging alongside her.
When they arrived at the dining room, the rest of the family was already waiting.
Muniel, Ardores, and Soles were there—along with the blond boy with red eyes, sitting quietly beside them.
Nivellia immediately rose to her tiptoes.
“Wolf!”
“Yes, yes. Sit next to him,” Caleo said, catching her again before she could launch herself.
He gently set her down in the empty seat next to the boy.
Seated, Nivellia grinned brightly.
“Wolf, did you eat-yum?”
“……”
“You didn’t? You couldn’t eat again because Nini wasn’t here?”
“……”
“Here! Wolf, eat this! It’s not my favorite food, but I still like it. You have to eat all kinds of food to grow big and strong!”
“……”
The boy was taken aback by how urgently Nivellia was trying to feed him—she looked genuinely distressed that he might go hungry.
What is going on?
At some point, his once-empty plate had become a mess of different foods Nivellia had clumsily scooped for him.
Her small, unsteady hands had dropped bits of food and splattered sauce all around the plate and table.
Not knowing what to do, the boy sent a silent plea for help with his eyes.
“Nini.”
It was Soles who gently stepped in from nearby.
“It’s really kind of you to take care of him, but how about we wait a little longer? We haven’t started the meal yet.”
“But Nini has to take care of the wolf. I did it before too!”
“…You just met him today. Also, you’re four.”
“I’m a cat, remember? Actually, Nini is—”
Clink-clink—
A gentle chime rang through the room as a spoon tapped against a glass.
It was Muniel.
“Kids, I’m sorry to interrupt, but may this old grandmother say something?”
“No!”
Nivellia instantly refused.
“Yes, you may.”
Muniel ignored her and continued.
Nivellia pouted but held her tongue and listened politely.
“First of all, we were all so worried when you got sick. Are you feeling better now?”
“Mm-hm. Without my health, Nini’s just boring.”
“You’re right. Our Nini wouldn’t be half as fun without her health.”
Then Muniel got to the point.
“Starting today, a new member will be joining our House Deiamor family. His name is—”
“Wolf!”
Nivellia answered before she could finish.
Why does she keep calling me that? the boy wondered.
He had never seen a real wolf. He had no connection to wolves.
If anything, the orphanage staff used to call him a vicious stray cat because of his sharp features.
Other kids had picked it up and teased him the same way. It was why he’d grown to dislike his face.
…Even here, what I think doesn’t matter.
In that moment, he realized that not a single part of this dreamlike situation had been his choice.
He was only here because the nobles had brought him.
And if the spoiled little noble girl beside him decided he was a “wolf”—then he simply had to be a wolf.
Still… he didn’t hate it.
It was better than being called a stray cat.
“You should ask the child what he thinks first.”
Ardores turned to the boy.
“What kind of name would you like?”
“……”
The boy glanced sideways.
Nivellia, no longer babbling, was now staring at him with eyes full of expectation.
“…It’s fine.”
He turned back and said softly,
“Wolf is okay.”
“You don’t have a name in mind, huh?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. We can think of one together later.”
Ardores handed the conversation back to Muniel.
Muniel continued gently.
“He’ll be staying in the annex from now on, with me and Ardores. Soles and Nini, you’re welcome to visit often.”
In addition to the main mansion, House Deiamor had another estate—what they called the annex.
It had been empty ever since Caleo’s younger sister, Armiphera, ran off six years ago, claiming she was going to become the Queen of Mercenaries.
