An Unseemly Lady - Chapter 3

“We are having a lot of visitors these past few days.”

Yulianne said while wiping off the crumbs scattered around my lips.

Well now the story has begun, I am certain that a lot of people would show up.

I grabbed one of the muffins and stuffed it in my mouth.

Michael, who is quietly sitting down, smiled as he trailed his gaze on me.

He definitely is a cunning man with that unique smile: an insincere yet laid-back smile. That expression, no doubt, hides an ill and selfish intentions.

Ah, but anyway this is way too delicious. Is this blueberry cheesecake muffin?

I feel upset that they would not make this for me in the mansion.

“Lili, do not eat too much. Eating a lot of muffins is bad for you.”

Yulianne reasoned out. She is instantly began scolding me.

She is right though, I already have eaten too much. Lilianne’s body is extremely weak, however, it would not stop me from eating desserts!

“She is already at that age where she needs to eat delicious foods in order to grow tall.”

Michael mumbled softly. I focused my gaze at him and continued eating.

Why are you being friendly with me?

All thoughts aside, these cupcakes are incredibly delicious.

“Lili’s body is still recuperating; I have to be cautious for her own sake.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for an ill person to eat especially as a child? Their appetites would be more likely to increase in that way.”

“But she’s a picky eater… She probably would not eat her meals properly since she will have her eyes on desserts.”

“Then that really is a problem.”

Dude, you cannot just switch opinions like that! I am demanding you to insist and be more assertive!

I tilted my head and pleadingly stared at Michael. For a moment, his eyes widened in profound amusement then smiles.

“But it would not hurt to give Lili desserts from time to time.”

“Michael.”

“Lia, you like desserts too.”

Yeah, especially chocolate muffins.

He utters appealingly docile as he hands over a muffin to Lia.

Would you look at this scheming guy. My eyes widened as I straightaway nicked the muffin that Michael was about to give to Yulianne.

Do you really think that we would easily be swayed and win our favor over a muffin or something? Of course, maybe if I am a normal eight-year-old I probably would have. Unfortunately for you, I am actually a twenty-year-old girl.

“Lili likes chocolate muffins too.”

I feel very mortified of myself for doing this every time.

When I declared my love of chocolate muffins, Yulianne instantly shone a small smile and gave me a curt warning by reminding me that I cannot eat too much.

Back in my old life, when I was an eight-year-old I lived off mostly with fast foods and I did not die.

Plus, muffins are better than greasy hamburgers and french-fries, don’t you think so?

Dismissing any unnecessary thoughts, I shook my head and engrossed myself on eating my chocolate muffin.

Michael also concentrated all his attention on me, disserting me down out of sheer curiosity and mystery.

Can you stop looking at me like that?

Do you really think you can have my sister through those muffins?

“I heard that Robain visited.”

He said, finally removing his gaze on me.

Then the rumors must have spread.

A thought came into light, I knew it, I know what this muffin-boy’s real intentions.

Rolling my eyes, I impatiently swung my legs back and forth.

Yulianne opened her mouth to answer but all at the same time she took the liberty to seize my muffin from me.

No, my muffin!

“Yes, he came over to ask me about something.”

“About what?

“He asked me if I could play the role of being his fiancée.”

With Yulianne’s response, Michael’s expression morphed into a sour one with wrinkles forming in his face and in a brief second it turned back into its calm form.

I bet you did not know about it.

What you probably heard is ‘I went to pay her a visit, but something happened with her younger sister that it was cut short.’.

I unconsciously began observing Michael intently as I rested my chin in between my arms.

I do not have my muffins and as a result I am bored.

Wait, I might be an older woman in my mind, but I am still in a kid’s body. Asking for sweets is what a child would commonly do…

“Lia-eonni[1], please give me my muffins…”

I could not help it but resort on pleading and hastily tugging her skirt lightly. What’s wrong with me?

But can you really blame me who only ate broccoli soup or carrot filled mushroom risotto ever since I woke up?

Desserts are precious to me!

I will not let my muffins be taken away from me, atleast not like this.

“No Lili, you had enough.”

“But you will not give it back tomorrow!”

It has only been a day and you are about to throw those away! You are not even going to buy me a new one! I cannot even ask the staff since all the people here only listens to Yulianne!

This is unacceptable for someone who loves to eat snacks like me!

I huffed my cheeks and stared at Yulianne.

“Pardon me for interrupting, Yulianne. But the reason why I am here is that there is something about the previous conference that I would like to discuss with you. I think you know this better than I do.”

Michael, who sat back and silently watched Yulianne and I, reluctantly uttered.

By his sudden interruption, I sheepishly retracted my grip from Yulianne’s skirt and regained my composure.

I cannot keep on acting like a child. For a moment, I lost my self-control because of a muffin.

After confirming that I have calmed down, Yulianne spoke softly:

“If it is about a conference, then you must be talking about the council, but can you really tell me about it?”

“You will be involved with it soon anyway. It is not like you are going to stay in the mansion, am I right?

“I mean, it is not like that but…”

Yulianne trailed off, glancing at me hesitantly. Her eyes softened with glints of sorrow that clouds her gaze.

Well, I mean… It does not matter whether you put me up first before anything else, however, you cannot act as if there is nothing that you have always wanted to do.

Besides, I know how talented Yulianne is, she was even able to climb to the top and become the lead of the well-known academy of the empire.

She would always work a ton harder than most of her peers because she is that competitive.

“… I still have to take care of Lili.”

As if convinced with her own answer, she smiled and stroked my hair.

Well, would you look at that, I am still the utmost priority.

All of a sudden, thoughts of guilt started rapidly piling up in my head…

I started switching my gaze between Michael and Yulianne the moment I felt troubled.

Although I started feeling anxiously suspicious of his bravados, Yulianne painstakingly seemed willing to help him…

On the brightside I think I would be able to eat a lot of desserts, if Michael comes here often…

Ah, of course, the last one is an unnecessary but welcomed reason.

Still, you cannot win over our hearts with just desserts.

“Eonni, eonni.”

After coming into a decision, I shot up and immediately called on Yulianne’s attention.

I am really sorry but never try to give up from doing what you want because of me.

“Hey Ahjussi[2], do you want me to help you?”

“Ahjussi…”

Michael mutters in bafflement.

Just like Robain, calling him ‘Ahjussi’ must have been a shock and I did not even regret to call them that.

“I would like to help you. However, do you not live far away?”

“No Lili, Ahjussi will come here.”

Michael responded in a flash. He even lowered his head and called himself ‘Ahjussi’. As expected of him, how intelligent to try and appease me. Truly a master schemer, he is way too quick-witted.

As swift as his response, I masked on an innocent smile.

“That is good then! Eonni and I would help you, Ahjussi! Just how eonni helps me.”

I am not actually helping you; I am just keeping an eye on you. It is just that I need a proper justification that is all.

As soon as I finished talking, Yulianne’s face was practically glowing.

She must have really wanted to help.

I poked her arms and winked at Michael.

Hey buddy, from now on you should be extra nice to me.

At first, I would not have allowed it since I do not like you at all. It is just that Yulianne is happy when she works and that is it.

And you must bring desserts too.

“… What a relief.”

Michael, who probably mistaken my wink as a sign of pure goodwill, sighed in ease as a smile crept in his face.

You might already think that I am cunning. But I must say he is also a pretty daunting opponent. But of course, Michael Evans must have probably been more cunning than I am when he was the same age as me.

Anyway, this is a happy ending for all of us.

I get to have desserts more often, Yulianne will have the satisfaction of working, and Michael has a good excuse to see Yulianne.

Of course, I would not allow Michael to get any closer to her more than they are right now.

It is simple as this: If a person tends to keep tabs and trying to do something, they will eventually try to pry themselves into the other party’s lives more permanently.

That is why I will never, ever, fall into your schemes for desserts!

ㅡ ㅡ ㅡ

A day after the situation with Michael, was a day with a peaceful afternoon.

To be exact, it was a peaceful afternoon up until a while ago.

It is all because I was suffering a desserts withdrawal just after tasting those sweet muffins.

So, I decided to wander around the mansion watching out for dogholes and at the same time trying to avoid Yulianne’s watchful eyes…

“Hello, are you Lili? You are really pretty since you look like your sister. Do you want some cookies?”

Then what? Should I tell her that a kind oppa[3] gave it to me?

A hand suddenly appeared in the wall right in front of me.

To be exact it phased through the wall.

Out of surprise, I stumbled backwards falling down on my butt.

This crazyㅡ!

Chapter 3 end.

[1] Eonni/Unnie is a term that younger girls use to call an older girl. Can be directly translated into ‘older sister’. 

[2] Ajeossi/Ahjussi can be roughly translated into uncle or mister. There is no exact translation for it but something to call a male stranger around their 30s-40s.

[3] Oppa is a term that younger girls use to call an older guy. Can be directly translated as ‘older brother’.