I Was Reincarnated As The Older Brother Of A Villainess Destined to Die, So I Want To Change The Future By Raising My Younger Sister With My Own Hands. I Am The Strongest In The World, But My Little Sister Must Be The Cutest In The World - Volume 4 Chapter 15.1

Minerva: Love Advice

Finally settling into the routine of school life, a girl approached me, Minerva.

“Minerva-san, could I have a little of your time later?” she asked as we were heading home from school.

The one making this request was Marina, who had been accompanying me since the beginning of the school year.

Her extraordinary ability to communicate with people made her seem much more intelligent than an ordinary commoner who had lived in the countryside until recently. She had unusual blue-purple eyes and was now swaying them with anxiety.

It was definitely not just an ordinary request. Marina chose to share this privately with me, so she probably wanted to discuss something personal.

Despite our short time together, there were aspects in which I was indebted to her.

“Of course, I don’t have any important plans, so I can spend as much time as you need. Consider it an honor,” I replied, though I realized my tone might have come across as a bit arrogant.

“Thank you!”

She didn’t seem bothered by my words at all.

Unlike Lord Zex, who could read my intentions and smiled knowingly, Marina genuinely didn’t seem to mind. In a way, she had a strong heart.

After returning home and tidying up our things, Marina and I moved to the terrace of the Foranada estate. The moderate sunlight made it the perfect place for a tea party.

While sipping tea, we engaged in light conversation, mainly discussing the happenings at school. Since Marina and I were in different classes, I could hear some fresh news.

Then, we got to the main topic.

“Why did you approach me?” I asked.

“Well…” Marina hesitated for a moment but then began to speak after a short pause.

“I think it’s common knowledge that I have feelings for Zex-sama, right? But I’m having trouble talking to him, and I’m not sure how to communicate properly. What should I do to have a better conversation with him?”

“If you have the courage to bring up that topic with me, his fiancée, then I don’t think you need to worry about anything,” I said, genuinely surprised. Normally, wouldn’t you avoid discussing such matters with their fiancée? Or was it my perspective that was skewed? No, that couldn’t be. I wanted to believe that my sense of love and romance was perfectly fine, even if other aspects of Foranada society might have affected me.

Marina tilted her head with curiosity. “Isn’t it normal for nobles to be surrounded by many women?”

“Well, that may be true, but that doesn’t mean women get along well with each other,” I explained. In most cases, noblewomen engage in power struggles with each other, vying to secure their son as the next heir and boost their own influence.

Well, Marina was from a commoner background, so I didn’t expect her to understand these dynamics. I briefly explained, but she still seemed puzzled.

“It’s not about jealousy or anything. Hmm, I can’t really relate, but I understand we’re not exactly close friends,” she said.

“For now, that level of understanding is sufficient,” I replied.

“But does it really concern us?” she asked.

“Huh?”

“Because you, Minerva-san, don’t treat me or Shion-san or Nina-san coldly. We’re on good terms, after all.”

“That’s… true,” I admitted.

The previous discussion was about the general affairs of noble families, and as Marina pointed out, it didn’t apply to Zex’s situation. In fact, the girls who gathered around Zex, including myself, genuinely liked him. They were fundamentally different from those who only cared about power. Moreover, thanks to his personality, none of these girls, including myself—although it irked me to admit it—let their emotions escalate to the point of ugly conflict. Jealousy might be present, but it wasn’t enough to strain their relationships.

“Then I think it’s reasonable to ask the future official wife like Minerva-san. You’re currently the one closest to him,” Marina suggested.

“You might be right,” I admitted.

Now that she mentioned it, asking the future official wife for advice did seem reasonable from the perspective of a mistress. There didn’t appear to be any issues with the current situation…?

Wait, what am I being pulled into, Minerva? Marina’s actions are clearly out of line. I must be right.