The fact that Loti was sitting in the same room as the main leads is not something he had expected. Let's turn it back to two weeks ago. After Amella agreed to stay home she was no help at all. If not for their older brother, Taman Richmond, also the heir to the household, Loti might have died sooner than usual.
Meeting his older brother made him realize a few things about the Count and his family. First of all, their mother was dead. She died during his birth. Instead of putting all the blame on him, like most families in this kind of setting. They're actually incredibly obsessive and overprotective of him.
There's his father who openly shows his disdain of his daughter. It's only because, she reminds him of his dead wife. In reality he loves her unconditionally and so lets her do whatever she pleases. Basically spoiling her.
As for Loti's big brother, Taman. He's a man with motherly instincts. He deals with the aftermath of all the things that are done by Amella. They basically sweep it all under the rug as though it never went down.
Well. After a week in this world, Loti had been sick to his stomach. It's because he was bored out of his mind! He can do nothing but lie in bed all day without anything to do. If not for this incredibly weak body, he'd be touring the manor right now.
He glanced at the door to see someone peeking into his room. It was one of the servant's keeping a strict eye on him. The reason for this was because he had already escaped from his room many times during this week. Each time he nearly had an episode of coughing up blood or passing out due to fatigue.
But even so, that did not faze him one bit. His goal was to go out to see the world. And the only way out of this place was to suck up to the man who's his father in this life.
"You want to go out?" His father has a strict schedule.
He visits Loti three times a day, after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. "That's right. Father, I heard many things about the desserts here. Please let me visit one of the shops." He begged.
"Why not just let me have a servant go out and fetch you the dessert?" He asked.
"No! I just want some fresh air. If I don't leave here, I'll die!" Loti exaggerated.
His father flinched at that word, "you'll die? We can't have that." He looked to be struggling with his answer but then he agreed.
Only thing was that he had to bring someone along as he could not go on his own. Well, it didn't matter, he can finally go out and breathe some fresh air! But he never expected the person to tag along would be his sister. She was a person who hated sweets and someone who causes trouble where ever she goes.
Like now, as she stood facing another girl her age. Her eyes shooting daggers and her nose flaring. They barely stepped foot into the dessert shop and the entire place was already in a frenzy. There goes his plan to have a peaceful day out and eating delicious deserts.
"How dare you not see my brother and bump into him! Do you not see his small and frail body?" Amella glared at the girl who trembled at the sight of her.
This can't go any further or else they'll be rushed to the guillotine! "Sister! I'm fine. I really want something sweet, If I don't get it, I'll hate sister!" Loti yelled.
Amella whipped her head around with a horrified expression on her face, "hate me?" She asked.
"That's right. Please." He told her.
Thankfully it was dealt with quickly. They were now sitting and he got a chance to try some of the desserts here. It was a wonder he managed to keep them down! But the moment of peace he felt didn't last very long. In fact, it was short-lived as a person he never wanted to run into while his sister was around had walked through the door.
Marigold Famboia and Duke Benard Castleton had arrived. There was one thing he learned about a world like this and that was how to discern from regular folks from main leads. It was the excessively good looks. Why was all the main characters so damn good-looking?! Even Loti himself was considered too cute for someone who dies in a year.
"Isn't that the Duke? Who's the woman beside him?" Someone asked.
All that effort to keep his sister from meeting the duke went out the window. What's with this development? "Haven't you heard? Duke Bernard met that woman at the ball. It's so annoying but the two match well." Someone else says.
Loti's sister on the other hand seemed to have her attention on the pair the moment they walked in. She took a bite of the cake on the table but suddenly something unnatural happened. As though the world was playing some kind of sick joke, someone as careful as his sister, started choking.
It was like watching a movie scene between two main leads right before his eyes. Marigold came over like a knight in shining armor and saved his sister's life. Her beautiful golden hair shimmered like glitter as she rushed over. He could do nothing but watch helplessly.
His sister managed to cough up the cake she choked on thanks to Marigold's help. But why was the original scene where the female lead who was supposed to be the one choking, changed?
"Are you alright?" Marigold's blue eyes stared down at Amella with concern.
It must have been embarrassing for her. And so that was how he ended up sitting across from the two main leads who were sitting here leisurely sipping tea. This is not how the story goes! His sister was supposed to fall for the Duke and cause mayhem. But here they are drinking tea together with the Female Lead fretting over his sister.
Did he enter the wrong game? Or perhaps he had been wrong the whole time? Perhaps this development is a good thing? At least his sister isn't causing mayhem. But now...
Loti glanced over at his sister who hid behind her fan. Is it him, or is the one his sister seemed to be interested in, not the male lead?